FUEL FOR WARSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 147, 18 March 1931, Page 9

FUEL FOR WARSHIPS

Coal Oil is Satisfactory BULK SUPPLIES OFFERED London, March 16. A prospect of relieving the present depression in the coalfields was held out by Mr. George Hall, M.P., who, In a speech at Pontypridd, stated that Admiralty tests carried out in the past year had proved that oil produced from coni gives the same results as fuel as natural oil. The Admiralty had been offered a bulk supply at a price not far above the world price of oil. Instead of the nation spending £42,000,000 for the importation of oil, they could divert a large proportion of the money to the purchase of oil produced from British coalfields.

When the British Naval Estimates were under consideration in the House of Commons, the danger of the Nation’s dependence on foreign oil fuel supplies for its fighting ships was stressed by Commander Kenworthy who pointed out that America by a simple move could prevent the British fleet fgrom putting to sea or the Royal Air Force from leaving the ground. On his motion the House urged the Admiralty to take all possible steps to remedy the position.