HC Deb 21 April 1913 vol 52 cc36-7
71. Colonel YATE

asked whether there is an adequate number of guns available to arm merchant steamers for the purposes of defence; whether there is any limit to the number of steamers the First Lord of the Admiralty proposes to arm; and what course of drill and instruction he proposes to give the crews in the serving of those guns?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I do not wish to add anything to what I said on this subject when introducing the Navy Estimates last month. But I may state that a sufficient number of guns has for some time been available.