§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if a Roman Catholic chaplain will be on board the hospital ship to be attached to the Mediterranean Fleet.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERIt is not proposed at present to appoint any chaplains to the "Maine," which will be used principally for the purpose of taking convalescent fever and other patients to sea for change of air. A Roman Catholic chaplain has, however, been appointed for service afloat in the Mediterranean Fleet, and is at present with the admiral at Rapallo. It is intended to make a permanent appointment of this nature, and the services of a chaplain will therefore be available and will be utilised on board the "Maine" or other hospital ship in the event of war.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that the late First Lord of the Admiralty (Lord Goschen), replying to a deputation of Irish Members on this subject, said there should be a Catholic chaplain on every hospital ship?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERMy recollection is that his words were that the matter should receive favourable 427 consideration. We have come to the conclusion that the most favourable way of dealing with the question is that indicated in my answer, and that the services of a Catholic chaplain would be of greater value if attached to the Fleet at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief than if merely appointed to a special ship.