Baltimore (CA 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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NAPLES It is common knowledge that Naples disputes with Istanbul the claim of occupying the most beautiful site in Europe. Inasmuch as we hadn ' t been to Istanbul as yet, we had no choice but to admit that Naples glories in one of - if not the most beautiful spots seen thus far in the Mediterranean. Situated on the northern shore of the bay, Naples, with a population of over a miUion, is Italy ' s third largest city and one of its most important ports. Mt. Vesuvius, at the base of with lies the classic sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii, is Naples most historic landmark. Naples, like most other Mediterranean sea ports, is very friendly toward U. S. Naval liberty parties. Almost without exception, the people are tolerant, willing, and helpful, and respond readily to any overtures of friendliness on our part. The Enlisted Men ' s Club was one of our favorite spots in Naples, for, at very reasonable prices, we could get American beer, mixed drinks, and champagne, or dance to some of that smooth American music (if we were fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of a charming signorina.)

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CS DIVISION Is it a bird ? A plane ? No, it ' s a flag two-blocked to starboard, telling one and all that it is time to stuff the cotton deeper into your ears for the ship is ready to fire. And who is responsible for this timely warning ? Why, CS Division, of course. For up on the 03 level, amid the confusion of tack-lines and blanket-sized signal flags, of the dits and dabs of flash- ing light, and of those mysterious wa% ' ings of arms and boy-scout flags which is semaphore, the lucky traveller will find the most colorful division on the Balti- more - the signal division. Manned both by willing and cooperative strikers and by signalmen who have worked on the bridges of men from Admiral King to our present CNO, the signal bridge handles all visual com- munications for the Baltimore. Visual communication dates back long before omr Navy was even an idea, and today it is a comphcated and skilled profession. The Commanding Ofiicer de- pends on the signalmen to send and receive dispatches and instructions with the greatest possible speed and accuracy. Signalmen are one of the closest-knit and most harmonious groups in the navy. Schmidt, Gpldins, They have to be, for the utmost co- operation is demanded of them in their work, where there is no margin for error, and where a wrongly-interpreted signal can spell disaster for a ship or a group of ships. Failure to receive or record that seemingly unimportant final zero could well bring on a coUision or an operational failure. A small procedure violation can cause repercussions back in the Pentagon. In port, the signal crew doubles on the beach guard and picket boat, and there is an every-day round-the-clock watch on the bridge, where, incidentally, you get the best cup of cofi ' ee on the ship. The naval communications motto of Security, rehabihty, and speed is the motto of the signal gang, and beUeve us, it keeps their hands full.

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POMPEII ' ■m. Pompeii, buried when Vesuvius erupted in 25 B. C, and centuries later dug out from under the volcanic ash and greatly restored, offered every- thing from a museum with human bodies almost perfectly preserved by the ash to faded pictures on the walls of the restored homes. All the things that were necessary to housekeeping in this ancient city have been recovered, and jewelry and bits of cloth were also unearthed and have been preserved. The public forum (or market), the temples to the various gods, homes of peasants and those of their masters, pubhc baths, a bakery shop and a wine shop, and even the local brothel, were all brought to our attention during the tour. We visited what had been the home of Cassius, one of Caesar ' s cohorts, and saw the room in which was hatched the plot to assassinate Caesar. This was the place where our sailor-historians were really in their element, but everyone was greatly impressed with the thorough job of restoration that had been done. Returning to Naples, we took the shore route, which brought us by Salerno and Salerno Bay, the hillside resorts of Sorrento and Amalfi (where we had lunch in a quaint hotel high above the sea and the beach) and provided us with some of the most e quisite views of our cruise.