The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-02
NO APPROPRIATION
FOR FUEL in BILL
MAY TIE UP SHIPS
Naval Vessels May Be Out of
Commission Owing to Action
of House Committee.
NAVAL OFFICIALS SAY
SITUATION Is SERIOUS
Secretary Denby Refuses to
Make Any Comment on Ac-
tion of the Committee.
by The Associated Press)


WASHINGTON. March Necessity OF
tying up every ship IN the navy for lack
of fuel to permit operation faced the
Navy Department as an immediate pos
sibiGty tonight due to action of the
House appropriation committee in re-
porting out today deficiency Item of
Sc, zoe, 900 for naval fuel to be used dur
ing the remainder of the fiscal year The
sum is about one half of the original
fuel deficiency estimate submitted by the
department.
As drawn by the committee the bill
does not provide for an additional appro-
priation, but merely authorizes the de-
partment to spend money it might be
able to take from other current appro-
priatfons for fuel up to the limit set.
Naval officials are known to regard the
situation as serious, although Secretary
Denby refused tonight to authorize any
comment on the action Of the committee.
There were indications, however, that
orders must go forward to all parts of
the navy almost Immediately under
which no ship would be permitted TO
operate under steam for the remainder
OF the fiscal year, unless administration
officials we're successful in inducing Con-
gress 70 make more liberal fuel pro-
yisiora
1
While the navy department has author
itv under existing law to create de-
ficiencies as an emergency matter, it is
known that the policy of the@sdninistra-
tion is against that practice and that
Secretary DENLY proposes to keep ex-
penditures OF his department within linn
its of appropriations II it is possible to
| do so.
In presenting the fuel deficiency situa-
ton to the subcommittee on naval ap-
preparations Secretary Denby pointed out
that the original estimates for the cur
rent year were $4,000, 600 which was
ultimately reduced by the department to
$50. .0o0, ,oGo and cut by Congress to ST.
500, 900 of that sum only 10000 was
available for fleet fuel. and Mr.. DENLY
explained that should every ship now In
commission remain at anchor throughout
the year, the total fuel bin to keep them
under necessary steam in port would
amount TO s12,s50, 900 which would leave
the navy only s1,15o, 900 for operations
underway as against s13, 500, e0a requested
for the 1922 year.
Steps taken to save fuel last year in
asuded cancellation Of combined feet ma
nuevers, abandonment of the regular full
power trials conducted Annually for all
ships as a test of engineering personnel
manuever operations except during tar
get practice.
Destroyers on both coasts are now re-
dueed to a maximum OF eight hours
steaming per month to save fuel and
capital ships OF both fleets to a maximum
of five days steaming per month. To
keep within the deficiency limit fndi-
Gated by the appropriation committee to-
day. however. it is said to be obvious
that even these steamng allowances
must be suspended and every ship from
battleships and destroyers to naval
transports and tugs, be kept idle at
anchor at the dock with only sufficient
steam in the boilers to provide fire pro-
lection, lights, heating and other vital
necessities of ship life. Training OF the
navy for war service cannot be conducted
under such circumstances, officers de-
clared and the department is under
stood to be awaiting ths final action Of
Congress on the fuel deficiency with
great anxiety.