§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) in view of the fact that the. two German battleships which were building at the beginning of this War were not present at the battle of Jutland, whether he can state the day that they were laid down; and (2) in view of the fact that the battle-cruiser "Hindenburg" was not present at the battle of Jutland, whether he can give the date she was laid down in the summer of 1913; whether the ship was only launched as announced on 31st July, 1915; and whether he has any information as to her being in commission?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOne German battleship was supposed to have been laid down in the autumn of 1913, and the other a few months later. The "Hindenburg" is supposed to have been laid down in the middle of 1913, and, according to reports in German newspapers, she was launched on the 1st August, 1915. Further information regarding these ships has not been afforded by the German Admiralty; and I must not be taken as endorsing the statement that they were not present at the Jutland Battle.