§ Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will add the total tonnage of the merchant vessels sunk by mine or submarine in the weekly Return issued by the Admiralty to the Press; and will he give the total tonnage of the vessels sunk for the weeks ending 25th February and 4th March last?
§ Sir E. CARSONThe form in which the weekly Return of merchant shipping losses is published by the Admiralty was determined by the Government after very full consideration, and has been accepted and adopted by our Allies. I have given my close personal attention to my right hon. Friend's suggestion, and am satisfied that there are cogent naval reasons against publishing the tonnage figures, and thereby giving the enemy accurate information of considerable military value which he could not otherwise obtain.