The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-12-01
The ICEBERG PERIL
How Vessels on the Atlantic Are
Warned of Danger.
WORK OF THE PATROL FLEET.

These Cutters, Under international
Compact, Scour the Ice Zone Each
Spring and Notify the World of Con.
ditions In the Infested Area.
After the loss of the giant White
Star liner Titanic in April, 1912, by
striking an iceberg there was much
discussion in Europe and America as
to the possibility of adopting measures
to lessen the likelihood of such disas-
ters in future. An international con
ference for the saving of life at sea,
which was held at London, resulted,
among other things, in an undertaking
by the principal marine powers of the
world to maintain an ice patrol on the
north Atlantic from February to June
in each year.
1t was agreed that this ice patrol
should be carried out by the United
States on behalf of the various coun-
tries represented, the cost to be borne
by them pro rata, Britain to pay %
per cent of the total; Germany, France
and the United States Is per cent each
and Austria. Belgium, Canada Den
mark, Italy, Holland. Norway. Russia
and Sweden from 4 to per cent each.
The American authorities inaugural
ed this patrol service with the naval
scout cruisers Birmingham and Ches-
ter, but later assigned the revenue cut
ters Seneca and Miami to this duty,
which ships have since continued It
The first season st. Johns was chosen
for the work, but ultimately it was
found more convenient to utilize Hall
fax, Nova Scotia, because the area pa
trolled was south of st Johns and
extended farther south as the season
advanced and the armadas Of icebergs
became more numerous.
Each cutter patrols the ice region
for fifteen days. 1t is a three day run
from Halifax to the ice zone with a
return voyage of about the same dura
ton. The ships arrange their move
ments by wireless communication, so
that the service is absolutely contin-
uous. Daily bulletins of the foes and
bergs seen and Of the trend Of the fog
areas are furnished by wire
less to the photographic offices in the
capitals of the countries contributing
to the upkeep of this service, and
warnings are also sent by wireless
telegraph to all steamers plying In the
berg strewn sections.
Each season the patrol ships are add
ing to the stock Of knowledge regard
Ing the Ice area, and the results of
their investigations are published in
the official records; but, as is too often
the case the world gets to know very
little of them. Among some of the
conclusions reached is that under 0rdi-
nary conditions 1t is possible to see an
iceberg twelve to fifteen miles from the
ships bridge, about an extra mile from
the crows nest, and still another mile
from the signal yard on the foremost.
In especially clear weather bergs
may be seen from eighteen to twenty
miles, but on cloudy day, with good
a deduction of about two
miles must be made. With the search
light 1t is possible to see an iceberg
about two miles on a dimly moonlit
night and about three miles when the
moon sets.
Another welghty fact for mariners is
hat 1t is possible for lookouts on very
arge ships to be higher than the top
If small berg, so that on a dark
light these observers would have an
lnbroken view Of the horizon over the
op of "growler," or low lying berg,
lalf mile or a mile away, and thus
'asily miss seeing the obstruction until
90 late to avoid 1t.
A theory exploded by the ice patrol
hips Is that the proximity Of ice is
marked by a notable lowering Of air
Experiments covering
hree years have proved that such is
ot the case and that, as a rule. there
J little or no change In the tempera- |
ure Of the air near an iceberg. Equal |
? fallacious is the idea that the pres |
nee of berg is denoted by lower.
~ of the temperature Of tha water.