§ MR. ARTHUR BROOKFIELD (Sussex Rye)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether the "stopping" power of the Lee-Metford bullet as shown in the Chitral expedition 206 and by recent events in South Africa, has engaged the special attention of the military authorities, and whether it has been shown that the bullet in question is capable of any improvement with the special object of "stopping" as distinguished from merely inflicting mortal wounds, and could he state what is the minimum hole required to abruptly arrest the progress of a man charging; and whether he can state the respective calibres of the revolver used in the Royal Navy and the Lee-Metford rifle?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordMy hon. and gallant Friend asks what is the minimum hole required to abruptly stop a man charging. This would depend a good deal on the part of his person hit by the bullet. [Laughter.] The whole question has been carefully considered with a view to efficiency in warfare, and any steps found necessary will be taken. The respective calibres of the naval revolver and the Lee-Metford rifle are .441 and .303.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)asked whether it was not the purpose of a rifle bullet to inflict a mortal wound?
§ * MR. BRODRICKYes, but that object cannot always be attained.