PARTINGTON ( Derbyshire, High PeakI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if, owing to the publication of figures of merit, it has lately become the rule in the Navy to carry out firing 1306 exercises only under the most favourable conditions of wind and weather.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere has been no change in the Regulations, but it is obvious that firing exercises at sea can, as a rule, only be carried out when the weather is sufficiently favourable to permit of boats approaching the target to repair or replace the canvas.
§ MR. STANGER (Kensington, N.)Is there any truth in the report that appeared in the papers this morning that the Admiralty intend considerably to reduce the staff of the gunnery training establishment at Portsmouth?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONMy hon. friend, no doubt, alludes to the statement in the Standard this morning. I am astonished that such a statement should appear in any newspaper. It is an absolute lie.