HC Deb 12 May 1908 vol 188 c910
MR. BELLAIRS

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the cruiser "Charybdis," of 4,360 tons, belonging to the Nore Division of the Home Fleet, is on a cruise with other ships and carrying out gunnery practice with only a nucleus crew on board; whether she has only the captain and two lieutenants to do the executive, navigating, watch-keeping, and gunnery duties of the ship, including station-keeping when at sea with the other ships; and whether the Board intend to permit this ship and other ships of her type to go to sea without increase of complement.

MR. MCKENNA

The reply to the first part of the Hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. An additional lieutenant has been allowed in the complement of this class of ship for the nucleus crews.

MR. BELLAIRS

Has the additional lieutenant been appointed since I put the Question down?

MR. MCKENNA

My hon. friend is mistaken in supposing that his Question had any influence whatever on the action of the Admiralty.

MR. BELLAIRS

But until this additional lieutenant was appointed within the last few days, has not this vessel been cruising with only two lieutenants? What was the date when this lieutenant was appointed?

[No Answer was returned.]