§ SIR BERKELEY SHEFFIELD (Lincolnshire, Brigg)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how long His Majesty's Ship "Dreadnought" was kept waiting for her 12-pounder ammunition recently; whether this delay was due to 1132 the inability of Woolwich Arsenal to cope with the work owing to shortage of hands; and, if not, to what other cause is the delay attributable.
§ MR. LAMBERTHis Majesty's Ship "Dreadnought" has not been kept waiting for her 12-pounder ammunition. A demand recently preferred at Portsmouth for reduced charges, which do not form part of the fighting equipment of the ship, could not immediately be complied with in full locally, but the balance is available elsewhere. The suggestion in the second sentence of the question is without foundation.