§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any instructions of any kind whatsoever, other than the ordinary orders for the assembly of a court-martial, were issued in connection with the "Cobra" court-martial in 1901; and whether the Court exceeded its powers in bringing in a verdict that the loss was due to structural weakness, and that the Court also found that the "Cobra" was weaker than other destroyers, and, in view of that fact, it was to be regretted that she was purchased into His Majesty's service.
§ MR. McKENNAThe "Cobra" court-martial appears to have been convened under Sections 91 and 92 of the Naval Discipline Act to inquire into the cause of the loss of the "Cobra," and to try the survivors for their conduct on the occasion. The Court did not exceed its powers in "finding" (there being no charge, there was no "verdict" properly so called) that the loss was due to structural weakness. It did exceed its powers in finding that the "Cobra" was weaker than other destroyers, and that, in view of that fact, it was to be regretted that she was purchased into His Majesty's service. After the minutes of the court martial had been considered by the Admiralty, the President, the Members of the Court, and the Deputy Judge Advocate, were informed that the Court was not justified in this expression of opinion.