Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-07-05
CANADA NOW HAS
AN OFFICIAL FLAG
Banner Bears Maple Leaf,
Fleur.de-Lis and Crosses.

Toronto, Ont.--Canada at last has
an authorized flag of her own. There
has previously been a so-called Cana,
dian flag, but sticlllers for correct US
age In these matters pointed out that
as national flag. 1t was variation
of the British red ensign with an ag.
gregatiOn of devices called the Cana.
dian coat of arms in the fly. Thirty
years ago Canadian registered mer.
chant vessels were authorized by the
British admiralty to use this ensign.
Up to the present 1t has been the only
Canadian flag of any kind ever author
lied and Is only for ships.
A little over two years ago King
George authorized the use of new
Canadian coat of arms design that had
been prepared for the purpose by
special intertlepartmental committee Of
the Canadian government. On April
20, 1922, by order in council. the shield
from the new Canadian coat Of arms
replaced the Old shield on the fly Of the
red ensign. The use Of flags bearing
the old shield was permitted up to
March 81, 1924. This period Of license,
granted in order that mercantile con-
Germs stocked with old flags might not
he losers. has now expired. From April
/ the official flag Of the Dominion of
Canada is the new and duly authorized
Canadian flag
Carries Three Crosses.
The main feature of the new flag, az
in the case of the previous unauthor-
lied flag, is the old union jack of the
British isles with It's combination of
the crosses Of st. George, st. Andrew
and St. Patrick.
It's distinguishing feature is the mi
nor figure on the fly Of the red ensign
the new and distinctive Canadian
coat of arms.
The shield. while less complicated
than the old device, Is designed to In.
dictate the composite origin Of the Gu
madam nation. En"land. Scotland and
Ireland, each already represented in
the union jack. are again designated
by "arms." But prominently displayed
in addition is the fleur-de-lis Of France.
Then at the bottom, to link all four
together, Is sprig of the Canadian
maple.
new coat of arms was composed Of Sir
Joseph Pope. Sir Willoughby Owatkin,
Thomas Mulvey and DIR. A. G. Dough
ty. They followed the following rea
soning: (1) That Canadians stand to
their king in as close a relation as do
any Of his subjects elsewhere; (2) that
Canada, an integral part Of the British
empire. has emerged from the war
member of the League of Nations, and
(3) that Canada was founded by men
Of four different nationalities-French
English, Scottish and Ir!sh-and that
Canadians inherit the language. laws.
literature and history of all four coun,
tries.
Design Causes Comment.
The design of the new flag has not
escaped criticism. Leading Canadian
Journals have protested against the
shield on the fly. Most critics hold that
the only "defacement" should be a sim
pie maple leaf.
The Montreal Witness records that
It "has pleaded with every government
from that of Alexander Mackenzie on
to have this meaningless spot-if
there must be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
by the simple Canadian maple leaf and
no more, symbol that could he dis,
tinguished at any distance and would
make the heart Of every Canadian.
from whatever province, beat higher"
Many other suggestions were made.
forward by the Manitoba Free Press.
It suggested the union Jack in the
quarter with a white field. whereon
should he shown in blue the constella-
ton Of the dipper and the north star,
thus producing flag with family re-
semblance to the sister d0minions Of
New Zealand and Australia, whose
flags display in the manner suggested
the stars Of the southern cross. But
the flag committee was unmoved.
There are many residents of Canada
who think no Canadian flag at I'LL Is
necessary. They use the union jack
and think 1t quite sufficient for any
part Of the empire. Their aspiration
Is often expressed by the sentiment.
zone flag, one fleet, one throne"
The heraldic description Of the quar-
terings on the shield Of the new Cana
dian coat Of arms Is as follows:
"First. gules. three lions PEASANT In
pale for England; second, or. lion
ramnant within double treasure fiory-
counter.flery gules for Scotland; third.
azure, harp or stringed argent for
ireland; fourth, azure, three fieurs-de.
us or three gold fieurs-de-lis on a blue
field, for France. and the third divi-
sion of the shield argent, three mapl"
leaves conjoined on one stem proper"