The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-03-02
MILITARY FORMS.
fhe Why and Wherefore of MANY
Army Customs.
HAND AND SWORD sALUTES.


sades-Funeral VoIieys and Taps.
Why does soldier when saluting a
superior raise his hand to his head
covering? The beginning dates back
to the time Of the Borgias, if not to an
earlier date In those days assassina.
ton was in vogue, and in order that
an inferior might not have superior
at advantage the inferior was com
PEELED when coming into his superior's
presence to raise his right hand. palm
to the front, to show that no dagger
was concealed there. + bm this old
custom our hand salute has come down.
The salute with the sword was not
done that way in the beginning with
out any reason. When knights of the
crusades received their orders it was
the custom for them to call upon God
to witness their assumption Of the
orders given. To do this the sword
was raised TO the front so that the
hit reached the lips, when the cross
formed by the hilt and blade could be
kissed and an oath registered to carry
out the orders faithfully. The drop
ping Of the sword, point to the front
indicates Submission.
Why in the funeral cortege of a
mounted officer or soldier is the horse,
saddled and equipped, with the boots
OF the late rider placed heels to the
front In the stirrups, led to the place
of burial? To show by reversal of the
boots the owners march has ended.
We must go back to the days of the
Romans for the reason why In the
service three volleys are fired over the
open grave OF a comrade. Among the
Romans the burial consisted of the
throwing OF earth three times on the
coffin. Three times was the dead man
called by name, which ended the cere-
mony, and as the friends and relatives
departed each said Valet" three
times. So as a farewell to our dead
comrades we fire three volleys over
the grave Then the service called taps
is sounded. this closing the ceremony.
Why should the cali taps be sounded
in preference to any other? Because
taps is the call for lights out" and
the lights of life are out in the com
rade who has Joined the silent
bivouac Of the dead" This ending of
a service funeral dates back to the
early fortics. but did not become
fixed custom till late in the civil war.
There was n reason for causing all
witnesses before a military court TO
remove the glove from the right hand
before taking the oath. THE raising
OF the hands and eyes toward heaven
when taking an oath is of great an
tiQuity. When the Bible was printed
the bare hand was laid on effc buck.
which was afterward kissed. But the
Bible was not always at haad when
needed. SO the custom of raising the
right hand and uncovering the hcaG
has grown into general praCFdce In
Olden days the criminal was branded
in the palm of the right hand and for
the removal of the glove came into
vogue in order that the hand might be
inspected.
The colored silk sash long worn by
officers of our army. which f@G many
years has ceased to form pa:T of the
uniform. except for general officers.
was not adopted simply because it
looked pretty. 1t was originally in
tended that this sash. which vy;lS very
strong, woven of silk and could be
stretched out TO over yard III width,
should be used as a hammock t,which
wounded officers could be c.: 'red off
the battlefield.
And likewise the guady colored
horsehair plume that flowed H"'n the
helrnct was not placed there W. ause it
looked so well. The orisina h-ln plume
hung down ON the should r., OF the
wearer and it was Intend, Il that It'll
should IL. = =, feguard agains' II Sabcr
cut aimed at the back of the rock. for
the long thick hair would tarn the
blow ard save decapitation OF "a ugly
wound Today the little hair ,ufr seen
on the headdress Of mounted oIdiers
is the result
There is reason why thu tag at
half stan. as an indication otrFrow,
must always be hoisted TO theSQp Of
the staff before being lowero,% The
flag is saluted when raised and low
cred only when it is at the aak Of,
the staff So when it is necessary to
display it ut half mast it must he rails
ed 10 the top before being finally low
cred. for at this time the gun fires its
salute, and either the band or the
trumpeters are sounding appropriate
music or call.
Twenty-one guns, the number fred
in the International salute. were not
selected Mt random. The number was
chosen 10y our government because it
was the number long used by the Brit.
ish for their international salute. Why
the British used twenty-o one guns was
no doubt due TO an early custom which
had for warship salute seven guns.
A fort was allowed to fire three times
as many guns rs a warship, because
In those days il was difficult to keep
powder in good condition at sea. It
could be kept in good condition on land,
and consequently the shore battery was
allowed 4 larger number, or twenty one.