Germany. The imperial standard dis plays on a yellow or gold field the iron cross (or cross of the Teutonic knights) with the motto "Gott mitt uns." In the centre is an eagle, and on a yellow field are mingled im perial crowns and eagles in black. The naval ensign is white, divided by a black cross. On the outer section of the cross is the Prussian eagle on a white field. The upper quarter next to the flagstaff is composed of three horizontal stripes of black, white and red, with the iron cross in centre red representing the old Hanseatic League, and black and white the kingdom of Prussia. The merchant flag is red, white and black.
Austria-Hungary,The Imperial standard is yellow of a deep tint, bearing a black double headed eagle, an evolution from the eagle standard of the Roman Empire. The warship flag, created in 1786, has three equal horizontal bars of red, white and red with a crowned shield (the ancient device of the dukes of Austria) similarly divided.
Spain. The royal standard is entirely occu pied with the quarterings of the Spanish es cutcheon armorially displayed. The naval flag has two broad bands of red with a yellow bar between, on which appears the Castle of Castile and the Lion of Leon, the ancient kingdoms whose union marked the origin of Spain. The merchant flag is yellow, with two horizontal bars of red crossing it.
Russia. The Russian Imperial standard displayed the black double-headed eagle bear ing on its breast a shield with Saint George slaying the dragon, and arms of several Russian cities. The naval ensign had a blue saltire on a white ground. The merchant flag is a hori zontal tricolor of blue, white and red.
Japan. The standard has a gold chrysan themum with 16 petals on a red field. The naval flag is a representation of the rising sun a red central disc with alternate red and white spreading rays. The merchant flag is white with a red disc in the centre.
China.When the Chinese Empire gave place to a republic, the old standard an an cient dragon on a yellow field was abolished, and a national design adopted, five equal stripes of colors horizontal, representing China proper, Manchuria, Mongolia, Tibet and the Moham medan races.
Other National stripes, upper green, centre yellow, lower red.
Albania. Red field, upon which is imposed a black double-headed spread eagle.
Argentina. Three stripes, the upper and lower are blue and the centre one, upon which is imposed a golden face.
Belgium. The vertical tricolor, black, yellow and red, the ancient colors of Brabant, is flown by Belgium. This, with the royal arms, on which the shield is the golden lion on black of Brabant, is the standard; and with out the arms, it is the flag of warships and mercantile vessels.
Bolivia. Three stripes, upper red, centre yellow, lower green.
Brazil. Green field triangle of yellow ; the blue disc in centre represents the heavens, and the white stars add to its celestial representa tion. Motto : "Ordem e Progresso." Bulgaria. Three stripes, upper white, centre green, lower red Chile. Two stripes, white above and red below, in a blue union a large five-pointed star in white.
Canada. Same as British, except that it has the Dominion shield in lower fly end. All British colonial flags contain the colonial badge in the fly end of the British flag.
Colombia.Upper half yellow, lower half blue and red, in centre the shield of Colombia.
Costa Rica. Five stripes in this order, blue, white, red, white and blue.
Cuba. At staff end a red triangle, upon which is blazoned a white star and five stripes stream from triangle; these are alternate blue and white.
Denmark. The flag, the ancient Danne brog, red with a white cross, and one of the oldest in continuous use, is a memorial of the wars against the Norsemen and Slays. It is traditionally believed to have been adopted after the appearance of a cross in the sky at one of the battles of Waldemar in 1219. The standard and man-of-war ensign are swallow tailed ; the merchant flag is like the ensign, but rectangular.
Ecuador. Three stripes, yellow, blue and red, with national arms on the blue stripe.
Greece.The standard is a white rectan gular cross on dark blue, with the royal arms in the centre, the shield of which has the Danish giants as supporters, with a white rectangular cross on a blue field. The naval ensign has nine horizontal stripes, blue and white alter nating; the tipper quarter next the staff is blue, with a white cross, in whose centre is a crown, The merchant flag is similar, minus the crown.
Guatemala. Three vertical bars of blue, white and blue, upon the white the national device.