Evening star., 1934-05-20
SHIPS S|MPER|LED
BY 165 |CEBERGS
Atlantic Lanes Patrol Re-
ports Number Largest
Since Titanic Tragedy.

The U. S. S. Mendoza OF tne In
ternational Ice Patrol reports l65 Ice
bergs in the Atlantic ship lanes-the
largest number since 1912 when one
of the floating mountains OF Ice
wrecked the Titantic, palatial British
steamship.
"Icebergs have always been the
dread of transatlantic navlgators,"
says bulletin from the headquarters
of the National Geographic Society.
"They drift here and there. They
give no warning of their presence.
They are propelled by ocean currents,
winds and waves Fog is their con-
slant companion.
"A vessel speeding through an area
infested with moving ice, during the
night or in fog, plays game OF
chance. Even on a starllt night
berg cannot be seen beyond a half
mile; but when the position of the
ice is known to the navigator the
danger is eliminated he can alter his
course to avoid the menace.
Each Berg Under Watch.
Inc ice COlIleS uONA every SCdi ,
as it has for centuries; but now every
berg that follows the eastern edge of
the Grand Banks into the steamer
lanes is kept under surveillance by
the International Ice Patrol. From
this service navigators can learn the
answer to the question which each
asks: Where is the ice?
THE founding of the Ice Patrol was
a result of the sinking of the Titantic
which collided with a berg on the
night of April 14-15, 1912 with loss
of more than $500 lives. Following
the disaster, a general demand arose
for patrol of the Atlantic ice area.
Immediately the United States Navy
detailed two cruisers for guard duty
until the last bergs disappeared from
the steamer lanes in late June.
During the Fall of the same year
the International Conference for the
Safety of Life at Sea was convened
at London, to organize the Ice Patrol
on an international basis. Representa-
tives of the principal maritime ma
tions of the world signed the agree
ment on January 20, 1914, creating
the International Derelict DeStruc-
ton. Ice Observation, and Ice Patrol
Service.
THE United States was asked to
undertake the management of this
service. This country agreed to send
two vessels which would patrol the
danger area during the iceberg season.
Each of the contracting parties con-
sented to bear a share of the cost in
proportion to its shipping tonnage.
The United States Revenue Cutter
Service, now known as the United
States Coast Guard. was charged with
the duty of maintaining the patrol
When the cutters sail for the ice
fields every March, they go in the
name of Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
France, Germany, Great Britain,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
and the United States. but serve the
shipping interests of the entire world.
Patrol Record Nnmarred.
"Not a single ship has been lost in
the policed lanes through collision
with an iceberg since the patrol was
inaugurated.
"Greenland's icy mountains are
the source of most of the icebergs
that come as far south as the steamer
lanes. journeying about 1900 miles
before they become white 'specters'
to shipping. With the exception of
a small strip of coastal line, Green
land is completely covered with a
vast ice cap estimated to be 5000 feet
in thickness. Always the ice mantle
is moving down the slope of the land
toward the sea. in great glaciers,
pushing out through the valleys. AS
the ice reaches the sea it noses out
into the water until buoyancy lifts
it up, and then the front of the
glacier breaks off at a weak spot
There is deafening roar and a
thunderous crash as the glacier frag-
ment plungeS heavily into the sea,
almost Submerging. The water is
churned into creamy waves as the
newborn berg shakes off the sea,
regains its equilibrium, and settles
itself comfortably for long journey
southwark. Only one-ninth of an Ice
berg may be seen above the surface
of the sea. The bergs that menace
Atlantic shipping come from the
glaciers of West Greenland, floating
southwark in the cold Labrador cur
rent that keeps them intact. The
east coast glaciers usually melt before
they float so far south, for warmer
water prevails on that side of the
great Arctic island.
THE iceberg danger period is from
March l to July l. 1t is during that
period that the cutters patrol the ice
endangered areas.
Constant Sea Traffic
"On the great steamer lanes be-
tween Europe and America, liners,
cargo carriers and trampS pass con-
stantly. These are highways of the
sea as truly as the Boston Post road
and the Lincoln highway are traffic
lanes of the land. On what is known
as the 'westbound tracks are the ships
coming from Europe, and on the
'eastbound tracks 60 miles south, are
the ships going to Europe. All vessels
off the tracks are reported for viola
ton of the rules. A vessel off the
track is just as dangerous as an ice
berg or a derelict. Boulevard speeds
prevail, so that the fast liners step
on it through all kinds of weather.
THE Ice Patrol cutter stands as
traffic officer on this avenue of the
sea. If the ice threatens a blockade
the cutter sets the stop sign and
turns the traffic into a side road
detour to the south. Like a good
traffic officer, the cutter on duty
answers all queries about the condi-
tion of the road and will help ship
in trouble. On one day a cutter may
hear from as many as 38 vessels.
Thousands of Americans sail to
Europe during the iceberg season. Few
of them are aware, as they retire to
their staterooms at night. of the pre-
cautions taken for their safety as
message after message from the Ice
Patrol comes into the radio rooms OF
their ships"