§ MR. M. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for War whether his attention has been directed to the statements, attributed to Dr. von Brums, in a paper on "Inhuman Weapons of War," read a few days ago at the German Surgical Congress, to the effect that the Dum-Dum bullets used by British, troops in the North-west Frontier of India produced fearful results on the human body, and that Germany should try to obtain a condemnation from the European Powers of the further use of such bullets; whether any steps will be taken to meet these views; and whether he will forbid the sale of these bullets by British makers to the belligerents in the Spanish-American War?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSI have no knowledge of the statements referred to or of the paper mentioned. I think the general ideas as to the effect of the Dum-Dum bullet are very much exaggerated. It is nothing like so severe as that of bullets which have been previously employed.
§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Has the hon. Member acquainted himself with the results of any experiments made by surgeons as to the effects of these bullets?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSYes, Sir. English medical officers of the Army have been shown the results of the use of this bullet, and they are of the opinion indicated in my answer to this Question.