Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-11-15
THE ICEBERG PERIL
How Vessels on the Atlantic A.,
Warned Of Danger.
WORK OF THE PATROL FLEET

These Cutters, Under intern..;.,
Compact. scour the Ice Zone r..l
Spring and Notify tho World Of Co.,
ditions IN the infested Area.
After the loss Of the giant whit.
Star liner Titanic in April. 1912 \,
striking an iceberg there was much
discussion in Europe and America :.
to the possibility OF adopting measures
to lessen the likelihood Of such disss.
tiers 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 tho
world to maintain an Ice patrol on the
north Atlantic from February to June
in each year.
II was agreed that this Ice patroa
should be carried out by the United
States on behalf Of the various conn.
tries represented. the cost to be borne
by them pro rata. Britain to paw Q,
per cent OF the total; Germany, France
aud the United States Is per cent each
and Austria. Belgium. Canada. Den.
mark. Italy. Holland. Norway, Russia
and Sweden from to 2 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
tiers Seneca and Miami to this duty.
which ships have since continued 1t.
The first season st. Johns was chosen
for the work. but ultimately 1t was
found more convenient to utilize Hall
fax. Nova Scotia. because the area "a.
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
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. 50
that the service Is absolutely contin-
nous Daily bulletins Of the foes aud
bergs seen and Of the trend Of the fog
infested 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 adj
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 ordi-
nary conditions IL Is possible To see an
Iceberg twelve to fifteen miles from the
shis bridge. about an extra mile from
the crows nest. and still another NILE
frore rhe signal yard ON the f1reIaast.
II especially clear we Their begsS
msy lie seen from eighteen to twenty
mites but on cloujy day. with rooi
Wis hilitv. deduction of about TWO
mil, must be made. With the search
light il is POSSIBLE to see an iceberg
about two miles ON a dimly moonh'
nj Il AMI abodP three miles when tIe
noon SETS.
Another weirhty fact for mariners Is
that II Is possible for lookouts on very
large ships TO be higher than the Top
of small berg. so that on a dark
night these observers would have an
unbroken view of the horizon over the
top of GROWER" or low lying berg
half mile or a mile away, and thus
easily miss seeing the obstruction untii
too late to avoid 1t.
A theory exploded by the Ice patron
ships Is that the proximity OF ice Is
marked by notable lowering OF aH
temperature. Experiments covering
three years have proved that such j.
not the case and that, as rule, there
Is little or no change in the tempera
ture Of the air near an iceberg. EquaI
ly fallacious Is the idea that the pres
| ence OF berg is denoted by lower
ing of the temperature of the water
As matter OF fact. the very contrary
Is the case.
Other theories, as that echoes lhui-
cate the presence Of bergs, that ice DIS
closes itself through what Is known
| as the lice blink" and that submarine
ears" on ships will reveal the near
ness Of Ice by Its peculiar motio,
through the waves. have been proven
equally unfounded. In truth, the tes'i'
mony Of the commanders OF these pa
troll ships Is that the only safe way u
| navigate regions OF icebergs is to s'op
during thick weather and to run very
| slowly on dark nights. -,
The outstanding fact. therefore WIZ
regard to this ice patrol service Is tna'
4 Is markedly effective In lessenlhe
he danger to ships traverstng the ~
one by the warnings which 1t SEM,
out from day to day, which enapt,
passing vessels to give wide peri
to these distractions. But the PRIV