Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-10

carried on with this berg with a view
TO destroying il SiX-pounder shels
We're fired at ana into it with almof
negligible results. Reaching TIN
southermost point for ice, il again
reCurved 10 the northwestward. they
TO the northward on the Grand Bank.
and there gave up the fight for il:
existence.
Innumerable birds. in times of dense
fog, often reveal the near presence o.
icebergS, until the warmer lautudeS
are reached. Some tid-bit delectahle
10 the palate of the fulmar is brought
/, 10 the surface by the breaking up OF
the ice. Material present in large
quantities in the Labrador current
supports an abundance Of fish which
in turn are preyed upon by the birds.
Then. as the bergs approach the
warmer waters. the birds entirely dis
appear: their food supply has become
exhausted and they seek fresh pas
lures.
Toward the end OF MAY the Arctic
current ally and host of the icebergs
is losing ground in this great struggle
70 the warmer waters of the south
land. The tongue OF cold water is now
confined to depth Of - to 80 meters
and cannot 50 vigorously propel its
proteges; with almost human perse
verance the bergS endeavor to remain
in the cold water: deep calling to deep
tor their affinity is we'll established.
:: x
THE end of May is the critical period
in the gigantic game with the ice
bergs The largest have survived until
the lower ATTITUDES are reached and
the shipping, both passenger and com
mercial, has become legion. Search
lights arc often used at this period TO
show passing ships the bergs that
have travelled down across their path.
/ The cold wall OF water has now
moved up considerably on the eastern
. side Of the Grand Ranks but is about
stationary on the westward. The cold
water wall plays TO small part in the
affairs Of ships and men on the sea.
As the Labrador current is gradually
pinChed off warmed and turned in
other directions, large pockets are
left which cause fog Internationally.
and as these cool pockets have no
motion. Il barrage Of fog is encounter
ed al Intervals Of hours by ships pass
ing through this area.
on June - of last year il was safe
Tor the ice patrol TO send out the fol
lowing: NO new bergs have been
found south OF latitude IS degrees
which would indicate cessation Of
The Labrador current. and the only
current that is left is between A. and
! IS degrees. due probably 10 the mo
mentum Of the original stream, and
It IS believed safe to say that no ice
can possibly drift to the southwark Of
! 10 degrees a any time from now on.
thus making the trans Atlantic lanes
absolutely safe and ready for shifting
! on July l.
The ice menace has then practically
| ceased TO exist. hut the precautions
! are continued and the patrol ships
continue to search the areas from
which it might come for some two
! weeks.
| The entire success of the ice partol
! rests upon radio communication and
F.! intercommuniCation The positions
! change so constantly and the news
grows stale So rapidly that its value
depends entirely on rapid and accurate
! dissemination. Comdr. Zeusler re-
! ports that 524 vessels of different ma
| tionalities Co-operated by furnishing
! radio reports of derelicts. ice. currents
! and weather, while thousands of re-
/ ports giving the position of ice We're
/ broadcast from the cutters.
/ 1t is not only difficult but it is i'm
! possible TO forecast what nature is
arranging and planning from year TO
! year with regard To icebergs. VIII
| she unleash these great dragons early
in the year or hold them tight in a
! frozen embrace waiting a more on.
! perfume time Emerson reminded
men that the forces for evil are united
while the forces for better and good
are In conflict; this same law often APP
, plies TO nature, and in this struggle
| the Arctic current. the fogs, winds
and ice form a powerful alliance. To
man falls the task OF assembling the
forces inimiCal TO these md in this
| case the radio is his strong EST defense.
Pandora box is again closed and
Winters grip is hard upoE it. Within
it new evils are taking shs pc; the next
curtain call of Spring viii find the
forces of nature answeril their cue
and the great drama of the ice will
again be on.