Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-24
MEN ON US. DESTROyERS
PREPARE FOR WINTER
Wrappings for Cold Days Ahead.
New Factors in Campaign
Against Submarine.

| Correspondence of the Associated Press.
| BASE AMERICAN FEOTILLA IN
| BRITISH WATERS, October S.-Al
American destroyers and men are now
prepared for the winter. Both have been
! equipped for the cold days ahead. The
| issue of winter clothing to the men has
taken place and the fast little ships have
been thoroughly overhauled and have
had several 'gadgets'' added to their
equipment. such as gunshields for the
men operating the guns. non-breakable
glass windows for the bridges, more
crows nests and extra life RATS.
What Men on the Destroyers Wear.
Thanks to the busy women at home
who knit. many of the men have been
provided with excellent sweaters, jer-
seys and socks Now. however. an entire
ly new issue Of extra heavy garments,
designed by the British from their long
experience on torpedo boats in the terri
BILE weather off this coast, has been made
Here are some of the things. when dom
ned. will make the men look more like
arctic explorers than bluejackets: Hell
NETS, made OF wool. and covered all but
the eyes, nose and mouth: light coat
sweaters. jerseys and cardigan jackets.
knitted mittens and gloves. extra heavy
coarse underclothing. light weight wooden
socks and knee length knitted stockings,
besides heavy thick WOODEN socks for
boots. lea Their sea boots, windproof. khaki
colored trousers. greatcoats lined with
lambs wool, and knitted mufflers
over this clothing officers and men
will continue to wear their kapok life
Jackets, made in vest form. These vests
In addition to their life-saving prop
critics, are very warm. Pillows and
mattresses on board their ships are
n TO- joI
also had oilskins when they came over
The men face the coming hardships
cheerfully. All they ask is that the
folks at homo do not forget them while
the submarine under the vastly new
conditions of winter Few of them
have cruised in the gales that are pc
culiar to this coast. when sleet squalls
are hourly affairs.
Does Winter Aid or Hinder U-Boatp
As to whether the winter aids or him
derS the U-boatS is a matter of divided
opinion among those in the British
service who have had the experience of
three winters. 1t is said that a COM
parlson of the figures will show that
there is not great deal of difference
In shipping losses between the summer
and winter seasons The long summer
days, which permit the U-boats to work
long hours also help the destroyers in
detecting them. The dark, stormy days
OF winter, which enable the submarine
to approach its prey with less chance
of detection, may also help the prey to
escape and aid the destroyers in get
ting closer to the U-boat.
New Factors in Fighting Submarine.
But this winter there are new factors
In faVor of the antisubmarine forces
and against their prey. The most i'm
portant Is the addition of the American
ships Next is the all-round increase
In effectiveness of the methods for deal
ing with the submarine problem. Brit
Ism ana American experts here are con-
fldent that these measures will continue
70 show even more gratifying results
In the winter months ahead.