§ 14. Mr. GARRO JONESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty at what hour the naval authorities at Alexandria received notice that the flying-boat "City of Khartoum" was missing; at what hour the first naval vessel left the harbour; at what hour the stand-by destroyer left the harbour; and whether there was any misunderstanding or miscarriage of signalling or orders resulting in delay of rescue measures?
Lord STANLEYAccording to my information, the fact that the "City of Khartoum" was overdue was reported to 422 His Majesty's Steamship "Beagle," which was emergency destroyer at the time, at 8.44 p.m., over an hour after the flying-boat had actually crashed, and after getting steam up she proceeded to sea to search at 9.35. I am not aware of any misunderstanding or miscarriage of signalling or orders on the part of the naval authorities resulting in delay of rescue measures.
§ Mr. GARRO JONESDoes it normally take an hour, or nearly an hour, for an emergency vessel to get under way in the Navy, and is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with that length of time?
§ Mr. GARRO JONESI have asked a question arising out of the answer, which disclosed a state of affairs which I feared obtained, and I now wish to know whether the Noble Lord is satisfied with the fact that it took nearly an hour for this stand-by vessel to proceed to sea after receiving notice that the aeroplane was missing and in the sea?
§ Mr. MAXTONWhy will not the Noble Lord be quite candid with the House, and tell us exactly what happened on this occasion?
§ Mr. GARRO JONESHaving regard to the anxiety which is felt when the First Lord of the Admiralty is absent, can the hon. Gentleman tell us where he is to-day?