HC Deb 24 June 1889 vol 337 cc534-6
CAPTAIN SELWYN (Cambridge, Wisbeach)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any, and, if so, what, guns are intended to be mounted on board any ship during the forthcoming review or manœuvres without first having been proved; what guns will be taken from one man-of-war and mounted in another; and what guns will be provided from the land service stores for temporary use on board ship?

* LORD G. HAMILTON

There will be present at the inspection at Spithead, on August 3, 29 armoured vessels, in addition to cruisers and coast defence vessels, gunboats, and torpedo vessels. All the guns on board these ships will have passed their final proof, except three 13½-in. guns mounted on the Howe. These guns will, after the manœuvres, be returned for their final inspection. These guns have been mounted in order that their gunnery fittings on board ship may be tested and completed at once, and that the ship may have her seagoing qualities with all her weights on board thoroughly tried at the forthcoming manœuvres. One 9.2-in. gun belonging to the gunnery establishment at Portsmouth will be mounted in the Galatea pending receipt of the gun allotted to that vessel. No guns will be provided from land service stores for temporary use on board ship.

SIR SAMUEL WILSON (Portsmouth)

May I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Engineer students will have facilities afforded them for seeing the Naval Review or evolutions at Portsmouth, on 5th August?

* LORD G. HAMILTON

The manœuvres will take place on Saturday the 3rd, and not on Monday the 5th of August as previously announced. As the Engineer students are at Devonport, I do not propose to make any provision for their accommodation.

MR. D. HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Department will place a vessel at the disposal of Members of the House of Commons and their wives, in order that they may witness the manœuvres?

* LORD G. HAMILTON

I have not yet received such a request on this subject as would make it possible for me to give an answer. All I can say is that if there is any general desire for an arrangement similar to that which prevailed on the last occasion of an assemblage of the Fleet, I will give it my best consideration.