The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-26
ORE As FUEL FOR TORPEDO CRAFT.
A Movement TO Substitute Petroleum for
Coal In Their Furnaces,

WASHINGTON Nov. %. -Before long we may
see our navy. like some others. trying liquid
fuel Tor u certain portion OF its smn Her vessels
1t may not be introduced in all war ships for
reason which, apart from other onsidera-
ttons. would also prevent II from being uni
versally used on merchant vessels. namely its
cost This Is now more than that OF coal and
general resort TO it would presumably. by
Increasing the ratio Of tho demand to the
supply. increase it's price, while perhaps de-
crensing that Of coal, and SO making the Lif-
Terence still stronger. There are possibilities
OF discovering new supplies of petroleum. but
these. too. may be Offset by enlarged demands
Tor Illuminating ami industrial purposes
However this country. like Grcut Britain and
russia. has IN advantage over some others In
Its supply Of the natural oils
An objection formerly strongly urged to the
use OF petroleum as fuel was the danger OF
explosion. Nowadays this peril has hoen
diminished by improved methods of stow
ing. derived In rart from experience in trans
porting IT as an article OF commerce. The I'M
proved tanks. the Joints and other appliances
connected with them. and the devices for car
rying OF the gases which arise from an in
crease OF temperature. and ever from agita-
ton. have made II n less dangerous cargo than
formerly. The oil is still liable to ooze through
the best Joints. and in addition the stability OF
the vessel may be somewhat affected by the
easy displacement Of liquid fuel in the bunk
ers when tho ship rolls. though this may he in
part checked by compartments and II proper
location Of the tanks.
Then. OF course, there is the danger that tho
OIL may be sot nnre by n hostile shot And
again. II this peril can be avoided. such u shot
might at least let out the contents Of II bunker.
II 1t should be stored SO far away in tho bot
nat To ria int,, i,it
would obviously sacrifice the protection for
me ne, machnery SO much relied upon in the coal
o oiHG TX 81 war Slns ANOTHER objection to
the erection OF supply stations in various pnrts
q g. TIE world. with tanks and pines for taking
foreign possessions for this purpose. and even
In time Of peace would presumably have to
use OF oil became general enough t to cause use
these appliances TO be established Tor marine
ui ISt N NJ loTT re- lI counties. ,,,,,,
to torpedo boats and harbor defence craft in
tended mainly Tor use in home stations. And.
ago Passed Assistant Eugi neer kue of our navy
found from careful study Of the subject that
amy der %pssf wit" SGsS
moments reflection vii show that the maya.
q that wSnd in o% T Tsy G pss. ns @
that real peril from sue sauree 'i is not
solid carbon aud the consequent choking of
the nipes has been avoided by not rasifyinE
but atOmizing the petroleum. in which state It
Is thor{9ng4Iy mixed with air and cGmI!rtnIy
eutes in Tie Iurnnr Of oil iar the p ,e "
OF generating steam, have been surmounteh.
end it may safely be declared u success,
the subject. and finds that torpedo boats In
foreign service. hnye used petroleum both in
pl9yed in u la'Gsnnmberof manufacturing es-
iah!ishments: With weights Of fuel equal. it is
believed that torpedo boat burning oil will
nave the following advantages over one that
burns coal:
] Her t.diu. Of action VIII be greatly increased.
never need trimming.
Her nIes VII be better control enabling her
ease. scoHenS. md rsridty, e' '''ea ''s"'''
efficiency both m attack and rereat and the abs, nee
o. ashes and dust viii! make her more comfortable to
Her boilers aud hotter tubes will last longer suffer
ing less deterioration.
As to the number OF llremen employed. that
isa decided consideration for our navy. which
IS short OF men. and also sometimes finds
two arc now reuiirrd ior a torpeto boat . on
each watch. one would he enough. Tho abso-
lutte reduction would he SO much the greater
in the large cruisers. but. wherever made. it
I" other vessels burning coal: This reduction
ing diminu,ion OF weight as Well as Of cost in
food and quarters. These points are to be
mentioned NANNY as an oi1set TO the cost.
As to the other advantages. the increased
range OF action or time during which n boat
can be Kept at sea without refuellinG is obvi ous
firing up at sea and the getting rid Of tho work
OF clearing tuhes and CRATES and trimming
!he. coal in the bunkers would decrease the
fatigue of the men employed to attend to the
machinery. 1t is syidcnt. also that boat
with such fuel would be less likely to have its
presence discovered hy an enemy. and might
therefore creep to an attack with an advan-
taCe. There is Il chance. therefore that at least
~ ar nf v nn ,fnlt tn
do much cruising in time Of peace. but in war
must he keIt at their highest possible ef
iiciSncy. without regard to cost; petroleum
minor Importance to our navy hitherto. but
with the increase IN torpedo craft II will prove
OF greater consequence.