§ 16. Mr. H. SMITHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry which inquired into the circumstances attending the escape of the "Goeben" and the "Breslau," and which acquitted Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne of all responsibility therefor?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs stated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North on the 26th February, no Court of Inquiry was held in the case of Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne. The Admiralty issued a statement on the 30th August, 1914, to the effect that:
The conduct and dispositions of Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne in regard to the German vessels 'Goeben' and 'Breslau' have been the subject of the careful examination of the Board of Admiralty, with the result that their Lordships have approved the measures taken by him in all respects.
§ Mr. SMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a certain amount of anxiety lest officials in the Admiralty are maintaining secrecy in order to shield themselves or other officials, and though probably that is untrue, does it not point 1266 to the necessity of the Admiralty issuing whatever reports there are of inquiries or courts-martial held on the subject?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware, and certainly there is no foundation whatever for the suggestion in the earlier part of the question. As regards the publication of all Courts of Inquiry, I can only put that again to the First Lord, but as I have stated there was no Court, but on 30th August the Admiralty issued a statement that their Lordships had approved of the measures taken by Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne.
§ Mr. SMITHMy right hon. Friend said there was no Court of Inquiry into the conduct of Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne, but was there not in fact a Court of Inquiry and previously a court-martial which inquired into the responsibility of Admiral Troubridge?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly, but there was no Court of Inquiry into the conduct of Admiral Milne. He was called upon to make a report to the Board but there was no Court of Inquiry.
§ Sir B. FALLEMay I ask if it is still possible for Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne to demand a court-martial?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI speak under correction as a civilian, but I do not think anybody could demand a court-martial under naval law except a chief petty officer whom it is proposed to disrate. I think there is no other case where a demand can be made.