Final answer:
The radio operator was so busy before the iceberg warnings because their role included receiving and transmitting crucial communications, particularly navigational warnings that could affect the safety of the ship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason the radio operator was so busy before the iceberg warnings likely has to do with the primary role of the radio operator on early 20th-century ships. This role was crucial for maintaining communication with other ships and shore stations which included receiving and sending various messages, such as navigational warnings, ship-to-ship communications, and personal messages for passengers. Before the advent of the radio, navigators relied heavily on chronometers for accurate navigation.
During emergencies or situations requiring urgent communication, such as the approach of a potentially dangerous iceberg, radio operators would be inundated with communications. They needed to act quickly to send and receive important navigational information, relate distress signals, or pass along other urgent messages that could affect the safety of the ship. In the case of early iceberg warnings, the operator would be particularly busy making sure the information was conveyed immediately to the ship's bridge to avoid a maritime disaster.