Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1889 — NAVAL ETIQUETTE. [ARTICLE]

NAVAL ETIQUETTE.

(Politeness Exceeding Anything Practiced on Terra Firm*. .Everybody Salutes Everybody Else—What Constitutes a Good Gun Balnto—Manning the Yards, Cheering the Ship, Etc.—The Guns Allowed Various Official* Most visitors to a man-of-war are struck by the cleanliness, 'order and .compactness of everything on board, where so many men liveso close together, and yet perfect discipline is preserved—even greater than among the isame number in a regiment of soldiers. 1 But a few moments’ consideration, Iwrites Dr. E. Shippen, in Golden Days, will show that, in such a confined space ;and with constant intercourse, ereat [attention to forms and to the exactions ’of respect must be shown, to prevent [such a mass of men, crowded close together, from degenerating into a mob. : So we see, at every moment, salutes [by touching and raising the cap, first ‘by the inferior—in rank, but always •.scrupulously returned by the superior, while all sentries salute passing officers—the juniors by r ising the hand to the rifle, while the latter is at “the icarry,” and senior officers by “preisenting” arms. And this is done whenever they pass, if it be ten times lin an hour. . This saluting in military services is ‘based upon the theory that small arms Are placed at the disposal of the person whom it is desired to honor; while ■with the great guns it wae formerly ’the habit to fire salutes while shotted, and thus leave the pieces harmless, and at the mercy of the party saluted. ’But this firing of shotted guns led to [so many accidents to the persons whom it was designed to honor that it (gradually fell into disuse, and blank cartridges were used instead. 1 The number of guns allowed to ofiflcials is as low as five—for a Consul, but it is always an uneven number—|for, ever since gunpowder was used, ■ |an even number of guns was consider- | ied unlucky and the odd number obiserved. j The writer well remembers the start [given by the firing of three guns in a jYamenr-or official residence of a high Chinese official, as a party of Americans were making an official visit. The Chinese salute is three guns—and these three were almost buried in the earth of a court-yard through [ [which the’party had to pass, and were ; fired almost under their feet as they ipassed, causing a very natur d start in [persons unused to that way of showing jrespect ; Salutes with great guns occur more • in loreign ports than in our pwn, as guns are fired upon the visit of foreign officers to our men-of-war, And also when ours are returned. Then, on national holidays or anniversaries, foreign men-of-war who happened to be in port with the vessel celebrating are all notified and requested [ jto join in a salute, probably in dress- . jng the ships with flags. I 1 For instance, in Rio Janeiro, a great naval stopping place, there will often [be Brazilian. French, Spanish, Portuguese, English, American and other [men-of-war. Now, if the Fourth of i 'July is at hand, the American Admiral ■ scuds an officer round to each one, with ills compliments, and to say that on Jbat day he will dress his ship with (flags and fire a n itional salute at noon; and each of the foreign captains sends back his compliments and will be happy to follow his motions. So, on the Fourth of July, in addition to the dressing of the ship, each one fires iwenty-one guns If a national salute is fired the flag of the country saluted is hoisted at the fore, and hauled down at the last gun. 'lf it is a personal salute the jib is [hoisted with the first gun and hauled dow:n with the last when mtb such as kings or the pre fide nt • of the United States, the yards are “manned;” that is, life-lines are rove from the lifts of the yards to the m ists, and ( the men stand upon the yards close to each other. Sometimes the crews are ordered in(to the lower rigging and three cheers |are given, the lime beinr marked by the rolling of drums. 'Phis is called [“cheering ship,” and is often done when another ship of the anuadron, which h s comoleted her service, sails “homeward bound.” When coming on board or leaving the ship officers are attended by the •boatswain or his mate, with side-boys, who are supposed to hand the manropes. When there are no man-ropes the boys stand on ea -h si le or the gangway an 1 their caps, while the boatswain pipes a long-drawn, peculiar sound Iro n his pip*. In addition to this the Adnira or Commodore is received by the marine guard, drawn up on tho quarter-deck, and the roll of the drum. When the colors are hoisted or lowprod’ everybody uncovers and the music plays: and every one, officer or man, on coming upon the quarterdeck, which is the reserved spot for all ceremony, touches his cap. At first people m ike a great many mistakes and ommissions in all this cap touching; but in a very short time it becomes a second nature and is done ■almost, me- hanically.