Brumby (DE 1044) - Naval Cruise Book

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night. This unexpected liberty was welcomed by everyone except the duty section. The next day we pulled out of Palermo. On 5 March, BRUMBY entered the large har- bor of Palma, Mallorca. The harbor is busy with the traffic of private yachts, passenger ships and commercial freighters. Palma is the capitol of this Spanish island. The largest of the Balearics, Mallorca is 115 Miles from the Spanish coast. The major industry by far is tourism and the is- land's 200 hotels host vacationers the year round. The climate is reputedly so mild that women never grow old, CDRATSJ but we witnessed the island's first snowfall in twenty-five years. The island has varied terrain from the beaches, to the mountain ridge in the northwest to the plain of the central part. The plain produces olives, figs, oranges, lemons, almonds, and vege- tables. Hundred of wind mills stand idle in the fields as electronic power runs the pumps that provide the water to the crops. Limestone, marble, iron, lead, and coal are mined. Other industries include the making of wine, brandy, pearl jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, and embroidery work. In the east near Manacor are Cueva del Drach fCaves of Dragonb famous for their under- ground lakes and formations of stalactites. In the largest part of the cave is a lake over 1000

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yards long. Here visitors are entertained by the mysterious music of classical strings as they glide silently in boats on the darkened waters of the lake. The only illusions comes from a row of tiny white lights along the gun wales of the boats. Several of the crew rented cars to explore the country on their own, sample native foods, and seek souvenirs. Our stay in Palma was shortened by untimely developments in the near east. BRUNIBY departed Palma 8 March and headed for Soudha Bay, Crete where we anchored with several units of the Sixth Fleet on ll March. The ship developed a minor engineering prob- lem about this time and we were forced to head for a sheltered anchorage north of Crete. This shallow area was also occupied by three Russian ships. While the engineers were busy making the repairs, the signal men were trying their best to communicate with the Russians. Finally, the go ahead signal was flashed back. The rest of the conversation dealt with such politically topics as girl friends, length of cruise, and time since being home. Eventually, the Russian signal man said he had to go to the room of food . It waS dinner time for our Russian friends. We were happy to have on board Chaplain Merle T. STRICKLAND, LT, CHC, for the cruise.