Arizona republican., 1922-03-02
DENBY MAY TIE
UP BATTLESH|PS
ON ACCOUNT Of
LACK Of F FUNDS
TRepublIean A. ?. Leased Wlrel

WASHINGTON, Mar. Necessity
of tying up every ship in the navy
for lack of fuel to permit operation
faced the navy department as an i'm
mediate probability tonight, due to
action of the house appropriations
committed in reporting out today a
deficiency item Of $s,20O.O00 for naval
fuel to be used during the remainder
OF the fiscal year, This sum is about
one half OF the original fuel defi-
cheney estimate submitted by The de-
partment. AS drawn by the commit
tee, the bill does not provide for an
additional appropriation. but merely
authorizes the department TO spend
money 1t might be able to take from
other current appropriations for fuel
up to the limit set.
Naval officials are known to re-
gard the situation as serious al
though Secretary DENLY refused to-
night to authorize any comment on
the action of the committee. There
were indications, however, that or
ders must go forward to all parts of
the navy almost Immediately under
which no ship would be permitted to
operate under steam for the remain
der of the fiscal year, unless admins
tration officials were successful in
inducing congress to make more lib
eral fuel provisions.
While the navy department has au-
thority under existing law to create
deficiencies as an emergency matter,
Il is known that the policy of the
administration is against that prac-
tice and that Secretary DENLY pro-
poses to keep expenditures of his de-
partment within limits of appropria-
tions, il it ls humanity possible TO
DO so.
In presenting the fuel deficiency
situation to the sub committee on
naval appropriations, Secretary Dem
by pointed out that the original esti-
mates for the current year were $37,-
100000, which was ultimately re-
duced by the department to $4,000
600 and cut by congress to $17,500, 900.
OF that sum only $14,000,00O was
available for fleet fuel, and Mr.. Dem
by explained that should every ship
now in commission remain at anchor
throughout the year, the total fuel
bfl1 to keep them under necessary
steam in port would amount to $12,-
S50,000, which would leave the navy
only S1,150,000 for operations under
way, against $1s.5oO,O 900 requested for
the 1922 year.
Destroyers on both coasts are now
reduced to maximum of eight hours
steaming per month to save fuel, and
capital ships of both fleets to a maxi
mum of five days steaming per
month. To keep within the. defi-
cheney limit indicated by the appro-
priations committee today. It is said,
however, to be obvious that even the
steaming allowances must be sus-
pended and every ship from battle-
ship and destroyers to naval trans
ports and tugs be kept idle at anchor
or at the dock with only sufficient
steam in the boilers TO provide fire
protection, lights, heating and other
vital necessities OF ship life. Train
ing of the navy for war service can
not be conducted under such circum-
stances, officers declared, and the de-
partment is understood to he await
ing the final action Of congress on
the fuel deficiency with great anxiety.
Mr.. Denby told the committee in
regard 10 the deficiency estimates
that naval efficiency rested on four
nter-dependent elements. These, ne
said. were efficiency OF personnel,
gunnery, steaminS ability OF the in
dividual ships. and fleet training, or
the ability Of the fleet as a whole to
function.
In view of the urgent necessity for
government economy, however, the
department already has reduced
fleet operating training and aban-
doned engineering tests when it's es-
Inmates Of $12,O00,000 as the probable
fuel deficiency was presented. 1t is
hoped by the naval officials that the
situation which must result If not
more than $6.000,000 is allowed, will
be recognized by congress before
final action is taken.