§ Mr. GRETTONasked how many battleships of the "Nassau" type are now building in Germany, and if these battleships are superior to the "Dreadnought" type in displacement or armament; and whether the number of heavy guns is greater and the size of the secondary guns heavier?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must refer the hon. Member to the Return issued on the Motion of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Forest of Dean, which gives such official information as we have upon the subject.
§ Mr. GRETTONHave any ships been laid down in Germany since the date of that Return?
§ Mr. McKENNANo battleships have been laid down since the date of that Return.
§ Mr. GRETTONasked if the German Government commenced last year to build battleships superior in nearly every respect to the "Dreadnought" type; how many battleships in Germany are nearing the time for launching; and how many German battleships are now laid down and in hand or to be laid down in the immediate future?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe details of the battleships laid down by the German Government last year have not been made public. One battleship should be launched next month. Ten German battleships are now laid down and in hand or to be laid down in the immediate future.
§ Mr. ASHLEYAre we to understand that the Admiralty do not know what is the armament and tonnage of the German battleships laid down last year?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, the hon. Member is not to understand anything of the sort. He is to understand only exactly what I have said.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDCould not the hon. Gentleman suggest to our representatives, especially in Germany, that they should get someone to put similar questions in the German Parliament, so that we might get all the information from them that they get here?