Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-05-20

STANDARDS THAT WEAR OUT DESTROY
ED By THE GOVERNMENT.

The Government sets An example to
tho whole country In requiring thar
worn ont flags. shall be burned and not
permitted to become mere pieces Of
waste rag. Whether or not any special
law or regulations governs the disposi-
ton Of The Gags, the universal practice
OF the army and navy for generations
has been that whenever . flag 10 no long
or at for service 1t shall DO destroyed.
When flag used at an army post or
on board Q naval vessel becomes un-
servIoeable, says the Boston Transcript,
. requisition on tho qusrtermaster 10
made for Q new ono and the old one 10
burned. The same disposition 10 made
OF flags used on the public buildings In
Washington. Custodians Of buildings
outside Washington buy their flags out
right Of tho Government. Whether or
not they follow the official plan Of dis
posing Of old flags cannot be stated.
So ingrained among military men has
respect for the national colors become
that It IL extended 10 curiously formal
way even to the flags of other nations.
While the late Major. Gen. Henry W.
Lawton of Philippine fame was inspector
general on duty In Texas list OF articles
for condemnation submitted to him In
incl uded . Mexican flag. Tho venerable
officer who tells the story and who was
an eye witness OF the incident says that
| Lawton picked out the flag and turned 1t
back, that it might not be made subject
to condemnation and sale a. was the
other property ON the list.
Flags borne In battle are Invariably
preserved, either by the Commando
which carried them or under instruc-
lions from the War Department by the
Government At Washington. A whole
roomful of battle flags is on exhibition
at the War Department..
The Government 10 little thrifty,
however, In the use OF the national
coiors. A fl q Is not put out of business
merely because 1t 10 torn or worn, for
contracts are maintained With men who
repair flags, and IL the injury is not too
serious repairs are made and the flag Is
sent back to service.
The flag making plant Of the navy 10
at the Brooklyn navy yard. The bunting
comes from Massachusetts,, and every
case costs the Government $500, or
$l1 .25 q roll. Every piece must weigh
Ave pounds to every forty yards, and
stand weight test of seventy pounds to
two square inches. It ID stepped In
salt water for six hours and then exposed
| to the sun for another six hours. II
strength and color hold the fabric 10 then
pronounced flt for service.
That Gen. Lawton's sentimental treat
ment OF the Mexican flag had Its basis n
custom may be inferred from the fact
that OF the 100 varieties OF flags made
| for the navy 43 are the colOrs of foreign
nations, all of which must be carried by
naval vessels OF the United States. Sen
timent attaching to the national co!ors is
one Of the most profound In the human
breast, and 1t Is not surprising to learn
that even discarded official flag must
be finally disposed Of almost with mill
tary honors.
The collection of trophy flags now in
store at the Naval Academy at Annspo-
lie Ia 30 large and priceless that 1t has
been made the subject of special report
to Congress and an appropriation oil
$50, 600 has been asked, If not already
made, for the repair, preservation and
exhibition of these flags, which have
been laid away in pine boxes. One Is
the battle flag used as signal for action
By Commodore Perry at the battle of
Lake Erie; another of great historical
value is an English royal standard cap
tursd at York, Canada, April n, 1918,
BY a squadron under Commander Isaac
Chauncey.
Among these is the ensign of the Alert,
taken In 1912 by Capt. David Porter.
There 10 also the last flag flown by the
Spanish squadron at the battle Of Manila
Bay, and also the flag of the Governor
General OF the Philippine Islands, taken
by Admiral Dewey 10 1893. These
treasures include also the ensign hoisted
lin Japan by Commodore Perry in mis-
interview with the Japanese commits
sioners at Uraga.
An Admiral's flag In the exhibition
Was once used by Farragut on board the
Tallapoosa in January, 1870, when the
great Admiral was In charge of the naval
obsequiea In honor of George Peabody ct
Portland, Maine. Looking up at this
flag as a salute was fred at Portsmouth,
In. a., In bis owp honor, Admiral Far.
rsgut remarked: ut would be we'll II !
died now In the harness." This was bis
last official duty. He died shortly after.
August IA, 1870.