§ MR. H. SETON-KARR (St. Helens)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the acceptance by the Government of the Motion of 6th April last on the subject of our national food supplies in the event of war, whether he will ascertain, either by means of a Departmental Committee of Naval Officers or otherwise from naval experts, what number of cruisers will be required to adequately protect our ocean trade routes in the event of a war with one or more maritime Powers; and whether the result of such Inquiry, with full particulars, can be communicated to Parliament?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)The Resolution in question has introduced no new feature whatever so far as the Admiralty is concerned. The hon. Member must think the Admiralty very remiss in their duty if he supposed they have not considered, and considered in detail, the number of cruisers required to protect our ocean trade routes in time of war, and their distribution. [Cheers.] Every spot where cruisers ought to be placed has been the subject of careful thought. It is, of course, one of the chief preoccupations of the First Naval Lord, but it is quite out of the question to make public in any way the proposed strategical disposition of our naval forces. [Cheers.]