§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is true that several cases of sickness have occurred among the crew of Her Majesty's ship "Devastation;" whether, if so, sickness is to be attributed to the defective ventilation of the ship; and whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to keep the "Devastation" in the Mediterranean during the summer?
§ MR. HUNTWe, Sir, have no Re-ports with regard to the sanitary state of the Devastation since she arrived in the Mediterranean. The previous Report on that score was very favourable, and during the cruise in which she was employed last summer in the Channel Squadron her sick rate was exceedingly low. If I recollect right, she was the second best in the squadron. The Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean wrote a Report on the ships dated the 21st of May, and I will read to the House the extract from it which relates to the Devastation. It is as follows:—
I inspected the 'Devastation' yesterday, and with reference to the question of ventilation I found that, with everything open and awnings spread, without any artificial ventilation of fan, the ship was fairly cool below and without any disagreeable sensation of oppression even in the cabins. With the fan in motion there was a sensible difference in the air from being once set in motion, and I am of opinion that it was cooler below than in most iron vessels. When at general quarters, with all the doors closed to the several compartments, it was very close, but not worse than when ships are closed in action.As to the detention of the Devastation in the Mediterranean, I am unable to give an answer to that question. She is cruising now under the command of Sir James Drummond, and at the expiration of that cruise we shall have a further Report on the ship.