Harlan Dickson (DD 708) - Naval Cruise Book

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LOWER LEFT-F2H Banshee Jets. UPPER RIGHT-View over the flight deck.

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The Pillars of Hercules Gateway to the Mediterranean GIBMITAH HE first port of call of the Dickson ' s Mediterranean cruise was heralded by the L sighting of the Rock of Gibraltar rising from the blue waters surrounding it. Most of us were a little disappointed that it ' s appearance was not as dramatic as the ual pictures we had seen so often. However, any comments on Gibraltar are almost mpletely dominated by the liock. This citadel under British control for many years, has enabled her to control the :stern entrance to the Mediterranean. In area, Gibraltar is tiny, but its position m.nates the Strait and together with the mountainous tip of Africa, visible to the Jth, forms the ancient Pillars of Hercules. We went inside the bay and moored to the South Mole. From our mooring we had excellent view of the city rising steeply up the western slope of the Rock. The city was impressive in its cleanliness and in the neatness of its well-kept buildings. During our three-day stay, many of us had an opportunity to visit the city and tour the installations on Gibraltar. We saw many narrow, steep streets with the buildings rising immediately next to them, neat little walled gardens, and numerous smaU shops, offering us our first souvenirs. One evidence of a previous occupation of Gibraltar is an old Moorish castle, now serving as a jail. The tour of the Rock itself revealed a vast fortress, all underground and prac- tically self-sufficient. We saw vast reservoirs, living quarters, storerooms, an under- ground railroad, and a honeycomb of passageways. We all left with a good idea why Gibraltar has long been considered an impregnable fortress, even in this era of modern weapons.