§ MB. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GORE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the nature of the defects which prevent H.M.S. "Russell" from proceeding to join the Mediterranean Fleet.
§ MB. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe defect which prevented H.M.S. "Russell" proceeding to sea was the inefficient working of the evaporators, on account of the priming. Satisfactory trials were made yesterday, and it is hoped the ship will proceed to-day (Wednesday), if not prevented by fog.
§ SIR WILLIAMS ALLAN (Gateshead)Why was not the inefficiency of the evaporators ascertained before the vessel was taken over by the Admiralty?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThey were tried before being taken over, and no difficulty at all arose. It is supposed that the impurity of the water at Sheerness caused the difficulty, which has now ceased.
§ SIR WILLIAM ALLANWas it the boilers or evaporators that primed?
MR. ARNOLD-FOSTERIt was the evaporators which primed, and not the boilers. But they were fully tested.
§ SIR WILLIAM ALLANI may inform the hon. Gentleman that evaporators do not prime.