§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is true, as reported, that no visitors are to be allowed on board any of the ships of war at the forthcoming inspection at Spithead; if this be the case, whether he will, by setting apart one of the spare troopships, enable unemployed naval officers and their friends to witness this grand display of naval strength on an historical occasion; whether it is a fact that at all former Naval Reviews a transport has always been set apart for naval officers and a certain number of their friends; whether he is aware that a transport was specially ordered to convey naval officers on full and half pay to witness the French Naval Review at Cherbourg in 1865, in company with the English Channel Squadron; and, whether he will consider the claim of Naval Officers to a similar privilege on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor of Germany at the forthcoming inspection by Her Majesty?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONAs the occasion of the Naval Inspection on August 3 is looked upon as a practical test of the mobilizing instructions, and as the ships are to be in all respects ready for active service at sea, it is undesirable that visitors should be allowed on board on that day. For some days previously the vessels comprising the Fleet will be in position, and then, as well as on the occasion of the arrival of the German Emperor and his squadron on August 2, no restriction will be placed on the 129 admission of visitors to the ships. Under these circumstances, it is not proposed to make any arrangements of a special nature for the officers of the Navy on August 3.