§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total number of officers of captain's rank and above who are now serving in sea-going fleets with brevet rank, that is to say, captains serving as commodores, rear-admirals as vice-admirals, and vice-admirals as admirals; and what was the corresponding figure for April, 1902.
†See (4) Debates, clxii., 939–40.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeThe numbers in the sea-going fleets at the present time are as follows: Two captains serving as commodores, one rear-admiral as vice-admiral, one vice-admiral as admiral. On the 1st November, 1902, two captains were serving as commodores.
§ MR. BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1902 the Mediterranean Squadron consisted of fourteen battleships with a vice-admiral in command, where now it consists of six battleships with a vice-admiral given admiral's rank with admiral's pay, and a rear-admiral with vice-admiral's rank and pay?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI believe that is so.