§ 56. Mr. MANDERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he first received official information with regard to the launch at Kiel on 8th December of the German cruiser "Nürnberg," which was not listed as building or projected in the official return of fleets as on 1st February, 1934; and if he has any information with regard to the two German warships "Saar" and "Tsingtau," recently completed at Kiel and Hamburg, whether they are seaplane carriers or in what category of ships allowed to Germany by the Treaty of Versailles they are included?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)Official information that the "Nürnberg" was included in the new construction to be put in hand this year was received on the 9th April last, and information that she would be launched in December was received on the 2nd October. According to the information available, the "Saar" and "Tsingtau" are auxiliary vessels used as depot ships for minesweepers and patrol vessels, and are unarmed. There is no information that they are designed as seaplane carriers.