Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-11
THE i(EDERC Peril
How Vessels on the Atlantic Are
Warned Of Danger.
WORK OF THE PATROL FLEET.


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 25
per cent Of the total; Germany, France
and the United States 10 per cent each
and Austria. Belgium, Canada, Den
mark, Italy. Holland, Norway, Russia
and Sweden from 4 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 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. II 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
infested areas are furnished by wire
less TO the photographic offices In the
capitals u 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 ordl
nary conditions It 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 10 twenty
miles. but on a cloudy day. with good
visibility, a deduction OF about two
miles must be made. With the search
Hight II Is possible TO see an iceberg
about two miles on a dImly moonlit
night and about three miles when the
moon sets.
Another weighty fact for mariners Is
that II Is possible for lookouts on very
large ships TO be higher than the top
Of n small berg. 80 that on q dark
night these observers would have an
unbroken view Of the horizon over the
top OF GROWER" or low lying berg.
half a mile or mile away. and thus
easily miss seeing the obstruction until
too late to avoid H.
A theory exploded by the Ice patrol
ships Is that the proximity OF Ice l.
marked by notable lowering OF air
temperature. Experiments covering
three years have proved that such l.
not the case and that. rs a rule. there
Is little or no change In the tcmpcra
turc of the mir near an iceberg. Equal
ly fallacious Is the idea that the pres.
cncc of a berg Is denoted by n lower
Ing Of the temperature Of the water
As n matter Of fact. the very contrary
Il the case
Other theories, as that echoes indi
cate the presence Of bcrgs. that Ice dis
closes itself through what Is known
A. the ice blink" and that submarine
ears" on shlps will reveal the near
ness n Ice by It's peculiar motion
through the waves. have been proved
equally uHfoundcd. In truth. the tcstl.
muny Of the commanders Of these IA
troll ships is that the only safe way to
navigate regions " lccbcrgs Is TO stop
during thick weather aud to run very
slowly on dark nights.
The outstanding fact. therefore. with
regard 10 this ice patrol service Is that
II Is markedly effective In lcsscnlng
the danger to ships travcrsing the lee
rome by the warnings which Il sends
out from day to day. which enable
passing vessels to give a wide berth
to these distractions. Hut the prob.
lcm u detecting Ice In the immediate
vicinity u u steamer has not yet been
satisfactorily solvCd.-r. r. McGrath
In American RcyieW Of nrvicwa