§ MR. HARMSWORTHTo ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that during the recent prize firing practice of H. M. S. "Empress of India," the flagship of Rear-Admiral Jeffreys, only three shots out of 18 fired from the 13.5-inch guns, and 17 hits out of 69 shots fired from the 6 inch guns were made, he will state what steps the Lords of the Admiralty propose to adopt to prevent the recurrence of such a low average of shooting in this ship.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) The prize firing of the "Empress of India" on this occasion cannot, as brought to the notice of the Admiralty by Admiral Jeffreys, be regarded as satisfactory. It is partially, however, accounted for by the fact that this ship has just returned from a three months refit in the dockyard, during which time the target practice could not be carried out, and many of her men were temporarily employed in other ships. The "Empress of India" now flies the flag of the Rear-Admiral of the Home Squadron and is carrying out the prescribed exercises, which will no doubt remedy the shortcomings referred to.