Hornet (CVA 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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Finally back in Singapore, we took advantage of the two beautiful Eng- lish clubs, whose services were kindly offered for the use of the crew of the HORNET. When we had eaten and were refreshed, we again sallied out into the streets and alleys of Singapore. Night was falling. Around us the stone buildings and monuments took on the grey tints of evening. In the harbor, lights were lit aboard the ships and the varicolored flags-were furled. The water became dusky, and the ripples stirred up the ever-moving junksg bumboats glinted in the sun- light reflected from the coluds. Sil- houettes of ships became black, and then indistinct, fading at last into the darkness. Then we heard the bells of our liberty launch. Our day in Singapore was ended. alumna:-nmzzu:-an Lcft: Anxious looks from the first liberty launch into Singapore. Right: The Hornet basketball team meets the Asiatic champs-results Hornet won two, lost one. Below: Enlisted men take advantage of the club facilities offered by the English. ingapore-Slings and Stretches

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'. T'-F' f .ty re A-f A. f--fn A -. The sun was hot and bright when the pore harbor on 20 june 1954 The clty .lay like a crescent off our port beam, and myriad Islands and ships flying many flags, speckled the waters to the horizon For many of us, this was the first time we had seen junks. They were a strange sight as their weather-beaten hulks and matted sails wove in and out among Chinese freighters and Dutch liners, South American and island trading ships, and tankers from the United States, making for the open sea or berths in the harbor. Singapore is a conglomerate city. Founded by an Englishman, its popu- lation composed of Chinese and In- dians for the most part, its trading facilities used by nearly every country in the world, it is the hub of com- merce for the Orient. As each liberty party went ashore, the crew of the HORNET found that Singapore was more than just conglomerate: it was fascinating. Those of us who took the tour to ,Iohore Bahlu on the Malayan main- land saw much of Singapore through the windows of a bus. We passed native market places and modern department stores, mosques in the traditional Arabian manner and a tremendous Church of England, blond and auburn-haired English- women and swarthy Asiatic girls, all of whom looked perfect to the eyes of sailors who had been at sea for a time. Johore Bahlu is connected to the island of Singapore by a causeway. As we passed from Singapore into its sister city, we left the Occident and entered the Orient. The Sultan's Palace was huge and golden as we passed it on our way to the Sultan's Mosque. Its grounds were extensive. Small elephants and chickens seemed to be the sole inhabitants of its gardens and woods. The Sultan's Mosque was painted blue and gray and was built of stone. We took off our shoes, and went in. Inside, marble pillars and great crys- tal chandeliers vied for our attention with such modern adornments as mic- rophones and loudspeakers. A brass altar and brass incense burners fringed the rugs which covered almost every square inch of floor space. When we left the mosque, our bus took us back through gardens and roads which twisted through the out- skirts of a zoo. Half the day was gone. HURNET dropped anchor in Singa- 9E'-SEYEJ

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