§ 70. Lord C. BERESFORDasked the full complements of the ships of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron and the nucleus crew complements of the ships of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron; whether the engine-room departments will be obliged to work in two watches if this squadron is employed on manœuvres; and whether, in view of the pressure of such extra work on the officers and men, the Admiralty are satisfied that a squadron manned in this manner is ready for instant action without one hour's delay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInformation as to the complements of His Majesty's ships is confidential. As mentioned in the prefatory statement to the Estimates, the ships of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron, having only recently been constituted out of the training squadron, are at present manned with nucleus crews; their routine is similar to that of ships of the Second Fleet, and if employed on annual manœuvres they will, like ships of the Second Fleet, be completed to full crew.