Evening star., 1928-11-15
Flexible Route Is Planned by
President-EIect for
Southern Tour.
PERSONNEL OF PARTY ;
IS STILL IN DOUBT
Revised Plans Provide for Inclu-
sion of Mrs. Hoover and
Her Secretary.
BY REX COLLIER.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

PALO ALTO, Calf, November Is
A flexible itinerary that may be stretched
to meeS any diplomatic contingency is
being worked out by President-elect
Hoover for his 15,00O-mile goodwill
swing below the equator.
He has prepared only a sketchy out
line of his projected schedule, and does
not intend to attempt final determi-
nation of countries and cities to be
visited until he has had time to confer
with Ambassador Henry P. Fletcher, his
State Department adviser. Mr.. Fletcher
is not due to reach California until
Sunday, so that there is little chance
of a definite announcement of itinerary
until the battleship Maryland has
headed for the high seas to the south.
Maps Alternate Routes.
With pencil in hand and maps be-
fore him, the President-elect has traced
a number of tentative routes down the
west coast of Central and South Amer
lea, with alternative ports of call in
dicated at various points.
It is now thought he favors steaming
past Mexico without stop on the way
south and making Corinto, Nicaragua,
or Balboa, Panama, his first port of
call. The stop at Corinto is yet an un-
certainty, to be determined in confer
ence later with Ambassador Fletcher.
There is no doubt about the visit to
Balboa, however, as the President-to-be
Is keenly desirous of inspecting the
Panama Canal. Other cities sure to be
visited on the west coast are Callao
Peru, and Valparaiso, Chile.
What route to take after he leaves
the Maryland at Valparaiso is a ques-
ton to which he has given but little
tnought. Bolivia and Paraguay are
hopeful of receiving visit from the
party before it boards the battleship
Utah at an Atlantic port for the start
northward. Buenos Aires, Montevideo
and Rio de Janeiro are likely to be on
tne ltlnerary, and on leaving South
america It IS believed the Utah will
steam for Vera Cruz, whence MIR.
Hoover will proceed to Mexico City to
meet the new President OF Mexico.
Portes Gil, who will take office Decem-
ber /.
Personnel Is in Doubt.
The complete personnel of the party
remains In doubt. On the heels of a
previous report that Mrs. Hoover would
remain in Palo Alto has come IN
decision to include her in the party
along with a secretary, Miss Ruth
FeSsler. It had been said, prior To the
change in plans, that there were no IA
cliltles aboard the man-o'-war for
women.
Col. William j. Donovan, Assistant
attorney General, has had a number
o. conferences with Mr.. Hoover at his
nome nome tne last two days, but it has
been learned that he VIII not make
tne voyage. George Barr Baker, war
Line associate and close friend of the
next President, will 60, as will George
Akerson, Mr.. Hoover's personal assist
ant; Allan Hoover, the younger son.
ana secret service men. A special de-
tachment of Marines has been ordered
ABOARD the ship to serve as a military
guard to the President-elect and the
First Lady-to-be.
Capt. Victor Kimberly of the Mary
land lunched with Mr.. Hoover here
Yesterday afternoon. He said later
That four radio channels would be pro-
vided Tor official and press messages
curing the trip. Extra operators have
been secured.
Hoover Enjoys Planning.
The Maryland has a speed Of 16
knots and carries crew of 1,400 men.
She will leave San Francisco SATURDAY.
and proceed to San Pedro. The Hoover
party, numbering about 40, will leave
here by special train Sunday night for
San Pedro. No stop vii be made In
Los Angeles. The voyage will begin
as soon as every one is aboard.
The President-elect appears to be
thoroughly enjoying the task of map
ping out plans for the visit to the
only continent which is strange to him.
With a great fire of cracking euca-
lyptus logs warming the room, he sits
at his desk, his head bent over a map
of Latin American nations, and draws
his pencil from port to port and capital
to capital.
Practically all of the countries have
sent him formal invitations to be their
guest and he Is hopeful OF sighting
none of them if a suitable schedule can
be worked out.