HC Deb 28 November 1917 vol 99 c1991
12 and 13. Commander BELLAIRS

asked (1) the date, time, and place of the court-martial to be held concerning the loss of the destroyers " Strongbow " and " Mary Rose" and the Norwegian convoy on 17th October; (2) the terms of reference of the courts-martial on the survivors of the destroyers " Strongbow " and " Mary Rose"?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The court-martial to inquire into the loss of the " Mary Rose " will probably be held at Chatham at 10 a.m. on the 3rd December. The court-martial to inquire into the loss of the " Strongbow " has had to be postponed owing to the condition of the commanding officer. The Naval Discipline Act does not admit of a court-martial being held to inquire into the loss of the convoy, but the matter will arise at the courts-martial on the two destroyers. The order to the Court will in each case be in the customary form " to inquire into the cause of the loss of the ship and to try the surviving officers and crew."

General Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

Will it be a public Court?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I cannot say. Power is taken, I think, under the Amended Navy Discipline Act to hear part or the whole of the case privately.

Commander BELLAIRS

By what authority does the Admiralty act in not holding a public inquiry Is it by an Order in Council; if so, has it been laid upon the Table of the House, in accordance with the Naval Discipline Act?

Dr. MACNAMARA

If my memory does not fail me, one of the War Emergency Acts amended the Naval Discipline Act by including a Section giving the President of the Court and the Admiralty power to hear all or part of a case in private.