§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether mishaps occurred to both H.M.S. "Africa" and H.M.S. "Duke of Edinburgh" when testing moorings at Dover; whether the grounding of H.M.S. "Duke of Edinburgh" was due to the dangerous currents in the harbour; and what action the Board of Admiralty propose to take for the safety of ships using the harbour.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo mishap occurred to the "Africa." The "Duke of Edinburgh," when entering, was placed in difficulties by a vessel crossing her bows, and promptly let go an anchor to avoid mishap. Owing to the bad holding ground the anchor did not bite, and the "Duke of Edinburgh" drifted somewhat to the northward and smelt the ground. To avoid such occur- 1484 rences in future, a system of signals will be instituted to prevent vessels entering and leaving the harbour together.