§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the unarmoured cruisers "Bahia" 1622W and "Rie Grande do Sul," now building in this country for the Brazilian Navy, have a displacement of 3,400 tons, an armament comprising ten 45-pounder quickfiring guns, and a speed of 26.5 knots, he will state why the British unarmoured cruiser "Boadicea," of 3,300 tons, now completing, has an armament of only six 25-pounders and a speed of 25 knots?
§ Mr. McKENNAComparisons including only two or three of the principal features of the respective designs are misleading. All the qualities possessed by both ships need to be taken into account. The actual speed on trial of the "Boadicea" was, however, 25¾ knots, and the weight of projectile exceeds that stated in the question.