Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
BRITISH .WARSH|PS
WILL Danish SMOKE
Experiments With Internal
Combustion Engines-No
Great Power Developed.

LONDON, September 3.-"For several
DAVIS rumors have been in circulation
that the introduction Of internal COM
bustion engines as a means OF propul-
sion for the largest warships OF the
British navy is imminent" writes the
naval correspondent Of the New york
Herald, land a Definite report has been
nublished that the admiralty has decfd-
ed to install this type OF prime mover
In one OF the new battleships ABOUT
to be laid down.
."rhe report has created a consider
able stir in naval and engineering cir
cles. while to the public at large.
which has not SUFFICIENT technical
knowledge 10 appreciate the signifi-
canoe Of the change. there Is at any
rate something striking to the imagi-
nation In the thought OF huge vessel
noiseless smokeless and without run
nels. gliding through the water at hlgh
speed. But the report lacks connrma-
ton and is obviously premature
Important experiments are In prog
ress, but it will be some time YET pc
fore the oil or gas engine replaces
steam machinery on board big battle
ship or cruiser.
British on the Alert.
When the CnAnRc OOeS COIIfC thCiC -
every reason to believe that 1t will first
be seen in British vessel. for. as was
the case with the steam turbine. the
naval authorities would not allow tnem-
selves to be outdistanced by foreign
power For this reason their plans and
intentions are kept as secret as possible.
Orders have been placed for twenty de-
stroyers in the naval program OF tine
~:~ 0f 0e1nR
built to special designs. It seems PROP
ahIe that tvo or more Of the vessels may
be fitted with this type Of propulsion:
The installation OF marine gas engines
aboard m asyanoe and is
tainly a different thing to using them
aboard q battleship. But II will be step
forward. for at the present moment the
greatest horsepower obtained Win tne IN
ternal-combustion engine for marine pur-
poses is not more than two thousano,
whereas seven times as much power ID
required for a modern destroyer.
In his memorandum accompanying the
navy estimates for l0l0-11 the hrst
lord referred TO the satisfactory trials Of
the small motor boats using heavy oil
which have been CONSTRUCTED recently Tor
naval use. Most OF these have been APP
proprfated to harbor service. and vaIua-
BILE experience has been obtained win
them.
present II has been considered that there
are not sufIicient advantages to warrant
the renlacinR Of steam machinery by oil
en- 1ines in the power boats attached 20
ships, except in special cases.
Admiralty is Cautious.
From this It win be seen that the ad-
miralty is proceeding cautiously. for the
motor boats referred to develop not more
than three hundred horse power. From
such craft TO the battleship Is a far cry.
The mere idea OF fitting such a vessel
with internal combustion engines would
not be credited but for the recollection
that as far back as March. 1907. Mr.. Nc
Kechnie. n director Of the vickers firm.
announced in q lecture that his company
would be perfectly willing to accept an
order for such q vessel and give the
usual guarantees incidental to such an
Undertaking.
At that time Il seemed that the engine
driven by suction gas produced on board
from anthracite or even possibly bitumt-
nous coal would be that eventually
brought the oil engine into greater prom
inence. Not only has an advance been
made with the mechanism. but the Ques-
ton Of tho quality and supply OF the
heavy oil or petroleum residue used by It
Is not such q dimcuit one.
A war ship OF the latest type requires.
besides great horsepower, high speed
and no pretense has yet been made that
the gas or oil engine will give this.
They have been rather advocated from
the point OF view OF reliability and econ
omy In working.
But as Lord Graham once said In
directing attention to this point: 1T II
all a matter Of development. The greater
the amount Of experience gained the
sooner the speed will come"
But II rests with the Treasury to sane
ton the expenditure necessary for the
initial experiments.