The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-25
RADIO WARNINGS
MAKE SEA SAFE
Keep Ships Informed as to
Location of Icebergs
and Derelicts.

New YOrk.-"BarQuentine - aban-
dOned in sinking condition and set on
fire In Lat. Al north, Long. Al west.
May possibly be a danger to naviga-
ton. Crew on board steamship -"
Such was the purpOrt Of a warning
to all ships which was radiated from
the wireless aerials Of an Atlantic
liner one balmy night, bald In outline
and conveying little to the average
landsman. But what of the hidden
menace behind those words? asks a
writer in the New York Herald-Trib-
une.
From time to time, when disaster
overtakes some palatial liner, we are
! reminded Of the dangers Of the sea
and Of the vital part played by wire
less as a ~live-saving agent. But what
Of the hundreds Of other ocean casual
ties which occur every year?
These casualties are equally disas-
trOus, from the point Of view Of the
total loss of life and property involved,
but they are on such small scales In
dividually that they are considered
relatively unimportant and we never
hear anything about them.
We never hear either Of the part
played by wireless in these cases, or
OF the part it plays subsequently-per-
haps months OF years later-ln pre-
venting major disasters which may
easily result from a minor casualty,
such as that recorded In our opening
paragraph.
Wireless Plays Important Part.
Yet wireless communication con-
tinues to play an increasingly impor-
tant part In the safeguarding Of life
and property at sea, and In this article
1t Is proposed to deal with some little
known phases Of wireless activity
which are in constant operation out on
the broad Atlantic, far beyond the rim
Of the horizon.
The busiest ocean route In the world
is that followed across the north At
lantic by the great liners which ply
between Europe and New York. Dur
ing the busy season as many as 40
liners of different natiOnalities may
be arriving at and leaving the termi-
nal ports on either side every week
end. Added to this number there are
countless cargo vessels, or freighters.
All these ships follow w~ell-de6nsd
tracks or lanes across the Ocean-
lanes which are as definitely laid out
and as rigidly followed as a main
state highway on land.
If it were possible to ascend to a
great height in an airship, so that a
T bird's-eye view Of the whole Atlantic
, could be obtained, the observer would
see two endless lines Of ships but a
few miles apart-One line bound west
and the other bound east.
: Dangers to Navigation.
: With this enormous collection Of
shipping constantly moving to and
e fro a very close watch indeed can be
. kept upon dangers to navigation, and
warnings a be broadcast by wireless
d to inform other ships as to the exact
nature and position Of these dangers
And what are these mysterious dan
gers to navigation?
y We have all heard Of "hotsam ant
Jetsam," but how many Of US know TIT
meaning Of the expression, and tina
1t originated among sailOrs3 Flotsan
may be anything which floats, ant
k may have originated near the shOr
and been washed out to sea. Jetsar
-. Is also anything which will float, an
the term is usually applied to some
thing which has been thrown OveI
III board, or jettisoned, from a ship q
sea.
h Many small freighters put to Se
to with "deck cargoes"-that is, carg
which, for want Of space below,
slowed on deck. Timber is frequent
na carried In this fashion, also bulky mi
chinery which cannot, on account {
It's size, be lowered down a hatch.
IA a vessel carrying such a cargo encOul
ge tiers a violent storm her deck cars
may be torn adrift and washed owe
on board by huge waves, or it may, fl
sia the safety Of the ship, be cut adri
by the crew and jettisOned.
m Fotsam and jetsam, therefore, m'
~ consist Of an enormous variety Of m
terial, such as huge bulks Of timbe
steam engine boilers, lost barge
small boats, buOys torn adrift fro
their msorings near shore, and wreC
age from sunken ships, all highly da
ne, gerous to shipping.
Ir. If, for instance. 9 lincr rushll
in along IN the dark at 20 knots hs
rho pened to hit a bulk Of timber end
her hull would certainly be pierced.
Such distractions, although 50
rs cient to cause damage OF a more
less serious nature. rarely cause {
complete destruction Of a speed
liner. Far more dangerous than q
son miscellaneous collection Of hOtsam q
~ jetsRm are derelicts and icebergs.
The Menace Of the Dsrelie&.
It frequently happens that when
anu ship is very seriously damaged by q
ley' storm or collision. she IS abandon
lrs. by her crew and left in q sinking q
ar dition. However. ships so abandon
-