The Coolidge examiner., 1934-06-22
Keeps Vessels Informed of
Position of Bergs.

Washington The Z. s s. Men.
dois of the international Ice patrol
reports i05 lcsbergs In the Atlantic
ship lanes-ihe largest number
since 1912 when one % the coating
mountains of Ice wrecked the tt.
'anlc. palaiiai British steamship.
-Icebergs have always been the
aread of Transatlantic nasiEators."
says a bulletin from the National
Geographic society. They just
dr!ft here and there. They give no
warning o' their presence. They are
propelled By ocean currents. winds,
and waves Fog IL their constant
companion.
a vessel speeding through an
area Infested with moving Ice, dur
lnE the night or ln fog. plays
game of chance. Even on a star
~ nlghi a berg cannot be seen be
yond halt mile: but when the po-
Si,lon OF the Ice Is known 20 the
navigator the danger Is eliminated:
he can alter his course 20 avoid the
menace.
The Ice comes down every year.
as Il has for centuries. but now
every berg that follows the eastern
edge OF the Grand Banks into the
steamer lanes Is kept under suryeli-
lance by the international Ice pa
troll From this service nayigators
can learn the answer 70 the gues-
ton which each asks: Where Is
the ieef
The founding OF the Ice patrol
was q result OF the sinking OF the
Titanic which colllded with a berg
on the night OF April ls-l5. 1912.
with a loss OF more than 800 lives.
Following the disaster. n general
demand arose for a 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
al London. 10 organize the Ice pa
troll on an international basis. Rep
resentailyes of the principal mari
time nations OF the world signed
the agreement on January % 1914.
creating the international derellct
destruction. Ice observation. and Ice
patrol service.
The United States was asked 10
undertake the management OF this
service. This country agreed to send
two vessels which would patrol the
danger area during the iceberg sea
son Each Of the contracting par
: ties consented 10 bear a share OF the
cost 10 proportion TO Its shipping
tonnage.
Not q single ship has been lost
In the policed lanes through collision
with en- iceberg since the patrol
was lnaugurated
-Greenland's Icy mountains are
the source OF most OF the Icebergs
that come as far south as the steam
er lanes. journeylng about l.SOo
miles before they become white
'specters' TO shipping. With the ex-
ceptIon OF a small strip OF coastal
line. Greenland Is completely COW
cred with a vast Ice cap estimated
10 be 5000 feet In thickness. Al
ways 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 Ii noses out into
the water until buoyaney lifts II up
and then the front OF the glacier
breaks OF at q weak spot
There Is a deafening roar and a
tllunderous crash as the glacial
fragment plunges heavily into the
sea. almost submerging. The water
Is churned into creamy waves as
the newborn berg shakes OF the
sea. regains Its equilibrium, and