§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if any naval courts of inquiry sat to inquire into the results of the gunnery of any ships of the Home Fleet before or after the recent battle practice; if so, will he state the reasons for holding such courts of inquiry; and whether the "Hannibal" was one of the ships in question.
§ MR. LAMBERTWhenever the results of a firing are such as to throw doubts on the capacity of the gun layers or the supervision of the officers, a court of inquiry is held. Such courts have been held either before or after last year's battle practice in all the fleets except China and Mediterranean. The "Hannibal" was one of the ships affected.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHwas understood to ask for a more definite statement in regard to the "Hannibal."
§ MR. LAMBERTreplied that what was done in that case was quite usual.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHWas the inquiry held before or after the battle practice?
§ MR. LAMBERTasked for notice.