§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state what reasons exist for counting as first-class battleships the "Collingwood," of 9,500 tons, launched in 1882,and classed in a Parliamentary Return of the present session as of comparatively small fighting value, a French ship of 10.C03 tons launched in 1879, the Italian "Duilio," and H.M.S. "Sans Pareil," thus giving an appearance of greater strength to the British, French, and Italian Fleets, as compared with those of Germany, Japan, and the United States.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) Return No. 96 gives a list of all ships under their respective classes, and so long as a vessel remains on the fighting list at all it is difficult to depart from this classification. The relative fighting value of the various ships may, however, be roughly assessed by their precedence on that list, or, more, accurately, by reference to the table giving the data of launch, tonnage, and armaments. In the case of foreign ships the Return follows the classification adopted by the countries concerned; but the inference suggested in the hon. Member's Question would hardly be drawn when it is remembered that Germany, Japan, and the United States have no large battleships of an earlier date than 1893.