§ MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has received any official report from Admiral Lord Charles Beresford as to the sufficiency of the Channel Fleet; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in consequence of the report.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Admiralty must, in the interest of the public service, decline to allow their confidential communications with the officers of the Fleet to be the subject of Parliamentary inquiry.
§ MR. HUNTasked whether, in view of the fact that the Home Fleet was the reserve fleet, there were, in the case of invasion, only fourteen battleships—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That Question does not arise out of the reply given.
MR. STANLEY WILSON (Yorkshire, E.R., Holderness)Is it a fact that the 699 German fleet in the North Sea will be stronger in number of battleships—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That Question also does not arise out of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Will the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the cases of both these hon. Members in filling up the post of Lord High Admiral?
§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the strength of the Channel Fleet is to be increased beyond the fourteen battleships, four armoured cruisers and three unarmoured cruisers, at which it was fixed last month; and whether the original arrangement by which all the destroyers were attached to the Home Fleet, and therefore independent of Lord Charles Beresford's command, still holds good.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative, and in reply to the second part of the Question the original arrangement holds goods, and the destroyers will from time to time be placed at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet, for tactical exercises.
§ MR. BELLAIRSWill Lord Charles Beresford be given any additional cruisers to handle when and for so long as he likes, I although they may not be nominally attached to the Channel Fleet?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI must ask for notice.