The Washington times., 1924-02-11
DEWEY STARTED
MOVE FOR OIL
RESERVES
Admiral Urged Lands BE Saw
ed for Navy, While Head
Of General Board.
By JOHN T. LAMBERT.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

Admiral George Dewey, the fore
most naval hero Of the generation,
started the country on its campaign
to save the naval oil reserves which
former Secretary Of the Interior
Albert B. Fall gave to Doheny and
Sinclair with such profligate hand.
When Dewey was the Admiral or
the Navy and head Of the General
Board, the Nation was making its
successful experiments with OIL
burning battleships, cruisers and
speed ships. The theory was then
predominant that Oil was to furnish
the fuel OF future wars. Dewey
was convinced that Uncle Sam must
keep a firm grip on his oil re-
sources in order to avoid destruc-
ton by any foreign foe in the I'M
happy event of war.
His wisdom was clearly demon
strated by the wholesale use of
Oil in the destroyer-submarine war
fare which determined the result
Of the world war.
Recommended by Dewey.
Admiral Dewey, on January 8,
1908, recommended to President
Taft that a substantial portion of
the countfy's oil fields be set aside
for the exclusive use Of the navy
forever. In letter to the Presi-
dent which now takes on epochal
Admiral Dewey also said:
The General Board is of the
opinion that the use Of oil fuel
both as an auxiliary in large ships
and as the sole fuel Of destroyers
and smaller ships would be at
tended with marked advantages and
has recommended in it's building
programs for the current and pre-
ceding years that vessels be fitted
accordingly"
Secretary Ballinger, despite any
other remiSsions, agreed with Dewey
on the wisdom Of retaining some
reserves for the navy alone Bal
linger said in a letter on that sub
ject to President Taft:
"The six largest battleships in
commission or under construction
are equipped for the use of either
oil or coal and fourteen latest de-
stroyers use oil exclusively.
"The Geological Survey points
out that the present rate of pro-
duct1On can not be maintained be- |
yond a few years after which a |
marked decrease will result in an |
insufficient supply and increased |
prices.
''The Navy has a further inter- |
est in the conservation of the pe.
troleum supply by reason of the
absolutely necessary use of petro. |
leum products for fabrication"
Legislative Action Asked.
"The time appears opportune for
legislative action that will assure
the conservation Of an adequate |
supply Of petroleum for the Gov
ernment's own needs. This legisla-
tion should give authority to fix
the terms of disposition Of public |
oil lands so as to provide for fu-
ture demands of the Navy and
should also authorize the permanent |
reservation OF such areas as the |
Executive may find necessary"
President Taft believed the re.
serves should be maintained for
sole use of the navy and he set |
them aside for such use. President
Wilson and Josephus Daniels, when
Secretary, agreed. The General |
Board Of the Navy recommended the |
policy.
Other experts who insisted upon
retention of the navy oil included
Thomas A. Edison and the navy
consulting board of scientists during
the war, the navy fuel board, Rear
Admiral Griffin, as head Of the
Bureau of Engineering; in fact,
every naval officer whose opinion
was asked.