Evening star., 1934-04-15
VIRGINIA STIRRED
BY REPORT FLEET
IS ON WAY BACK
113 Fighting and Auxiliary
Craft Will Return From
Pacific to Hampton Roads.
BY the Associated Press.

n1Sr1MOND, va, April l4.-NeWS
that the battle and scouting fleet,
absent in the Pacific, had weighed
anchor for the return to the Atlantic,
was of unusual interest in Virginia,
especially in Tfdewater. Practically
all Of the 113 fighting and auxiliary
craft are expected to visit Hampton
Roads before the return to California
in the Fall and the air carriers Lex
ington. Saratoga, Langley and the
new Ranger, are to base in the Nor
folk area.
The fleet brings approximately
$4,000 officers and men, and some
thing like 10000 women and children
of families of the officers and sailors
will come overland. The monthly
pay roll of the fleet approximates $2,-
| 100000.
The Ranger, now being completed
at Newport News, will be put through
the builders trials May l and is to
be turned over to the Navy on May
26-in time for the June fleet review
by President Roosevelt at New York.
She will be commanded by Capt.
Arthur L. Bristol, formerly naval at
tache at the Court of St. James.
The entire f1eet--battle and scout
ing forests expected to assemble
in Hampton Roads in September prior
to the return to the Pacific, giving to
| Virginians in their home waters an
opportunity to see the full fighting
strength of the Navy.
Real Spring weather came to Vir-
ginia as the major tourist stream
started. Garden week, from April
% to 28; the Virginia Choral Festival
at Charlottesville, April 26 to 20, and
the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festi-
val at Winchester early in May are
events which annually bring many
thousands Of visitors into the Old
Dominion. For sports lovers there
will be the Virginia tennis tourna-
ments at Hot Springs beginning April
%, the Old Dominion golf tourna-
ment beginning April 80 and the
Southern Conference golf tournament
the week of May 3. Both golf tourna-
ments will be played over the Cas-
cadeS course at Hot Springs.
The Spring racing season, opening
with the Deep Run races last week
and continuing with the Middleburg
races this week, reaches its climax
May S with the running of the Vir-
ginia Gold Cup event at Warrington.
Society folk and sport lovers from all
over the East and Middle Atlantic
sections are expected and an attend
ance of 10000 is predicted.
Interest in the Apple Blossom Festi-
val was spurred by announcement
that Mrs. John Hay Whitney of
Llangollen Farm would reign over
the two-day event as Queen Shenan-
doah XII" Mrs. Whitney, the former
Elizabeth Altemus of Philadelphia, ac-
cepted the invitation even though it
might interfere with her intended
trip to Kentucky for the Derby.
The Virginia Choral Festival at
Charlottesville, featuring Virginia folk
music, will consist of five programs
representative of Virginia talent and
resources, and cooperation of several
internationally known artists and Or
ganizations is assured.
The first legal wine in II years was
served at Hot Springs, the Virginia
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
having shipped direct to licensed
hotels supply of wine where as much
as SO cases were ordered.
No hard liquors were legally avail
able, however, pending opening of the
State dispensaries. Protests against
location of dispensaries and against
licensing of beer and wine retailers
in certain sections continued to pour
into the liquor boards offices. Mean
while there was interest created by
action of the Richmond Baptist Min
isters' Conference in adopting a reso-
luton holding that church members
accepting employment in the liquor
business are not conforming to the
teachings of the Baptist Church and
should withdraw.
Spring brought the fishing season.
to followers of the Waltonian art and
to commercial fishermen alike. The
trout season opens tomorrow, taking
hundreds to the tumbling mountain
streams for a battle with the rainbows
and brook trout, while other hun
dreds have found the fishing for sill
yer perch up to expectations.
To the commercial flshermen-and
to those who buy-the coming Of the
schools of shad and herring was an
event OF importance. Tne annual
catch of shad and herring is an i'm
portant source of income in Tide
water. y
There was little activity in politics,
although United States Senator and
nine Representatives are to be elected
this year. The Democratic primary
will be held August Z and candidacy
for tho TTritod Cfofoe Canofa Sr,t,cf
be filed with the secretary Of the
common wealth by May z to get on
the primary ballot. Candidates for
the Democratic nomination for Con-
gress have until June 2 to file.
The Republican party, which noni-
mates by convention, is not expected
to hold its convention until later in
the Summer.