MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that on 29th April seven battleships of the Mediterranean.
† See page 418.536 Fleet got rid of 7,000 rounds of ammunition in two hours; that the instructions were to get rid of it in the afternoon and they had to do it; that they could not in the least see where their shots were going; and that the gunnery officers protested, but it was of no use. Was this done by order of the Admiral commanding the Fleet? And, in view of the fact that on the 23rd April the Admiralty had adopted the practice of specially directing the attention of the officers concerned to all cases in which the firing has been unsatisfactory, will they inquire into this case and direct the attention to it of all the officers concerned, from the Admiral downwards. And will the special reports with regard to gunnery efficiency which are forwarded to the Admiralty for consideration at the time of the half-yearly recommendations of lieutenants for promotion, report in this case the share, if any, of the executive officers, captains, and admiral, in causing defective gunnery practice.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe attention of the Board of Admiralty has been called to the statement in respect of the alleged waste of ammunition in the Mediterranean Fleet. A report on the subject has been called for, and until it has been received the Admiralty must necessarily suspend their judgment.