§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he can inform the House the names, number of guns, and men (Blue Jackets and Marines) comprising the Mediterranean Squadron, and in what manœuvres and tactics ships and men have been engaged since His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh assumed the command; whether any special arrangements exist for educating the crews in gunnery and torpedo games of war outside smooth water; and, if it is with the consent of the Admiralty that the ships are being utilized for yachting trips in the neighbourhood of Egypt and the Holy Land?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEOBGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)It would only weary the House to read out all the information asked for by the hon. Member. The number of officers and men in the Mediterranean Squadron is 5,197. The Navy List gives the names of the various ships with the numbers of their guns. The ships and men have been 659 engaged in such manœuvres and tactics and other service that has been considered necessary to secure efficiency; and there is no reason to doubt that the Duke of Edinburgh will, in these tactics and exercises, keep his men up to that high state of efficiency characterizing his previous commands. All necessary arrangements exist for training the crews in gunnery and torpedo work at sea. The ships of the Mediterranean Squadron are not being utilized for yachting trips in the neighbourhood of Egypt and the Holy Land, but are employed in carrying out the programme approved by the late Board of Admiralty for their autumn cruise.