Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10
SaIufeS for
An Admiral
THE ceremonies attending the as

THE ceremonies attending the as
sumption of command ahoat,
whether it be of a fleet, squadron
division or shingle ship, are dgnified
I'm character and impressive in signifi-
canoe. However much the details may
have varied with racial developments
Of sea power, they constitute essential
ly in all navies a recognition of the au-
thoritv that confers command and of
the responsibility that is accepted with
It.
II Is, for example. provided in our
naval regulations that when a flag Of
ficer goes on board a ship to take over
the command the officers Of the ves-
sci will be assembled in dress uniform
on the side of the quarter deck toward
which he enters: that the captain will
receive him at the gangway; that the
marines will be paraded and the crews
mustered at quarters, both ready for
immediate inspection.
At the moment the flag officer
reaches the deck the officers and men
salute, the marine guard presents
arms. the drums are beaten and the
bugles tlourished. and the band plays
a lively march. Soon after his flag is
broken out at the masthead and saluted
with the number of guns appropriate to
his rank.
AS limitation on this latter pro-
vision for saluting a new rule appears
in the regulations for 1905, though the
reason for the change is unknown
save, perhaps. that it causes a saving
in noise and in gunpowder. 1t is now
ordered. as modification of the time
honored rule. that when a flag officer
takes up a command in the presence
of a senior officer his own flag is not
to be saluted when first flown until
he has sauted the flag of such senior
1t may be interesting to note how, in
the several degrees of naval rank, the
number of guns and the other honors
are allotted. An admiral, for example,
is entitled to q salute of seventeen
guns. to four ruffles of the drum and
four flourishes of the bugle. A vice
| admiral to fifteen guns and three ruff
fles and flouriShes: a rear admiral to
thirteen guns, two ruffes and flour
ishes. and n commodore to eleven guns
and one ruffle and flourish.
The cOmmandant of the marine
corps, it may be said in passing, is en-
| titled to the same salute and honors as
a naval officer of corresponding rank
and captain or commander appointed
to command a squadron receives for
| the time being the salute and other
| donors due to the acting rank con-
| ferred upon him.
paraded for an officer whose rank en-
titles him to a salute of eleven guns
or more the band. if there be one, is
paraded with the marine guard.
In addition to these salutes for naval
and military officers there are other
honors and distinctions. varying with
| rank and precedence. accorded the
president, the vice president, former
presidents, the president or the SoVer-
pi iut1 Of or a a nd If
| royal families.
A little lower in the scale honors and
distinctions similar in kind but less in
degree are also provided for cabinet
Iofficers, chief justices. governors, men,
bers of congress. diplomatic representa-
tives and conSuls.
Under ordinary circumstances salutes
are not fired except by authorized
ships. In the absence of special inStruc-
tions from the navy department the
armed ships that may tender these
honors are vessels of all classes that
carry ten or more broadside guns, or
such as are commanded by a captain
or commander, providing they mount
four or more light. quick firing pieces
practically of the same size and volume
of report and mounted in suitable
I places on the hull. Such are Specifi-
cally known as saluting ships.
1t may be added that pieces installed
in the fighting tops cannot be used for
saluting. nor can heavier guns than
those of 6-inch caliber be employed. In
cases where. from anv special cause,
ship from which a salute in compli-
ment to a foreign power or officer may
reasonably be expected is unable to
salute the circumstances must be eX-
planned on the spot to the representa-
tive of such foreign nowers.
FINALLY when from anV SDeclal CIR
cumstances the omission to salute can
not be explained without giving Of
fense to a foreign power or officer, sa-
lutes are to be fired by any ship which
can do so with safety. 1t may be said
in conclusion that no salutes may be
fired between sunset and sunrise, and
that as a general rule they should be
fired between a. and SundoWn;
nor should salutes be offered on sun
day unless REQUIRED by international
courtesy.
The national ensign must always be
displayed during the salute Forts and