25. Mr. F. HALLasked the number of vessels of the pre-"Dreadnought," "Dreadnought," and armoured cruiser types composing the present Mediterranean fleets of Italy, Austria, and Germany, the additions which will have been made by 1915, the number of vessels now comprising this country's Mediterranean Fleet, and the number of vessels now under construction or about to be laid down which are ear-marked for Mediterranean service, over and above the numbers requisite for securing a 60 per cent. superiority in Home waters?
Mr. LAMBERTMy right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the information contained in the Dickinson Return circulated to the House on the 20th March last; and wishes me to say that it is neither good strategy nor appropriate terminology to "ear-mark" ships of war to particular stations.