§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if, bearing in mind that the naval manœuvres of 1906 involved a considerable expenditure of public money, he can put the House into possession of the strategical and tactical lessons they taught as regards the clear food route of Great Britain, and its alleged inviolability in the future from a recurrence of the Foreign invasions from which it has suffered in the past, and which have even been threatened in 1283 our own time, when Foreign navies were less powerful than at present.
§ *MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Board of Admiralty are of opinion that no statement in regard to the strategical and tactical lessons drawn from the recent manœuvres can be made without detriment to the public interest; but they do not in any way share the apprehensions which the hon. and gallant Member appears to entertain in regard to the danger to our food routes.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTAs large sums of money were spent on these manœuvres, are we to have any information of the result? Over 300 vessels were employed in them.
§ *MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONasked for notice of the Question.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTIt is the j question on the Paper.
§ *MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI do not think so.
§ VISCOUNT TURNOURBut can the hon. Gentleman give no indication of the effect these manœuvres had upon the opinion of the Admiralty?
§ *MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI can only repeat the Answer I have already given.