New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-28
Daniels Appoints Board TO
Consider Return to Coal
Burning Ships.
WOULD END PLAN
FOR SWIFT CRUISERS
Cabinet Split Over Scheme to
Release Reserve Lands
Wilson to Decide.
lrrom TIE Tribune Bureau

Washington. May 27.-The navy may
have to abandon oil-burning ships. and
with them the plans for 35-knot battle
cruisers il the Senate rider to the pub
lie lands bill becomes law. 1t has been
favorably reported by the Senate Pub
lie Lands Committee. Secretary DAN
iels to-day appointed a board Of three
officers, headed by Rear Admiral Ed
wards, to inquire into the ACCESSIBILITY
Of returning to the coal burning type
Of vessel.
As q result OF the efforts of Sccre-
tsry Of the Interior Lane 20 put the
bill through serious split has de-
veloped in the Cabinet, and the Presi-
dent has been appealed to. Secretary
Lane believes the naval oil land re-
serves in Cslfornia-possession Of
which is sought by private interests
and denied by the courts-should be re-
leased.
Secretary Daniels maintains that the
pOsscbsioH VI tno VII JANUS 10 - "SNNS
sity IL the navy is TO continue building
oil-burning ships Of the approved mod
ern type. Attorney General Gregory
supports the Secretary of the Navy.
The Presidents position has not yet
been made known, though the question
was discussed at yesterdays Cabinet
meeting. 8,
A high officer Of the navy declared
TO day that the matter of oil reserves
was destined within a few years to be
come q serious question with the navy,
and that important phases OF the ma
tional defence depended on the conser-
walton Of the lands in question for the
use of the navy. IL would be lmpos-
sible, he said, TO construct enectlVe
battle cruisers Of the 35-knot type, le-
Gently designed, IL coal is used as fuel.
At a speed Of thirty.hve knots, such
q vessel would consume 400 tons OF
coal an hour, every shovelful OF when
would have to be passed by hand. mat
speed, Furthermore, could be main
tanned for only four hours, owing to
the clogring Of the furnaces.
More than this, cosl-burning vessels
cannot be constructed along the tor
pedo-proof lines recently perfected for
oil-burning vessels, as the fuel is car,
ried in the outer compartments snd
the necessity of keeping the bunker
doors open renders the vessel extreme
ly vulnerable to torpedo attack.
On the other hand, An oil-ourn'ng
vessel can maintain maximum speed,
he declared, as long as the fuel holds
out. There is no clogging Of the burn
ers. There are no coal passers 10 be
come fatigued' A few men to watch
the oil cocks and pumps and supervlse
the burners take their places. And as
there are no open bunker doors the
vessel is reasonably secure, with the
new devices, against torpedo attack.
The bill now before the Senate, by
taking the naval oil land reserve from
IN. government and turning it over to
private interests may, therefore, mean
srresting the development of the navy
So far as is known, naval ofncers
ssy. there is no reasonable argument
\ in favor OF the bill except that the oil
companies want it and are maintaining
| a lobby in favor of IT, and that tne
State Of California prefers having tne
land in private hands and on the YAK
! lists to leaving it in the hands OF the
! government.