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Show CONE DISCUSSES COAST DEFENSES LOS ANGELES, March 7 Ques-I Ques-I tions of vital importance to the Uuit-1 Uuit-1 ed States navy ana the country, and particularly to the Pacific coast were I discussed before the sixth annual conference con-ference of the National league of the ' United States In session in this city today, by Rear Admiral Hutchinson Cone, U. S N, chief of bureau of steam engineering. Tho maintenance of a fleet on -the Pacific coast and the all-important question of fuel and of the uso of crude oil for that purpose were the principal topics touched upon by Admiral Cone. In tho latter connection connec-tion he said: "We are at present designing- ships which tM bo particularly effective In tho Pacific because of odr large supply sup-ply of fuel oil on the West coast. So far as can be seen at the present lime, the United tates navy of the future fu-ture ,will consume oil instead of coal. In fat, we havo already in commis-! commis-! mission ten destroyers whiph burn nothing but oil. Battleships" bolng designed de-signed for the next year's program are to bo vessels that can burn oil only. "In order that members of the league may be Informed as to the situation sit-uation wo agreed to the oil burning, which I consider the most important technical question now confronting tho department, I will state briefly some of the reasons which caused this decision de-cision to burn oil. "The advantages of oil over coal are that a bmaller weight ot oil is necessary neces-sary to produce the same power It can also be taken on board shij readily read-ily without manual labor and without Interruption to the routine of the ship. The problem of fueling at sea is solved. Full power In such vessels can ho maintained as readily as low power, and a vessel burning oil is cap-ablo cap-ablo of piolonged runs at full speed without fatigue on tho part of the personnel per-sonnel Oil can be burned smokeless, which Is, of course, an important technical consideration. A considerabfe reduction in personnel is possible. Coal and ash handling gear is eliminated, rendoring unnecessary the piercing of tho hull for coal trunks The storage and handling of oil Is much easier than that of coal, and will result in a cleaner clean-er ship." |