OIL FUEL FOR THE NAVY

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 27

OIL FUEL FOR THE NAVY

♦ THE NIGERIA FIELD. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. LONDON, February 17. The colonial Government will lend the Nigeria Bitumen Corporation £25,000 Without interest, and repayable when payable oil its struck. The Government's royalty has been increased to 7£ per cent. Is the British navy on the eve of a new departure, the substitution of oil for coal as the fuel with which to raise steam in the boilers of its warships? The question was raised by the statements, which, according to the Evening Standard, were published in the American press, including certain semi-official organs, in September to the effect that the British Admiralty had obtained important oil concessions in Nigeria, and that the British Government, acting on expert advice, would substitute oil for Welsh coal at all naval bases. For some years the use of oil ha 6 been making headway in the navy. Most of the modern British battleships are fitted to burn oil as well as coal, and carry oil in their double bottoms. Moreover, all the new destroyers and torpedo boats are built to burn oil alone. But the process of subbtiiution could obviousiy be only carried out slowly.