§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that no protection whatever has been given to the mail boats travelling between Kingstown and Holyhead against submarine attacks for nine-tenths of the journeys performed by them during the last three years; whether, during the same period, the mail boats voyaging between Larne and Stranraer have been constantly convoyed; and what is the reason of the distinction made in the two cases?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe circumstances are not as represented by my hon. Friend in the first part of the question. Continual protection of various forms is given from day to day. The orders as regards the Holyhead-Dublin and Larne-Stranraer routes are identical.
§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that no destroyer was fast enough to act as a convoy to the "City of Dublin" boats, he will say if destroyers, American 311W and British, have several times accompanied those boats, and far outstripped, keeping in advance of them, and even crossing and recrossing their bows, even in rough seas; whether, if destroyers sufficiently fast are not available as convoys, it has ever been considered that aeroplanes carrying depth charges could be employed as escorts; and will any new means be immediately tried to prevent such another disaster as overtook the "Leinster"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARADestroyers undoubtedly have accompanied these boats, but not in such weather as prevailed on 10th October. The employment of aircraft as a means of protection, carrying suitable charges, has been considered, and even utilised, on this particular route for some considerable time, but aircraft are subject to even greater drawbacks than destroyers in the winter months. With regard to the last part of the question, I can assure my hon. Friend that a large number of experienced naval officers are devoting their whole energy to avoiding disasters of this kind.
§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether there are peculiar circumstances connected with the Holyhead mail packets which entitle them to receive the same class of protection as is afforded to the boats plying between England and France; and why that protection has been denied to the Holyhead mail boats?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe implication in my hon. Friend's question is that the Holyhead mail packets do not receive the same protection as those between England and France. They receive, in the different forms in which protection is given, at least the same protection as is given to the cross-Channel passenger steamers referred to. My hon. Friend will recollect the loss of the passenger mail boat steamers, "The Queen," "Normandy," and "Sussex," all three of which were sunk in the Channel, and none of which were under convoy or immediate escort. As regards the general question of the protection afforded to the Holyhead mail packets in particular, and the frish cross-Channel service generally, I should be glad to arrange for my hon. Friend to see the Naval Officers at the Admiralty responsible for this work. He would then be in a position to assure him-312W self, as far as a civilian can, of the ceaseless and tireless way in which they apply the means at their disposal.
§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that one hour and twenty-five minutes elapsed after the sinking of the "Leinster" and the arrival on the spot of the first rescue ship, and how he accounts for this delay; and whether the spot where the "Leinster" was torpedoed is only twelve miles from Kingstown Harbour?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe "Leinster" sent out her S.O.S. signal at 9.25 a.m., which was received by the Senior Naval Officer, Kingstown, at 9.50 a.m., and within ten minutes of the receipt of the message all available vessels in Kingstown Harbour—seven in number—were clear of the harbour. The faster of the craft arrived at the scene of the disaster at 10.40, where torpedo boat destroyers from patrol were already engaged on salvage operations, having arrived there at 10.30. Any delay, if the term delay describes it, is due to the heavy weather, which delayed the vessels in arriving as fast as they otherwise would have done. The scene of the disaster is about twelve miles from Kingstown Harbour. I would like, if I may, to refer to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Dublin Harbour on Tuesday with regard to the sinking of two coal boats within twenty-four hours previous to the sinking of the "Leinster," and of six such vessels within three days previous. I am glad to be able to inform the House that the hon. Member is misinformed. No vessels were sunk on the dates in question. The facts are that one small vessel was sunk at 6 a.m., on 11th October, some sixty miles to the northward of where the "Leinster" was torpedoed, and one at 2 a.m. on 12th October, at a distance of ninety miles; and I may add that, apart from the "Leinster," these are the only two vessels which have been sunk in the Irish Sea during the current month up to the date given.