Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
lcontinued from Flrst PACE

Continued from First Page,l
has established great stores of oil at
her bases all over the world; Japan
likewise has accumulated vast re-
serves of this munifion. All navies
are now on the oii-burning basis, be-
cause oil requires less space, can De
more conveniently stored aboard snip,
produces so or 60 per cent more power
per ton, and requires considerably
smaller crew. No other naval power
nossesses it's own oil as does the
limited States; yet so important Is oil
that there were many times during
the war when English commanders
were under orders not to proceed at
more than one-half or three-quarters
speed. except when confronting the
enemy, in order to conserve oil.
Asked if the American Government
had established any great oil stores
as insurance against war exigencies,
Admiral Sims replied that he was not
informed, aside from the well known
fact that large reserves had been set
up in the Hawaiian Islands. But,
having resources and production OF
oil available ON both the Atlantic and
Pacific Coasts" he added, that is not
so necessary in our case"
y
Conversion of the last three Ameri-
can battIeships to oil burning was, in
Admiral Sims view, an interesting in
cident. but not vitality important
one. Yet It marks the end of an era
in the Navy's history. That era was
introduced in 1915, when Robert Full
TON built for the Government the first
steam-driven warship. She was called
the Fulton, and though of only 3S
tons was described as a "fire-eating
monster" For a century thereafter
coal produced the Nays steam
power: then in 1914 came the battle
ship Nevada, one Of the first of our
oil burners. Since then oil has be-
come the standard fuel in all navies
"The fact that the allies had the
great oil resources of the United
States to draw on is now recognized
as one Of the important factors in CIV
ing them victory" said Admiral Sims.
But in general the wars demonstra-
ton of the industrial and financial
capacity of the United States forced
a revision Of all calculation regarding
the seats Of power in this world. our
immediate adoption of universal serv-
ice, the prompt registration Of 49,
O00, 900 men under the universal serv-
"
ability to produce the necessaries of
life and of war, the transport of 2,000,-
900 troops to France in circumstances
which the enemy had believed made
such q movement impossible, the
demonstration of our enormous tinan.
cial capacity--all these things COM
PEELED a sweeping recasting of all cal
culations about locations and align.
vents Of power. Our great popula-
ron, resources, wealth and Industrial
capacity constitute the surest guar
anty Of peace for a long future, pro-
vided we pursue wise policies. HaV-
ing no reason for aggression, our
naval establishment should be adapted
TO assure the best defense.
For intance, as to our require
ments OF aircraft. Suppose we con-
front an alliance we must defend our
selves. The first thing to be consid-
ored is not their combined number of
battleships and cruisers, but their
force OF airplane carriers. Assume
that the two powers together have six
carriers with capacity Of so planes
each. Then we must be prepared to
deal with 300 airplanes along our
coast, for the modern airplane carrier
is considerably faster than a battle.
, ship and has a cruising radius of
5000 or 1900 miles So we will need
a force Of airplanes sufficient to
smother the enemy's 300. The enemy
might possess thousands of airplanes
but we would be confronted only with
such number as he could bring with
his equipment Of carriers, to our
coast.
*
"a combination Of powers might
rresent q large superiority in battle
ships and cruisers. But to attack us
they would have to steam to our
shores, and these vessels can carry
only about enough oil for the round
trip from Europe. In order 10 remain
here and conduct a compaign they
would have 30 bring Golfers with fue
Aand have an advance base near our
: coast and so our problem Of defense
ne,ajrst 4bcro vropJd no nrinciOally