Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
Why Coors
Are Carried


This question has been asked time
and again by newly enlisted men.
Why In there 20 much oOlomnity
about ceremonies On which the cOlora
play the leading part!
Authorities ten ms that it II most
probable that % soon O. men began
to collect Tor common PURGE
some kind Of conspicuous object
was used 90 the symbol Of the COM
mon se9tiwemt for the rallying Of the
common forces" The records that
We have from the beginning Of civil
zation conArm this view. In Egyp-
tian. Syrian or Jewish history the
story II che same-the ensign had its
place and ies purpose. So with the
Persians, the Greeks and the Romans.
Sometimes the ensign took one form,
sometimes another, but always It was
felt that there was need of q COM
spicu0us object to rally and inspire.
COlors Not Modern
In the song Of Solomon (Chap. 6,
verse 10) there "a q reference to regi-
mental cOlOrs which IL very frequent
~ quoted and Is as follows: Ter
ribie 81 an army with banners"
showing that the regimental stand
ards served % purpOse for they made
for the cohesion Of the army.
There Il Q service In symbolism.
It Ia service that has entered large
~ into the calculations OF great mill
tary commanders. Honors that are
bestowed, whose symbols in field
service are little strips of ribbon Of
NO intrinsic value, are prizes that the
soldier cOvets. He would brave the
supreme sacrifice for the ribbon that
would tell Of his valor, and 1t is not
all vanity. It has q reflex that en-
ters largely into the soldiers reckon
ing. The fact that he once dared to
die. as the ribbon proclaimed, would
spur him on to nObler effort; would
transform his weakness into strength
IL ever his courage faltered. The
decoration, the ribbon or the medal
--or h0th-minister to and reward
the individual.
The symbolism Of the colors ia
larger by far and its influence liz OF
the highest importance with regard
to the morale Of the troops.
I'm the olden days of more primitive
warfare, commanding generals often
~CAMO0 Sa&O CV4Vk0 0WU I0hAk0U tk10kk
troops about them. The yArchduke
Charles, at Aspern In 1903, led his
untfted troops to their last assault
while carrying the cOlors in his own
hands. In the first battle OF Bull
Run. General Joseph Johnston, with
raw troops that were facing democrat
ixati0n, rallied his men about him by
taking the eOlors himself. In the
battle OF Prague, Marshal Schwerin
went to his death bearing the cOlOrB.
AzAeRicnm COlOrs ut the Fromt
The modern practice for O time
was TO leave the cOlors behind 90 a
to reduce visibility. This dates from
the battle OF Isandhlwana In 1879
when two gallant young lieutenant9
met their death protecting the c0lOrs.
But, Ia the Huss0-J Japanese war both
armies often went into action with
their c0lors because of the influence
OF the National emblem on the troops,
and any one who has read closely the
record Of tbs great European conflict
In which America is now PARTED
pating knows OF the frenzy OF Joy
that swept over Paris when cap
tured standards were exhibited. Re-
Gently an American artillery regi-
ment sent its colors to the main sd-
vance lines and asked French Of
iicer to certify in pen and ink on
the cOl0rs themselves the fact that
they had been at the front. The Sig
nature Of this French officer and his
certiAcati0n IL q trophy for which
every American. expeditionary unit
str0ye. The influence OF the baptized
c0l0rs win be tremendous.
I'm 0lden times, the regimental col
Ors bore the arms of the knight or
Lord Who claimed the devotion Of the
individual soldier. No such Knikht
or temporal Lord claims the devotion
OF American troops and the regi-
mental eol0rs bear the National Coat
ot-Arms and the designation OF the
regiment.
The Infantry was the first to re-
place its standard with the color.
far the Cavalry was much later sill
commanded by the nObleman. or the
man OF gentle birth, who claimed the
feAlty OF the individual soldier. The
Infantry was the first to serve the
larger claim-the claim of the whole
people.