§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the officers censured in the Admiralty Memorandum on the "Assistance" court martial were in receipt of the memorandum before its publication in the Press; whether any Press writers were in receipt of the memorandum more than twenty-four hours before its publication; whether any Report was made to the Admiralty by the Captain 497 of the "Assistance" as to the ground tackle of that ship being ineffective; and whether he is aware that the "Assistance" dragged her anchors on several occasions owing to the ground tackle being too light.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo copies of the Admiralty Minute were issued to the Press until the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet had acknowledged the receipt of the letter forwarding it to him and directing him to communicate it to the Officers concerned. The Answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part of the question, no report was made by the Captain of the "Assistance" as to the ground tackle being ineffective, and nothing is known as to the ship having dragged her anchors at any time.