§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether there are now under construction or whether it is proposed to 1191 construct any cruisers of the "Drake" type capable of coping with the fastest and most heavily armoured commerce destroyers of foreign navies, such as the Russian cruiser "Novik," which steams twenty-five knots.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Russian ship "Novik" is not one of the fastest and most heavily armoured commerce destroyers, but is a second-class cruiser of 3,000 tons displacement. Vessels of the "Drake" class are fully capable of coping with such a ship. None of the so-called commerce destroyers of foreign navies possess a speed of twenty-five knots.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONHas the "Novik" a speed of twenty-five knots?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERShe is only a small second-class cruiser and not a commerce destroyer.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONHas the Admiralty any vessels under construction which will be able to cope with her?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Admiralty is under the impression that the vessels of the "Drake" class are fully capable of that.
§ SIR WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the "Novik" cannot steam twenty-five knots for more than four hours?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI have every reason to believe that the hon. Member is quite correct.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESCan the hon. Gentleman explain what is to be understood by the term "commerce destroyer"?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI was only using a term which is generally used by more than one of the Great Powers in regard to large, unarmoured cruisers built by them.