HC Deb 05 July 1905 vol 148 cc1122-3
MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD (Liverpool, West Derby)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the disaster which occurred off Dungeness on the morning of June 3rd last, whereby the Liverpool sailing ship "Afghanistan" was sunk by H. M. S. "Cæsar," with the loss of nineteen lives; is it in contemplation to make any compensation to the relatives of the crew of the "Afghanistan" who perished in the disaster; and further, will instructions be issued to naval officers, with a view to the prevention of similar warlike tactics being † See page 974. carried out at the risk of the seafaring community.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk, Woodbridge)

The circumstances of this regrettable collision are at present under the consideration of the legal advisers of the Admiralty, and the position of the Admiralty in the matter cannot be defined until their advice has been received. The matter is being hastened, and the earliest communication possible will be made as to compensation. No evolutions were in progress at the time of the accident.

MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD

I should like to mention that these people are very poor, and if anything is to be done for them it ought to be done promptly.

MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway)

Did not a very thick fog prevail at the time of the accident, and was not the "Cæsar" running at a speed of thirteen knots to the danger of ships in general? Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent war vessels running at such a speed in fog?

MR. PRETYMAN

said the speed of the "Cæsar" was 11.2 knots at the time of the collision and the ships had only just run into the thick bank of fog which was the cause of the accident. There had not been sufficient time to slow down.

MR GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Is not the speed during a fog limited to five knots by an order of the Admiralty?

MR. PRETYMAN

The speed in a fog is left to the discretion of the admiral commanding.