OIL FUEL FOR THE NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 5

OIL FUEL FOR THE NAVY.

LABOUR MEMBERS' TEARS. AT THE KTEIiCY OF THE FOREIGNER.

-LONDON, July 28. In his letter to the "Leicester Pioneer" on the effect of the adoption of oil fuel for the naiT-, Mr Ramsay Macdonald (Labour M.P. for Leicester) states that oil-propelled Dreadnoughts would allow of another big navy agitation, for people could not include coal-propelled vessels in international comparison. "We should then begin a new chapter iv the insane and criminal race of armaments. Also, by scrapping our naval coal supply, we, will throw ourselves on the mercy of far-removed and foreign sources of supply."

The fear of the displacement of miners by the adopiion of oil fuel was expressed in Labour circles a week ago. "Mr Chure" ;1 stated that 100 destroyers, designed to consume oil fuel, had "now been built or were in course of construction. The five battleships which would be built this year would use oil as an auxiliary fuel, but coal would continue as the main hasis in the battle line for the present. The use of oil fuel increased a ship's active radius by 40 per cent., and permitted the designing of vessels equal in fighting power to existing vessels, but of less dimensions and at a smaller cost. The Admiralty intended to become the owner or controller of its own oil supply. Commenting on this, the ""Daily Citizen"' protested against any course of action vrhich would injuriously affect coal miners. It added: "No grisly spectres of defeat in war will lead us from our first consideration, namely, the lives of a million men. Fears of war, the efficiency of the navy and othor cries mustnot be used against the interests of the miners and their four million wives and children. Perhaps oil can be obtained from coal. If the authorities cannot find a way out they muft be replaced by others. Iv no circumstances will the devastation of live million people be permitted/ . There is no real gTound for this Labour protest in view of Mr Churchill's statement that oil fuel ie to be subsidiary to coal fuel in the larger units, not to completely replace it. Great Britain has a monopoly of steam coal mined in South Wales. There is nothing lo compare with it. and foreign nations draw on South Wales both for their navy and for mail steamers. It has been repeatedly suggested that the nation should secure the whole of the South Wake steam coal, and keep this coal for the navy.