Show I WEST INDIES NOW NO UNDER RAG FLAG OF U. U S. S f fv- fv By Associated Press Pres WASHINGTON March 31 The The final act of more than fifty years years' effort to hrIn bring the tho Danish West Indies Indies In In- dies lies under tInder the American flag was completed with formal ceremonies at atthe atthe the tile state department today when Danish Minister Brun was handed a treasury treasur warrant for the purchase price and wireless messages messages mes moe- sages were vere sent to the American and Danish authorities at the islands to lower the Danish flag and raise the Stars and Stripes At noon today the new possessions passed definitely and finally under the authority of or the United States By giving you this warrant warranto Secretary Sec See Lansing said sald as he lie handed the paper to the minister I will save you the trouble of transporting forty forty- eight tons of gold The value of oC this paper in coin would be lie equivalent to that weight With lith the formal transfer the Islands became known as the Virgin Islands o of the United States a title chosen b by the natives I In all an there are fifty islands only thre three large enough to be he of or tance St St. Thomas is the most important important important im im- im- im I and has one of the finest harbors harbors har liar bors bore in the West Indies which will willbe willbe willbe be transformed Into a strong naval base for Cor the protection of the Panama Panama Panama Pan Pan- ama canal St SL SL Croix and St. St John are the other two large laige islands Rear Admiral James H. H Oliver er chief of naval intelligence at the navy nav department is en route to St. St Thomas to assume the tho duty of governor go He will serve until a permanent governor governor governor gov gov- has been determined upon by congress Local la laws laS S 'S will ilI be administered admin i until con congress ress has hag acted |