§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Marylebone, E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Committee on High Explosives, promised in June last, has finished its labours; whether the effect of the high explosive on bursting is as alarmingly destructive as has been stated; and, have shells loaded with high explosives been actually tried against targets representing the unarmoured portions of ships of the Admiral Class; and, if not, as there is much controversy as to the number of battleships necessary for the country's defence, whether he will assure the House that practical experiments shall be made for thoroughly testing the effects of shells filled with high explosives on the unarmoured ends of those battle-ships of which our Fleet is mainly composed?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)In addition to the results already obtained, further experiments will be necessary, and are being arranged.