The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-09-08

Cslsfs sf the NAVY
Army aalaFters-Cavalry
ana ARTILLERY Peasants.

| IDistinguishins Celsfs ef enc Navy--
Army Headauarters-Cavalry
ana ARTILLERY Penaa.ts.
After the national colors, which, Of
course, take precedence Of all other
flags, comes the jack, Or, more COM
monty, the "union" taken out Of the
main colors, and It 10 exclusively the
distinguishing flag Of the navy.
The president Of the United States,
who Is the head Of the army and navy,
10 entitled to the first ranking" Aag
in the country. The presidents Gag
10 . spread eagle-the national coat
of arms-mounted on blue field, sur
mounted by . curved row Of - stars.
It 10 Ave feet six inches long by four
feet four inches wide, IL made Of the
finest quality Of seamless silk and II
trimmed with yellow fringe.
Next to the preddent's colors come
the fags Of the secretaries Of war and
navy. That for the secretary Of war
was adopted as recently - March 9,
1897. II is made Of scarlet dix, and Il
otherwise identical with the presi-
dents hag. with the exception that
the 19 stars are replaced by four white
stars in the corners. The special flag
for the secretary Of the navy has q
blue field, and instead of the national
coat of arms 10 embroidered with .
white anchor in the center.
Following in the order Of rank, the
most important flag in the army, next
to that Of the secretary Of war, 10
the United States army headquarters
standard. 1t has blue field gorgeous
" embroidered with the national arms
in brown and gold. Wherever It ap-
pears in active service 1t denotes the
presence of the general commanding
the army or his nearest ranking ofi-
Ger.
In the regular line Of marcn, every
regiment composing an army carries
at its front the national colors, bear
ing on the fourth red stripe from the
top the number Of the regiment and
Its character, whether infantry, cav
airy or artillery. Besides this, It car.
ries regimental flag on which Is EN-.
broidered a national coat of arms
similar to that on the presidents spe-
cial flag. The regimental flag for the
infantry. is blue; the cavalry is yel-
low. The artillery and battalion colors
for engineers are both scarlet, but the
flag for engineers bears a three-tur-
reted castle instead Of the spread
eagle.
Detached troops Of cavalry and a.
tinery carry small guidons or PEN
nants bearing the troop number and
letter.
The regulation colors for the army.
whether national or regimental, meas.
ure 5k feet long by four feet four
inches wide. All Service" flaRs arc
made Of bunting; colors for ceremony
are of silk. The trimmingA fringe and
cord and tassels Of all fiags must con-
form to the regulation coler, of the
Division to which they belong. Flag
pixies are nine feet long and TX
in diameter in the center, tAperine
slightly toward the ends. The pike
is tipped with nackej.u1ated scear-
head in the shape. Of : he334.
In the navy there are seven Aaes
designating rank, aide from the spe-
cial flag Of the secretary of the navy. |
Next to his is the assistant secretary's.
an exact counterpart of the former,
only that the colors are reversed. All
the remaining flags have blue ne2d
and white stars; the order being. for
four stars; for vice admirals. |
three stars; for rear admirals, two
stars; for commodore, one star in
center of blue pennant. The cap
tain's pennant is strip of bunting is
eet long, with 13 stars in blue field
and red and white stripe. Last of all |
is small triangular pennant with a
dead blue field den noting the senior Of
ficer's presence in the absence of the /
captain of ship.
The special flag of the officer high,
est in rank invariably floats from the
main" of the vessel he is on. When
the secretary of the navy visits shin
81 war, the commanding officers col
ors are immediately lowered from The
ma sthead and the eseeretary's flag takes
It's place. During a squadron cruise
The captain of the flagship never flies
his special flag, the admiral being
Fhe highest ranking officer.
There are seven sizes of flags used in
the navy, ranging all the way from SO
TO three feet in length. The first five
'izes are designated officially as
ship" flags, and the remaining two
are boat" flags. Sizes Nos. and 2
are now almost obsolete. They were
Intended for the old wooden frigates. |
whose sterns stood high above the
water and would be entirely unsufts-
Die for the low-lying freeboard of our
cruisers and battleships.
A vessel in commission always car. /
ries the national colors at the st/
lntil sundown every night. The iI
~ the commanding officer remaiifset |
he masthead day and night. In goink |
eL L