§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can inform the House whether the French Government have a Naval station called Mers - el - Kebir, situated near Gibraltar; if so, will he state its exact locality and the distance from Gibraltar, whether it is fortified, a torpedo base, or only a signal station.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) Mers-el-Kebir is an auxiliary to the French Naval Station of Oran, and there is at present a small torpedo boat station there. It lies about 6,000 yards N.W. by W. of Oran, and 228 miles from Gibraltar. It is fortified.