The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-06
FINGER PRINTS FOR
WAR IADEAT|F|CAT|Qh

Just before the war started the navy
department adopted the monel identi-
hcatfon tag for the purpose Of identi-
tying officers and enlisted mon of the
navy. The idea originated In the brain
Of j. H. Taylor. the head Of the identi-
hcation section OF the navy depart
ment, who Is generally admitted to be
the best authority In the country on
the subject of Identification. This tag
is made of mone1 metal. and on the
face OF the tag liz written the name OF
the officer or enlisted man, his rank,
date of enlistment or date of appoint
rnent and date Of birth On the edge
OF the face of tag the initials e. S. N.
or y. s. N. r. r. are written. On the
opposite side Of the tag the rolled i'm
preston of the Right index finger is
placed. This impression Is placed on
the tag with printers ink In the same
manner AZ to record an impression on
piece OF paper. The lettering on
the face of the tag Is written with
printers ink thinned out with turpen-
tine After this Is accomplished the
tag ts dipped in powdered asphaltum,
and then held over an alcohol lamp to
bake. When IL IL thoroughly baked
1t is allowed to cool. and then placed
in n nitric acid bath ttwo parts water
and one part nitric acid) in order that
the impression and the lettering may
be properly etched on the tag. These
TAGS are either suspended from the
neck or attached to the wrist with a
monel chain or wire. and have been
found to be of greatest value In iden-
tifying the officers and men in case
OF accident,
With this tag II liz Impossible for
man to lose his identity. AS he could
not exchange his tag with another
persons without the fact being
known
The process of making these tags is
very simple, and with the finger print
on the tag the identity of man can
be made wherever he may happen to
be without having to take his finger
prints and then forward them to the
navy department for Identification.
Salt water will not corrode these tags.
and they only melt at about 2.5so de-
grees Fahrenheit. so that In case of
accident on board ship. IL Is practically
impossible TO destroy one of these
tags.
When this tag was adopted in the
navy 1t was considered by the board
of Officers appointed to select suit
able Identification tag as the best
means Of Identification at that time
known in the world. Any number Of
the foreign navies only stenciled the
Aothes of their enlisted men in order
to establish their identity. 1t IL a
well-known fact that men In the naval
service frequently exchange their
clothing with other men. and In time
OF accident. unfortunate mistakes
have been made due to this fact.
Authority was granted the super
intendent of the criminal Investigation
department. Rhodesia. British South
Africa. to use this tag for tho ragistra-
tion of natives. The superintendent
stated that the efficacy Of the system
of identification by metallic tag, In
sofar as its application to the registra-
tion OF natives Is concerned, IL clearly
apparent: and such abuses "a our pres
emit system IL open to .. &. theft, in
tcrchange and forgery OF the paper
document now issued (which. also, IL
fragile and easily mutiiatcd) are en-
tirhiy eliminated.
By .urrlying the officers and en-
listed men OF tn enavy with these tags
there has never been during the wflr
= case where tn identity could not DC
tnstAntly established. which groves
conclustve1y that this II without qnes-
ton ths only proper means OF idsntifl-
catton e h nssd n tts military ser-
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