New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-15

the nation the more startling the flag Uncle
Sans largest flag consumes Just one week IN man
ufacture. The bunting used in these flags comes
from Lowell Mass. and the supply is laid in
twice a year. Each piece IS subjected to the most
severe test 1t must weight five pounds to every
forty yards and 1t must stand the weight test OF
seventy pounds to two square inches. IL IS STEPPED
in salt water six hours. and then exposed TO the
for six hours. H. a.-er this course Of treat
ment. IT continues to be bunting OF distinguisha-
bic color il is pronounced fit for service. The ma
teriaI then goes to the cutting room, where II is
put the counter. and where the foreman Of the
flag shop cuts out the national ensigns. The red
bunting is placed over the white bunting. and six
strips are cut at once with pair OF formidable.
gigantic shears. He cuts eight different sized
sign flags varying in length from IS to AZ feet
The makers Of the United States flags. which are
sewed in straight seams usually take their work
horHe After the stripes are put together the flag
must be brought to the cutting room. on the floor
or which is a diagram for measurement, and il
must be perfect in every particular. From hem 70
hem on all four sides it must correspond exactly
with the naiheads placed in the floor. No apology
for imperfecton helps it to pass muster and if il
not correct TO a thread it must be made over. The
foreman carves the stars from beached muslin
with mallet and chisel. Twenty yards Of cotton
cloth are folded and placed upon the block a cop
per star laid on for pattern. and thirty
cut at one time. Three times cutting from
the pattern. and the consultations for one
flag are ready for Probably no one in
the United States is familiar with the ex-
act position occupied by the stellar representa-
tves of the forty-five stars in the union as the
feminine hagmakers The star must be turned
down on all of It's sides to a size Indicated by a
pasteboard model 1t must then be properly sta
toned. basted hernmed down and then another
one sewed on directly at it's back. This is an
achievement not simple as 1t looks When the
nag IS ready for binding it is passed on to another
apartment. where sailor puts on the canvas
binding and makes it strong enough to defy the
WINDS or heaven and the elements that may chance
10 toy with it on three year cruise which is its
estimated period OF usefulness.
Other interesting facts in connection with Amer
lean flag etiquette that both national and regf-
mental cOlors are used in the United states Army
Oy each regiment Except cavalry. which has only
regmental standard) and by the engineer bat
talon-the national colors IN various sizes. The
garrison flag, the largest, is used only at I'm
portant posts 1t is twenty feet the hoist. with
ny OF thirty-sx feet, the union being onethird the
length OF the fly and in depth TO the lower edge
or the fourth red stripe. The ordinary post flag
is smaller and the storm flag smaller still The
regimental colors Of the United States infantry
are Of blue silk. and bear fin the centre the arms
Of the United States. Below the eagle is a red
scroll. with the number and name Of the regiment
in white. The United States artillery has scarlet
regimental Colors. with two cannOns crossed in
the centre. with ~. s" in yellow above and
the regfmentaI number below. The cavalry regi-
mental standard is seamless yellow silk. with a
four-foot fly and three feet on the lance The
arms of the United States are in blue in the CEN
tire, and beneath the eagle Il red scroll bears the
name and number Of the regiment in yellow The
United States engineers carry scarlet coIors bear
ing in the centre castle with u. s. above and
Engineers below. castle ard lettering being in
silver Battles in which the regiments distin-
guished themselves were formerly listed on the
colors and standards. but are now shown on the
stats. The national and regimentaI CoI0rs and
standards are kept at the commanding officers
quarters. and are escorted TO the color company
or troop amid much ceremony. the escort being
headed by the band. The color guard are selected
for their sold!erly appearance and quaIities-men
who would rather die than surrender.
Next to their own flag. that Of Great Britain in
terests the people of this country most. II is
called the union flag because ii is three flags in
one. The flag of England is red cross on a
white field: that of Scotland. a white St Andrews
cross on blue field These flags were combined
when England and Scotland united in 1858. and on
the union with Ireland. the Irish flag a red St
Andrews cross on white field, added. Tho
union of the three countries is thus indicated on
the union" The st. George cross of England re-
mains as before and is the central feature of the
flag, dividing it into four quarters occupied by the
St Andrews crosses. the white of Scotland and the
red of ireland. which placed side by side
Aboard n British warship the union" IS hoisted
Only when the klnS or an ADMIRAL Is aboard.
English ships sail under the British ensign. Of
which there are three kinds-white blue and red
each with the union in a square in the upper part
Of the hoist-that portion OF the flag along the
staff. The navy and, by special permission the
Royal Yacht Grub sail under the white ensign
which has. besides the union. the red cross of St
George over the whole. The blue ensign is a
privilege allowed to those merchant ships which
are Differed by members of the naval reserve and
one-third of whose crews belong to the reserve 1t
is also flown by a few yacht clubs. The red is the
merchantmens ensign. Until 1854 the British naval
feet was divided into three squadrons each in
command OF an admiral. who is known by the color
OF his flag. as the admiral of the bIuei the "ad-
miral of the red" and the admiral OF the white
This distinction abolished because II was found
puzzng In action. and was often eliminated Traf-
algar. for instance. was fought under the white
ensign. The French and Spanish shfps went into
action without setting their colors but were later
obliged to hoist them. that they could be able
to strike them. The royal standard Of Great
Britain is personal to the sovereign, and is used
only by the sovereign. or for decoration en- royal
fete days. 1t Is quartered. the first and fourth
quarters being red. with three Hons ard represent
ing England; the second quarter yelioyy with a.
red lion. for Scotland and the third quarter blue
with harp. for Ireland
In the navy n vessel never strikes her colors ex-
cept to acknowledge defeat. For this reason.
when in that great duel between Paul Jones's
Bonhomme Richard and the English Serapis which
lasted far into the night the ensign Of the Bon
homme Richard was shot away from the haIyards
Lieutenant Stafford plunged into the sea after IT,
and. Drawing double death saved it and set It
again. and 1t was the Scraps which finally struck
her colors.
When NapOleon's army had to retreat from Mos
COW, there were but few French "coIOrs'' among
the spells gathered by the Russians When the
French color guards saw that they could not carry
Napoleon eagles to victory they tore the coors
,aH1 Will fbaY arsar