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Rh facts concerning naval development under oil supplies, because such development opens the way to tremendous merchant shipping developments from oil after the war. Without fuel oil the United States government could never have designed for its first line battle cruisers a boiler installation with one hundred and eighty thousand horse-power.

The projected battle cruisers of the United States could not be reproduced if required to use coal nor can they be remodeled for burning coal.

One of the modern monster war cruisers may use fourteen thousand barrels of oil in twenty-four hours. Although the United States Navy is now using but a million and a half barrels per annum, the estimate of the Navy Department is that it will be using nearly seven million barrels within six years. It was declared six months ago at Westminster: "If we could describe what the recent push has meant in the way of petrol, it would stagger Parliament."

Assistant Secretary of Navy Roosevelt has declared: "It may be set down as a definite conclusion that the navy cannot revert to coal-burning vessels."