Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-12-17
Where Is the
Going?
BY Bruce Melvin

lieve that now is the time to submit
report based upon a compilation
of facts and figures gathered from
Petroleum Administration for War,
as well as Office of Defense Trans
portation and Office of Price Ad-
ministration.
Although it could not be revealed
at the time, the sinking of IA large
tankers bound for North Africa
was responsible for last winters
eastern fuel oil and gasoline crisis.
The supplies lost were vital to the
campaign in the Mediterranean,
which had reached a critical stage.
Requirements had to be found and
shipped at once. The only supplies
within reach were east coast stocks,
built up for civilian use. The gov
ernment had either to take these
stocks and cause a severe shortage
for civilians or to seek replace
ments farther afield and run grave
risk of military failure in North
Africa.
Military Needs First
Mechanized warfare feeds insati-
ably on petroleum products. Tanks
of one armored division will burn
some $4,000 gallons in travelling
100 miles. On a single siX-hour mis-
sion, a thousand Flying Fortresses
use at least 100000 gallons of
high octane fuel incidentally, il
takes nearly eight gallons of regu-
lar gasoline to make one gallon Of
high octane fuel.) During the North
African campaign, tankers made up
60 per cent of the tonnage required
for supplying the Allied forces.
Where other armies use va
riety Of fuels, ours has based it's
operations largely on one product,
thus immensely simplifying prob
lens of supply. Gasoline is used in
field hospitals to heat sterilize"s
, for surgical instruments, to burn
the lamps in operating rooms, to
power refrigerators in which blood
plasma is kept. 1t furnishes the
fuel for transport planes flying the
wounded from field to base hos
pitals, and in many cases, overseas
to hospitals in this country. In the
Arctic, the Aleutians and Green
land, gasoline heats soldiers, quar-
ters and cooks their meals. This
all-purpose fuel is put to literally
hundreds of other vital uses, and
the list will grow as the war goes
on.
Less Gasoline Processed
Less automobile gasoline is being
processed from each barrel of crude
oil as increasing amounts of oil 60
into high octane aviation fuel, tou-
lene for synthetic rubber, and into
scores of other petroleum products
needed for war. Only about 25 per
cent of each 42-gallon barrel of
crude oil now goes into gasoline for
civilian use. In 1910 and 1941, 81
per cent was processed into auto
motive gasoline. Not only will there
probably be less gasoline, but its
quality will be come progressively
poorer as greater amounts of the
limited supply of tetra-ethyl of
lead are absorbed for aviation gaso-
line and 80 octane all purpose gaso-
line.
Share Rides Whenever Possible
We have been impressed by a
car-sharing creed now in use at
General Motors Fisher-C Cleveland
Aircraft Division, and we would
like to pass it on to you. The fol-
lowing are the Ten Commandments
for car-sharers:
For Riders
/. Conduct yourself in your
hosts car as you would expect a
visitor to behave in your home. Re-
member, his car must last for the
duration.
2. Pay for your share of the op-
Grating expenses.
3. Be prompt in reporting at the
pickup point.
A. Don't ask special favors that
would inconvenience other members
of the club.
5. Keep your drivers phone num-
Der. Notify him if you cannot meet
him.
6. Don't expect "taxi" service.
Walk or use public transportation
to convenient pickup point.
For Drivers
Z. Hold to your schedule. Don't
keep your passengers waiting.
8. Be sure to notify your riders
if unable to drive.
8. Keep your car in good running
order. Others depend on you.
10. Drive carefully, Avoid acci-
dents.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
5 heImer Flower Shop :
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