§ COLONEL HUGHES - HALLETT Rochester)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, with reference to the statement made by a late First Lord of the Admiralty on 7th May last, that the "strengthening," or supposed strengthening, of the 43-ton guns already in the Service would 669
in the opinion of Colonel Maitland, R.A., Superintendent of the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich, be completed very rapidly—in a month,i.e. on or about 7th June, the work was finished in that time; and, if not, when it was or will be finished; and, whether any of these guns so "strengthened" have been fired since the operation was carried out; and, if so, with what result?
§ THE FIEST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)Since the statement of May 7, made by the late First Lord of the Admiralty, it has been decided to substitute for the 43-ton guns that it had been originally intended to strengthen, newer guns of an improved pattern, which were constructed for land service. Some alterations were necessary to adapt the newer pattern for the Naval Service; but it is expected that six of these guns will be mounted in the Colossus and Conqueror by the middle of October. None of the 43-ton guns that were landed from the ships have been strengthened or fired that I am aware of.