DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16824, 1 December 1916, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

LONDON, November 29. The House of Commotis was crowded when the Hon. A. J; 'Balfour made his statement re the.promotion of Admiral Beatty 'and Admiral Jellicoe's translation to the Admiralty. The changes afe generally approved Mr Balfour added that the decision had been made some time ago, but the announcement was delayed for military reasons* Answering Mr Houston, Mr Balfour said the. Vice-Admiral commanding at Dover had reported that enemy destroyers on the night of the 23rd attempted to pass south inside the Downs, biit cam© into contact with a Rainsgate patrol. lit, the dark the enemy made off before our vessels could engage them. The last enemy vessel fired twelve shots at two armed, drifters, hitting one and doing slight damage. The destroyers did not enter the Chamiel. We still entertain the hope that if the enemy enter the Channel they will not get out wihout a heavy disaster. , „ Mr Houston—Does the Admiralty forget that attack is one of the surest forms of defence, and that we require ruthless fighting men in the Admiralty? ~■ . , .

Mr Balfour—-Those general principles ar% perfectly sound in tho abstract, but if they snean that the Admiralty must use warships to attack batteries ashore ruthlessly it is not the policy 1 will ever be responsible for. Mr Houston—l spok^ of submarines. Mr Balfour—We have not spared submarines when there was a chance of destroying them.