§ MR. HARMSWORTHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the gun turrets of His Majesty's battleships are worked by electricity; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of installing the necessary electric machinery for this purpose as speedily as possible.
§ MR. ARNOLD - FORSTERThe turrets and barbettes of the heavy guns 428 in the Navy are not worked by electricity' but by hydraulic power. The question of substituting electrical machinery for the purpose has been carefully considered, but up to the present time the hydraulic machinery has been preferred and has given excellent results. Electricity is in use for working portions of the gun machinery on board the "Renown," "Barfleur," and "Centurion," and will be largely applied for similar purposes in ships now under construction. It is also proposed to furnish electrical machinery to the turrets, turn tables, and shields of a number of cruisers now under construction or approaching completion. The experience gained from these installations will furnish a valuable guide as to whether the use of electricity can be with advantage extended in the future.