Croaker (SS 246) - Naval Cruise Book

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n...a6IQM investing in many w0ndQh6uK bakgdinb in IZMIR, n...0n the gih day 06 oczoben' zhe NTIGER 06 the MEDn the CROAKER ROACHES again sei Aaii gon pants unknown again weni on the pn0wL,,,1hi4 lima paniicipaiing in and ikii time ihe voyage ienminaied in iheiciiy 05 Openazion POKERHAND n MESSINA, SICILV On 6 Ocivbea '65...n Messina is located in Northeastern Sicily on the strait of Messina. It is the Cap- itol of the Province of Messina and is the seat of an Archbishop. The city has a population of 245,000. I MESS-INA was founded by the Greeks around 1004 B.C. It was taken by the Messenians in 686 B.C. and then became a Roman free city in 241 B.C. Captured by the Saracens in 831 A.D.,. it was then occupied and sacked by Richard I of England and his crusaders. The city was under Spanish rule between 1282-1676 and 1678-1713. A plague killed 40,000 people in 1743 and the city was par- tially destroyed by an earthquake in 1783. In 1848, during the revolution, the city to fall and become part of United Italy. On 28 December 1908, one of the city was bombarded for three consecutive days and in 1854 Cholera killed 15,000 of the population. Garibaldi landed in Sicily in 1860 and Messina was the last city to fall and become part of United Italy. On 28 December 1908, one of the most disastrous earthquakes ever recorded totally destroyed' the city, killing 84,000 people. In World War II, Messina was the scene of the Germans' 'ast stand in Sicily. It was abandoned in August 1943 and then occupied by the allies. Messina manufactures silk goods and exports silks, olive oil, linseed, wine and grain and has a number of fisheries. Nearby Taormina, a fashionable Italian re-sort town, located on the slopes of Mt. Etna, is one of the finest resorts in Italy, noted for its beautiful weather, scen- ery and delightful atmosphere. The main point of interest in Messina itself is the tower of the Messina Cathedral, containing gold figures and statues which, at noon, animate themselves for a 10 minute period. .rl I 'ttf . cw, - abt POF , ' 1 Spa XX ffgiyfb ff' fff f f I X agrcn a gnaiiiess goan days, Cnoahca Manu suigaced and pnoceeded noaihwand 50a a neiuan visit io NAPLES . 4 The f A Sp: I u I Siei , V ' O Sie ,f. x I .um Q0 Ninn ..f:Q:fgjFg? .lim ' D ...Iii 12' 9 , il V I I . s-ies v . r v TE Ye Q, Egan CD,. ?gFM . Gif' ' 3191! 1? .ggi b1bE , 0 0 o H ji. g Egg . C ggggg K,

