Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-29
NAVAL REGULATIONS CHANGED.
Wearing Of Swords Aboard Ship Prac.
tically Abolished.

Important changes have been made In
the naval regulations with the approval
of the President and Secretary of the Navy.
In the revised regulations the general board
of the navy is given a prominent place BY
the Incorporation in the first chapter OF a
paragraph giving the composition Of the
board and defining Its duties.
The wearing of swords aboard ship on
ordinary occasions has been practically
abolished by the new wording of the regu-
lations respecting their use. a woven service
revolver belt and revolver taking the place
of the sword 1t is explained by the de-
partment that sword is an unhandy
weapon under modern conditions on board
snip or In boats, and that ii serves no USE
full purpose occasions other than those
OF ceremony. The sword will be worn.
however, at ceremonies and at infantry and
artillery drills on shore.
The regulations governing visitors going
aboard vessels under construction have been
revised so as to give such permission only
to those known to the senior naval officer
present as American citizens of good stand
ing and repute. Visitors representing for
eign governments or known to be other
than American citizens. it is provided, shall
not be permitted to go aboard such ves-
seiS except by permission of the Navy De-
partmeht. and then shall be accompanied
by naval officer on duty at the navy yard
or works where the vessel Is building.
The ships to which captains may be or
ships and armored cruisers, while COM
manders have had their duty afioat ex-
tended to the command Of protected crufs-
ers OF the first rate. and lieutenants are
made eligible for the command of destroy
ers or torpedo flotillas.
Articles defining the rank and titles of
officers of the line and staff of the navy
having undergone revision. and in a memo
randum issued at the Navy Department
noting the changes which have been made
In the regulations. this explanation is made:
up to the year 1900 there was little or
no trouble about titles Of line and staff off,
GERS. but during the past four or five years
much friction has been created by officers
using titles which do not pertain TO them
or to their duties in the navy. The amend
ed regulations regarding titles are based
upon statute law, as interpreted by attor-
neys general"
New provisions made in this connection
require that except when otherwise, pro-
vided by law or regulation every commits
stoned officer of the navy when designated
by title shall be given the title borne on
the face of his commission that indicates
his Office and that all officers of the navy
shall be addressed officially by the titles
prescribed in the regula tons. The article
giving the rank and titles of chiefs Of bu-
reaus which has been recast provides that
an officer below the rank of rear admiral
filling the Office of chief of bureau shall
while holding such office have the rank.
and except as otherwise provided by law
or regulation the title. of rear admiral. 1t
then prescrllS4s that the chiefs of the bu-
reaus of medicine and surgery supplies and
accounts, steam engineering and construc-
ton and repair. while holding these offices,
shall have respectively the titles of surgeon
general, paymaster general engtneer-fn-
chief and chief constructor a staff officer
serving as chief of the bureau of yards and
docks to retain his title in the corps to
which he belongs and the judge advocate
general to have the rank and title of cap
tain in the navy or colonel in the Marine
Corps. Officers retiring while serving as
chiefs of bureaus or as judge advocate gen
eral retain the rank and titles held while
serving. Staff officers on the retired list
have the titles appropriate to the corps from
which retired.