60. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what would be the combined strength in 1915 of battleships and battle cruisers of the "Dreadnought," or improved class, of the fleets of Germany, Austria, and Italy, on the one hand., and of Great Britain, France, and Russia, on the other, if the present shipbuilding programmes of the respective countries were adhered to?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLTaking the middle of 1915, the figures asked for are as follows:—
In the figures for Great Britain, the "New Zealand" is included, but not the "Australia," and no account is taken of Canadian and Malayan ships. The "Lord Nelsons" and "Radetskys" are counted as "Dreadnoughts" as well as the "Dantons."
Germany 23 Italy 6 Austria-Hungary. 7 Total 36 Great Britain 37 France 12 Russia 4 Total 53