§ MR. FULLERTON (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the s.s. "Xema," bound for the Guano Islands on a mineral expedition under the British flag, flying the blue ensign, was stopped by one of His Majesty's cruisers; whether he is aware that His Majesty's cruisers "Crescent," "Terpsichore," and "Pelorus," were in that neighbourhood at the time; whether they were sent to that neighbourhood for the purpose of intercepting the s.s. "Xema"; if so, by whose order the ships were despatched on this mission: and whether the costs of despatching the above cruisers are to be paid by the Government of this country or by the Government of Cape Colony?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative. His Majesty's ships "Terpsichore," and "Pelorus" were in the neighbourhood of the Guano Islands at the same time as the "Xema," but not His Majesty's ship "Crescent," which was at Simon's Bay. The two vessels first named proceeded to Walfisch Bay to carry out battle practice in accordance with arrangements made by the Commander-in-Chief so far back as June last. On the representation of the Cape Colony Government the Commander-in-Chief directed them to call at the Guano Islands en route. The "Terpsichore" found the "Xema" there, but took no action beyond warning her master of the Cape Government's proclamation against landing, and immediately left for Walfisch Bay. The "Pelorus" passed the islands without sighting the ''Xema." The point raised in the last art of the Question does not arise.