THE WAR OF FUELS.
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IN THE FIRST paragraph of an article recently published in the "Fortnightly Review," that well-known naval expert, Mr. Archibald Hurd, made the following statement :— "Not so much lack of ships, or men, or even money, proved. the undoing of Germany, but, first the crumbling of the home front, marked by increased signs of political disintegration and disorder, and, secondly, the want of liquid fuel, without which aeroplanes cannot fly, submarines cannot dive, and Army tractors, laden with food, ammunition and stores, cannot move." •
This statement, coming from such a quarter, is of immense interest as indicating the supreme importance of securing adequate internal supplies of liquid 022
-fuel, and also as showing the tremendous bearing which the fuel problem has had upon the 'development and result of the war. It is quite conceivable that the collapse of the Central Empires woold have occurred at a very much earlier date had it been possible for the Allies to gain and maintain full control of the Galician and Runitinian•oilfields:\ It is generally understood that, during the temporary occupation of Galicia by the Russians, Germany was faced by a serious fuel crisis, from which she only emerged temporarily owing to the • military, successes of Austria, the collapse of Russia, and her own ability to depend, at least for a time, upon home-produced liquid fuels. The supply of these fuels had been created by somewhat artificial means. The extensive
growth el the potato and its subsequent use fo alcohol distillation, had been encouraged in Germany not so much out of a realization of the infinite potential value of alcohol, as on account of a desire to spread the population better throughout eertain rural districts and to encourage agricultural pursuits,
for reasons closely connected with military organizetion. The results of subsidized endeavours to stimu late alcohol production made themselves evident in the availability in emergency of large quantities o fuel, composed in respect of about 80 per cent. of their bulk, of industrial,alcohol. This was mixed with benzole and a little naphthaline. The fuel was not an ideal one, but it served' its purpose.
Later on, when supplies of petroleum fuel again ran short, it was impossible for Germany to have effective recourse to the same stratagem. By that time the food question had become so acute that supplies capable of being used for food, however inferior, could not be spared for other purposes. Thus, there was a time when Germany saved her skin by the possession of alcohol and a subsequent time when she failed to do so for lack of that same spirit.
Our own case has been different, only for the reason that our Navy was able to hold the seas and protect our imports. Even so, there was a period of great anxiety, during. which the submarine menace became exceedingly serious. Had the Germans been able to make a slightly stronger effort, we might at any time have been faced with an alternative of food shortage or fuel shortage.
In view of the existence of such risks, it seems only common sense to secure that in the future the Britieh Empire, as a whole, and each apart of it ,cousidered separately, shall be self-supporting in the matter of liquid fuel. This is not an impossikility. Great
Britain is now a big producer of benzole and the pro duction can be further increased. Alcohol can be produced anywhere and in almost any quantity. In our comparatively cold climate the cost of production from the most obvious sources is somewhat high. A subvention would probably be necessary to bring the price down tq a competitive level. The granting of such a subvention might be the saving of agricultural Ireland.
In practically every part of the empire alcohol could be produced in big quantities at a much lower cost. In Canada the probable source of supply would be from the vast forests, while in mere tropical countries maize,.millet and other crops can be grown at low cost and in great profusion. Itiseelear, then, that the Alcohol Motor Fuel Committee, recently established by Mr. Walter Long, has a very big and important piece of work before it. Australia is acting in the same direction on her own account. The committee here should act as a central co-ordinating body for this and other efforts. The motor industry is quite prepared to produce the necessary engine as soon as the fuel is there to use. Meanwhile, we must pass through a period of compromise representedeby the use of mixed alcohol fuels in engines designed •for petrol, but with slight carburetter modifications. There will be no lack of interest among engine designers. There side of the research work that may be necessary will not be neglected. It is rather with regard to the,, funds for research, in the direction of producing and distilling the fuel, that there is room for doubt. It is difficult to see how this aide of the problem can go forward to its roper conclusion unless the Government fully recognizes its importance, not only by the constitution o committees, but by, the provision of thoroughly adequate funds.