HC Deb 27 September 1909 vol 11 c923
Mr. GEORGE HARDY

asked whether the First Lord of the Admiralty has any official information which would lead him to believe that the blue jackets in the forward part of Submarine C11 lived for several hours after the accident to that vessel on compressed air, and only lost consciousness and life as the oxygen was used up, and that they might possibly have escaped had they been supplied with submarine helmets?

Dr. MACNAMARA

There is no truth whatever in the statement which has been made containing the suggestion referred to in my hon. Friend's question. The formation of chlorine gas inside the vessel must have caused death very rapidly in the cases of the men not immediately drowned. The circumstances were such that helmets could not have been used.