OIL FOR THE NAVY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 May 1936, Page 7

OIL FOR THE NAVY

PROBLEM FOR SINGAPORE SUPPLIES FROM SARAWAK MAY GIVE OUT IN TEN YEARS (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 21st May, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, 20th May. The “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent says that the Raja of Sarawak’s disclosure that the oilfields in Iris territory may dry up in ten years creates a prot'lem for the Singapore naval authorities. The oilfields are the second largest in the Empire and tlic main source supply for British warships in the Fur East. The further disclosure that the oil tanks at the Singapore Base are above ground and therefore vulnerable to air attack is equally disturbing. There is little excuse for above ground storage at Singapore, as the work was completed in the past ten years, when it was generally considered an elementary precaution to build subterranean oil reservoirs at all important naval stations. . The matter demands an immediate searching inquiry. If the Sarawak wells dry up, Britain will have to depend, on the dutch East Indies, which will raise difficulties.