HC Deb 10 July 1899 vol 74 cc302-3
MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the bullet known as the Mark IV. missile is manufactured at Woolwich at the present time, and whether over two million rounds of this kind of ammunition are held in reserve stock; whether this missile is now being served out to the British soldiers in South Africa; and whether this bullet is expressly constructed so as to expand on impact, and on that account possesses the quality of the Dum-Dum bullet, which, according to report, has been condemned at the Peace Conference at the Hague.

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) Dover

Cartridges with Mark IV. bullet are being manufactured at Woolwich; and a supply of this ammunition has been sent to South Africa.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

Hear, hear.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

Shame!

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must be aware that the word "shame," as used by him, is not a proper word in this House.

MR. DILLON

I apologise, Mr. Speaker, for using the word.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Someone cried "Hear, hear." Perhaps that ought not to have been said.

* MR. WYNDHAM (resuming)

I am not prepared to state the quantity of this ammunition at present in stock. The bullet is constructed to expand on impact. Pending the receipt of a final report from our representatives at the Conference I must decline to discuss the bearing of any conclusion at which the Conference have arrived.

MR. DILLON

May I ask whether any medical experiments have been made through the War Office with reference to the effect of this bullet before it was, adopted by the authorities?

* MR. WYNDHAM

A great many experiments have been made, and some are even now being carried on; but it is quite impossible to discuss this question by way of question and answer without importing argument into my reply. I avoided that because I am aware that the hon. Member is precluded from using argument.

MR. DILLON

Will the hon. Member include the result of the medical experiments in regard to this bullet in the papers dealing with the original Dum-Dum bullet promised by the Secretary for India to be laid upon the Table of the House in the course of the next few days?

* MR. WYNDHAM

I must ask for notice of that question.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Were some of the Dum-Dums made in Sheffield?