HC Deb 23 April 1913 vol 52 cc328-9
4. Mr. HUNT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that Germany will have more ships of the "Dreadnought" type ready for immediate war in Home waters than we shall have next April, he can say how we are to be safeguarded against this peril to our security and freedom?

Mr. CHURCHILL

If the hon. Member will do me the honour of reading the speeches I have made on the Navy Estimates this year and last, he will see the absurdity of the hypothesis on which his question is based.

Mr. HUNT

Did not the right hon. Gentleman himself tell us that we should only have twenty-five, that Germany would have twenty-one, and that as five of our ships are in the Mediterranean these would have to be taken off for our average moment, while none would have to be taken off for Germany's selected moment?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I said it was quite impossible to deal with these matters by question and answer. If the hon. Gentleman will read my speeches, he will see all I have to say on the subject. After that, he will form his own judgment.

Mr. HUNT

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that I did read his speeches, and, further, whether he learned arithmetic at school?