§ 74. Dr. CHAPPLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the number of cases in which parcels addressed to the 720 men of the Fleet stationed in Turkish waters fail to reach the addresses or are delayed for many weeks and whether he can take any steps to meet the difficulty?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Commander EyresMonsell)Owing to lack of accommodation, parcels are not accepted for conveyance on the Simplon Orient express trains, and parcels for ships in Turkish waters have, therefore, to be sent by sea. There are three services a month from Marseilles to Constantinople, and one a month from the United Kingdom, and the time taken in transit is about a month. Opportunity is taken to forward parcels in any British warship proceeding to Turkish waters where a gain in time would result, and the Post Office is notified of such opportunities. I have no information as to the loss of any parcels in transit.