Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-25
IVY sALUTES AT SEA.
Courtesies. That Must he Observed
By ship Captains.


By Ship Captains.
In the days before cannon and in.
deed until comparatively recent times
vessel made its salutation by lower
ing its flag. This Is the oldest and
most honorable greeting which a ship
can give, and 1t ranks before the boom
Ing Of guns, however many. This sa-
lutte has always been demanded by
English seamen, and Its exaction has
burned the hearts and the powder of
generations Of naval commanders. For
foreign ship, whether merchant or
martial. to enter an English port with
out yelling topsails or lowering its ma
tional flag was to court the chances of
war, though the profoundest peace ex-
listed. Without warning or argument
the shore defenses or a man-of-war
sent a round shot across the bows or
between the masts of the insolent in
truder and IL the offending flag came
not down instnnter the foreigner was
brought to her senses by being raked
through and through. Such was the
reception accorded by John Hawkins
to the Spanish admiral who in time Of
peace sailed into Plymouth sound with
out yelling his topsails or striking his
flag. The Dutch vehemently resisted
the British demand, and 1t was not I'M
til 1878 that they finally agreed to
strike the English colors in home wa
tiers. The same honor was formally
assented to by France In 1904, although
it had been long exacted by Britain.
Until modern times II was regarded
ns high misdemeanor for a merchant
vessel to pass one Of his majesty's
ships without dipping her ensign, and
the consequence was that shot across
her bows compelled her to heave to
while her captains name was taken,
the admiralty instituting a prosecution
against him for his negligence. The
trading ship dips her ensign and waits
for the man-of-wnr's dip in return.
Then she dips again, and after that in
strict etiquette she ought to dip third
time but this Is seldom done now. The
maritime supremacy of Britain Is still
enforced by the refusal of any British
war vessel to dip its flag to any for
eign ship until the latter has first low
cred its colors, and this acknowledge
ment of precedence is required not only
In home waters. but In all seas
But naval saiutes are now essential
matters of etiquette and are exchanged
under an elaborate code arranged be-
tween foreign powers and the admiral
ty in 1876 The number Of guns to be
fired under all conceivable crcum-
stances is infinitely. stipulated. Second
to the salute Of twenty-one guns in
honor of royal personages and national
flags are nineteen rounds given to en-
bassadOrs. Colonial governors, for
eign possessions and fortresses receive
seventeen guns and ENJOYS extraordi-
nary and ministers plenipotentiary If
teen. Two guns less are fred for lieu
tenant governors Charge d'affaires are
treated to eleven, consuls general, to
nine and mere consul to seven. The
salute for admirals OF the feet Is sew
enteen guns and for admirals simple
tier fifteen. Vice admirnls are greeted
with thirteen and rear admiras with
two less, while nine guns are fired for
commodores captains and lower off,
GERS being classed as not worth the
burning of powder Standard.