§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Channel Fleet, having assembled at Portland for one of its annual cruises, left Portland on 11th March with three battleships, two armoured cruisers, one unarmoured cruiser, and ten destroyers short of strength; and whether he can state the reason of the absence of so many vessels without replacement.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe cruisers and one battleship were undergoing their annual refit. Another battleship was delayed for two days on special duty, and the third was left behind as she is about to be relieved. The destroyers were complete, except that three were docking, but have since left to rejoin the Fleet, and one was under repair. The remaining six were nucleus crew vessels which were not intended to proceed with the Fleet.