§ MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether it is a fact that a German Prince—Prince Louis of Battenberg—has born appointed to the command of Her Majesty's Ship Dreadnought, over the heads of some 30 British officers who stood before him for promotion; and. if this be so, will the noble Lord state what are his qualifications for that position above those of the officers in question; and, what are the reasons of the Government in giving him such an extraordinary mark of favour over officers of longer service?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)That is not the Question of which the hon. Member gave me Notice. That question was, whether Prince Louis of Battenberg had been appointed Commander of the Dreadnought? I am now asked if he is to be Captain, and why he is promoted over the heads of other officers. He is not to be made a Captain, nor is he to be promoted over other officers' heads. It is not true that Prince Louis of Battenberg has been appointed Commander of the Dreadnought——[Mr. W. REDMOND: Captain?] No. But, in all probability, he will be appointed Commander, because I have been looking this afternoon into the qualifications of the officers eligible for that appointment, and, in my judgment, Prince Louis, by his past experience and record of service, is best qualified to perform the duties.
§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)Then I beg to give Notice that if Prince Louis of Battenberg is appointed, I shall move that his salary be disallowed.
§ Subsequently,
§ SIR EDMUND COMMERELL (Southampton)said: Mr. Speaker, with reference to the Question addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty, I beg 721 leave to say that Prince Louis of Battenberg served as lieutenant under my command, and a move competent officer——[Cries of "Order!"]