Stars & Stripes

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

"An intelligence test held here last week throughout the country by over 500 candidates for college scholarships began with the following question: 'How many stars are there in the flag of the United States of America--the Star-Spangled Banner?' Two hundred and five students said three stars; 180 said ten; 132 said 24; two said 13; and one said 55; all was guesswork. . . . Later investigations revealed that only two boys have ever seen the American flag, and they saw it in an old newspaper."

All was not lost, however, said Correspondent Cole: "Now that American commerce, American airways and American protection in West Africa are destined to play a great part in this war, the British colonial populations are anxious and clamoring to know more about the Star-Spangled Banner."

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