§ 8. Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked whether Germany has a larger number of destroyers in full commission in Northern Europe than Great Britain; and, if so, what is the reason for passing into the Reserve a number of ocean-going destroyers of the "Tribal" class?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt would be literally true but actually very misleading to say that Germany has a larger number of destroyers in full commission than Great Britain. This statement could only be made good if all German destroyers, including the school and the reserve flotillas, were counted as being in full commission and if all the British flotillas in active commission were excluded. The word "Reserve" is not appropriate to the Second Fleet into which the "Tribal" class have been gradually passed as new destroyers join the flotillas of the First Fleet.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREAs a matter of fact has not Germany seventy-seven destroyers in full commission against our sixety-nine in the North Sea?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is very misleading to take what is on paper as a true statement in that form.
§ 10. Mr. ASTORasked the number of destroyers which will be in full commission in Home waters when the destroyers of the 1912–13 programme are completed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe present authorised establishment to be worked consists of four flotillas of twenty destroyers each, and one destroyer tender to the Fleet flagship. This number of eighty-one is expected to be fully reached when the de- 1744 stroyers of the 1912–13 programme are completed, but it may, of course, vary slightly from time to time.
§ 11. Mr. ASTORasked the number of destroyers now in full commission in Home waters, and the number of destroyers which Germany has in full commission?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe have sixty-nine in full commission and eighty-five in active commission distributed between patrol and local defence flotillas. All these are manned without calling out Reserves. Germany has, at the present moment, in commission in Home waters seventy-seven destroyers organised in school, manœuvre, and reserve flotillas.