HC Deb 19 July 1911 vol 28 cc1012-3
Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that a committee of three admirals, including two who subsequently served as First Sea Lords, which reported on the naval manœuvres of 1888, declared that every battleship in a blockading fleet should be accompanied by at least one cruiser; whether he is aware that the number of battleships building, or not launched more than twenty years, is sixty-three, and the number of protected cruisers seventy; and whether he will say what provision will be made for the defence of our trade routes after an adequate number of cruisers has been allotted to the battle fleet?

The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)

The report of 1888 was made before wireless telegraphy was invented which has greatly altered the conditions. The number of battleships and protected cruisers, including Canadian and Australian, is correct, but to these must be added forty-three armoured cruisers.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the number of cruisers fitted with wireless telegraphy?

Mr. McKENNA

I have given the hon. Gentleman a full answer to the question on the Paper.