New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-18
OIL FUEL FEEDS TORCH
IN HOUSE Of COMMONS
ChurChiII'S Announcement Of
Contract with Lord Murray'S
Company Starts Debate.
EXPECTS BRITISH SUPPLY
First Lord of the Admiralty Sees
No Reason to Add Further
Warships to 1914-'15
Programme.
lBy cable to The Tribune.l

BY cable to The Tribunel
London, July 1s.-Winston Spencer
! Churchill. First Lord of the Admiralty,
made an important statement in the
| House Of Commons yesterday on navy
estimates with regard to future supply
or oil for the British navy. He showed
, how the use of oil as motive power
fer warships was rapidly developing
and outlined the policy to be followed
/ by the Admiralty in order to secure
/ adequate oil stores az reasonable prices.
/ one of the most striking points is that
/ the Admiralty will seek 10 obtain the
+ ownership. or at any rate the control.
/ OF an oil supply at its source. In the
british islands alone. he 7aid, twice as
much oil as the navy used last year
/ could be produced from shale and clay.
/ care is To be taken i'm granting oil con
: cessicns in the outlying parts OF the
empire.
Mr. Churchill announced that he was
giving contract TO the Mexican Eagle
oil Company with which Lord Murray
Of Elbank. the former radical whip Is
connected. Amid much laughter he
produced an affidavit from the Board
Of Admiralty declaring trait ministers
held no shares in the company, and
dramatically exclaimed:
IF any one has suspicious and wishes
TO ventiatc them here's the place and
nows the time
Lively Debate Started.
The Unionist member from Wilt
shire. George John Terrell inquired
Mr.. Churchilrs disclaimer extended TO
an the members OF the government.
He explained that the question was
prompted 10y rumors he had heard.
Major Martin Archcr-Shec. unionlst'
said that there was good foundation
for the rumors. "as would come out
later" and referred to investments oil
certain gentlemen In oil. intimating
that an Investment had been made IN
behalf Of the Liberal party funds.
MIR. Churchill hotly pressed him to
give names. but Major Archcr-Shce
declined
Mr.. churchill then stated that Lord
Fisher. before becoming chairman Of
the Admraltys oil commission. held
large number of oil shares, but sold
them all at a loss.
Mr. Churchill began his speech by
saving that the British Admiralty has
30 intention 81 adding further warships
60 its construction programme for
rl4-1J lie said that he knew 81
nothing In the international situation
ucccssitatiug an increase, and he did
rot think anything Occurring In the
Mediterranean IN connection with the
proposed Austrian and Italian war
ship construction would require Great
Britain 10 depart from her present pro-
grammc
To FIJI Canadian Gap.
As "A result Of the rejection Of the
Canadian naval bin the British gov
eminent. said Mr.. Churchill would ac-
celcrate the construction Of three war
ships. which would therefore be ready
I'm the third quarter Of 1919, and this
would mn the gap which otherwise
would be created.
Mr. churchill added that he did not
think the question Of Canadian con-
tribution 10 the defence Of the empire
closed and there was no reason 10 sup
nose that Great Britain would be left
to face emergencies in the future un-
aided. There was an overwhelming
consensus OF opinion in Canada. he de-
clarcd. that early action should be
taken In one form or another.
New Destroyer Every Week
Rv next year. the First Lord told hiH
hearers. the British Admiralty would
be- in a better position to Judge whether
further acceleratIon or a direct addl-
ton programme would be forced on
them. I'm the mean while the navy
would be- increased by new destroyer
eyery week for the next nine months
by light cruiser every thirty days for
the next year. and by super-Dieau-
nought every forty-fye days for the
next eighteen months.
In regard to oil fuel Mr. Churchill
pointed out that there were now puiIt
ar building for the British navy over
one hundred destroyers solely depend
ent o. oil. and that oil fuel would be
largely employed in all the warships
ON the programme Of 19l2-13. Five
Of the battleships Of the current pro-
gramme would. he said he coal ouTh-
ing. with oil as an auxiliary. Inc OIL
would be required only when eXcep-
tjonal speed was necessary ana as
there was no intention of raising the
spced Of line-of- battle SHIPS coal would
continue 20 be made the motive power
of those vessels.