The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-02
THE ETIQUETTE
or THE NAVY,

Etiquette on board q man-of. var n =
matter OF great ceremonial From oh>
moment an officer or a common nxl1o-
steps aboard until after he has LETT ko
must observe conventions OF many
kinds -
The starboard gangway. for Instance.
Is reserved for the use OF the commits
stoned officers and their friends when
going aboard on leaving vessel. All
others must use the port gangway Tho
nrst thing on stepping aboard shin Is Ia
salute the deck" by lifting or touching
the hat or cap. This is meant az n
mark OF respect 10 the colors ana Is
acknowledged by the officer OF the deck.
The quarter deck is sacred 20 the ON
GERS, ano the side o. II occupied ny the
onicer on duty IL generally avoided by
the others. No enlisted men are allow
ca on the quarter deck except on duty. 4
one OF the prettiest OF naval ccremo-
niss taxes place at a. IN. and at sun
set This Is the hoisting and lowcrine
or the colors. These two functions are
accompanied by appropriate military
music. all hands, officers as well as
men who happen to be ON deck a. the
time. standing at Attention" facing aft
and with heads barred. until the colors
reach the fiasstan head or are lowered
into the arms of the qusrtermaster, who
receives them, as the case may be-
Onicers are required TO salute the car
tain when passing him. but not each
other except when on duty and an of12-
cial communication is made. The Junior
always salutes first. the senior return
ing the courtesy. The men always ga
lute when addressing or being address
ed by an officer
Certain interesting formalitiex are
sone through In entering. leaving and
|. sitting In ships small boats. En-
trance goes according to rank, juniors
l'hrst. This Is in conformity with the
principle that the captain Is always the
last to abandon his ship. In sitting in
the boat the senior sits farthest aft. the
others ranging themselves according to
their gradation In rank In leaving the
boat the senior goes first. which sug-
gests the rule that in an atteck on shore
or a boarding party the senior leads
the way
Three principal ceremonials govern
the official arrival on board or de-
parture from ship OF persons OF rank.
One is called piping over the sidc''
and consists Of the attendance at the
gsngway OF from two TO eight side boys
and the long, shrilI piping OF the boat y
swain as the honorcd person steps
aboard or leaves the ship. For a CONF
fDanding officer. admiral or other hia],
functionary the marine guard is parad
ed on the quarter deck. presenting arms,
with the music giving the appropriate
number of 'ruffies" as the functionarv
passes along the deck to or from the
gangway This Is the second honor.
The third is the firing of gun saiutcs.
the number OF guns depending upon
personal rank The president OF the
United States and members OF royal
families receive 21 gums. the national
salute, which n the highest number ~
ficially recognized. Other of5icials re-
ceive varying numbers below this tl1e
following being examples: Admiral. ~
guns; vice admiral, IS: rear admiral. -.
commodore. IL. Governors Of states.
cabinet ministers, diplomatic represents
atiyes. generals of the army and con-
sular officers arc all entitled to gun sa-
lutcs. #
The salute is not fired until the rc-
cipient is in his boat and pulls away
from the vessel. when the first gun II
fired and his flag Ia unfurled from the
masthead, to be pulled down with the
last gun. While the salute Is In prog
ress the visitors boat stops, proceeds
ing only after the ceremony IL over
IL Is considered a serious breach Ct
courtesy to fire either more or feves
guns than the person saluted Is entitled
TO. When either is done, his represents
ative promptly calls upon the salutin4
ship for an explanation, and II this Is
not given satisfactorily serious offenso
results.
Even the marking OF the passage Of
time on board ship lis a matter of eero-N
lnony. There is a clock near the tap-
taIn's cabin which his orderly vatrhc1.
and each half hour he goes on deck
and. saluting. reports TO the orfcrf Of
the deck the number OF bells. The o!Ii-E
GER returns the orderly's salute. says
"very good and directs the messcnScr
to strike the proper number CT bells y
But at 8 A. M. noon and p. m. there
is marked difference. These hours>
are reported not as 's bells, but AZ ~
O'clock or '12 o'clock" The oficer
then tells the orderly to report Ire
hour to the captain, and the bells are
not struck until the captain directs tit
through the medium OF the orderly,
the officer and the messenger. II Is nat
s q. M. noon or y. IN. until the torfr'>l
officially "nnkcs IL So Not iaf'rr.
quentiy the capta!n plays Joshua are
nrstnoues tho hour as he sees ft.