15 JUNE 1918, Page 16

The Virgin Islands of the United States of America. By

Luther K. Zabriskie. (G. P. Putnam's Sons. 20s. net.)—This is a full and well-illustrated account of the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, with their dependencies, which were sold by Denmark to America last year for £5,000,000. It is curious to be reminded that Denmark sold St. Thomas and St. John to America as long ago as 1868, and that at the last moment, after the Danish King had renounced his sovereignty, Congress refused to ratify the Treaty. In 1902 President Roosevelt made a Treaty with Denmark, securing the three islands for £1,000,000, but the Danish Upper House rejected it. The transaction at last completed seems to have delighted the inhabitants. Germany had not overlooked these islands, for the Hamburg-America line had a very large establishment at St. Thomas, with a great coal depot and docks, intended no doubt for use in this war if we had permitted it.