The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-12
ARTILLERY SALUTES.
Tho Number OF Guns tho Various Dig
nitaries Arc Entitled to.


nitaries Arc Entitled to.
A salute with cannon is n certain
number of guns fired in succession with
blank cartridges, in honor of person,
to celebrate an event or to show re-
spect to the flag of u country, says the
Boston Globe.
The rapidity with which the pieces
are discharged depends upon their cali
Der. Field guns should haze intervals
of five seconds between discharges:
siege guns, eight, and guns of heavier
calibcr ten.
passing Il military post, as also foreign
ships of war, arc saluted with guns of
heavy calibcr, the most suitable being
the tcn-inch smooth bore.
When troops are drawn up for the re-
ccption of dignitary and it is prac-
ticablc to have battery of field guns
on the ground, salute from it should
form part of the ceremony; otherwise,
guns in position are used.
Many years ago salutes were fired
with shotted guns, but by accident u
royal parsonage was killed in this COM
plimentary way on one occasion, since
which time blank cartridges have been
used.
Salvos arc simultaneous discharges
from several cannon. They correspond
to vollcys of muslSctry, and arc fired by
way of salute only over tho graves of
officers ut the time of burial.
The order designating funeral es-
cort prcscribeS whether the fire shall
be three vollcys of muslctry or three
salvos of artillery
Salutcs are fired only between sun
rise and sunset, and as n rule never on
Sunday. The national color must al
ways be displayed at the time of firing
salutcs.
The national salute is fired at noon on
the anniversary of the independence of
the United States at each military post or
camp provided with artillery.
The national salute is one gun for
each state in the union.
The international salute is twcnty-onc
guns.
Personal salutcs to civil and diplo-
matte authorities arc as follows:
The president of the United States re-
ccives Il salute, to be given both on his
arrival at and final departure from a
military post or station provided with
artillery, of twenty-onc guns.
The vicc-president of the United
States, nineteen guns.
Members of the cabinet, the chief JUS
ticc, the speaker of the house of repre-
scntatives, the governors within their
respective states or territories, seven
teen guns.
a committee of congress officially Wis
iting military post or station, seven
teen guns.
The sovereign or chief magistrate of a
foreign state, to be given both on ar
rival ut and departure from military
post or station provided with artillery,
twenty-onc guns.
Members of the royal family, 1. c., the
heir-apparcnt and consort of the reign
ing sovereign of n foreign state, twenty
one guns.
The viceroy. governor general or gov
errors of provinces belonging to foreign
states, seventeen guns.
Ambassadors extraordinary md plcn-
ipotcntiary, seventeen guns.
ENJOYS extraordinary and ministers
plcnipotcntiary, fifteen guns.
Ministers resident, accredited to the
United States, thirteen guns.
Charge d'a1fairs, or subordinate dip
lomatic agents left in charge of missions
in the United States, eleven guns.
Consuls general accredited TO the
United States, nine guns.
Military and naval officers arc hon
orcd as follows:
The general in chief, field marshal or
admiral, seventeen guns.
Lieutenant general or vice admiral,
fifteen guns.
Major general or rear admiral. thir-
teen guns.
Brigadicr general or commodore,
eleven guns.
The international salute is the only
salute which is returned and this is in
variably done as soon as possible. The
time intervening must never exceed
twcnty-four hours. The failure to re-
turn such salute is regarded as dis
courtesy or lack of friendship Justify
ing the other party in asking explana-
ton.
In the presence of the president of the
United States, however, no salute other
than the national salute, and that speci-
fed for him, is to be fired.
APtCTONDAON M hathytA-,,D-