§ Mr. NIELDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that publicity has been given to a comparative table of British and German battleship 1962W strength, in which the value of British pre-"Dreadnoughts" is based on a statement attributed to him to the effect that the fighting strength of a fleet of nine "King Edwards" is equal to that of a fleet of eight "Dreadnoughts"; and whether this estimate of the relative strength of "King Edwards" and "Dreadnoughts" represents the opinion of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware that publicity has been given to a comparative table such as that referred to in the question. Nothing that I have said could possibly justify such a comparison. I stated that the first eight "Dreadnoughts" cost exactly the same amount to build as nine "King Edwards"; and I added that I should be surprised if any admiral would not prefer to command a fleet of eight "Dreadnoughts" rather than a fleet of nine "King Edwards."
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked how many completed destroyers there will be in the British and German navies in the spring of 1913, which have not been launched more than twelve years, according to the official programmes of both countries?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe figures asked for by the hon. Member are:—
Great Britain … … … 129 Germany … … … 108
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many torpedo-boat-destroyers have been provided for the British and German Fleets in the financial years 1906–07 to 1911–12, inclusive?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe figures asked for by the hon. Member are:—
Great Britain … … … 90 Germany … … … 72
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many protected cruisers have been provided for the British and German Fleets in the financial years 1906–07 to 1911–12, inclusive?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe numbers of protected cruisers provided for the British and German Fleets in the period named in the question are 17 and 12 respectively. The British total includes two "Dominion" vessels, but does not include the seven unarmoured cruisers of the "Boa dicea" type.
Mr. PIKE PEASEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the first, second, and third instalments provided for the building of "Dreadnoughts' and "Invin- 1963W cibles," respectively, in the German Navy-Estimates for 1910–11 and 1911–12?
—— 1910–11. 1911–12. 1st instal. 2nd instal. 3rd instal. 1st instal. 2nd instal. 3rd instal. "Dreadnoughts"— … … … … … … "Ostfriesland" … … 578,767 … … … "Helgoland" … … 578,767 … … … "Thüringen" … … 578,767 … … … "Oldenburg" … 804,305 … … … 529,843 "Kaiser" … 804,305 … … … 529,843 "Ersatz Heimdall" … 804,305 … … … 529,843 "Ersatz Hagen" 479,452 … … … 804,305 … "Ersatz Aegir" 479,452 … … … 804,305 … "Ersatz Odin" 479,452 … … … 804,305 … "Ersatz Kurfüst Friedrich Wilhelm" … … … 479,452 … … "Ersatz Weissenburg" … … … 479,452 … … "S." … … … 479,452 … … "Invincibles"— … … … … … … "Moltke" … … 622,797 … … … "Goeben" … 732,092 … … … 622,797 "J." 401,174 … … … 723,092 … "K." … … … 401,174 … …