§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he would state at what date in the autumn of 1910 the four German Dreadnoughts of the 1908–9 programme, making a total of nine, were completed?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe four German Dreadnoughts referred to are not yet completed.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked at what date in the current year the four German ships of the 1909–10 programme will be completed, making a total of thirteen; and how many, other than the "Oldenburg," had been launched?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is not anticipated that any of the four German ships of the 1909–10 programme will be completed in the current year. The "Oldenburg" was launched on the 30th June, 1910. No other vessel of this programme has yet been launched.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEMay I ask the right bon. Gentleman whether the launching of these vessels is any test of their actual advance towards completion?
§ Mr. McKENNASome tests; it is not a decisive test.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he can state when the four German ships of the 267 1910–11 programme, making seventeen built and building, were ordered, commenced, or laid down, explaining the precise meaning to be attached to such terms as regards actual progress; and at what date in 1912 they may be expected to be complete, whether for trials or commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe date these vessels were ordered and commenced has not been communicated to the Admiralty, but it is expected they will be delivered from the shipyards in the spring of 1913?
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked whether he now expects twenty-one German Dreadnoughts to be completed in any part of 1913?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not expect twenty-one German "Dreadnoughts" to have been delivered from the shipyards in the calendar year 1913.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTWill any of them be even ready for trial in 1913?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am only in a position to give my hon. Friend an answer in the precise terms in which the communication has been officially made to me.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER GRAYCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us when these twenty-one ships are expected to be ready?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no official information, but judging from analogy, they will be delivered from the shipyards in the spring of 1914.
§ Mr. LEEDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean by "official communication," official communication from the German Government?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, sir.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether in March, 1909, thirteen German vessels of the Dreadnought type were under construction; whether the "Oldenburg" was, quite apart from the date of the official order in April, 1909, anticipated and effectively commenced in the latter months of 1908; whether it is correct to say that the time occupied in construction to the date of launch in July, 1910, was therefore about twenty months as compared with about nine months for contemporary British vessels; and what is the estimated date of completion for trials and for commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAAssuming that the words "under construction" relate to the hulls, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The date on which the "Oldenburg" was effectively commenced prior to April, 1909, has not been communicated to the Admiralty. I am unable to reply to the third part of the question; and as to the fourth part, the "Oldenburg" is expected to be delivered from the shipyard in the spring of 1912.
§ Mr. BURGOYNECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Admiralty are for these purposes in the habit of considering only the effective strength of the German Navy?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEIn the circumstances, is it not invidious to ask questions only in regard to Germany?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat does not rest with me. I have to answer the questions put.