ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether it is true, as reported in The Times of 14th January, that the military authorities of India have decided to remove the heavy guns from the batteries recently erected for the defence of the Port of Rangoon, thus leaving it practically defenceless; whether the Government of India decided five years ago to construct two batteries, to be armed with 10-inch guns, for the defence of that port; whether it is true, as reported, that the batteries have been constructed on unsuitable sites, and have subsided so much that the heavy guns cannot be mounted upon them; and what is the cost of construction of the batteries in question, now said to be useless, and who is responsible for these shortcomings?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. George RUSSELL,) North Beds.The guns referred to have not yet been mounted on the batteries. The answer to the second question is, Yes—with two 10-inch gusts in all. There is no information at the India Office as to the alleged subsidence, but a Report on the subject was called for by the last mail. The batteries are not quite completed, so the actual cost up to date cannot be given. I may add that the guns in question do not constitute the whole of the defences of Rangoon.