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n...an0iheu exencibe 4ucceAA6uZZg completed... bound gon anoihen pant. This time IZMIR, TURKEY. we annived on the 28ih 05 Septemben and depunied on 2 Oetoben...u gamilian sound - nHey, Joe, you wanna buy u genuine meenbchaum pipe?...n , GENERAL lNFORMATlON- IZMIR was the scene of the finale of Turkey's war of liberation from foreign invaders and it is Turkey's third largest city, with a population of about 350,000 as of l962. Also Turkey's chief Aegean port. IZMIR is a modern amphitheater-like city spread out among the hills at the end of the 45 mile long gulf of IZMIR. It is the market place of' a rich agricultural hinter- land. Hardly a new city, it has figured prominently in history for thousands of years. l The hinterland of IZMIR was inhabited consecutively by the Hittites, the Leleges, the lonians, the -Lydians, the Romans, the Macedonians, and the Byzantines. Towards the end of the Byzantine period Tamerlane and then the Selucuks es- tablished themselves on these lands. This impressive historical pageant is ex- pressed and preserved in their works of art. IZMIR is one of the seven places which claims to be the birthplace of the great blind poet HOMER whose Odyssey, the epic story of a seafarer, Ulysses is world- famous. Today, it is Turkey's chief market for tobacco, licorice, and figs. It is also the scene of the Izmir International Fair, held from the 20th of August to the 20th of September. The Fair is the most important event in this area and is a center of :vast interest because of its historic and economic past. The Fair is built in the Kultour Park in the very heart of the city. All sections of Turkey participate and send exhibitions and a vast selection of products, jewelry, and all kinds of handi- work by native craftsmen are exhibited in the numerous pavilions, and arcades at the Fair. The city is completely modern. Those who expect to find a Hollywood version of a Turkish city, replete with Fezzes, veiled women and' Harems are due for a severe disappointment. Points of interest included the Citadel lKadife-Kaiisil, n...6on the coin colleetona 9 Tunhish Lina e Sl.00n a large edifice overlooking Izmir. The ancient market place lAgoral, and the remnants of the aqueducts within the city were interesting. Everyone should visit at least one Mosque. Non-Moslems are permitted to enter any mosque in the city, but shoes had to be removed. The various museums provided a resume of Turkish History. The Fair grounds at Kultur Park, the scene of the International Fair, was one of the most attractive sights of the city. Outside Izmir, the ancient cities of Ephesus and Perganun have been excavated. Both cities are of great Archeological and historical significance. Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, famed for its sculptures. The temple of Diana, one of the ancient wonders of the world, is located at the site of Ephesus. The Bazaars of Izmir contained a large number of attractive souvenirs at both bargain and inflated prices. Rugs, paintings, Meerschaum pipes, silver and furni- ture were the most popular items. Bargaining was part of the standard business practice.

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...wLth ,the unwise just about ovefr, a zvtqpovm at GIBRALTAR was requested 5011. fthe Zur mumwte shoppefus... The British Crown Co-Iony of Gibraltar is a fortress and naval base situated on a peninsula at the eastern end of the Straight of Gibraltar. It occupies an area of about two square miles. The highest point of the rock is 1,396 feet. The civil population of Gibraltar consists of about 28,000 people. In 1309 Gibraltar underwent the first of its fourteen sieges and was taken by Spanish troops under Alonzo De Guzman, but it was difficult to find settlers for The Rock. The last effort to capture Gibraltar was the great siege of 1779-1783. Spain'si price for ioining France and the American Colonies against England was a French guarantee that Gibraltar would be returned to Spain and the Great Siege was a ioint French and Spanish effort to conquer Gibraltar. The Great Siege was rather unsuccessful but an Armistice was signed in January of 1783 and the Peace of Paris later that year ended the wars. The Peaceof Paris also ended our Revolutionary War, but the American and French negotiations with England were held up because the French had to insist on Gibralter being re- turned to Spain. Eventually U.S. negotiations made a separate treaty with the British, who then agreed with Spain to return Menorca and Florida in exchange for retention of Gibraltar. - Gibraltar has been a favorite liberty post from the ships of the old Mediterranean Squadron to the ships of the new Sixth Fleet. What is inside The Rock is a military secret, but long before the war, Gibraltar was honeycombedr with rock passages. There is scientific evidence that at one time Gibraltar was inhabited by Elephants and Rhinoceroses. The most famous animal inhabitants of Gibraltar are the so called Barbary Apes which are really tail-less monkeys and the only ones roaming free on the European Continent. There are two packs with a total number of about 35 apes, who are protected by law and cared for by the Gibraltar Regiment whose commanding officer also bears the title of -- OINC APES -. Ration money for e-ach ape is provided by the Colonial -Government, births and deaths are published in Fortress Orders, and excess numbers are donated to Zoos in Europe and North America. Legend says that when the apes leave Gibraltar, British rule will end - Hence their care and protection. 6212953255 R THE ROCK OF GI BRALTAR ,X , A GIBRALTAR IS A FREE PORT FOR MANY ITEMS Some of the better buys in Gibraltar were Spanish pottery, mantillas and fans, Indian ivory and curiosities, Italian embroidery and sweaters, Swrss.wcrtches, German cameras, French perfume, and certain items from Great Britain and Ireland. Virtually every shop is on Main Street.