Napa (APA 157) - Naval Cruise Book

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-I 2 i.v.,fW4-seg.-.213 f 'vf A ' .,z',iz-'a.xxm1'N'ff'A 1 -'WL ' ' ' - JANUARY 1946. 0001 Anchored in the outer es- tuary to the Yangtze River, China with 45 fathoms of chain to the starboard an- chor. 0750 Commenced heaving in remainder of an- chor. 0813. Anchors aweigh. Underway from outer estu- ary of Yangtze River steer- ing on various courses and speeds. 1257 Passed quaran- tine buoy abeam to port, dis- tance 400 yards. 1258 Let go starboard anchor. 1417 Sta- tioned special sea and an- chor detail. 1421 Veered starboard anchor to 75 fath- oms in seven fathonis of wa- ter. 1425 Secured special sea and anchor detail. 24.lANUARY 1946. 0714 Set special sea and anchor detail. 0731 Underway from Quarantine Area. Steering on various courses and speeds 'to and in Whangpoo River to Shanghai. 1120 Se- cured special sea and anchor detail. Set a regular port watch. Moored to buoys No. 1 and No. 2. A good anchor- age for the Napa-just a few minutes ride to the Customs .letty. ' '-' 'Q'Y-r E X CHANG E 1U-6 Foncucf i Fi O 0' N EAR Percy, Well, we have at last reached Shanghai, 'the city of Orien- tal mystery and Occidental infiltration and inflation. We arrived yesterday to find the Napa written up by the Shang- hai press in connection with the sinking of the Enoshima Maru, a Japanese ship which was returning to Japan with approximately 4200 repatriates aboard. She struck a mine at the mouth of the Yangtse and asked for help. The skipper kicked up the speed and when we arrived we found the U.S.S. Brevard had taken the survivors aboard. The Napa was mentioned as offering assistance. The Yangtse is a dirty brown color and has quite a cur- rent and to get to Shanghai you go up the Yangtse with one pilot to the Wangno, where you trade pilots and then up the winding river Wangpo. The ships in the river are lined up at buoys in the middle of the river in a chain-like fashion and from the air it must look like a snake in the middle of the river. The ships run for miles and are criss-crossed by the hundreds of junks and sampans that carry everything from one or two people to a couple of hundred fstacked two and three deep over the gunwalesj and tractors, trucks and barrels of oil. We pulled right up the river to tie up at Buoy No. 1 right in the center of activity and about 5 min- utes ride in a UP boat to the liberty landing. The liberty landing is the Customs Jetty and is situated right on the lnternational Bund with its contrasting modern buildings and throngs of beggars and scores of rickshaws and something new we have never seen before in the form of a bicycle propelled rickshaw which are called upedal- cabs. Nanking Road is the main thoroughfare through the shopping district and you can buy everything there but fresh milk, even the kitchen sink fin a primitive forml is sold in stores there. Jade, ivory, silk, camphorwood, sandal- wood, bronze porcelain, silver, filet mignon, beer, wines, scotches and furs, all are found in shops along this famous street and further out when the name changes to Bubbling Well Road you will find a whole series of night clubs. Seat- tle had its beer, Manila its snake juice but you should taste the Vodka in Shanghai. The merchants were allowed to come up and display their wares on the forward boat deck and we had our own de- partment store right out on deck. Of course, everyone is running around now with dragons embroidered on the in- side of their cuffs and half length Russian boots. What a bunch of Asiatic Mswabbiesn this crew is. Well., if 1 want to go over on liberty again 1 had better ushove off and meet the gang at the Paramount or the Park Hotel. Smooth sailing Y Q- 92 l 1 I I 'I o ,,, Wy, 0 l 1

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