§ EARL CAWDORMy Lords, I wish to put to the noble Lord the First Lord of the Admiralty a Question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether he is prepared to make to your Lordships any statement with regard to the disturbances that are stated to have 654 taken place in the Naval Barracks at Portsmouth.
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord TWEEDMOUTH)My Lords, my noble friend has asked me a very natural Question, the disturbances referred to having caused considerable anxiety to everybody. I am glad to say that since Monday there has been no recurrence of any trouble, and that the barracks now are perfectly quiet. The stokers have been certainly a very well-behaved class of recent years, and the men who have apparently been the cause of the disturbance are young men of not more than six months' service, who have been going through their preliminary training, and, therefore, are no yet imbued with the traditions of the Service. Directly these disturbances occurred a Court of Inquiry was ordered, of which Admiral Cross was placed at the head. That Court is now sitting, and I have to-day received a telegram stating that the Inquiry, which must necessarily be conducted in the most careful manner, will probably be concluded on Saturday. On the Report of the Inquiry further action will be taken, but pending the receipt of that Report the Admiralty consider that it would not be wise to go into detail as to the causes which led to the outbreak. Of course, after the Court of Inquiry has reported we shall be very ready to give any information possible.