§ 38. Mr. FRANCEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he proposes to return to the practice of giving weekly returns of ships or tonnage lost by enemy attack?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo, Sir. The present revised form of monthly announcement was only recently decided on after very full consideration and with the concurrence of the Allies.
§ Mr. HOUSTONCannot my right hon. Friend see his way to give the number of ships as well as the tonnage?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe departed from the weekly list, which gave the numbers, as my hon. Friend knows, partly because it is misleading and also because if it is given week by week as well as monthly tonnage returns, it really will be giving useful information to the enemy.
§ Sir C. HENRYWhen shall we get the next monthly returns?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is to be published monthly on the Thursday morning following the 21st. That is Thursday week.
Colonel THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Dutch papers the number of ships is given?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should like to know the source from which they get it.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAInformation from enemy sources is not to be relied upon.