The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-06-19
HENRY NJ. WILSON
WRITES ABOUT OIL
Continued from page 81

navies in Europe and in the same per-
iod over one million tons Of spirits
and other petroleum products were
shipped, entailing some five hundred
tank steamer loadings," we are in
clined to agree with Captain Snagge
that the winning of the war depended
to a great extent on the winning of oil.
You know, that the expressions we
have received from another grateful
people, whose friendship with the
United States was cemented by the
from the Italian
government and the Italian army and
navy have been equally congratulatory
and equally sincere One of the
phases of this world war that | want
to read when time has so gagged
events that they began to assume some
thing of their proper relationship to
each other, is that dramatic and un-
paralleled fight that was carried on
along the Isonzo frontier, and another
great pleasure that is in store for me,
| hope, is reading the impartial and
sea. We are all, think, especially in
out of touch ourselves with the navies.
they protected US.
l have never failed on referring to
the enormous problems Of transporta-
ton which, beginning with 1914, were
constantly presenting fresh and dis
turbing phases, to say, that whatever
measure of success was attained. was
made possible by the British Navy.
No one in America knew better how
real was the submarine menace at
times than the members Of the Petrol
cum Committee and no one was more
impressed with the efficiency Of the
British navy and the navies which CO.
operated with it. The gallant and
brilliant manner in which our own
navy, when the war came, took up the
work of protecting the Allies at sea,
will probably never receive that mead
of praise which it deserves. but the
oil industry, and especially those who
had to do with the export of petrol
cum products to the war front will
never forget.
Naturally, our relation with the ma
vies and with the shipping situation
We're very close and intimate. It is
perhaps not generally known that
practically the entire contributions
made by America to relieve the grave
| shortage in ocean tonnage was the
| petroleum industry's contribution of
tankers. l would like to quote from
the official publication of the Allied
| Maritime Transport Council:
"Thruout the eight months covered
by this report the increased Ameri-
can military program also resulted in
American tonnage Except tank ton
nage) being inadequate for American
requirements and the deficiency was
not fully met by the acquisition of
neutral tonnage. In the case Of tank
tonnage, America was richer than
any Of the Allies and consequently
supplied certain supplementary tank
ers for the CONVEYANCE Of oil fuel for
all the Allied navies."
In this TRANSFORMATION situation OF
t"anscendent Importance the oil in
dustry of this country did it's share
and a great deal more. and. gentle
men, what was the result? Except in
tankerss Great Britain was the only
country which had tonnage available
for ALLEGATION to other countries. and
it was because this country filed such
a vital need by supplying Great Bri-
tdlH VIII IdHkeTS LnaL we were favor
ed by Britain in the ALLEGATION Of 9th.
er tonnage to US and thus the indus
try not only transported it's own bro.
ducts, but contributed materially to.
wards relieving the shipping situation
generally.
The work Of the National Petroleum
War Service Bnard was voluntary
but that it met the expectation Of the
Government is proven bv the fact that
1 the government never took over the
control Of petroleum.
H This result and the great accom-
| p]ishment Of the industry are outlined
by Captain Paul Foley Of the United
States Navv. in his telegram Go the
/ Petroleum Committee Of March 14th
! in which he staes that con the assur.
ance Of the Supreme Command. no mil
H itarv operation Of the Allies on sea oil
land, under the sea or in the air was
ever interrupted BY lack Of petroleum
supplies" This was made possible bv
/ the devotion, patriotism and unselfish
and ,ifftiring energy Of every man II
lSt = -. 4 -