§ * SIR JOHN COLOMBI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the length of service of each of the flag officers now serving in the Mediterranean Fleet and Channel Squadron from the date of promotion to lieutenant to the date of first hoisting their flags after promotion to flag rank; and how much of that service was spent in sea-going ships.
MR. GOSCHENIt is impossible to give a fair account of the service of the respective admirals inquired about by a simple answer to the question. The only answer which would give a correct impression would be an enumeration of their successive important services, and that would form a list too long for a reply across the Table.
§ * SIR JOHN COLOMBI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the length of time spent as commissioned officers in ships of war by the senior gunnery lieutenant and the senior engineer, marine artillery, and marine infantry officers who are now serving in the Mediterranean Fleet and Channel Squadron respectively.
MR. GOSCHENThe service of the following commissioned officers in ships of war is as follows:—Mediter- 1526 ranean Fleet—senior gunnery lieutenants, sixteen years five months; Marine Artillery officer, eight years seven months. Channel Squadron—senior gunnery lieutenant, twelve years seven months; Marine Light Infantry officer, ten years eight months. The senior engineers mentioned in the question of my hon. and gallant friend are of higher rank and much longer seniority than that of gunnery lieutenant and major of marines, and consequently should not be compared with them. They are fleet engineers. Their services in sea-going ships are twenty - eight and twenty - six years respectively.