The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-02
DANISH RULE PASSES IN THE: WEST INDIES
Some Weep When American Flag Is Hoisted Over
 New Acquisition

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, March 31. Delayed )-The transfer of the Virgin Islands from Danish rule to the United States took place simultaneously on the three islands at clock this afternoon. Commander Pollock, the ranking Ameri- can officer at the islands, officiated at St. Thomas. while the commander of the pacity at St. Croix Officers and ma rines of the cruiser Hancock and the Danish cruiser Valkydien formed guards of honor fronting on the military barracks at St. Thomas, where the cere- monies were witnessed by members of the legislature, officials, consuls and a large concourse of people.
 Commander Pollock landed from the cruiser Hancock under salute Of 15 guns and proceeded to the officers bar racks, where the transfer protocol was signed, whereupon the Danish govern ment proclaimed the transfer and the Danish flag was lowered amid salutes and the singing of the Danish anthem. Commander Pollock then proclaimed the cession and the American flag was hoisted accompanied by salutes and the singing of the American anthem After prayers by the Moravian Bishop Greider and the bishop of Porto Rico, Commander Pollock announced himself governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States Of America.
 There were no demonstrations but many
 in the crowd wept during the profound and impressive. silence that followed the hoisting of the American flag.
 o@o~o~Oo~~-
 work at the plant here showed that training in this particular line was necessary to secure the best results and while the best machinists had been obtained. it was not until they became familiar with the work, aft CT many experiments, that finished shells, acceptable to the inspectors, were turned out
 The reason of this is that the shells must conform to specifications that demand operations so fine that they must be measured in hundredths of an inch. A variation equal to the thick ness of a piece of cigarette paper is deemed sufficient fault to justify the rejection of a shell valued at $20. It is therefore apparent that the most consummate skill and care is neces- sary to produce the shells and there are only limited number of men in the country available for the work. "BRITISH TERRITORY" At the west end of the plant there is a huge hall known as England. Here are piled thousands upon thou- sands of six-inch projectiles that have been inspected and are awaiting ship ment to an English port
 Rank after rank of shells and tier after tier of boxes may be seen here if one can get a permit from the Brit ish inspector in charge, all waiting for cars to transport them to the sea- board, where they will be shipped to the other side in tho munitions car riers that are so eagerly sought by the German submarines. The contemplation of these thousands of shells brings the war very close to Anniston.
 MANY INSPECTORS
 There are inspectors everywhere about the several plants that factor in the manufacture of the shells. The steel turned out by the electric fur naces is inspected ana tested by em- ployes of the steel company and by British inspectors; the rough billets are tested and inspected; there is an inspector whose duty it iu to examine the semi-finished shells and there are inspectors with curious gauges to measure and test and examine the in- terior and exterior of the finished pro- duct. The final test is made at Bethle- hem, Pa.. where one shell from each lot is sent, loaded with picric &cid or other explosives used by the allies and shot into a cave. where It's explosive force and destructibility are carefully ascertained. For. after all. the object of the shells is to destroy. and they are not acceptable unless they are ef- ficient in this respect