Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-05
DANISH INDIES ARE
NOW OWNED BY US.
Denmark's Flag Comes Down
and Stars and Stripes Cues
Up-Sunday Ceremony.

st. Thomas. Virgin Islands. April L.
The transfer OF tho Virgin islands from
Danish rule to the United States took
place Simultaneously on the three islands
at four o'clock Saturday afternoon Coms
mander Pollock. the ranking American
officer OF the islands. o1lciated at st.
Thomas, while the commander Of the
cruiser Olympia acted in a similar ca
pacity at st. Croix. Officers and marines
OF the cruicer Hancock and tho Danish
cruiser Valkyrie formed guards Of honor
fronting on the military barracks at st.
Thomas, where tho ceremonies were wit.
messed by members of the local Legisla.
ture, officials, cotsuls and q large con-
cours Of people.
Commander Pollock landed from the
cruiser Hancock under a salute of u
guns and proceeded to tho officers bar.
rncks. where the transfer protocol was
signed. whereupon tho Danish governor
proclaimed the transfer and tho Danish
nag was lowered and statutes and the
singing Of the Danish anthem. Com.
mander Pollock then proclaimed the ccs.
sion of the American flag was hoisted.
accompanied by salutes and the singing
Of the American anthem. After prayers
by the Mor4vian bishop. Greidel. and the
bishop Of Porto Rico. Commander Pollock
announced himself acting governor Of the
Virgin islands of the United States OF
America. There were no denominations,
but many in the crowd wept during the
impressive silence IT, at followed the hoist.
ing Of the American dag
f; Warrington. April 1.--When Secretary
Of state Lansing on Saturday handed to
Cohstantin Brun, the Danish minister. .
| United States treasury warrant for 49,.
10000 which will be cashed for gold in
! favor NJ <hA Copcnha ran government- the
group Of islands known as the Danish
West Indies passed formally and offcially
into. the possession OF the United States.
! Saturday was the t0th anniversary Of
tho date when Alaska, bought from Rus.
STA for $1,000 900. passed into possession Of
the United States. For nearly 80 years
there has been an effort to bring the Dan.
ish West Indies under the American nag
1t is considered rather q strange turn
Of time that the actual possession Of the
islands is taken two days before the
meeting of the special session of Con.
gress. which will probably declare the exc
istence OF state Of war with Germany.
|, the nation that for years interposed OBJ
stacles against the acquisition Of these is
, lands. But for German intrigue the Uni
ted States would have obtained the Dam
ish West Indies a decade ago for about
> 100000.
With the delivery of the twenty-five
! million dollar treasury warrant to Minis
} ter Brun wireless messages were sent to
/ the American and Danish authorities at
) st. Thomas for the lowering Of the Dan.
) ish flag and the raising Of the American
nag. The SIS. 900 was delivered at eleven
o'clock. At noon the island became UNI
ted States property.
by giving you this warrant" said Sec.
rotary Lansing. II will save you the trou.
lble Of transporting 4S tons Of gold The
value of this paper in coin would be equiv
alent to that weight
The Washington ceremonies incidental
> to the transfer took place in the famous
diplomatic room at the state department.
Those present were Secretary Lansing.
Secretary McAdoo. Rear Admiral James
H. Oliver Of the navy. who has been des-
ignated as first American governor of tho
=, islands. and Eddie" Savoy. the vener.
J able negro messenger to successive scorer
taries of state.
Secretary McAdoo handed the warrant
> to Secretary Lansing. who in turn handed
1t to Minister Brun. Then there was the
! signing Of receipts and other necessary
Y papers, the plotting OF which was intrust.
, ed to Eddie" Savoy. The warrant bore
8 the signatures of Secretary McAdoo and
8 Of W. w. Warwick, the Controller of the
= i, treasury, and John Burke, the treasurer
= Of the United States. The 25.000.000 paid
9 to the Danish minister will be deposited.
/. It Is understood, in New York banks. on
r account Of high marine and war risk in-
surance rates. which mako shipment OF
n gold to Denmark at this time prohibitive.
;. Danish exchange Is also at a premium In
q this country.
= Immediately after the warrant had been
= delivered Minister Brun notified his gov
= eminent to turn the islands over to the
: American naval offlcer at st. Thomas In
the name Of the King Of Denmark. At the
!. Same time a naval radio message was
sent to the ranking American naval ON
Ger present instructing him to receive thu
islands In the name Of the United States
' Rear Admiral Oliver left this Afternoon
on his way to the islands to take charge