The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-26
GERMAN SUBS SHOW
F.. AMERICAN UNDE Rs EA
! BOATS ARE PERI { Ct

Washington. Sept. 25.-Detailed ex-
animation of surrendered German u
beats built dgring the war has pro-
duced nothing to forecast important
changes in American submarines, or
ficers at the navy department assert
After careful study Of the German
craft and thorough test in The long
cruise across thu Atlantic, American
experts have found only. few unim-
portant details worthy of incorporat-
ing in new American undersea craft.
In periscopes and optical fittings the
German boats we're superior to pre-
war American submersibles, 1t was ad-
United Periscopes on new navy sub
marines, however. are superior 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. particularly
that Of mechanical simplicity, roomi-
ness and comfort for the crew. the
American boats are regarded as SUI
pcrior to the German craft.
Examination of the surface vessels
surrendered by Germany and brought
10 the United States recently is now
in progress. Other German vessels of
all classes had been previously care
fully inspected by American officers
aboard and officials at the department
,lec'ared that they did not expect
The inspection OF the cruiser Osfries-
land and the destroyers allocated to
this country TO develop any important
new construction methods In the Am
.erican navy.
= In one respect the German ships
won the praise of many officers at the
department This was the use of SOL
id water-tght bulkheads between sub
divisions of the hulls below decks. No
doors for communication below were
found in the German ships, the MEM
bers of the crew being forced to go
up and over" to move from one COM
.partment 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. Of
Ulcers said. The idea has been advo.
Gated by q school Of American naval
officers for years and has been adont-
I'd in the newer vessels to the OK
tent of placing solid bulkhcads be-
iweon freroomS.
Opponents OF the solid bulkheod
theory declare case and rapldity of
communication below decks to be
moro valuable than elaborate pro-
cautions to prevent the passage of
water from one compartment to an
other in the event OF hits below the
waterline.
A feature OF the German ships that
somewhat surprised American officers
was the lack OF provisions for the
comfort OF the crews. Officers quarters
were found to be about on par with
inose In the american navy. but lit
lie attention has been paid 10 the
enlisted men. The larger ships had
cooking accommodations for hut "a
mail part of the battle crew. IL
vas said. and It was believed that
ne ships were constructed on tho
lheory that any engagement they par
'iclpatcd In would be within a short
istance OF the home port, probably in
ne North Sea- as the bunk capacities
we're very limited.
During periods Of naction the men
we're housed ashore in barracks and
'urinr periods at sea OF any duration
ncy were poorly supplied with hot
cod. Contrastcd with the elaborate
alleys and bakeries on American
hips, with provisions for long cruises
L sea away from supply bases. the
'ermon craft were primitive. 1t was
Md.