The record-union., 1898-05-17

exercise military command in the or
der mentioned: Rear Admiral Com
modore, Captain, Commander, Lieuten-
ant, Lieutenant-C Commander, Lieuten-
ant, Lieutenant 0unior grade), Ensign,
Naval Cadet, Boatswain, Gunner. They
take rank in each grade according to
the dates of their commissions
The officers of the staff comprise
medical officers, pay officers, engineer
officers, chaplains, professors of mathe-
matics, naval constructors, civil en-
gineers, carpenters and sailmakers-
ranking in that order. The officers, as
sistant and sub-officers of the various
grades have relative ranks, ranging
from Captain to Ensign. according to
seniority and real position.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
The Rear-Admiral may be assigned to
the command of a fleet, a squadron or
a naval station, and during his tenure
of office his authority is absolute to
those under him He is the brains of
his command, and must do the planning
and supervising in general with, per-
haps, the aid of his counsel and advice
Of his under officers. In a battle he it
is who orders the strategic movements
upon the enemy and upon his perspica-
city upheld by the strict adherence to
his plans rests the result.
a Commodore has almost as much
power as a Rear-Admiral, the command
of a fleet, however. being denied him. A
Captain is further limited to the COM
mand Of but division of a squadron as
his highest power A commandership
is but a short degree less in authority,
embracing nearly all of a Captaincy's s
authority except as to the direct COM
mand of ships. A Captain may have in
charge a ship of the first rate, while
the third rateis as high as Command
er may attain to.
In order a Lieutenant Commander,
Lieutenant and Lieutenant of the ju-
nior grade may serve as executive Off
GERS or have command of inferior rate
vessels. The Ensigns and naval cadets
may do any duty on the watch or in the
engine-room as may be assigned them.
All officers, from Captain down, may
also be assigned to shore duty. These
officers of the line occupy about the
same plane as commissioned officers in
the army Each has his particular sta
tion in battle but they may be called
upon to act directly as assistants to
the ships commanding officer. They all
are instrumental in forwarding the
proper orders to the stations and see
ing that they are carried out.
WARRANT OFFICERS.
Boatswains, gunners, carpenters and
sailmakers are warrant officers, and
have no relative rank. All below these
including mates, are petty officers. The
petty officers are divided into four
classes, the chief, first, second and
third Each of these classes is subdi-
vided into four branches, the seaman,
artifcer. special and marine. The sea-
men branch embraces the master-at-
arms, the boatswain's mates, the gun
ner's mates, the quartermasters, the
coxswains and the schoolmasters. The
artificer branch of petty officers in
cludes machinists, carpenters mates,
boilermakers, coppersmiths, black
smiths. plumbers and filters, sailmak-
er's mates, water tenders, printers, OIL
ers and painters. The special branch
is composed of yeomen, apothecaries,
bandmasteres and musicians. Sergeant
majors, first sergeants in charge of
guard and corporals go to make up the
marines.
The seamen and messmen are about
the only persons actively engaged in
the handling Of the warships Of the
navy who have not the privilege Of be-
ing classed as officers. These two de-
partments are also divided into the
same four branches, and comprise sea-
men of low grades, seamen gunners,