§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines at the Armistice period there were men who had graduated through the engine-room artificer branch of the Navy in sole charge of the machinery; and whether the Board will consider the policy of extending this succesful policy still further?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe total numbers (including engineer officers, chief engine-room artificers, and engine-room artificers) who were in sole charge of the machinery at the Armistice period are as follows:
In battleships, three; in cruisers, eight; in destroyers, 281; and in submarines, 121. I should add that the battleships and cruisers in which engineer officers, who graduated through the engine-room artificer branch, were borne in charge of the machinery were, with the exception of one light cruiser, non-seagoing at the time.
It is the intention to continue the employment of officers who have graduated as described in charge of the machinery of His Majesty's ships, but the extent to which it will be possible to do so in the future must depend upon the requirements of the Fleet in relation to the engineering personnel as a whole.