Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-04

for the United States, are to be
gained from the interesting story
turitten by Rer Collier, The Stars
opn representative on the trip,
sD1ich began January TO- The story,
NTH all its intimate details, tCtH
continue in The Star until completed.
BY REX COLLIER.
XVI.
Costa RIGA not only welcomed Her.
bert Hoover with open arms, but she
gave him an actual hug, in typical
Latin American manner.
The Latin American shakes hands
with ordinary acquaintance, but when
he meets special friend he throws his
arms about him and gives him couple
of salutatory pats on the back.
Mr.. Hoovers introduction to this
method of friendly greeting took him
somewhat by surprise, but he found
himself returning the squeeze without
perceptible awKwardneSS.
The demonstration of affection, staged
when the President-elect was met by a
delegation of Costa Rican officials at
the torrid, dusty seaport of Punta Arenas
was but the first link in a chain Of
incidents that was to convince Mr..
the contrary Notwithstanding, Is a real
friend of the United States.
Salute Is Fired.
The Maryland dropped anchor in the
opalescent waters of the Gulf of Nicoya
about o'clock on the morning of No
vember %. Punta Arenas, usually asleep
at this hour and generally quiescent at
nearly all hours, was wide awake this
sunny morning and to prove it she
greeted the ships arrival with 81
gun salute from one of Costa Rica's
very few batteries, set up on the shore
Just for this occasion. The o1e-pound-
ers on the port and starboard sides OF
the Maryland alternated in responding,
gun for gun.
Launches conveyed the advance guard
of newspaper men across the placid sur
face of the harbor to the main wharf,
q covered wooden structure with spur
of trackage running down the center.
The stucco walls and tiled roofs Of some
of the buildings along the water front
could be glimpsed behind the palm
trees near the shore, and on All expanse
of beach left muddy by lately ebbing
tide were groups of barefooted children
at play.
En- route to the dock the Marylands
boats passed close to number OF trad
ing vessels at anchor, flying European
flags and decorated gaily with pennants
in honor of the American visitors.
Greeted by Officials.
The general public had been excluded
from the wharf and the landing party
was greeted there by small group OF
Costa Rican officials, including the son
of President Gonzales Viquez. The San
Jose Chamber of Commerce also was
represented. The reception committee
was advised that MIR. and Mrs. Hoover
would come ashore within half an hour
and the correspondents walked ahead
into the town.
Massed about the entrance to the
dock were several thousand citizens OF
the little town, undoubtedly the major
part Of the entire population. There
were no troops to keep them back, but
the people stayed within bounds without
military persuasion. The towns sol
dierly police force was on hand, but had
little to do. A brilliantly alfred and
equipped army band stood at one side,
ready to tackle "Tiie Star Spangled Ban
ner," and a few officers with military
cooked hats and an abundance of gold
braid were adjusting their sabers or
wiping dust from their shoes or other
wise making ready, for as impressive a
military showing as Costa Rica'S unmil-
itary policies would permit.
The visitors learned that the re-
splendent band constituted part of the
army, for in Costa RIGA there are more
school teachers than soldiers, and all
but hundred or so of the enlisted men
are musicians. There is law limiting
the peace-time strength of the army to
1000 men and fixing q maximum OF
5000 men in time of threatened emer-
gency The peace-tiine strength usual
~ falls several hundred short OF the
maximum allowed by law.
Confusion in Directions.
Members of the constabulary politely
directed the press contingent to
waiting special train backed onto a
siding near the wharf, but the CORE
spondents, as usual, wanted to be shown
first to a cable Office. A choice of
directions was offered the confused
scribeS by several citizens of Punta-
renas with a smattering of English.
One fraction contended the cable Office
lay to the left, down the waterfront
street, while another insisted 1t was
several blocks back in the town.
The party split, all but two of the
journalists choosing the waterfront 10
cation. The pair which ventured in
land was led four blocks through a
quiet sun-baked "calle," lined with
one-story weather-beaten houses of
frame or adobe construction, into what
appeared to be the business section of
Puntarenas. Turning corner, the per-
spring correspondents, burdened with
their portable typewriters. were relieved
to hear their guide announce Here
Is oficina."
The "oficina" was little more than a
shed, with Telegraph" sign over the
open doorway. The familiar identifying
marks of the cable companies were
painfully lacking, however, and the
writer's had grave misgivings as they
entered the dark front room and asked
the swarthy clerk behind the counter
If they were in the cable Office. The
clerk replied volubly in Spanish, and
the guide, with profuse apologies. ex-
planned that there had been q mistake.
This was a domestic telegraph Office.
The cable Office was, indeed, down on
the water front.
Modern Taxicab Service.
Time was growing more precious
every minute. A taxicab was asked for
and, considerably to the surprise Of the
visitors, one was forthcoming within a
few moments. It was, moreover, a late