Sundang for comment

[drac2k]

I just picked up this interesting Sundang.It is fairly large as the blade measures 24.75" and the ganja measures 5.75. " It does have a sharp luk and I do not believe the ganja to be separate from blade even though, it has been made to appear so.
I would guess the age of the sword to be 1900 to pre-WW2.The real clue is in the faded inscription which reads "Ebwarb Clinton,-----C.G. 27, Inf.Manila P.I.," or so it looks to me.
Also, I haven't ever gotten a definitive answer to pieces of cloth attached to these swords;was it purely talismanic, was it to secure a better grip like a European sword lanyard, would the swirling swatch be used to confuse an adversary, or was it a sign of rank.