Mr. MIDDLE MOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the speed of the 16 destroyers provided for under the programme for 1908–9 is to be 27 knots; and if he will state what foreign Powers are building destroyers with a lower speed than 30 knots?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The following vessels building for foreign Powers and not yet completed have a designed speed of less than 30 knots:—
Comparisons of speed cannot be made unless the conditions of trial are identical.
France 8 of 28 knots. United States 5 of 28 knots. 10 of 29.5 knots. Japan 1 of 29 knots. Austria 4 of 28 knots. Brazil 5 of 27 knots.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREWill the right hon. Gentleman give me a Return of the destroyers of the French, British, German and United States navy with a trial speed of 30 knots and over?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think it would be most misleading if the hon. Gentleman got the Return for which he asks. Trial speed indicates nothing unless the conditions are the same. One destroyer under some conditions may only give 27 knots, but under other conditions it would give 33.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREThe right hon. Gentleman does not think that that will give us some information?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I do not think the information would be of the least value unless the conditions were the same.