HC Deb 16 March 1910 vol 15 cc333-4
Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked what sum had been taken in the German Naval Estimates for 1910 as a first instalment towards the construction of the battleships "Ersatz Hagen," and "Ersatz Aegir," and "Ersatz Odin"?

Mr. McKENNA

The total sum taken for the vessels referred to is £479,452.

Mr. ARTHUR LEE

Is that for each ship?

Mr. McKENNA

Yes.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could communicate to the House the tonnage, speed, and armament of the German armoured ships provided for in 1908 and 1909, and the respective dates on which these eight ships would be completed?

Mr. McKENNA

No official information has been received regarding the tonnage, speed, and armament of the ships mentioned. The following are the official dates for their completion:—

  • Cruiser "G"……17th June, 1911.
  • "Heligoland" and
  • "Thuringen"…‥20th June, 1911.
  • " Ostfriesland"…‥1st August, 1911.
  • "Ersatz Frithjof"
  • and Cruiser "H" 8th April, 1912.
No official dates have been received regarding the completion of the battleships "Ersatze Heimdall" and "Hildebrand."

Mr. GIBSON BOWLES

Does the information from the Government's own resources corroborate the German official dates?

Mr. McKENNA

I am afraid we can have no information which would corroborate or contradict a statement as to what is going to happen in 1911 or 1912. We have to accept the official dates.