The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-02
FUEL SHORTAGE
HAMPERS NAVY
APPROPRIATIONS ARE
HALF OF ESTIMATE
Situation May Result in Ships
Lying at Anchor in Port
for First Part of
Fiscal Year.

Washington. March Necessity OF
tic!rg up every ship In the navy lot
lack OF fuel TO permit operation, lAceu
the navy. lep2 rtment as an lmmeu'ale
probability tonight due 10 action or the
house appropriations committee In re
portlng out today deficiency Item OF
Ss zoo 900 for naval fuel to be used dur
Ing the remainder OF the fiscal year
This sum is about one-halt OF the orig
inal fuel deficiency estimate submitted
By the department.
As drawn by the committee, tho Dill
does not provide for an addit!ona! ap'
preparation but merely authorizes the
departmlut TO spend money It might
be able to take from other current APP
propriations for fuel up to the limit set.
Naval officials are known to regard
the situation as serious. although Sec
re,ary DENLY refused tonight to author
ize any comment on the action OF III"
Comrlittee There were Indications,
however. that orders must SO forward
10 all parts o. tho navy almost imme-
dtately under which no ship would be
permitted TO operate under steam Ior
the remainder OF tho fiscal year. unless
administration officials were success
full In inducing congress TO make more
liberal fucl PROVISIONS.
While the navy department has au-
thorIty under existing law TO create de-
nciencieS as an emergency matter II Is
known that the policy CT the admintS-
traticn is against that practice and that
Secretary DENLY proposes to Keep er-
penditures OF his department within
limits OF appropriations. II 1t IS human
~ possible 10 do so.
VIII curh Operations
iotI m .
OF the house is generally regarded as
forecasting closely ultimate action OF
congress and until there is some de-
vc.opment showing that congress has
APPRECIATED the situation In which the
navy would be left. there are indlca-
tlons that no operation OF the fleet Will
be authorized which Will lead TO eN-
penditure Of fuel beyond the limit set.
In presenting the fuel deficiency Sit
uatior 70 the subcommittee on naval
appropriations, Secretary DENLY point
ed out that tho original estimates Tor
m. current year were s3T. 100000. which
was ultimately reduced by the depart
ment 10 $4,000 900 and cut by congress
10 SlT,5O0. 900. or that sum, only $ll,-
pRe. 900 was available for fleet fuel and
Mr.. DENLY explained that should every
ship now in comm! ssion remain at an"
chor throughout the year. inc totat iuc!
bill to keep them under necessary
steau in port would amount to $l2,S5e,-
900. which would leave the navy only
$ll.J0O0O0 for operations under way us
against s13.50o.OOO requested for tho
1872 year.
Cancel Maneuvers.
Steps TO save fuel Moulded carceila-
tion OF combined fleet maneuvers,
abandonment Of tho regular full power
trials conducted annually .or all ships
as test of engineering personnel and
engines. and the cancellation OF all
iuaneuvcr operations except during tar
get practice.
Dcstroycrs on both coasts are now
reduced TO a maximum Of eight hours
S,eamInS per month 20 save fuel and
capital ships OF both fleets 70 d maxi
mum OF tive days steamlne per month.
T" keep within The limit Indicated by
the appropriations committee today
however It il Sa! TO be- Obvious that
even these stcaminr allowances must
~" suspended and c.cry ship from bat
iIeships and destrUycrS TO navy trans.
PORTS and tugs. be kept Idle at anchor.
or ~ the dock with only sufficient
steam IN the boiler 10 provide fire pro.
lection. lights. htating and other vita!
necessities OF ship lHe