FRANCE'S FLAG

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 14 May 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

FRANCE'S FLAG

It was on Feb. 15, 1791, that the National Convention adopted the Tricolour as the national standard of France. Until that date no real national flag existed. The white banner decked with the flour de lys answered to our Royal Standard; but there was nothing which exactly corresponded to our “Union Jack.” In the days of chivalry every noble had his own private banner. The famous Oriflamme, which was displayed on momentous occasions on the field of bat-

tle, was a pennon with sacred associations, the presence of which was supposed to insure victory. To unfurl the Oriflamme was to declare a Holy War. Later on a blue flag decked with golden lilies was usually carried by French troops. Until 1661 the French captajns-gen-eral were distinguished by their right to carry the Royal white standard, similarly adorned. Readers of Macaulay’s stirring lines will remember how the gallant Henry of Navarre called on the “fair gentlemen of France” to “ charge for the golden lilies.” After the date named, this standard was, like

our own Royal Standard, reserved for the King’s personal usage. It was only adopted as the French national flag in 1816, when the Bourbons returned, after twenty years’ exile. It floated for some fourteen years only, and, the First Revolution brought hack the Tricolour, which constitutional kings, emperors, and Republics have alike respected. The Tricolour is the one flag of France, answering alike to our national Union Jack, the Red Ensign of our mercantile marine, the Blue of the Naval Reserve, the White of H.M. Navy,_an_d all the various flags of various dignitarie sand administrations and colonies. It flies all the year round over every French Government building. Years ago a foreigner might spend a week in England w'ithout catching a glimpse of the Union Jack; but no Englishman can land in a French town and boast that he has left without seeing the Tricolour. The soldier wears it in a cockade; the mayor, the M.P., and certain policeofficers, when on duty, as a sash; it is omnipresent in French life.