Evening star., 1924-12-08
COAST GUARD SAVES
2,462 LIVES IN YEAR
Record Shows Valuable Serv-
ice on Many Other Lines
| Than Rum Ship Chasing.

While the name and fame of the
United States Coast Guard has been
emblazoned into the limelight lately
on account of it's spectacular war on
rum smuggling, this organization dur
ing the past fiscal year did many
other things. 1t saved 2,462 lives,
cared for 406 persons in distress, as
sisted vessels in distress with a total
value of more than s25,000,000, and
boarded 46,152 vessels to examine
their papers. A total of 2,205 vessels
were seized or reported for viola
tions of law.
Not only did the Coast Guard per-
form these duties of patrolling the
sea coast of the continental United
States to prevent the loss of life and
property, but 1t conducted the inter-
national ice patrol in the northern
Atlantic. warning shipping against
icebergs from the North, and perform
ed service in Alaskan waters which
extended to wide variety Of humani-
tartan work for the natives, and the
cities in the North. Thirty regattas
and marine parades were patrolled.
and 75 derelicts destroyed as
menace to navigation.
There was never a day in the year
In which coast guardsmen did not
board and examine at least one ship
and the report adds that as high as
day.
Much of the additional boarding re-
suited from the new service of the
Coast Guard as an aid to prohibition
enforcement 1t has become neces-
sary. the report says, to watch all
vessels more closely, to make more
detailed inspections of their cargoes,
and to watch them farther out at sea
since the guards work has included
of the guard, the report explains,
have not found 1t necessary yet to
neglect any of their traditional duties
In order to give effective support to
the prohibition laws.
The report, addressed to Secretary
Mellon, says satisfactory progress has
been made in carrying out provisions
of Legislation granting additional per-
sonnel and equipment to the Coast
Guard to be used in checking rum
running. 1t explains that time has
been required to construct and place
in service the new craft authorized by
law, but many Of them have been
commissioned and manned since the
Curren fiscal year began and the work
Is being pressed to completion.
Data Important To Navigation.
Much attention was given by cut
ter crews in the last year to oceanic
conditions and considerable data re-
garded as highly important to navi
cation has been gathered by cruising
vessels. The international ice patrol,
managed and operated by the Coast
Guard for l3 nations, was able to sup
ply much of this data, which showed
that during the year there was an un-
usual absence of fog and ice In the
northern steamer lanes. AS result
of experience gained last year and in
years previously, the Coast Guard be-
lieveS it will be able hereafter, if not
handicapped by limited funds, TO give
adequate protection to transatlantic
shipping.
While the report contains no
recommendations. it calls to the at
tention Of the Secretary the nee d
for replacement of the veteran cut
ter Bear. which last Summer made
her f1ftieth voyage into the Bering
and North Pacific waters to carry
food and mail to the ice-b bound ma
tives of the northernmost commun-
tiles of America. The Bear failed
to get through. Her old hull would
not stand the ramming of the ice
packs and her commander turned
her back when 1t was evident that
TO attempt to go further was dan
EerouS. So the Coast Guard wants
Congress to appropriate S925.000 for
construction of a new Bear to carry
on the work.
Work of Ice Patrol.
In connection with the work of
the ice patrol the log of the cutter
MOdoc shows that on April IL she
paused over the spot where 12 years
before the Titanic went down with
the most appalling deash list of
any maritime disaster. Thero, with
flags at halfstaff, prayers were
read over the grave of the ill-fated
vessel by Representative of the
great protective agency established
as result of this disaster that
Slinh arc