Flags of occupation indicate service

as war, merchant, dispatch, pilot, yacht-squadron, liners, etc. Flags of intelligence are of various colors and of three shapes: square, pointed, and burgee. They are used in various combinations to transmit me ages according to a printed or seeret code. The standard (military or naval) is a war flag. The ensign is national. The idea of standards or i with the Egyptians at an early age. When the 13 colonies began to feel the pre ure of British rule they placed upon their banners a rattlesnake, cut in 13 pieces, representing the 18 colonies, with the motto: “Join or die.” When these colonies became more united in their purpose of resistance to British tyranny, they placed upon their flag a well formed rattlesnake in the attitude of about to strike, with the motto, ““Don’t tread on me.” The next form of the United States flag was our. present standard, the Stars and Stripes. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congre resolved that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white and that the union be 13 white stars on a blue field, representing ‘“‘a new constellation.”” On Jan. 13, 1794, by an act of Congre , the flag was altered to 15 red and white stripes, and 15 stars. On April 4, 1818, Congre again altered the flag by returning to the original 13 stripes, and 15 stars, as the adding of a new stripe for each additional State would soon make the flag too unwieldy. A new star is added to the flag on July 4 following the admi ion of each State into the Union.