§ MR. JOHN PENN (Lewisham)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty for how long a time the Powerful and the Terrible were under steam during the recent manœuvres; if he can state approximately the maximum power indicated, and for how long a time this power was obtained; whether any difficulty or trouble was experienced with the boilers; and whether the engine room complement was found to be sufficient and adequate?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (MR. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe time the Powerful and Terrible were under steam was as follows:—Powerful, 104¼ hours; Terrible, 94 hours. The maximum power indicated was:—Powerful, 18,500 to 24,000 h.p. for five hours; Terrible, 18,000 for seven hours. There was no trouble with the boilers of the Terrible. As to the boilers of the Powerful, one tube in one out of the 48 boilers split in the weld (no damage resulted); and there was occasional trouble with the feed pumps, which are now being put right. Both ships have recommended an increase to their engine room complement, but experience during manœuvres in newly commissioned ships is not sufficient to enable a decision on these complements to be reached as yet. The matter will receive full consideration.