Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the number of trawlers or steam drifters employed by the Admiralty in patrolling our coasts; and whether, in view of the recent destruction of inoffensive merchantmen, he will consider the expediency of enlisting the services of a large number of such ships for the better protection of our commerce and for the destruction of submarines and aircraft?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards the first part of the question it is not in the public interest to give the information desired. As regards the second part, the Admiralty 163W have always before them the importance of providing all possible protection for our commerce and of taking all legitimate means of destroying hostile submarines and aircraft and they adopt every measure which appears useful towards these ends.