THE NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13131, 18 July 1913, Page 3

THE NAVAL PROGRAMME.

USE OF OIL FUEL.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copyright.)

(Received July 18, 1.58 p.ni.) ( •• . ' LONDON, July. 17.

Mr Winston Churchill, m the House of Commons, stated that there were now built and building ono hundred oil-fuel destroyers. Five battleships this year will use oil «s an auxiliary to coal, which would, continue as the main basis in' the battle line. Oil increased a ship's active radius by 40 per cent., and permitted the designing of ' vessels of equal fighting power, but of lesser dimensions, and at a smaller cost. The Admiralty intended becoming an independent owner or controller of its own oil supply. He was making a. contract with the Mexican Eagle Company, wherewith his naval colleagues were uninterested m shares, nor were the funds of the Liberal party invested therein. He knew nothing to make it necessary to add to the construction programme. Ho did not think anything was likely to occur m the autumn m the Mediterranean to necessitate the advance of construction.