§ Mr. CARR-GOMMasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to some extracts from a letter alleged to have been written three years ago by a captain of six years' seniority to Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher; whether he is aware that a charge has been publicly made that this letter revealed a system of espionage, and that the captain who wrote it criticised his superior officers wholesale; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe letter in question was written by Captain R. H. Bacon, now Director of Naval Ordnance, an officer who has the full confidence of the Board of Admiralty. I have read the letter; it is a perfectly proper letter to have been written by Captain Bacon, and I cannot find in it the smallest ground for any of the calumnious charges which have been based upon it. It contains no opinion of Captain Bacon concerning his commanding officers or criticism of any officers in the fleet.
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