§ Mr. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give any particulars of the sinking of the submarine A3; if he can state if it is proposed to purchase or to construct a salvage vessel or vessels 450 and station the same at Portsmouth and other dockyards; and, if so, if he can name a date when such will be provided; if it is beyond the constructive skill of the dockyards of this country to devise means of escape for the crew of a damaged submarine; and if any provision has been or is to be made for the pecuniary relief of the families of the crew of the submarine A3?
Sir C. KINLOCH COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information to give the House with regard to the sinking of submarine A 3; whether he is satisfied that the Admiralty possess the most effective and up-to-date salvage plant; and whether the salvage plant for submarines in the German Navy could have dealt with the accident that happened to submarine A 3 in a more effective manner than has been possible with the plant in the possession of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf I may, I will answer Questions 59 and 62 together. The A 3 was sunk on 2nd February as the result of a collision with His Majesty's ship "Hazard." The submarine was running submerged at the time, was struck by the propellers of the "Hazard," and immediately foundered in eleven fathoms of water. The salvage equipment in the possession of the Admiralty comprises a combined mooring and salvage lighter, No. 94, capable of lifting a dead load of 270 tons, built at Chatham Dockyard in 1910–11, and delivered to Sheerness on completion; a new salvage lighter, No. 96, capable of lifting a dead load of about 450 tons is under construction by Messrs. Vickers, and is expected to be completed by about the middle of May, 1912. In addition to these, there are two lighters at each of the following dockyards, Portsmouth, Devonport, and Sheerness, which are capable of lifting a submarine not full of water. The equipment is considered suitable for the present requirements of the Navy. It is the practice in the British submarine service to carry out diving operations under all conditions and in all depths of water; and it is not possible to introduce any device which can be guaranteed to afford certain means of escape in every contingency. All possible ways of reducing risks and of saving life after accidents to submarines will be constantly studied by the Admiralty, in frequent consultation with the principal officers in the submarine service, whose opinion must be taken as an important guide. With regard to the provision made 451 for the pecuniary relief of the families of the deceased sailors, I am informed that pensions to widows and allowances to orphans have already been awarded, according to scale, in certain of the cases from Greenwich Hospital funds. In the remaining cases inquiry is being made. I cannot refer to this subject without expressing on behalf of the House of Commons the sorrow which is felt by all at the loss of these brave and skilful officers and sailors who were overtaken by a mercifully sudden death in the discharge of the dangerous duties they so cheerfully fulfil.
§ Mr. FALLEWould not the sympathy of this House be better expressed by building salvage vessels which would be useful under conditions similar to those of the accident to the A3?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo salvage vessel could have made any difference to the loss of life in the present case.
§ Mr. FALLEBut the case might have been such as the French case of the "Pluvoise," in which the men were confined in the vessel for several hours before they were drowned.
§ Mr. LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not the case that in certain foreign navies the parent ships which accompany submarines in their manœuvres are fitted with appliances for more rapidly raising vessels of this type in case of accident, and would it not be possible to adopt vessels of that class in the British Navy instead of the old type like that of the "Hazard," which has no appliances at present?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not a fact that in Germany they have these appliances, and that in this country we have not?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think I can add anything to what I have said, that all practicable means will be carefully studied, in close consultation with the superior officers of the submarine service, and if any method can be found which offers a practicable possibility of diminishing the risks and of making provision against accidents, no question of expense will stand in the way of its adoption; but the mere provision of one particular vessel of a special kind would not appreciably alter the risks attendant upon a service as large as this, which is continually exercised in deep water.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs new vessels with modern improvements are added to the Navy at one end, those kept in commission at the other end of each particular class are laid up, and the "A" class is approaching, if it has not reached, the period when it should be relegated to the reserve.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat must depend upon the development of the new vessels, which will be added, because the number of the vessels which we keep in full commission in instant readiness cannot be diminished.
§ Mr. LYELLAre there any features and risks specially attaching to the "A" class which do not attach to later types?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLEach type is an improvement on the preceding type.