SIR E. ASIIMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty at what date it is expected that the French first-class battleships Brennus, Jauriguiberry, and charles Martel, and the French second-class battleships Trehouart, Bouvines, Jemappes, and Valmy will be ready for sea; and also at what date the Russian first-class battleships Navarin, George the Victorious, and Three Saints will be ready for sea?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe hon. Member asks the Admiralty to give information as to the probable dates of completion of ships belonging to two Foreign Powers. For this I must refer him to French and Russian sources of information. As regards foreign ships, we can only state ascertained facts, such as the dates when ships have actually been laid down, launched, or completed.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI should like to ask whether the Admiralty have not information that all the ships mentioned in the question, excepting the Charles Martel, will be ready for sea in the first part of the current year?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHCertainly not. Our information is of a very different character, but it is not of a nature which I can communicate to the House.