The Dum-Dum Bullet.

Manawatu Herald, 3 August 1899, Page 2

The Dum-Dum Bullet.

This bullet was first employed in India, and was necessitated by the fact that the ordinary projectile from the Lee-Metford, although carrying a long distance and with a low trajectory, was frequently unable to s stop the rush of a Ghazi or fanatic, even when mo r tally wounded. In many instances in the frontier wars in India the hill men have succeeded in inflicting serious, and often fatal, wounds on our men before falling. To obviate this, the Dum-Dum bullet was designed, and its effect is to flatten out in the bodies of those srruck, the same as a piece of lead shot against a wall.

In the course of the Peace Conference, the bullet, which is only used by this country, was condemned by all the representatives except England, Italy and Austria. It is now announced that the military authorities have no intention of introducing it in any European war, but simply to employ it against savage opponents. This probably will remoxe the objection raised at the Conference, but, whether or not, it is very unlikely that the Government will waive their right to employ it when fighting against barbarous tribes who do not recognise the amenities of civilised warfare.