152 



The RnviEW of Reviews. 



internal-combustion engine the r.hock of the strain is 

 much more fierce and more concentrated. But this is 

 a temporary difficulty only existing to be overcome. 

 Internal-combustion pro[)ulsion engines, burning crude 

 oil or distillate, burn much less oil in producing equal 

 power, therefore they must be adopted. The day 

 has already come when no admiralty dare build a 

 warship fitted only to burn loal. 



WHY OIL MUST COME. 



We do not go as far as those who declare that in 

 two years' time there will not be a lump of coal used 

 in the Navv, but we do insist upon the unmistakable 

 fact that during the period of experiment and perfection 

 of internal-combustion propulsion engines oil will be 

 first invariably used as a supplementary fuel with coal, 

 then as an alternative fuel, and very soon as sole fuel. 

 The naval constructor demands many things, forced 

 upon him by increase of armaments ; oil in one fuel 

 form or another gives him these advantages. He 

 would be a fool, therefore, not to adopt oil as fuel. 

 Tradition and fear of lack of adequate supply kept 

 back oil fuel, but now that it has begun to be used and 

 a comparison is possible coal has no chance. Ask any 

 junior naval officer who has commanded an oil-fired 

 destrover his opinions of a coal-burning one, and any 

 doubts as to the effect of a comparison will disappear. 

 The engine-roOm ratings speak also with no uncertain 

 voice in the matter — their opinion is very much that 

 of the locomotive driver on the oil-fired G.E.R. Cromer 

 express, " The indicator remains steady on the mark 

 during all the journey." 



WH.Vr OIL-FUEL ME.\NS. 



Oil is a part already, and a vital part, of the liriti.sh 

 Nav)-, and as such we may truthfully say that from 

 now on the British Empire depends upon oil for its 

 .security. Think for a minute what oil-fuel mean.s — 

 no delay in mobilisation, no delay in striking at an 

 enemy, no need to come to port to replenish fuel- 

 supplies, an absolute ability to remain unceasingly 

 on watch and guard on the seven seas. Nelson and 

 his sailing fleets were no more independent of home 

 ports than will be a fleet burning oil in a few years. 

 Oil tankers will convey fuel to blockading fleets, which 

 can take oil on board even when moving towards the 

 enemy, in all weathers, day oi* night. 



BIG BEGINNINGS ALREADY. 



The decision of the British Admirall\- to make large 

 use of oil as fuel, not only alone in the smaller craft, 

 but even on the greatest battleships, has inevitably 

 brought into prominence the manifold advantages 

 which this fuel has on the sea. Already much has 

 been done in the way of laying down tankage, of 

 organising supply. In 1910, 100.000 tons were 

 purchased, and in 191 1 no less than 400,000 tons. 

 One of the immediate steps resulting from the Royal 

 Commission will be the purchase and permanent 

 storage in vast and well-guarded tanks of a million 

 tons of oil fuel. In this connection it must be notc<l 



that fuel residual oil with a very high flash-point is 

 practically non-inflammable, and does not deteriorate 

 with keeping. The time has come when it is 

 impossible to ignore oil fuel in building war vessels. 

 The enormous increase in armament and in protective 

 armour, the ever - developing size of propelling 

 machinery, necessitates an economy in fuel space and 

 in crew space. Oil fuel gives this to a marked degree. 

 Cleanliness and ease of handling are great ad\'antages, 

 while, instead of a stokehold full of weary men, there 



Photograhh l'y\ 



\llluslratwjjs Bur,\iu. 



Two New Factors : 



Zeppelin airship flying over Kaiser's yaclit, and also the new 

 Danisli molor-lincr Christian X. in Kiel Harbour. 



is only need l(ir ;i tenth of the number, who pa.ss 

 their time in com|xirati\'e comfort. Fleets can be 

 replenished with fuel at sea without difficulty, while 

 steam can be made without delay. Admiral .'^ir lohn 

 Fisher, while in America, announced in so many words 

 that oil was the fuel of the future for fleets ; " Fighting 

 Bob " Evans, of the United States navy, has made 

 still more emphatic statements with regard to the 

 American navy, and there is ample evidence that all 

 the great nations are of the same opinion. 



