Evening star., 1940-02-04
D. c. Travellers to Puerto Rico
Thrilled by San Juan Horbor
Ship Flies U. S. Flag
All Night to Help
Insure Sofety
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

LSavulA bCllAAlo A6 w dCAAAA18 COAl
9h-inch snowstorm and New York
City's biting cold, our Washington
contingent finds itself safely aboard
the s. s. Coamo Of the New York.
Puerto Rican Steamship Line, en-
route to San Juan, P. r., U. s. A.,
the only land under the United
States flag upon which Columbus
actually set foot.
The bon voyage gifts, cards and
kilograms Of the friends we have
left behind us In Washington warm
our hearts as we set forth upon our
midwinter voyage to the island pos
session that was ceded to the United
States at the close Of the war Of
1898.
Wrapped up to our chins, we
brave the penetrating winds Of New
York Harbor to see its skyline re-
cede behind us. ..
Anxious friends have questioned
our wisdom in deserting hearth and
home at this time, lest we encoun-
ter IAN enemy submarine" The
only one we have the slightest like
lihood of seeing is the one in the
New York Bay in company with
destroyer as we make our way to
the open sea.
Long after the rest of us, shiver-
ing, have retreated before the wintry
blasts that circle round us, Admiral
William D. Leahy, U. S. N, retired,
a fellow-passenger with Mrs. Leahy
aboard the Coamo, keeps his post by
the ships rail. He is now Governor
of Puerto Rico.
Many Have Same Urge.
Speedily you find that the Coamo
Is capacity full with those who like
yourself have felt the urge to jour-
ney forth in search Of new sights
and scenes within the confines Of
our own country's domain.
The only concession that our ships
captain makes to the submarine
bugaboo is to have the vessels lights
play continuously the night through
upon the Stars and Stripes, which
he keeps flying the clock around.
This gives every one somewhat the
thrill that the author of THE Star
Spangled Banner" must have had
that dawn long ago when our flag
still waved over the ramparts Of
Fort McHenry.
The Nations Capital has by far
the largest contingent Of passengers
aboard the Coamo.
In the scientific group are a num-
Der of specialists from the United
States Department of Agriculture,
en- route for a survey of the
islands agricultural resources look
ing toward their development for
the benefit of its people. Head
ing the mission are Paul H. Appleby,
Assistant to Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wallace, and Milton S. Eisen-
hover. director of information for
the United States Department of
Agriculture and co-ordinator of the
Office of Land Uses. Mr.. Eisen-
hover, true to his title. is verit-
able encyclopedia of useful infor-
nation about this extremely useful
branch of our Government service.
He also evidently holds with the
slogan over the Union Station in
Washington, that the traveller brings
home from q journey In greater or
less degree what he takes with him.
for he carries with him concise
little handbook of especially COM
piled knowledge about Puerto Rico
that is most enlghtening as well
as extremely comprehensive.
DR.. Lee A. Strong. chief Of the
Bureau of Entomology Of the Agri-
culture Department, and e. r.
Sasscer, entomologist in charge OF
foreign plant quarantines, COM
plete this particular group
DR.. A. K. Balls, engine specialist
of the United States Department Of
Agriculture and lecturer on the stad
Of the George Washington Univer-
stiy school Of medicine, is going to
the Puerto Rico agricultural sta
ton at Mayaguez to conduct a
series of experiments concerning
the possible development of the
vanilla bean industry on the island.
Yachtsmen on Board.
A universal favorite among the
group of 80 yachtsmen travelling to
the island aboard the Coamo for
the three-race series in San Juan
Bay under the auspices Of the Club
Nautico de San Juan is Malcolm
D. Lamborne, jr., of the sports staff
Of The Evening Star.
In this nautical aggregation are
five of Philadelphia's prominent
physicians, who will combine their
avocation as comet shippers during
their stay in Puerto Rico with a spe-
cial series of clinics and lectures.
Representing "the continent" as our
especial portion of the United States
of America is referred to by island
ers. are DR.. John Eiman, presi-
dent of the comet class of sailing
vessels, and Mr.. Lamborne, who was
the runnerup in last years event