Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
President Also Plans to Stop
at Virgin Islands on
Brief Voyage.
BATTLESHIP ARIZONA
WILL CARRY PARTY
Two or Three Cabinet Members Ex.
pected to Accompany Chief
Executive.

President Hoover will leave Washing
ton this week for a visit to Porto Rico.
with n probable stop-over ut the viz
gin Islands. Date OF departure has not
been set, but Is expected 10 be about
the middle OF the week.
Oficial announcement to this effect
was made at the White House last
night. 1t was stated that the Presi-
dent will not be away from Washing
ton more than 10 days.
The Presidents purpose in making
this brief sea voyage is to secure q
short rest and, at the same time. set
tie certain administrative problems re-
garding American possessions in the
Caribbean. The trip will be made
aboard the reconditioned battleship
Arizona. which is undertaking its 10
day test run at sea. The trial trip
Of the Arizona has been scheduled TO
start March IT.
The Arizona viii sail from Norfolk,
exact date to be announced later. Mr..
Hoover will travel from Washington to
Norfolk by train and will board the
battleship at that point.
First Vacation in Year.
When this announcement was made
last night, emphasis was laid on the
fact that this will be the first vacation
he has had since assuming ONCE, with
the exception Of q seven-day fishing trip
to Long Key, Fla. last Winter. It also
was explained that the President viii
have an opportunity to confer with Col.
Theodore Roosevelt, Governor OF Porto
Rico. and with Gov. Pearson Of the Vir-
gin Islands IN the event he finds it
convenient to stop on at the latter pos
session.
The visit to the Virgin Islands, juriG-
diction Of which has recently been
transferred by the Presidents order
from the Navy to the Department OF the
Interior, viii be made On the return
voyage from Porto Hieo.
Although the White House has given
no indication as 70 the personnel Of the
Presidents party. it Is understood that
the company win be q small one, and
that because Of the Presidents 1nten-
ton to discuss administrative problems
he will be accompanied by one OF two
Of his cabinet, perhaps three.
Has Wanted 70 Make Trip.
Mr.. Hoover has been DESTROYS for
some time to visit American possessions
in the Caribbean. He had planned TO
make such trip last Fall, upon return
ing from his contemplated vacation in
the Far Western national parks, but all
these plans were abandoned when the
President was compelled to remain at
his desk in the White House to meet the
drought situation. It was his intention
on the contemplated trip last Fall to
take Id Cuba and Mexico, which Latin
American republics he found impossible
to visit on his goodwill tour Of South
American countries following his cleo
ton in 1928.
This trip of the President beyond the
shores Of the American continent will
not be setting a precedent. His three
immediate predecessors in once made
foreign trips. President Wilson made
two trips to Europe, incident to the
signing Of the peace treaty. President
Harding went to Alaska by sea, and
President Coolidge went to Havana to
attend the Pan-American Conference
here in 1928.
This, however. will be the first time
that President Hoover, in all of his
travels around the world. has visited
either Porto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
AS a matter OF fact. it will be the first
lime that any President Of the United
States has visited either Of these in
;ular possessions.
Is Formidable Ship.
The Arizona is one of the largest
ships in the American Navy, and since
is moderization, one of the most for
nidable fighting craft in the world. It
S a sister ship to the battleship Penn
Iylyania, and is commanded by Capt.
Charles S. Freeman, who until recently
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column Sd