§ Mr. BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was aware that in the Blue Book entitled "A Statement of Admiralty Policy," dated 30th November, 1905, it was stated on page 31, with reference to the "Admiral" class of battleships which are to pass off the effective list this year, that even if re-armed and completed at a cost of £2,000,000 they would be poorly protected, because their unarmoured ends make them vulnerable to a second-class cruiser; and whether he will cause this statement to be tested by firing at the unarmoured bow and stern sections of one of these obsolete ships for a period of ten minutes at a range of 4,000 yards with the 6-inch batteries of a couple of battleships?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is quite correct that the statement quoted appears in the Blue Book referred to. It is not considered necessary to test the statement as suggested, since it is too obviously true to need experimental verification.
§ Mr. BELLAIRSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of carrying out the experiments in order to sec what will happen to the unarmoured ends of the other ships I have mentioned, and is he aware that the "Majestic" and ocean classes have wood decks not laid over with iron, and which would catch fire at once?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not know whether we could carry out the experiments with one of the "Majestic" class. I am not aware whether the hon. Gentleman wishes that we should do so, because we certainly do not propose to do it. With regard to the "Admiral" class, it is obviously true that the 6-inch guns would penetrate the unarmoured ends.