Taconic (AGC 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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the middle of Greenland'. 'Where do icebergs comeefr0m?' 'From - th' cruise, but it This question might have been asked several times OZ wevzr absurd it ma seems doubtful that it ever got an answer like thats .Kite far inland fro: ICOM. iceberls. at least some of them. Hctually oflgln 11 iecea of th Greenland's shores, and are nothing more than relatively Uma P 8 northern hemisphere's greatest glacier. the Greenland ice cap' It covers the interior of Greenland with a layer of iCe'1in sometapots 1000 feet thick, rising with the high terrain in the centra .f'ea'fnf fhe neighborhood of 10,000 feet, and enveloping an area roUEh1Y the 91 0 exlco or nine-tenths of the total land area. In the interior the surface of the ice is composed of loose dry snow, which never melts, but is carried outward to the borders, where also there is heavier snowfall. off the ice by the outward blowing winds and pours through the mountain rim of Greenland and is piled up in valleys as snow drift glaciers, Or is Carried out onto the sea-ice and forms snow deltas. The ice cap, however, has its own ice glaciers. Imagine pouring chilled heavy oil onto an inverted saucer, result- ing in a slow easy overflow until the level part of the saucer is covered whth a uniform thickness of the viscous oil, while the excess slowly runs off. It is exactly the same with the ice cap, and.with its ice glaciers. The internal pressure caused by its tremendous weight 'pushes out' the sides of the ice cap, works its way through the deep valleys on the perimeter, and emerges as ice glaciers. These glaciers, offspring of the ice cap glacier, travel at a velocity of around 65 feet per day. The outer edges then break off when they reach the sea, and are then called icebergs. - ' The snow is often carried MOUTH OF AGPAT GLACIER

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Trade with Greenland had been, until the German occupation of Denmark in 1940, a monopoly of the Danish Crown, dating from 1774. During the war the United States established a temporary protectorate of Greenland, which at the close of the war was relinquished. The land is now administered in Co enhagen by a government board, and in the country by various government offdcials. . For government and trade purposes, the west coast is divided into two inspectorates, Godthaab maintaining the seat of government of the southern section, and Godhavn, the northern. The inspectorates are ruled by two Danish inspectors, responsible to.the 'Director' for Greenland in Copenhagen. Each of these two large sectors of inspectorates is divided into smaller 'Districts one of which would most probably include a 'Coloni' or settlement under a Danish 'Factor', and outlying Eskimo hunting stations ruled by a native 'Factor' who is responsible to the Danish factor. The government monopoly of trade is imposed for the benefit of the Green- landers. The principle upon which the overnment acts is to ive the natives low prices for theirfproduce, but to sefl them European articfes of necessity at prime cost, and other stores, such as bread, at prices that scarcely pay for the purchase and freight. No merchandise is sold at, on the avera e, more than 205 over the cost price in Denmark. In addition, the Greenlangbrs are allowed to order goods from rivate dealers upon paying freight at fixed rates. The prices to be paid fbr European and native articles are fixed every year, the prices current in Danish and Eskimo being printed and distributed by the Government. Out of the payment five-sixths is given to the sellers, and one sixth is devoted to the Greenlanders public fund, stent in 'public works', in charity, and on other unforeseen contingencies. T is is their only tax. A Danish 'Coloni' in Greenland might seem to many not Po be a cheerful place at best, thou h in the long summer days they would certainly find some of those on the soufhern Fiords comparatively pleasant. The fact is, however, that most people who have ived some time in Greenland long to go back. There are generally in a 'Coloni' three or four Danish houses, built of wood and pitched over, in addition to storehouses and a blubber-boiling establishment. The Danish residents may include, besides a 'coloni-bestyrer' fthe 'factor' or overseerj, a 'Missionair' or clergyman, at a few paces also a doctor, if the 'Coloni' is fortunate, and perhaps a carpenter and a schoolmaster. Exports include seal oil, seal, fox, bird and bear skins, fish products and eryolite, the'strategic material used in the manufacture of aluminum, account- ed for 805 of this total. - ould hardl be considered a 'world power' yet it is all import- antpE5f1g:F:t:ining a cghstant vigil against enemy agression by air. Tae principle industrial cities of the United States can be reached from Nort - stern Europe via the North Pole route and over Greenland. Any other route ea ld add considerable mileage and detract from the effectiveness of a poss- Wgle air attack launched in Northern or Northeastern Europe. All one needs to 50 is to take an ordinary Globe and look down at the North Pole, That will ive ou some idea of its extremely strategic importance to weather observa- Eion,yand to the perimeter air defense network of the United States.

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THE COAST LINE -OF GREENLAND, GRIN AND FORBIDDING ' The ice cap of Greenland has its own peculiar histpry, for it attracts explorers and scientists in the same way that Mt. Everest attracts mountain climbers. One of the first scientists - explorers to attack it was A.I. Nordenskiold, who sought proof and data for his 'Glacial Epoch Theory'. It was his idea that, ages ago, Europe and North America were covered with an ice cap in much the same manner as Greenland is now. He made his first trip to the ice cap in 1870 to obtain a firsthand impression of this 'wonder' and to cross over the cap if he could. After one month of travel by sledge, the terrain became impassable by that means and they proceeded on foot. They did manage to climb to an altitude of 2,000 feet, but were forced to return after having penetrated only 35 miles. V Fridjof Nansen, a young adventurer, heard of the great ice cap from Norden- skiold, and decided to undertake its dangerous challenge. He procured trans- ealer which was to take them to the east coast of Greenland. The captain of the ship, however, came upon some excellent waters after a month's delay enroute, Nansen and his party of five decided to head for Greenland in their small boat. ,After being caught in d t l'mb u on a solid ice pack. From here they a storm, they were force o c 1 p were carried out to sea and it was not until late August that they finally portation on a Norwegian s for seal hunting and arrived on the east coast of Greenland.