ly prohibited
to kill or wound treacherously individuals belonging to the hostile
nation or army": words which, one cannot doubt, would include not only
assassination of individuals, but also, by implication, any offer for an
individual "dead or alive." The Regulations are, of course, technically
binding only between signatories of the convention to which they are
appended; but Art. 28 (_b_) is merely an express enactment of a
well-established rule of the law of nations. A recent instance of its
application occurred, before the date of The Hague Convention, during
operations in the neighbourhood of Suakin. An offer by the British
Admiral of a reward for Osman Digna, dead or alive, was, if I mistake
not, promptly cancelled and disavowed by the home Government.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Brighton, April 17 (1906).

* * * * *

SECTION 9

_The Choice of Means of Injuring_

BULLETS IN SAVAGE WARFARE

Sir,--The Somaliland debate was sufficient evidence that The Hague
Convention "respecting the laws and customs of war on land" is far more
talked about than read. Colonel Cobbe had, it appears, complained of the
defective stopping power, as against the foes whom he was encountering,
of the Lee-Metford bullet. It is the old story that wounds inflicted by
this bullet cannot be relied on to check the onrush of a hardy and
fanatical savage, though they may ultimately result in his death.
Whereupon arises, on the one hand, the demand for a more effective
projectile, and, on the other hand, the cry that the proposed substitute
is condemned by "the universal consent of Christendom"; or, in
particular, "by the Convention of The Hague," which, as was correctly
stated by Mr. Lee, prohibits only the use of arms which cause
superfluous injury.

You print to-day two letters enforcing the view of the inefficiency
against savages of the ordinary service bullet. Perhaps you will find
space for a few words upon the question whether the employment for this
purpose of a severer form of projectile, such as the Dum Dum bullet,
would be a contravention of the "laws of war."

The law of the subject, as embodied in general international national
agreements, is to be found in four paragraphs; to which, be it observed,
nothing is added by the unwritten, or customary, law of nations. Of
these paragraphs, which I shall set out textually, three affirm general
principles, while the fourth co