§ 30. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the intensified U-boat war started in October, 1916; whether since then the outstanding facts are a large reduction in the ships sunk by mines, a large reduction in the neutral tonnage frequenting the war zone, and a large increase in the numbers of British and Allied ships sunk or damaged by the direct attack of submarines in recent months as compared with the earlier months of this campaign; and, if so, whether these facts and the increasing success in sinking U-boats and the successful Dover barrage point to the desirability of increasing the offensive campaign in place of the defensive methods which have failed to suppress the menace?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not considered desirable in the public interest to reply to the several points in this question. All information regarding the submarine menace which it is possible to give without supplying intelligence to the enemy is furnished to the House from time to time.