§ Mr. MACLEANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the submarine Ml, which was lost on 12th November, had to put into Plymouth because of the stormy weather, and that when she was ordered out for exercise off Start Point the weather was still too stormy to permit of the continuing of her voyage; and whether he intends to have a public inquiry into the circumstances which caused the Ml to be included among those ordered out?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANSubmarine "M.1," in company with other vessels, was engaged in carrying out routine exercises in the waters of the English Channel during the 10th, 11th, and 12th of November. Certain of these vessels, including Submarine "M.1," anchored at Plymouth on the night of 11th-12th November, the anchorage previously arranged in Falmouth Bay being considered unfavourable in the prevailing E.N. Easterly wind. The weather conditions on the morning of the 12th November were in no way unsuitable for "M.1," and the other vessels engaged, to proceed to sea, and continue the programme of exercises as previously arranged. Submarines of the "M" Class have on many previous occasions proved themselves to be both exceptionally good sea boats and very handy submarines, and it is not considered that there is any reason to convene an inquiry into the circumstances under which "M.l" was participating in these exercises.