The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-29
FIRST FOREIGN SALUTE
To the American Flag Claims OF Paul
Jones and Governor OF st. Eustatius.

SS14SS ese
When and where the American flag was
first ssluted by q foreign Government has been
the subject OF considerable controversy.
although the actual facts Of the case are, and
for some time have been, well known to care
full students Of American history.
1t Ia popularity supposed that the first
salute was given to the American warship
Ranger, when she was under anna OF
Paul Jones, and that the event occurred in
IT'S. On the other hand. 1t has long been
known to students Of history that two years
earlier q salute was given to the American
nag by the Governor Of one Of the Dutch West
Indian islands.
The confusion has arisen from the fact
that prior to the adoption Of the Stars and
Stripes 40 the national emblem. the Colonies
had adopted another flag In which the stars
did not appear. 1t was the earlier flag,
says the Scientific American. which was
saiuted In l77e, while Paul Jones is quite
correct 10 stating that the first foreign salute
to the Stars and Stripes was given to the
little war vessel Ranger while she was under
his own command.
The necessity for the adoption OF a COM
mon national flag does not seem TO have Inn
pressed itself upon the American Colonies
until toward the close Of the year i77s. when a
committee oonslsting Of DR.. Franklin. Mr..
Lynch and Mr.. Harrison was appointed to
conside or ythia subject. They met at the camp
OF the Colonlals ct Cambridge and proposed
the adoption Of q flag which should retain
in the corner the Kings colors or Union jack,
consisting Of the combined CROSSES or st.
Andrew and st. George. thereby representing
tho still recognized sovereignty OF England.
but that the field Of the flag should consist
Of thirteen stripes alternate red, and white.
which should be emblematlo Of the union
Of the thirteen Colonies against the tyranny
and oppression OF the King.
The new nag was adopted. and 1t was first
hoisted on January 2, l77e. the event taking
place at the Continental camp at Cambridge.
This nag ID known a. the Continental Union
nag.
The 1rst vessel to receive q salute for the
Continental dag from a foreign Power was
the little brig Andrea Doria. comm anded by
Capt. Robinson. This vessel was purchased
prior to the adoption Of the new national
emblem and she had seen active service
under Nicholas Biddle. In September, 177s.
she sailed from Philadelphia for the Island
Of st. Eustatius TO take aboard q cargo OF
arms.
On her arrival at hat port on November
10. lite. she saluted the Dutch flag, and her
salute was returned BY the Governor, De
GrAan. with thirteen gums. corresponding TO
the thirteen States, The gallant Governor
bid fair TO pay dearly for his enthusiasm;
for Mr.. Christopher 0reathead. who COM
handed the British island Of st. Kits. hear
ing that O certain North American vessel had
been supplied at st. Eustatlus avd he'd sa-
luted the Dutch fort Of Orange. and that the
fort had replied. demonstrated against this
insult to his Britannia Majesty.
Proofs Of this salutatlon were sent to Sir
knight York. English Ambassador TO the
Dutch Republic. and he laid them before the
high and mighty Ststes-General ard de-
manded q formal disavowal Of the salute and
the disohsrg e and recall OF De Grasf. The Gov
ernor was cited to appear before the States
General: but he delayed doing DO. and when
he eventually reached Holland, In l77s, France
had acknowledg ed the independence Of the
American colonies and other nations soon
followed. The offence Of De Graaff was no
longer a solitary one. and the complaint
against him was lost sight of and for gotten.
1t was on June IL. l777. that the American
united States should consist of thirteen
stripes. alternate red and white. with thirteen
stars. white In . blue field. representing a
new constellation.
Paul Jones claimed that II was his good
fortune TO be the FIRST to display the Stars and
Stripes on q naval vessel. and It had previously
been his 10 hoist with his own and the flag
of America on board the naval vessel Al
fred. He was appointed on JUNE IL, l7'7.
TO the command Of the Ranger. which carried
. battery Of sixteen 9 Founders.
He crossed the Atlantic. and on entering
ouiberon Bay. on the 18th Of February. i77s,
ne saiuted the French feet under Admiral
La Motto Piauet. and received In return a
salute OF MAE ~ This VAS the first foreign
salute Of the Stars and Stripes; and the sub
ject has been commemorsted In the paintings
and engravines with which the public is
generally familiar.