§ Captain BURGOYNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the percentage of deaths amongst the lower deck of a monitor has reached 50 per cent. of the total original complement; whether he is aware of the time which has elapsed since any men of the crew have been given leave; whether illness is rapidly on the increase; and whether, in the circumstances, the Board of Admiralty will see fit to relieve the vessel forthwith?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am much obliged to my hon. Friend for informing me personally of the vessel to which he refers. As the total number of deaths since the commissioning of this vessel only amounts to five, and as only one of these deaths was due to climatic causes, the percentage referred to in the first part of the question is clearly impossible. Details as to when leave was last given are not available, but the vessel will very shortly undergo refit. There is no evidence of rapid increase of illness in the medical reports received up to date. The latest report shows no abnormally high sick rate.