§ SIR E. HARLAND (Belfast, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will advise those at present conducting the inquiry into the causes of the loss of H.M.S. Victoria, and the serious injury to H.M.S. Camperdown, to take the evidence of such hands below as were either responsible for or cognisant of the condition of any watertight doors in bulkheads near the injured parts, so as to ascertain if open or closed at the time of the collision, as invaluable information for the future, and in view of the extreme difficulty of retaining such witnesses for any later inquiry, they being subject to entry on foreign service?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Lancashire, Clitheroe)The Court Martial will, in accordance with Clause 92 of the Naval Discipline Act, under which the charge is technically made, inquire into all the circumstances attending the loss of the Victoria or contributory to it; and the Admiralty consider that it would be inexpedient to give any particular orders to guide the Court in any one direction. The plans of the bulkheads and watertight doors have been sent out for the use of the Court. The evidence of all those responsible for or cognisant of the condition of these doors will be taken in the usual course.