OCR Text |
Show OIL THE FUTURE FUEL OF NAVIES There can be no doubt that the naval future lies with oil as against coal A given tonnage 0f oil as against an equal tonnage of coal will enable the same ship to steam much faster, to get up speed quicker, and to travel 10 per cent larther; moreover, more-over, the supply can be replenished : In a small fraction of the time, and I cn the high sen is nearly any weathei Instead of in port. When you add that per knot steamed the cost is about the same and that the world's visible supply seems hs infinite for any near future as the coal supply, the case seems conclusive. The objection ob-jection that coal Is a home product, while oil Is imported, is of no relevance relev-ance from a naval or strategical point of view, because If we were presented from importing oil, we could not import any other necessity of national existence. This and other oth-er objections will no doubt contiuue to be urged, since the withdrawal or the British Navy's consumption, fol-1 t lowed as It must be by that of for- I elgn navies, will be a serious thing' I tor the steam-coal producers in ourj midst Theirs are pow erful interests, but not interests in whose tavor the1 admiralty could properly rorego the' I highest naval efficiency. Londou 1 I Chronicle. |