§ SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty is in possession of information that submarine boats corresponding to thoie built and equipped in this country have been employed by the Japanese in their recent naval warfare; whether the evidence at the inquiries into the three fatal casualties to Submarines 1, 5, and 8, of their limited buoyancy, and numerous mechanical and chemical complications, has satisfied the Board that, as instruments of warfare, such submarines must be more dangerous to their users than to the vessels they are intended to assail; and whether the Board will give directions that the building of such vessels shall cease until their utility and safety is more satisfactorily demonstrated.
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PKETYMAN,) Suffolk, Wood-bridgeThe Admiralty are not prepared to give any information concerning the war vessels of either of the belligerent Powers. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, there is nothing in the accidents that have occurred to suggest that these boats cannot be safely handled on any service on which they may be employed. The Admiralty consider that their utility has been amply demonstrated during the extensive work carried out by them during the last three years, and they intend to continue the construction of such vessels.