AFRICA: Stars & Stripes

TIME’S on-the-alert Correspondent Henry B.Cole reported last week from P.O. Box 83, Capecoast, Gold Coast, WestAfrica:

“An intelligence test held here last week throughout the country by over500 candidates for college scholarships began with the followingquestion: ‘How many stars are there in the flag of the United States ofAmerica—the Star-Spangled Banner?’ Two hundred and five students saidthree stars; 180 said ten; 132 said 24; two said 13; and one said 55;all was guesswork. . . . Later investigations revealed that only twoboys have ever seen the American flag, and they saw it in an oldnewspaper.”

All was not lost, however, said Correspondent Cole: “Now that Americancommerce, American airways and American protection in West Africa aredestined to play a great part in this war, the British colonialpopulations are anxious and clamoring to know more about theStar-Spangled Banner.”