In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Goschen made
a statement on naval affairs, and also explained the views and intentions of the Admiralty on the subject of water-tube boilers. After deploring the delay in the supply of materials, mentioning the fact that six new cruisers were to be put out to contract, and stating that the Admiralty had acquired five addi- tional torpedo destroyers (one of these is on the turbine prin- ciple) Mr. Goschen scouted the preposterous notion that the Admiralty, at the bidding of the Treasury, had induced the contractors to work slowly. As to the Belleville boilers, Mr. Goschen admitted the defects in water-tube boilers, but stated that the real question was whether these defects were inherent or remediable. The Admiralty view was that they could be remedied. The advantages claimed for the boilers were that they are (1) faster ; (2) get up speed quicker ; (3) lighter ; (4) take up less space. Other countries either used or were going to adopt water-tube boilers. Still, the nation was uneasy, and therefore an impartial inquiry should be made, and several vessels should be placed at the disposal of the investigators.
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