Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. From 1898 to 1909, the Navy debated whether Cavite Navy Yard or Naval Station Subic Bay should become the primary base in the Philippines. The decision was important, as the base selected would need to be strongly fortified so it could be held against any attack until the arrival of the Navy’s battle fleet from the Atlantic. Admiral Dewey and the other members of the General Board of the Navy selected Subic Bay as the site of the principal naval base since it had more potential for expansion and had a deep-water harbor. However, due to the fact that an Army garrison would need to protect whichever base was selected, the Army needed to be included in the decision. As a result, the Joint Army and Navy Board was created to develop a strategy for the expansion and defense of bases in the Philippines.

In 1903, the board unanimously agreed to fortify a base at Subic Bay. This decision was not supported by U.S. Army Major General Leonard Wood, who commanded the Philippine Department, the primary Army command in the Philippines. Wood stated that all naval and military resources should be in Manila Bay, so that the Army could easily defend Manila, the commercial and political center of the islands. Wood also favored Cavite Navy Yard since it was protected by the gun batteries at Corregidor and other harbor forts. The Army and Navy continued to debate the location for the Navy’s main base until January 1908, when the board decided to accept that Subic Bay could not be adequately defended, and the main Navy base should be at Cavite.

This is an outstanding U.S. Navy Ensign #5 which was flown at the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines in 1909. #5 is the size, as Navy Ensigns had sizes numbered from 1 to 12, and #5 is noted as 10 feet by 19 feet, but this example is roughly 5⅓ x 9 ⅔ feet, which is more in line with the Ensign #8. However, these standards were not put in place until 1912, and as this flag is dated 1909, it would predate that standard. The flag is inscribed along the header: 

U.S. ENSIGN #5. U.S.N.Y. CAVITE, P.I. JUL. 1909. C.R.P.R. E.V.

This would read as United States Navy Yard Cavite, Philippine Islands, July 1909, but we are unsure what the following acronyms mean, a good research project!

The ensign retains its original long thick navy rope halyard which is still tied with a Figure Eight knot. The flag is a great multi-piece example with 45 hand-sewn stars on the blue canton. The flag does show some wear, with some scattered mothing but no major damage. It has the usual age toning, so the white is now somewhat beige. A very nice example, ready to be properly displayed!