§ Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state, in reference to his comparison between the prospective strength in battleships of the British and German fleets in 1914, which was given as thirty-three actual British against a possible twenty-nine German battleships, the aggregate tonnage of the two fleets, respectively; the aggregate horse-power of the two fleets, respectively; the total number of guns, above 9-inch guns, in the two fleets, respectively; the total number of men on 2946W the ships of the two fleets, respectively; and the total number of men who will presumably, if the present conditions of service be continued, have completed five years or more of training on the two fleets, respectively.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn the case of the German fleet it is not possible, and in that of the British fleet not desirable, to give the prospective information asked for in the question. I do not therefore propose at present to add to the very full information contained in the various Parliamentary Returns.