Evening star., 1939-05-05
Capital Greets
Nicaragua's
Head dWithPonlp
Planes, Soldiers,
Crowds Provide
DozzIing Reception
pictures on Page Biz
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

ny OAh1h DOAAEOs
Guns roared 21-gun salute and
5000 soldiers, sailors and marines
stood at attention in Union Station
Plaza in a dazzling greeting by
Washington today to Gen. Anastasio
Somoza, President of Nicaragua, who
first came to the United States 20
years ago to study accounting at q
Philadelphia night school.
President Roosevelt, the Vice
President, Chief Justice Hughes and
all but two members of the cabinet
gathered at the station in demon
stration of welcome rivaling Euro
pean gestures of greeting. Fifty
Army planes, headed by 10 flying
fortresses, flew overhead as the mag
niflcent procession moved from the
station up Pennsylvania avenue to
the White House, where Gen. So
moza and Sonora de Somoza are to
be overnight guests.
Great throngs, fattened by pres
idential suggestion that all Govern
ment employees be given time of
today from II am. to p m, crowded
the ropes slung about the plazas
and along the parade route down
Delaware avenue, Constitution ave-
nue., Pennsylvania avenue, Treasury
place and again Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to the west gate of the White
House.
Display Is Impressive.
Not in years has Washington seen
such display for a visiting head
Of state. Many come, but until now
the Roosevelt policy has been a
simple greeting, utterly democratic.
Gen. Somozas favor is being wooed.
He was invited to the United States
by President Roosevelt. His coun-
try, largest in Central America, is a
strategic nation in our develop
ment of hemisphere defense and
American solidarity.
Silk hats, gold braid, the impress
sive rumbling of tanks, drum and
bugle corps fourishes, cavalry at
attention with drawn swords, the
arrival of Mr.. Roosevelt with musical
recognition by the playing of Hail
to the Chief"-the whole program.
was carefully planned to arouse the
enthusiasms of the onlookers and to
ensure the pleasure of the visiting
dignitary.
The train bearing Gen. Somoza
from Atlanta and New Orleans,
which was his first stop in the United
States after his boat trip up the
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf Of
Mexico from his Nicaragua, arrived
at 11:35. Special honor guards of
marines and sailors, at attention
with fixed bayonets, formed an ave-
nue. for the dignitary and his party
from his special car to the presi-
dental suite of the Union Station.
Presidents Are introduced.
There, standing beside Brig. Gen.
Edwin M. Watson, who wore a blue
uniform with five medals and a sash
OF gold, were President and Mrs.
Roosevelt. Secretary of State Hull
and Mrs. Hull stood beside them in
the middle of the suite. The other
American officials, with Vice Presi-
dent Garner first in line, stood along
the side of the wall.
The Nicaraguan President, who
earned the nickname of Eel Yanuui"
many years ago by his sympathy
for the United States and against
Sandino when the Marines were in
his country, was introduced to Mr..
Roosevelt by Hoffman Philip, former
Ambassador to Chile from the
United States. Mr.. Philip met the
Somozas at New Orleans in the
name of the country, and escorted
them and their party northward.
Gen. Somoza joined the reception
line beside President Roosevelt, and
the other American officials who
had been ranged along the wall
shook his hand one by one. Mrs.
Roosevelt spent the interim between
her arrival at the station and Gen.
Somoza's emergence into the presi-
dental suite in talking with Attor-
ney General Murphy. Secretary
Ickes stood beside his wife.
21-Gun Salute Fired.
Through portieres of cloth Of gold,
all the officials except Mr.. Roose-
velt Mrs. Roosevelt, Senore de Somo-
"a, Gen. Watson and Capt. Gala
CHAN, the presidents naval aide,
walked from the side door Of the
presidential suite and got into their
cars. The other five came out the
front door from the presidential
suite.
Their appearance was the signal
(See SOMOZA, Page A-30