MOTOR BATTLESHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1495, 18 July 1912, Page 5

MOTOR BATTLESHIPS.

BRITISH COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. By Tclecraph-Press Aesooiatlon-CoDyrieht (Ilcc. July 17, 9.50 p.m.) London, July 17. A Royal Commission, with Admiral Lord Fisher as chairman, will shortly lie ap-pointed-to investigate problems of coal, gas, and oil fuel, and other subjects connected with warship propulsion. It is also stated tliat the commission will inquire into the rates of pay in the Navy, with a vioir to remedying grievances.

■ OIL V. GAS FUEL. The bulk of tho pioneer work in connection with oil-driven ships is being done on the Continent. There was much interest in England when the Selflmlia, a Danish motor-liner of 9800 tons gross, entered tho Thames. This was tho first oildriven otwin-going vessel to bo seen' in Dritish waters. The typo of engine which has so far been adopted has been one using heavy oil fuel for its niotivo power, ami tho great advanfago it possesses over tlio gas engine is superior economy. Whereas tho gas engine can only mate uso of about 25 per cent, of 1 the total power available in the coal, tho heavy oil engine delivers 40 per cent., and tho steam engine, at its best, only about 15 per cent.- Further, the oil engine can pump the oil direct from the tanks info the cylinder, consequently tho oiily space to bo provided other than the engine-room is that required for tho stowage of tho fuel. This stowage can be conveniently arranged in tho ballast tanks, forming the double bottoms of, tho ship, which spaces can bo filled easily and rapidly. Thero is, therefore, much less interference with tho lower holds than in the case of tlio steam engine, or the gas engine' The great difficulty ns regards Great Britain is that oil is not one of tho natural products, and consequently has to bo imported from considerable distances. It may, therefore, happen that (lie increased uso of oil will semi up the cost of tho fuel to such an extent that tho gns engine will l>e tho moro economical to use. The application of the internal combustion engine to warships (writes Mr. W. E. Abell in. the "Daily News") will-bo largely dependent on (lie development which may take place in tlio mercantile marine, and it Ffcms very probable that the direction in which (his country will lend is towards tho gas ongine. If oil fuel is to l;e used exclusively, it may ba necessary to keep ill stock in this country a reserve of perhaps a million tons, in order to provide for war requirements. Such n step would bo a very riskv one to take, and it is therefore probable that the Navy will also develop on tho sanio lilies as the -merchant service. .It is Understood that the Admiralty are conducting: experiments with gas plants, and the Tlobaplcl T. which has recently lieon fried on tho Tyne, is lilted in this manner.