The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-11
NORFOLK IS READY FOR
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS
Great Gathering to Consider South's
Part in International Recon-
struction Opens Today.
BIG LAND AND WATER pAR,DEs
Fleet of Naval Vessels Assembling for
Event Carry $4,000 Men-Iand Pa
rade Tomorrow Will BE Opening
Feature-President May Attend.

Norfolk, Dec. 10.-The land parade
on Monday, featuring the opening of
the Southern Commercial Congress,
will be even larger than was at first
expected. Official announcement from
the Navy Department. received at the
convention headquarters. places the
number of sailors from the war
ships in Hampton Roads. who will
participate in the pageant, at l,400.
while 500 or more viii come from
the ships now at the navy yard. This
will bring the number of tackles
up to 1000.
ways an attraction when on parade in
Norfolk. several hundred marines will
be in line; a provisional regiment of
coast artillery guard from Fort Mon
roe; the Second Battalion of the
Fourth Regiment Infantry. Virginia
Volunteers. and hundreds of school
children Bands from the navy yard
and training station. and the Fourth
Regiment and other local bands will
furnish the music for the marchers.
1t is estimated that 1000 militiamen
and school children will be in line.
$1,000 Men i'm Fleet.
The extent of the parade is made
possible by the number OF warships
that will ne anchored in Hampton
Roads and the inner harbor from
Sunday until the close of the con-
vention. The list announced by the
Navy Department today that will take
part in the review includes twelve bat
tleships, eight cruisers and tenders.
six destroyers and probably ten sub
marines. These vessels carry $4,000
men.
The names of the ships as announced
by the Navy Department are: Connec-
ticut. Pennsylvania, New York, Ne
vada. Michigan, Texas, Utah, Wyo-
ming, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Delaware
and Florida. battleships; the San
Francisco. Tallahassee. Baltimore.
Colum bia. Yankton. Bushnell, Dolphin.
Benham. Davis. Ayiwin, Balch, Cush-
ing, Wake, Lebanon, and the follow
ing U-boats: K1. LII. L-2, L-3, LA
and L-9.
The Texas. Tallahassee Florida.
Utah. wyoming. Pennsylvania. Balti-
more, San Francisco. Columbic. Iauk-
ton. Oklahoma and Connecticut ar
rived in the Roads this morning and
the others are expected at any time,
President May Come Later.
In the hope that matters may so
shape themselves that he will find ii
possible to leave Washington later in
the week, the general committee OF
the southern commercial Congress
will extend President Wilson another
invitation to attend the convention of
the congress on next Wednesday.
The committee will inform the
President that the function that had
been especially arranged for his ap-
pearance at the convention had been
deferred until Wednesday evening
and that the hope is held that he Will
be able to accept.
Everything is in readiness for the
opening of the convention on Mon
day morning" said Henry G. Barbee.
general chairman of the convention
committee. "All of the details have
been completed and / am prepared 10
say that the convention Of the South
ern Commercial Congress Will he the
biggest and most successful affair OF
its kind ever held in this city.
BESIDES the big parade in which
the United States sailors and marines
and coast guard and the famous v.
NJ. L. cadets will take part. and the
greatest naval review ever held south
of New York. more notable men will
gather together during the four days
of the congress in Norfolk than have
ever been together at one time In the
SOUTH
Services were held In all churches
today IN connection with the conven-
ton.