§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether we shall be short of officers in the executive, engineer, and marine branches of the naval service in the near future; if so, 1403W whether to meet this shortage it is proposed to place warrant officers in command of torpedo and small craft; and, if so, whether he will state to the House how many vessels will be so commanded, and the names of such vessels?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The question of the number of officers required in the more remote future is under the consideration of the Board. As regards the second and third parts of the question, no proposal of the nature indicated has been made.