§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state what meaning is to be attributed to the phrase naval ports on page 18 of his Memorandum; what is the present condition of that portion of the defences of Berehaven which has hitherto been supervised by the Royal Engineers afloat; whether it has been handed over to the Navy; and whether the units of Militia garrison artillery intended for the defence of Berehaven on mobilisation are among those for which recruiting has been stopped on the ground that the retention of the units is under consideration.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe phrase naval ports as used in the Memorandum on Army Estimates is merely intended to express those more important ports used by His Majesty's Ships where the Navy were prepared to take over the submarine mines and their appliances. As regards Berehaven, the portion of the defences which has hitherto been 1370 supervised by the Royal Engineers afloat is now being prepared for transfer to the Navy. The reply to the last part of the Question is in the negative.