31. Major BARNESasked the Prime Minister whether he can state the number of ships which are stationed in the Black Sea; whether any others have been ordered to that sea; and what duties they are performing there?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAt the present time the following British men-of-war are in the Black Sea:
These, ships are not permanently stationed in the Black Sea, but are detached from the main forces at Constantinople, and are changed at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief. No other ships have received orders to proceed to the Black Sea.
- 1 Light Cruiser,
- 2 Destroyers.
With regard to the last part of the question, the duty performed by ships stationed in the Black Sea is to carry out a patrol for the purpose of preventing illicit traffic in arms to Turkish Nationalist forces in Asia Minor.