Evening star., 1927-12-04
Guard Arpanes Now Used When Ships Are in Distress

country, will be equipped with this
modern aeronautical service.
The ramification of potential res
cues by airplane, inspired by the
successful research of Lieut.. Comdr.
Van Paulsen, are impossible of pre-
diction, for the achievements of aero
nautics are so amazing that nobody
can be certain today in specializing on
the developments Of tomorrow. The
Coast Guard has directed aviational
research into a new field from which
it probably will not depart until as
tonishing conSummations have been
made.
The Coast Guard ice patrol will in
the course Of time attempt to harness
the airplane as vehicle to carry de-
struction to those mammoth icebergs
which originate in the polar regions
and which float southwark, menacing
lanes of transatlantic travel during
the period from mid-March to late
June each year. Technical tests have
demonstrated that although INT
mines have not been effective in
smashing big bergs into bits, they
have split the larger mountains of
ice" into smaller derelicts.
Great difficulty has impeded the
placement of the TINT mines in IA
vorable positions for explosion. To
split huge berg into two smaller
ones it is essential that one or more
mines be discharged simultaneously
at points % to 80 feet below the
water line. Seamen have risked their
lives in placing the experimental ex-
plosives. On paper, at least, the am
phibian planes or seaplanes appear
as new assistants for this dangerous
work. Science hopes to develop some
satisfactory system of carrying the
powerful explosives in the flying ma
chimes and lowering them below the
surface and attaching them to the
icebergs in plenty of time so that the
planes may escape before the explo-
sion occurs.
1t may be that the Coast Guard in
the future will find other unusual
means of recruiting aircraft for saw
ing human life and decreasing the
multiple hazards of seafaring exist
ence. For the ingenuity and initia.
tive of this arm of the Federal serv-
ice in reducing maritime mortality
are unexcelled. Last year. the Coast
Guard rescued 3,037 persons from
per1l-in many cases saving their
lives. 1t rendered valuable assistance
to a total of 4.S31 persons-its record
accomplishment during the 1877 years
that it has been in operation.
Warning vessels which were steer.
ing into danger. providing food, fuel
and water to ships in distress; saving
the shipwrecked, giving medical and
surgical aid to injured, fighting forest
fires and floods, quenching fires along
coasts and water fronts, dragging for
the bodies of drowned persons, finding
lost children, recovering lost and stol-
en- property, removing derelicts, en-
forcing the law, sheltering wayfarers
and acting as emergency pilots
these are some of the Coast Guard
duties.
You can better understand the
value Of the aircraft in patroling
for derelicts when you know that 101
of these menaces to navigation were
found last year and salvaged or
destroyed. Some were beached, while
others were sunk. They included a
variety of Instructions af1oat from
logs to whales, as well as deadheads,
fish traps, scows, mines. RATS, piling,
buoys, iron boilers, wrecks of ships,
canoes. motor boats, spars, trees,
docks and skiffs.
The prosecution of the law-enforce-
ment program by the United States
Coast Guard for the prevention Of the
smuggling of liquor into this country
from the sea proceeded during the
last year with eminently satisfactory
results. Rum row, which formerly
f1outed national laws, is now only a
memory as result of the persistency
and courage of Coast Guard authori-
ties and men. This does not signify
that another rum row might not ap-
pear off our coast if the present deter
rent agencies of the Government
should be withdrawn, nor does it mean
that the job is fully done. Foreign
rum ships still appear off certain Sec
tions of our coast awaiting an oppor-
tunity to run the Coast Guard block
ade or to serve the small-boat custom
ers from shore. Constant picketing
and everlasting vigilance on the part
OF the Coast Guard illustrates the de-
signs of these law-breakers. A decided
Improvement in the control of liquor
running is apparent.
The President designates II to IL
Coast Guard cutters to cruise the
coast during the season of severe
weather, usually from December to
March. This rescue fleet usually
cruises about 1000 miles and gives
assistance to all vessels and their
crews which are found in distress.
These Government cutters also aid in
law enforcement during the Winter
cruising season. Last Winter 23 YES
sells with 32S persons on board were
aided. Eleven Instructions to naviga-
tion were also found and removed
from the lanes of ship travel.
Radio. like aeronauticS, has immeas.
urably improved the scope and effec-
tiveness of the United States Coast
Guard accomplishments. 1t facilitates
the sending of warnings to ships at
sea. enables vessels in distress to send
o messages to shore stations,
aids law enforcement and is the
valued means of communication for
the circulation of iceberg warnings.
Some 275 Coast Guard boats of all
classes are now equipped with radio.
Messages from the ether now bring
tidings Of ships in distress offshore
to Coast Guard stations and air.
planes now play the interesting role
OF modern winged Mercurys to carry
the means of relief and rescue to these
vessels which are in critical danger.