The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-29


Alaska. This country is acquiring for
eign real estate SO fast just at present
that an alteration may yet have to
be made in the distribution of the stars
on the flag SO as to afford extra space.
In small flags, by the way, no attempt
is made to have the number Of stars
in the blue field correct, because no
one takes notice of that. Never hither-
to has the president of the United
States had war flag for use in the
field. Now, however, such a flag has
been made for Mr.. Mckinley by order
OF the secretary of war
IT IS OF SCARLET BUNTING,
measuring Is by feet. In each of
the four corners is a five-pointed white
star, and in the center Of the flag is
fifth star of large size. Inside of the
big star is another which forms a blue
field, on which is embroidered the off,
cal coat of arms of the United States.
On the scarlet field, around the larger
star, are other white stars, one for
each state. Col. Bingham is said to
have designed this flag, as well as the
presidents new colors, which are of
scarlet silk, 6 feet inches long and
feet wide. The staff bearing the colors
is surmounted by globe and an Amer
lean eagle.
The president is commander-in
chief not only of the army, but of the
navy also. Accordingly, he has a naval
flag, which is of blue silk, about half
the size of the regulation ensign.
In the center is an eagle, ex-
actly like that on a half dollar. The
bird is embroidered in white, the ar
rows and olive branch accompanying
it being worked in the same material.
Stars are arranged above the eagle,
and the shield on it's breast is worked
in red, thus giving the national colors-
red, white and blue-and forming
beautiful flag. Hitherto this flag has
never been used by the president eX-
cept when he went on board of a naval
vessel. A suggestion has been made to
the effect that the new scarlet flag
of the chief executive should be flung
to the breeze above the White house so
long as Mr.. Mckinley is there. In
every other country of the world,
whether republic or monarchy, the per-
sonal flag of the ruler flies from his
official place of business.
1.-THE secretary of the navy has his
own distinctive flag, which is hoisted
at the main when he is on board Of
a warship. 1t has four white stars on
a blue ground, with white anchor
embroidered in the middle. One often
reads of an admiral hosting his flag,
but to ordinary folks this conveys a
lowest so-calied flag rank is that of
commodore, a naval officer of that
grade being entitled to float
A SPECIAL PENNANT
at his masthead. This pennant is blue,
with one white star in the middle. Such
a pennant is now displayed on Commo-
dore Dewey's flagship, the Olympia.
More accurately speaking, it was so
displayed until the commodore received
notice from the president of his ap-
pointment as acting rear admiral. Then
the pennant was hauled down, and
rectangular blue flag with two white
stars was hoisted.
IF this war should be prolonged, the
grades of vice admiral and admiral
may be revived in the American navy.
The later rank is the highest, of course,
and the distinctive flag of an officer
who holds it has four white stars on a
blue field. The flag of a vice admiral
is likewise blue, with three white stars.
If it should happen that more than
one admiral was in the same port or
fleet at the same time, the ranking
admiral would fly a blue flag, and the
third in rank a white flag, each bearing
the customary four stars. The admi-
rails in such a case are called respect
lively the admiral of the blue, the ad-
miral Of the red, and the admiral of
the white.
THE familiar union jack is a rec
triangular flag, with a blue field and
forty-f1ve white stars arranged in five
rows. Dispatch boats have a special
flag, the field of it white, with five blue
figures resembling double acorns. The
commanding officer of vessel, if under
the rank Of commodore, flies an elon-
gated pennant that is made in the form
Of a triangle. Half of it's length, to-
ward the point, is in two stripes of red
and white; the rest is blue, with thir-
teen white stars, representing the orig
tnal states Of the Union. One of the
handsomest of our flags is that flown
by revenue cutters, which has a series
of vertical stripes of red and white,
with an eagle and thirteen stars in the
corner. The flag Of the secretary of
war, like that of Mr.. Long, has
FOUR WHITE STARS.
Instead of being blue, however, 1t is
red, and, in place of an anchor in the
middle, it has an eagle. bearing scroll,
with the national motto. Some Of the
army flags are extremely handsome
as, for example, the cavalry standard,
which has a great eagle in the middle.
The infantry standard is a good deal
like that of the cavalry, but the eagle
is smaller. The regimental artillery
color has two cannons crossed on it, and
so likewise has the artillery guidon.
Hospital flags bear the red cross of
Geneva which is sacred to all civilized
nations.
New designs were adopted recently
for nearly all of the flags used in the
army, the patterns being prepared by
draughtsmen in the war department.
In accordance with these, a complete
new outfit of silk cannot be bought for
less than $3.50. The national ensign In
silk comes at about $50 for the large
size required. The flags used in the
army are Of silk and of bunting; the
former are employed in parades and
in battles-there is nothing too good
for real fighting-while the bunting
flags are for drills. In future each
cavalry regiment will have one national
flag. Hitherto, oddly enough, that
branch of the service has not possessed
an edition Of the Stars and Stripes"