New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
S4LCTING A FOREIGN PORT.
FORMALITY OF THE COURTEsIEs Be
TWEEN THE SHIP AND THE SHORE


Through a misunderstanding on the part OF Cap
tain Gamble OF the British cruiser Talbot. which
arrived here last Monday to take part in the pa
rade OF war vessels at the Grant Monument cele-
bratton the United States forts were made 70
appear for the space of nearly an hour extremely
discourteous in the matter OF returning salutes.
The apparent carelessness was soon explained sat-
isfactorly and found to be due 20 Captain
Candles upfimiliarity with the regulations gov.
erning salutes from the forts in the harbor II sug-
gests several interesting points of naval and mill
tary etiquette which are for the most part un'
known 10 civilians
twill be remembered that the Talbots commander
ordered the regular National salute OF twenty
one guns TO be fired when his ship approached
the Narrows, he caught sight OF the
American flag flying over Forts Hamilton ard
Wadsworth. and was considerably surprised wnen
neither place returned the courtesy. This they had
nc right do the saluting privilege being confined
TO Fort Columbus. on Governors Island 1t 10 eX'
pressly laid down in the Army Regulations that
when n por. Is guarded b. group OF forts within
sight OF each other. within n distance OF six
miles one of these-usualy the most important
one-shall be designated the sautng station,
and that none OF the others shall Pay attention 10
any sautes which may be fred. This rule covers
the condition Of things existing in tho harbor OF
New-York the three forts being within the speci-
fed distance from one snother. Fort Wadsworth Is
also plainly visible from Governors Island but tho
line Of view between the latter place and Fort
Hamilton IL cut of by the intervening strip OF lard
at Bay Ridge. The selection OF Governors isiano
as the saluting station doubtless because OF us
position as headquarters OF tho Department OF the
East II has besides the most effective salutins
battery Of the three forts. II Captain Gamble had
known that Fort Columbus was the point TO DO "a
uted he would have reserved his fire untN wei
abreast Of the island. and would have received an
immediate return. As IT was the delay In sending
messages between the forts caused the retur1
salute to be pos tponed until the Talbot had almost
reached tor anchorage in the North River.
Precisely the same mistake. OF sautng the nag
at Fort Hamilton, was made again on Thursday
morning by the Spanish cruiser lnfanta Mara
Teresa az she approached the Narrows, and hef
captain was surprised by the same lack OF response
as on the previous occasion.
" Amone the other rules (Which are practically In
ternatonaD governing salutes between vessel aIo
a port. are that no salute may DE nred pe.weeM
sunset and sunrise. the usual hours being petwe.I
M ana sonresy there Snail be no sanns or
Sunday A ship displays at the nam wnen saIus-
ing the flag OF the nation a 10 ~nen Se ensSn Of
her country at the rear mast or rom the mn"
zen yard. Vessels Of the United States Navy do not
II shin arrives at foreign port after sunset
as in sb the c sass M 'n the Nsrrow at 10 O'clock
Monday night the sautes are fred the iirst thihs
There is aIso strict code governing the ex,
change Of calls Of courtesy between the olcers CT
"A a
the military or naval posts situated there AS soon
as n foreign ship has anchored in THIS harpor "
"suito bile office-' Is sent from the Brooklyn navy
Ward and another from Governors Island VITA
what are known offers of assistance In real
itv formal greetings from this country TO the visit
ing REPRESENTATIVES OF another This courtesy is
Immediately returned by n call from the CON-
mander Of the ship. some one OF his onlcers
whom he may select, upon the commanding officer
al tho Navy Yard and NJ Governors Island These,
again must return this call within twenty-four
hours tthe outside limit Of time within which a.,
ofpcia visits of the sort must be PAID, thus max.
ing a series of three visits between the snip ana
the mort Whether the calls either side shall be
Maid by the commanders IN person or by deputies
depends upon the respective ranks OF the former
AS a general rule the officer lower In rank must
always pay the first call upon superior. IN ssLa.
ing n deputy an officer is selected Tor the duty
whose rank corresponds nearly as possible WITH
that of the one upon whom he Is 10 call Thus, Tor
example since a captain IN the Navy ranks with
colonel in the Army. General Merritt would prov
ably send a colonel OF his stan 10 make the uret
call upon Captain Gamble of the Talbot 70 max
a GENERAL statement. II may be said that nag om-
cers and commodores may expect a return Nisit IN
person from foreign Governors and other hlgn
rivl military and diplomatic officials other COM
handing officers OF ships may expect such return
v,sis 10 be made by aide-decamp. or otner suit-
able officer designated for that purpose