Hawkins (DD 873) - Naval Cruise Book

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CRETE 7 ' ? iu n Octadcr 5 SuJa Bay itself is not of great interest historically. The most interesting period o cretian history is centered around Heraklion, three miles west of Knossos, the ancient Minoan capital whicii flourished as the great center of Palaokastro lies about four miles to the east of Suda. After the fall of the Minoan civilization which was caused by a Greek invasion — probably Mycean — about 1000 B.C. The Romans in 67 B.C. occupied the island until the 4th century A.D. when for another 400 years the Byzantines were in occupation. In 823 A.D. the Saracens came and founded Heraklion, and they in turn were driven out by the Byzantines in %0 A.D. The Venetians occupied Crete from 120i until 1645, and in that period strongly fortified the island. In 1645, the Turks invaded Crete and captured Heraklion afte. a seige of 20 years. A continual struggle was carried on by the Christian propulations against the Moslem Turks in Crete until the end of the last century, and in 1913 Crete, freed from the Turks, was incor- porated in the Greek administration. In Suda Bay we worked quickly to complete our tender period 4 days early in order to go to Athens. As the area was not especially good for night club liberty, the ship had an old American hot dog- type beach parry during which everyone got wet whether he wanted to or not.