The Cordova daily times., 1920-09-29
NO CHANGES IN NEW UNDERSEA
 NAVAL CRAFT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (by Asso ciated Press) Detailed examination of surrendered German U-boats built during the war has produced nothing to forecast important changes in Am erican submarines, officers of the U. s. navy assert After careful study of the German craft and a thorough test in the long cruise across the Atlantic, American experts have found only a few unimportant details that are worthy of incorporating in Amer ican undersea craft.
 N In periscopes and optical fittings the German boats were superior to pre-war American submersibles, it was admitted. Periscopes on new navy submarines, however, are su- perior to the best similar fittings found on the captured vessels, it was said
 The engine equipment of the Ger man boats was praised by American officers, but it was declared that the mechanical plants of the enemy craft were in no respect superior to those already in use in the United States navy In many points, particlarly that of mechanical simplicity, roomi- ness and comfort for the crew, the American boats are regarded as su- perior to the German craft.
 Examination of the surface vessels surrendered by Germany and brought to the United States recently is now in progress. Other German vessels of all classes had been previously carefully inspected by American off cers abroad and officials at the de- partment declared that they did not expect the inspection of the cruiser Osfriesland and the destroyers allo- cated to this country to develop any important new construction methods in the American navy.
 In one respect the German ships won the praise of many officers at the department. This was the use of solid watertight bulkheads between subdivisions of the hulls below the decks. No doors for communication below were found in the German ships, the members of the crew being forced to go "up and over" to move from one compartment to another.
 It was this construction that kept German vessels in the fight at the battle of Jutland after they had been severely punished by British fire officers said. The idea has been ad- vocated by a school of American nav. al officers for years and has been adopted in the newer vessels to the extent of placing solid bulkheads be- tween firerooms.
 Opponents of the solid bulkhead theory declare ease and rapidity of communication below decks to be more valuable than elaborate pre-. cautions to prevent the passage of
  other in the event of hits below the water line.
 A feature of the German ships which somewhat surprised the Ameri. can officers was the lack of provi siOns for the comfort of the crews Officers quarters were found to be about on a par with those in the American navy, but little attention has been paid to the enlisted men modations for but a small part of the battle crew, it was said, and it was believed that the ships were con- structed on the theory that any en. gagement they participated in would be within a short distance of the home port, probably in the North Sea, as the bunk capacities were very limited.
 During periods of inaction the men were housed ashore in barracks and during periods at sea of any duration they were poorly supplied with hot food. Contrasted with the elaborate galleys and bakeries on the American ships, with provisions for long cruises i. at sea away from supply bases, the 7 German craft were primitive, it was said.
 The final disposition to be made of the German vessels has not been de cided. They will either be blown up at navy yards or used as targets for the fleets.