HC Deb 15 May 1918 vol 106 cc325-7
5. Mr. GEORGE TERRELL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the precedent that the Government have now offered a substantial monetary reward for inventions regarding oil fuel, he can see his way to recommend that suitable rewards be offered to inventors who can devise an invention for over coming the submarine menace?

Dr. MACNAMARA

As previously stated, it is not considered necessary or advisable to adopt the policy of offering large rewards in advance for the invention of means of combating the submarine menace. The offer of the reward of £2,000, to which my hon. Friend refers, for the solution of a limited chemical problem, the importance of which was probably not generally realised, within a specified period of time and subject to-certain specified conditions, has little or no direct bearing on the matter. Great prominence has already been given to the fact that suitable monetary rewards are and will continue to be made for useful anti-submarine inventions.

9. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, on reconsideration, he can see his way to give information as to our successful operations in capturing and destroying enemy submarines round our coasts during the past three weeks?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to practically the same question put by him on Wednesday last. My right hon. Friend the First Lord and the Board of Admiralty deprecate, as they have consistently deprecated, taking a short view in the matter of submarine warfare. On the whole, the general trend of submarine warfare has progressed quite satisfactorlly since the 1st January. The news from neutral countries from time to time published in the Press of this country, and the increased boastfulness and exaggeration of the enemy's published disclaimers, are proof of this, if proof were needed of recent successes. But the Admiralty is averse from taking the results, good or bad, of a short period. My hon. Friend has, of course, read recent communications in the Press describing encounters with enemy submarines. We shall continue to sanction the issue of these communications as and when the public interest permits.

Mr. HOUSTON

Would it not be a fitting corollary due to the Navy, in view of the accounts published of the successful operations against Ostend and Zeebrugge, that this information should be given, and would it not tend to dishearten the enemy?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The Navy is under no misapprehension as to the gratitude of this House and of the country for its services, but we publish what is possible subject to the public interest. Beyond that we cannot go.

Major CHAPPLE

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is general disappointment at the fact that the standard of comparison has been altered in such a way as to withhold from the public the satisfactory news as to the gradual rise in the destruction of submarines, and would he not consider the possibility of reviving the weekly reports?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I think that my hon. Friend is too closely associating two different things. My hon. Friend asks for the reinstatement of the weekly list of ships sunk. We are giving a monthly summary, and if my hon. Friend will look at the answer given yesterday he will see that that matter is gone into.

Major CHAPPLE

Is not that monthly tonnage largely affected by—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must remember that there are 115 questions on the Paper, and if every question is followed by an argument we shall not go through half of them.

10. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the total number of steamers reported to have been unsuccessfully attacked by enemy submarines from 1st January to 30th April, 1918?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The number of British steamers which were attacked by enemy submarines and which escaped undamaged during the period in question was 172. Similar information as to foreign vessels is not available.

Mr. HOUSTON

How many of these vessels were damaged?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That was given, I think, in the weekly list.

Mr. HOUSTON

They are described as unsuccessfully attacked when they are really seriously injured.

Dr. MACNAMARA

I will see what can be done.