Evening star., 1938-06-12
By Herbert HolIander.

eQ nome 10 Dcldteu sup
per on June IA, 1777, they
had reason to do SO with the feeling
that a good days work had been
accomplished.
On that day. 161 years ago this
Tuesday, the patriots assembled in
the Congress had adopted two resolu-
tions which, unlike so many, really
were to be fruitful and of the highest
historical Importance.
The first provided the basis for the
flag of the United States, and for
many years June IA has been marked
as holiday The second resolution,
Slcpted Immediately following the
SkfS establishing the Stars and Stripes
as the national emblem, provided that
Capt. John Paul Jones be appointed
to command the ship Ranger"
Thus the careers Of John Paul
Jones, seaman, adventurer and pa
tr1ot, and the flag to which he was to
bring so much honor a1d glory, were
interwined from the beginning.
Indeed, upon hearing of the adop-
ton of the two resolutions on the
same day, John Paul Jones is said
to have declared:
1.-THE flag and I are twins!"
In his own journal, written in the
third person, the intrepid Jones
makes this note:
Jones was appointed to command
Nf ,rrh;o I,a
holsted the national flag for the
first time it was displayed on
man-of- war"
DURING the years that have
elapsed since the Continental
Congress adopted the flag resolution.
the Stars and Stripes have gone
through literally scores of transfor-
nations and developments, although
remaining essentially the same de-
sign. The years have added new
stars to the constellation, however,
and John Paul Jones, the man who
never knew when he was whipped,
played no small part in making pos
sible that whole story of national
glory.
Tradition has 1t that while the
cranky Ranger was being outfitted
at Portsmouth some bellies Of the
town, knowing the design of the new
flag, decided to make one for Jones.
Slices of their best silk gowns, as
the legend runs, went into the en-
blem. And in the summer of 1777
the presentation was made and the
captain ran up the flag himself.
Soon the names of John Paul jones |
and the Ranger became household
words in England. Jones swept the
coasts of England, captured numerous |
prizes and boosted the insurance rates
between England and Ireland from
IA to 5 per cent. Moreover, he
became the idol of France. energized
the embattled land forces of the
States and began building great
naval tradition for "a country of
farmers"
The capture Of the British ship
Drake and Jones safe arrival with
his prize at French port is perhaps
the most thrilling episode Of the
Rangers adventures. 1t was after |
the Whitehaven raid that the COM
mander Of the Drake sighted the
Ranger. The latter, however, had
no idea that he was within striking
distance of the American Pirate" and
sent out small boat to see how things
stood. Not long after, the middle in
charge Of the small boat was a startled
prison.
TN THE meantime the Drake came
out and inquired the name and
nationality of the as yet unidentified
Ranger. The commander then was
informed by a heavy New England
roar that it was the American Con-
tinental ship Ranger and to come
and get U.s."
The two ships drifted closer and
soon began to fire broadside at each
other. The Rangers gunners settled
down to business coolly and calmly
and proceeded to tear the Drake to
pieces. Her captain and first lieu
tenant were killed early in the en-
gagement.
The battle went on apace, the
Rangers guns becoming increasingly
effective. Pandemonium reigned aboard
the Drake.
Now, John Paul Jones was an in
durable romantic. And he was heart
and soul in the American cause. It
suddenly occurred to him that he
could do that cause no better turn,
and at the same time serve his crav-
ing for dramatic effect, than by bring
ing in the Drake as prize rather
than simply sinking her forthwith.
To the astonished gunners of the
Ranger, Capt. Jones snapped out new
orders. They were to keep the broad
sides away from the hull and clear
OH the brakes sails and rigging. The
Yankee marksmen did just that, and
then, after sweeping the Britisher's
decks, cooked an eye to see what would
happen next.
! John Paul Jones had not been mis-
taken. The brakes second lieutenant
struck her colors, and after a fight
lasting just an hour and four minutes
The father of the American Navy
was aboard the enemy. On May 8,
after further adventures, he sailed
into the harbor at Brest, the brakes
colors inverted under the newly
created Stars and Stripes.
Re
aPRIoR to this event, on February
- II, 1778, the first salute the new
national flag received from q great
foreign power was accorded to that
on the Ranger in Quiberon Bay, near
IBrest. The salute came from the
flagship of the French fleet.
&. The raids of Jones with the Ranger
won for him the fond admiration Of
the Amsrican patriots, the fear Of
the British English mothers used to
discipline their children by reminding
them of the "Corsair'D and the adula-
ton Of French society.
y In the first flush of his success the
French were somewhat disposed to
hahn royae And q veecol Ia oroar fho,