Brumby (DE 1044) - Naval Cruise Book

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V YY V A,,H . f-mf-M-'--'o'W ' BRUMBY, full honors were accorded the digni- taries by the ship's side boys and honor guard. Luncheons, cocktail parties, and tours of Split followed these formal duties. As soon as local regulations and helpful in- formation was explained, the crew went ashore amid the stares of the curious Yugoslavs. It was as if we were a group of explorers seeing new territory. Split is the chief city of the Dalmation coastal area. It is a busy and prosperous city of about 200,000.- The harbor is large and the best on the Adriatic. The heart of the city is within the walls of the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The palace was completed in 305 A.D. and Diocle- tian lived there until he died in 313 A.D. The palace fell to various uses during the years in- cluding a military camp, market place and shopping center. After the Avars had attacked and left in 615 A.C., those who had escaped sought better shelter within the walls. They divided this im- mense area up into separate rooms with whatever building materials they could find. This was the beginning of the town Spalatum which is now Split. The recently cleared underground halls of the palace are today used as a dance hall for Sp1it's youth and as cool passageways for shoppers. Cover - ing 30,000 square yards, the palace walks are 618 feet on the east and west sides, 510 feet on the

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BRUMBY entered Valetta's harbor once again on 29 January after eight days of special operations with the Russians near Tunisia. The weather had been good and many of us took advantage of the warm sunshine. Our Stay in Malta was devoted to preparing for the long anticipated visit to Split Yugoslavia. We expected Split to be the highlight of the cruise and hoped a last minute mission would not interfere. I We left Malta on 3 February and headed to- ward the Adriatic Sea which is a branch of the Med between Italy and Yugoslavia. Our visit was controlled by the State Department and was the first for a United States Ship in three years. The BRUMBY sailed past many islands and went through the narrows leading to the city. Then the waterless limestone hills rose in the back- ground above the city. Our arrival on 5 February was not unnoticed for there were dozens of people on the pier watching us tie up. The Captain paid formal calls on the Amer- ican Consul Genreal fHonorable Orve Wilsonj, and the Vice President of the assembly of Split commune, and the Deputy Commander of the Military Naval District RADM Grubilich. The Captain was accompanied by the American Naval Attache and the Yugoslav Liaison Officer. Later when these calls were returned to the

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south side and 491 feet on the north side. Three of the four watchtowers are still standing. Each wall had a central gate. Most impressive is the Golden Gate in the northwall. Facing the gate on the outside is a large statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin, defender against Rome of the Slavis Liturgy during the 10th century. The sculp- ture is the work of Ivan Mestrovic who was Yugo- slavic's leading sculptor in thiscentury. Mestrovic lived in the United States from 1947 until his death in 1961. There is permanent exhibition of his sculp- tures in Split. In the central courtyard is what was designed fav r' :gg ,, .0 2-1 , as the Emperor's mausoleum. Today it is a cathe- dral. The carved wooden reliefs on the main door are the work of the Dalmation sculptor Buvina of the 13th century. The whole scene can be taken in by climbing the 200-foot belfry. Immediately around the palace are incredibly narrow streets where shoppers walk from shop to shop looking for the best buys. Competition is as much part of the Yugoslav economic as it isa Part of ours. Yugoslavia is open to western in' fluences. There arediscotheques with hard rock and psychedelic light shows. The status symbol and goal of most of the people is to own a car. They