OIL PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1929, Page 4

OIL PROBLEM

WAR NINO FOR NEXT WAR. (United Press Association. —Ry Electric Tolej'rnph.— Copyright.) (Received t-liis dnv ° a.m.) LONDON, January dl. The problem of oil for our merchantmen in the next war was raised by Sir Norman Leslie, one of the organiser* ol the ureal convoy system in 1017. lie said the increasing use of oil in the mercantile marine since the war was fraught with difficulty, nnd in win time would he a positive danger. We needed t),‘.’00,000 tons of oil in peace time and of this we imported 7,200,000. We would need thirty million tons in in war time. Where was it coming from. We were losing control of foreign shipping, by Rritish coal and bunkering ports. He urged the establishment of a body of experts to work out details for the operation ot merchant Heel. The employment of modern aircraft would necessitate a complete reorganisation of the convoy system .Merchantmen would have to be accompanied by scouting aircraft. The war had left nobody in doubt regarding our Achilles Heel. We might lie certain nor enemies would concentrate on the destruction of the merchant. Heel. No conceivable means of attack would he neglected, Bombs would bo placed ■'inong cargo bunkers at neutral ports, gas. mines, aircraft, submarines, and gunfire would all be called into play, as well as anything else that man's ingenuity could devise.