§ 10. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what vessels of war are at present stationed on the North American and West Indies station; what would be the extra cost of sending those vessels to Rio de Janeiro for the forthcoming exhibition; and whether this has been considered by their Lordships and with what result?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe force attached to the North America and 2042 West Indies station consists of the light cruisers
and the sloops
- "Raleigh,"
- "Capetown,"
- "Calcutta," and
- "Constance,"
The estimated additional cost of sending these skips to Rio de Janeiro is £38,000 including the return voyage. As implied in my reply to the Noble and gallant Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon) on the 14th June, the Admiralty do not consider that these ships would constitute a squadron adequately representative of the British Empire.
- "Valerian" and
- "Wistaria."
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that these four magnificent light cruisers would be better than nothing at Rio?
§ Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that men engaged in commerce are extremely anxious that British ships should go to Rio?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLI am quite aware of that.
§ Colonel ASHLEYCould the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how long it is since the British flag has been shown in those waters?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLI should like notice of that question.