§ 3. Mr. LOUGHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the determined attacks being made by German submarines on the cross-Channel traffic with Ireland, the serious losses that have taken place, and the importance of the passage, he will consider the desirability of establishing protected routes by which foodstuffs and munitions, as well as passengers, may be conveyed daily or at short intervals between Great Britain and Ireland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI can only assure my right hon. Friend, as I have already assured hon. Members from Ireland, that the safety of the cross-Channel traffic with Ireland is always receiving close attention, and the forces at our disposal are distributed so as to give the maximum safety to merchant shipping as a whole.
§ Mr. LOUGHIs my right hon. Friend personally aware of the serious loss that has taken place in the last three or four months, and will he consult the Chief Secretary as to the taking of some steps lo reduce it?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am personally aware of that. We have discussed the whole situation very fully with the Departmental officers. I have also discussed the matter with the Chief Secretary. Taking the total voyages, the immunity is at least as great as on any other route.
§ Mr. FIELDIs it not a fact that the Admiralty have taken all the precautions they can in order to safeguard this traffic between England and Ireland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir. I am very much obliged to my hon. Friend for putting it that way. It is a fact.
§ 4. Mr. HOUSTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make any statement in connection with the recent sinking in the English Channel by enemy action of a passenger steamer bound to a French port, with consequent loss of life?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am advised that no useful purpose would be served in making a statement. But I will endeavour to get any information required by my hon. Friend, to be given to him confidentially, if he will communicate with me. I regret to say that fourteen of the crew of twenty, and eighteen out of twenty-five naval and military passengers, were lost.
§ 5. Mr. HOUSTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a steamer crossing from Ireland to Liverpool was sunk by enemy action on or about 27th December last in the neighbourhood of Liverpool Bay; and whether twenty-five lives and 400 head of cattle were lost on this occasion?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWhen this vessel was lost she was carrying a crew of twenty-four and one passenger. I deeply regret to say that, so far as known, the master of the vessel is the only survivor. I understand that the vessel was carrying 400 head of cattle and 206 sheep.
§ 6. Mr. HOUSTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a steamer crossing from Ireland was sunk by enemy action on or about 26th January in Liverpool Bay; and whether twelve lives, 156 head of cattle, 361 sheep, and 139 pigs were lost on this occasion?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty deeply regret the loss of life incurred by the sinking of the vessel. I furnished the details of that loss in reply to the Member for Dublin Harbour on Thursday last. I am advised that the details of cargo are as stated in the question.
§ 7. Mr. HOUSTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can, consistent with the public safety, and without giving information to the enemy, state how many cross-Channel vessels from Ireland to this country, and Vice-versâ, have been sunk by enemy action during the past three months; and whether he can state the number of lives lost?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is impossible to answer this question without affording the enemy valuable information. We are, 2230 however, able to say that the percentage of losses to the number of voyages is extremely small.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIn view of that answer, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that even as late as Monday last a very large steamer was sunk?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say.