§ 21. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's seaplane-carrier "Ark Royal" has been used for carrying refugees who are typhus cases in the Black Sea; how many times she has been so used; whether she was disinfected immediately after each voyage; how many cases of typhus there have been among the crew of this ship; how many of the crew have died; and why properly-fitted hospital ships were not used for this purpose?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Long)His Majesty's seaplane-carrier "Ark Royal" was used on one occasion for carrying refugees who were typhus cases in the Black Sea. She was disinfected immediately afterwards. There were sixteen cases of typhus fever among the crew in the "Ark Royal," of whom eight were landed at Batoum on the 14th May last, five more landed and sent to the 82nd General Hospital, Constantinople, on the 17th May; one, Mr. Scott, Warrant Engineer, was also sent to this hospital on the 19th May; one on the 20th May, and one on the 27th May sent to the 20th Stationary Hospital. Two deaths were reported, namely, Mr. Scott, Warrant Engineer, and Chief Shipwright C. Mattinson. The only hospital ship was not at that time available, and the urgency of evacuation necessitated the use of all available craft.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether a hospital ship is now available in the Black Sea; and, if not, would it not be better to send a hospital ship which is not fully employed from the Atlantic or Home Fleet?
§ Mr. LONGI can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the Admiralty have done all in their power to secure that there shall be a hospital ship in attendance.