§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY(by Private Notice) asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what Naval Vessels were available on the South-West Coast of Ireland before Mr. Hawker started to fly from America: what steps were taken in case of an accident: and how many vessels are now searching for the missing machine?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)As regards the first part of the question, the vessels stationed on the south-West Coast of Ireland are as follows:—One flotilla leader, two destroyers, one sloop, all with reduced crews; two sloops on ferry service (one under refit, another at Portsmouth); sixteen motor launches, one patrol boat, four paddle vessels, ten trawlers, and five drifters. I may add that the motor launches are only suitable for inshore work, and the paddle vessels, the trawlers, and the drifters are continuously employed in clearing the sea of mines.
207 As regards the second part of the question, no steps were taken before the commencement of the flight to deal with the situation which might have arisen any time during the past few weeks. As a matter of fact, however, during yesterday eleven trawlers were at sea off the West Coast of Ireland, and at 7 o'clock p.m. were carrying out a sweep to the southward from the vicinity of Blacksod Bay.
Further, when information reached us that the flight had actually commenced, we took such steps as were possible on the assumption that Mr.Hawker might be approaching this side. Yesterday afternoon orders were given for all available vessels in the Irish Command to proceed to sea as a precautionary measure, in consequence of which the following vessels proceeded to sea and were subsequently employed searching the sea: from Queenstown two destroyers, one sloop, and one patrol boat (the leader, I may say, was at Kingstown); from Berehaven three paddle vessels, from Galway one tug, from Eagle Island one tug. The motor launches were unable to proceed to sea on account of the state of the weather. All these vessels are still at sea searching that area off the West Coast of Ireland which lies between the main shipping routes to the North and South of Ireland.
I think, perhaps, I may add an explanation of the circumstances which led to the report that Mr. Hawker had fallen into the sea somewhere about forty miles off Loop Head. The Admiral, Queenstown, received a wireless message that a Sopwith machine was down from the Castletown Wireless Station. Castle-town received it from a French Station, and the presumption is that the French Station in question had intercepted, in fragmentary form, and misconstrued, the orders of the Admiral, Queenstown, to his ships carrying out the instructions from the Admiralty to which I have already referred.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the considerable time that seaplanes sometimes remain afloat, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the sending of a flotilla of fast vessels—not trawlers or sloops, hut destroyers—at the earliest possible moment to search the area in which this gentleman may be down.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI will put that to the naval authorities.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYMay we take it there is no news so far of this gallant airman?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASo far as I am concerned, an hour ago when I left the office there was no news.
§ Major-General SEELYThere was no news ten minutes ago when I left the War Office.