H.M.S. TORCH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 7

H.M.S. TORCH

< ' -mi RE-INVESTIGATION OF CASE ASKED FOR. MR. CMUR6HILLSAYS THERE IS NO REASON. By Telegraph.— fiett Association.— Copyright. ' LONDON, 23rd January. Major Aroher-Shee (unionist), on the motion for th© adjournment, directed attention in the House of Commons to the case of H.M.B. Torch and H.M.S. Prometheus, and complained of Captain Carver's supersession by the Admiralty. He had not known of the Torch's terrible state of disrepair in time for decision, and th© service would suffer if officers were dismissed-.because they had the independence to state the facts. Major Archer-Shee asked that the case should be re-investigated in order thai the captain's splendid i'ecord should not be superseded merely upon the report of the newspapers. Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, said the dockyard captain and officials had been censured. The Admiralty was not blameworthy and there was no reason for a searching enquiry. Major Archer-Shee's information was partisan. Opposition cries: "No." Sir J. Fortescue Flannery ? Unionist member for Essex, Maldon division, who is also a consulting engineer, produced portions of material taken from the Torch's bottom while she was undergoing overhaul at Sydney. Mr. Churchill added that Ministers were not going to be bullied or intimidated. Captain Carver had been superseded because 'he had imposed 123 punishments within three months and was unfit to be left in sole charge of the happiness of th© crew. One of the Torch's crew had been illegally sentenced to a week in the cells in the refrigerating room. (Received January 24, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 23rd January. Mr. J. H. Whitehouse (Liberal member for Mid Lanarkshire) has given notice of motion drawing the attention of the Admiralty to disciplinary measures in vogue on H.M.S. Torch.