§ 7. Mr. FELLasked the Secretary for War if he will state how his Department ascertained that the Clément-Bayard airship was slow in speed and on control compared with the War Office standards, seeing that the airship was never navigated by the Department, and by comparison with what airships belonging to the Department was the standard of speed and control fixed?
§ Colonel SEELYThe airship was inspected by War Department officials in Paris, and one officer came over in her from Paris. The ballooning experts of that time were doubtless well aware of the standard which should have been obtained in these respects from such an airship, and what was being done abroad.
§ Colonel SEELYI have explained she was found to leak so badly that it would have cost a large amount to reinflate her daily.
§ Mr. DU CROSIs it not the fact that, apart from the envelope, the ship was in good condition?
§ Colonel SEELYThis happened a long time ago, and there is now no one at the War Office who was concerned in it. So far as I am aware, the airship was serviceable, except as regards the envelope. A mistake was made, and it was due to the desire to co-operate with the patriotic offer of hon. Gentlemen, of whom the hon. Member was one. It was a mistake, but not a big one.
§ Colonel YATEHow long did the War Office have the airship before she was tried?
§ Colonel SEELYI cannot answer that without notice.
§ 8. Mr. FELLasked if the War Office was ignorant of the fact before the Clément-Bayard airship was purchased that it had been previously used at the French manœuvres?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply is in the negative.
§ 9. Mr. FELLasked if there was any garage or shed at Aldershot capable of containing the Clément-Bayard airship at the time of its purchase by the War Office?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply is in the negative.