§ SIR EDWARD GOURLEYI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will be good enough to state the age, speed, and length of coal endurance at sea of the twenty-four torpedo boats which, in the current naval manœuvres, are being pitted against twenty-four modern torpedo boat destroyers, and whether the torpedo boats located in the French Channel ports are not only nearly double in number to those located in British Channel ports, but also more modern and of greater speed; and will he state whether the manœuvring squadrons are being replenished with fuel at sea or by returing to port, and whether they are accompanied by repairing and condensing ships; and, if not, can he state the reason, seeing that both descriptions would be needed in war.
MR. GOSCHENThe question of the hon. Member comprises matters of statistics and naval policy, with which it is impossible to deal within the limits of a question. The hon. Gentleman will find statistics as to British and foreign torpedo boats in the Return of fleets presented to the House last year. The contending admirals have colliers at their disposal for coaling their squadrons when and where they wish. A condensing ship has been attached to each of A and B fleets for the manœuvres. Except the "Hecla," which ship is capable of effecting small repairs, no repairing ships are taking part in the manœuvres. The provision of such ships for the short period of the manœuvres was unnecessary, and their fitting would have been very costly. I may remind the hon. Gentleman that provision was made in the additional Estimates for a repairing ship for general service with the fleet, but the arrangements have not yet been concluded.