New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
By Grace Phelps
Virgin Islands, u. S.

A YEAR ago this month the
N Danish West Indies became the
Virgin Islands of the United
States. To-day 10000 natives enthusi-
astically call themselves American citi-
zcns. The German sentiment which
delayed our acquisition of the islands
for many years has absolutely disap-
peared. Twelve months OF american
occupation has wrought many important
social and agricultural changes, but
none more important than the loyalty
of the inhabitants which has crystal
lzed under the American administra-
ton.
The Virgin Islands are about 1,400
miles southeast from New York and 60
miles east of Porto Rico. Their actual
transfer to the United States occurred
March 81, 1917, just before our en-
trance into the world war, and because
Of that fact little is known of the new
territory which we acquired from Den
mark at cost of s25.0OO,0oO.
The Virgin Islands include St. Thom-
as, with an area Of $4,000 acres; St.
Croix (better known as Santa CRUZ
with an area of $4,000 acres, and St.
John, whose area includes about 10000
acres. With these are number of
smaller islands, many of which are even
unnamed. St. Thomas has population
Of uyt,i ;pb
Croix number $4,000. St. John has less
than 1000 inhabitants. Of this popula-
ton, 81 per cent is black or colored.
The remaining 3 per cent includes the
American officials and their families,
the Danes who remained to engage in
agriculture or commerce, and English
planters and agents, with a scattering
Of French and other Municipalities.
Few Remained
Danish Subjects
The majority Of the Danish officials
returned to Denmark shortly after the
transfer, but many, especially those
who had intermarried with the natives,
remained in the islands, With sthe
blacks and colored, these Danes auto
matically became American citizens
January II of this year, when the
treaty between the United States and
Denmark was finally ratified. Pro-
vision had been made for those who
wished to remain Danish subjects, but
few availed themselves of this pro-
vision.
Citizenship Day, as it was called
was celebrated as gala occasion by
the natives. In st. Thomas there were
games and athletic contests, parades
and speeches, from early morning until
the sunset gun was fired. Then every
hat was off and every face was turned
to watch the Stars and Stripes Autte1
down from old Christians Fort, which
for 251 years had borne the white cross
of the Danneborg
In the evening the blacks celebrated
native fashion, with the Bamboula
dance. They painted their faces white
or wore white masks and in fantastic
masquerade attire went dancing anc
singing up and down the main street OF
the harbor town.
Congress has not yet determined the
status of the islands, but under the
treaty the old Danish laws were to be
administered for one year. Admiral
James E. Oliver was appointed Gov.
crnor shortly after the transfer. He
has been assisted by naval and Federal
comprised the former Colonial Council
A new code of laws is now being pre-.
pared. but the administration is labor.
ing under large deficit, and very lit
tie constructive work can be done un.
til Congress grants an appropriation
sufficient to meet the needs of the isl.
ands.
War Has Cut
Natives Livelihood
Native living conditions in St. Thorn.
aa are especially acute. AS free port
the island was the chief point Of call ir
the West Indies before the war. Its
harbor was the life Of the island anc
the bread and butter of the natives, or
more strictly speaking, tho fish ane
cornmeaI. The people depended almost
entirely upon the shipping interests
f3eforc the war f1ftean atoomnrs ~ ~