§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state what was the nature of the accident to the guns of H.M.S. "Thunderer," as revealed by the recent inquiry.
§ * THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN,) Suffolk, WoodbridgeWhilst at target practice with half charges and Palliser shells, two of the 10-inch breech-loading guns in the "Thunderer were temporarily disabled by a portion of the shells being jammed in the bore of the gun, and so preventing loading being carried out. The accident was caused through the projectiles slipping back into the chamber after being rammed home. The guns were in no way injured. Such an occurrence could not take place in action, when full charges and steel pro- 476 jectiles would be used, as the projectile could not slip back and the gas pressure would be much higher.