Petroleum Coordinator Harold Ickes sent oilmen reeling this week. He asked them to turn over 100 more tankers to the British, 25 of them immediately. With the 50 tankers already turned over (TIME, May 26), that will cut the U.S. coastwise tanker fleet by 40% to 200 vessels. It means the Atlantic seaboard gasoline famine is closer and graver than ever.
Because they can carry oil for one-third pipeline and one-tenth tank-car costs, tankers normally carry 90% of the 1,500,000 bbl. used each day on the Atlantic seaboard. When the first 50 tankers...
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