South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-31
EngiShman Pleads Ne7O Flag
For Britain With Ideals Like
Stars and Stripes and IricoIor

IN the course II a plea for new
flag for the British emplre-the
Union Jack is but q combination OF
the flags OF Ea6iand ireland and
Scotland-AJm.ral Sir Charles
Dundas. according 20 London dis
patches. said "the ideal national
flags are the French Tricolor and
the Stars and Stripes.
This tribute b. an Engi!shmar
20 the American flag IS the occasion
for issuance los the National Geo
graphic society OF tho following
bulletin. based on a communication
go the society from Commander
Byron McCaudless. L. S. n. con
corning the origin OF the Stars and
Stripes.
I'm the embryonic days OF the
republic. when the l. original states
were still feeble British colonies
bordering the western shores of the
Atlantic. there were almost as
many varieties of banners borne 10y
The Revolutionary forces as there
are today races fused into one lib
erty-loving American people
Loyal 10 England.
tDisinclined TO sever all the ties
with England. yet bitterly resent
ful or the treatment accorded them
and unyielding in their determine
ton to resist further oppression.
"a hen it became necessary TO adopt
an ensign for their newly created
navy. I'm the autumn Of 1915, the
revolving colonies chose "A flag that
reflected their feeling of unity with
the mother country. but ut the same
time expressed their firm joint pur-
pose 10 demand and obtain justice
and liberty.
"One Of the colonial ships, the
lady washington. was captured on
Dec by IL. N. $. Fowey, and her
coIors still in the admiralty office
n London. are described as bearing
"a paie-green pine tree on a field of
white bunting. with the motto, An
Appeal TO Heaven. This flag was
down by all the ships under Wash
iugtou's command at this time, the
design having been suggested by the
commander-in-chie military seCre-
tary. Col Joseph Reed. who wrote
con- oct 20. 1875, that he wished 20
.fN upon some particular color for
"a flag and a signal by which our yes
sells may know one another.
Prior 10 the receipt Of the news
or the capture of the British brig.
Nancy. Gov. 29) BY one Of Gen
Washington's ships under COM
mand OF John Nanley. the continen-
tai congress had appointed Essex
Hopkins commandments Of the
navy built by congress as distin-
euished from the soldier-manned
hcet under Gen. Washington. I'm
mediately following his appoint
meut Commodore Hopkins (the
Hr~t and only commander-in-chief
The navy ever had) set sail from
Rhode island in that colony's armed
vessel Katy and arrived in the Della
ware river on Dec. 3. 1875. The same
tdav the commodore assumed the
formal command OF the little squad
ron which the congress had placed
under him
Hoistcd First Flag.
The manner in which that com
mand was assumed is Of signal i'm
pcrtauce. in that the ceremony
marked the hosting Of the first
truly American Flag. And the dis
tiucuou of having released the ban
uer 90 the breeze belongs to that
daring spirit. John Paul Jones. one
If the chief among heroes in the
hearts of American naval officers
and scamcu.
This was the flag which after
ward figured So extensively i'm the
literature of the day as the congress
colors from the fact that it first
aoated over the navy controlled by
congress. Also known as the Grand
Union Flag and the First Navy En-
-igu. it was the colonial standard
from that day until il was suppressed
ga by the stars and Stripes in 1917.
IL consisted Of Is stripes, alternately
red and white. IMPLYING the -
colonies. with union bearing the
crosses of ~ George and St Andrew
combined tthc national flag Of Great
Eritan) and signifying the mother
country
The Gadsden 7ae cot yellow sill,
and bearing coNed rattlesnake
with The motto Don't Tread on
Aict. used on the Alfred as the
fae cf the commodore command