The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-29
CHANGES MADE PUBLIC
GENERAL NAVAL BOARD GIVEN IM-
 PORTANT DUTIES.
Use of Sword Aboard Ship Abandoned and Service Revolver Succeeds knlghtly WeapOn-Other
 Amendments.

Washington, June 28.-Important
 changes which have been made in the
 naval regulations by the Bureau of Ma vigation with the approval of the Pres
 ldent and Secretary of Navy were made
 public at the Navy Department today.
 In the revised regulations the General Board Is given a promin ent place by the
 incorporation in the first chapter of a
 paragraph giving the decisions of the
 board and defining it's duties.
 The board is to have a membership
 of seven at present. The duties of the
 board as given are to devise measures
 and plans for the effective preparations and maintenance of the fleet for war; to advise the Secretary of the Navy as to Its disposition and distribution and of the re-enforcements of ships, officers and men of the navy and marine corps
 to prepare and submit to the Secretary
 plans of campaign, studying co-opera-
 tion with the army and the employment
 of all elements of naval defense, such plans to be constantly revised in ac- cordance with latest information re- ceived. It Is to consider the number and types of ships proper to constitute
 the fleet, the number of officers and men required to man them, and to advise
 the Secretary as to estimates therefor
 to be submitted to Congress as well as
 to the location. capacity and protection
 of coal depots. naval stations. reserves of ordnance and ammunition and supply depots.
 It is also required to coordinate the work of the naval war college, office of : naval intelligence and board of inspec- ton and survey, and to report on naval operations, manoeuvers, tactics. organ ization, training and such others as
 the Secretary may lay before 1t.
 Sword Has Passed.
 The wearing of swords aboard ship on ordinary occasions has been practi-
 cally abolished by the new wording of | the regulations respecting their use a | woven service revolver belt and re-
 volver taking the place of the sword. It is explained by the department that a
 sword is an unhandy weapon under l modern conditions on board ship, or in | boats, and that it serves no useful pur- | pose on occasions other than those of 1 ceremony. The sword will be worn however at ceremonies and at infantry and artillery drills on shore.
 The regulations governing visitors l going aboard vessels under construction | have been revised so as to give such 1 permission only to those known to the | senior officer present as American citl- | zens of god standing and repute Nls- | itors representing foreign Governments l or known to be other than American | citizens, 1t Is provided, shall not be per | | bv permission of the Navy Department 1 and then shall be accompanied by a navy officer on duty at the navy yaro i or works wher4 the vessel is building 1 The ships to which captains may b'
 ordered in commend are limited tS l bat,leships and armored cruisers, whll' 1 commanders have had their duties | afloat extended to the command of pro | tected cruisers of the first rate ane | ueutenants are made eligible Tor th' command of destroyers or torpedo no | tillas .,.,
 Articles defining the rank and title | of officers of the line or stan or tn' navy have undergone revision and IT | a memorandum issued at the Navy De | partment noting the changes wnlcr 1 have been made in the regulations, thi: 1 exclamation is made
 Up to the year 1900 there was httl' | or no trouble about titles or line o | staff officers, but during the past tou | or five years much friction has peer created by officers using titles whici | do not pertain to them or their dutle | in the navy. The regulations regaru | ing titles are based on statute law a l interpreted by attorneys general New provisions made in this connec
 tion require that except when other wise provided by law or regulation
 every commanding oficer of the nav