§ MR. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, as Captain Hall in the exercise of his discretion determined to give up the attempt to cross the Bay of Biscay and return to Queenstown, he did so because 438 he feared that, if he went on, the vessel would be lost?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHIn returning to Queenstown Captain Hall seems to have been chiefly influenced by the consideration that he might run short of coal should the gale, as he apparently anticipated, have lasted several days. His sailing directions gave him full discretion. It cannot be admitted that there was the slightest cause for doubting the safety of the ship.
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe Board of Admiralty will institute their own inquiries, but whether there will be a formal inquiry I cannot answer.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will the right hon. Gentleman say how many days' coal the Resolution came back with?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe Resolution had 450 tons of coal when she arrived at Queenstown. As to the inquiry, I can only repeat that there will be the usual inquiries by the Admiralty. I can say no more at present.
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe number of days that 450 tons of coal would last depends on the weather and other circumstances.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many days would that quantity of coal have lasted in the weather which the Resolution experienced? If not, will he kindly say so?
§ [No answer was given.]