Rear-Admiral CAMPBELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the minutes of the court-martial on the late commanding officer of His Majesty's Ship "Petersfield" for the loss of his ship on Tung Yung Island have yet been received; and whether he can make a statement as regards the navigation of the ship on that occasion?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe reports of the courts-martial have been received. From an examination of the minutes, their Lordships are of the opinion that the responsibility for the loss of His Majesty's Ship "Petersfield" must rest entirely on her captain. On the afternoon before the grounding, the Commander-in-Chief on two occasions gave directions regarding the navigation of the ship when he considered the proposed actions of the captain were not suitable to the circumstances. His reasons for doing so are considered by the Admiralty to have been entirely sound from the navigational point of view. Their Lordships are satisfied that there was nothing in these directions, nor in subsequent events which gave the commanding officer any grounds for assuming that the Commander-in-Chief had taken charge of the navigation of the ship.