Commanders of Squadrons under a Commander-in-Chief, etc.

appointed Commander-in-Chief of the fleet or squadron, without waiting either to meet with or to receive an order directly from such officer.

111..On giving up his command, he is to turn over to his successor a copy of all correspondence interchanged with the Navy Department or foreign authorities, together with any other documents which may concern the station or naval force under his command, or which may be of interest to the service, and also of all orders which he may have issued from time to time, for the guidance of vessels under his command.

112..He will also transmit to the Secretary of the Navy a list of all the numbers of his correspondence with the Department, and shall furnish duplicates of all such as the Secretary shall inform him have not been received.

113..He is not to leave his station or command until he is satisfied that all the regulations of the Navy relating to the transfer of vessels, munitions of war, &c., are complied with.

COMMANDERS OF SQUADRONS UNDER A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND COMMANDERS OF DIVISIONS.

114..Whenever a fleet may be organized into squadrons, or squadrons and divisions, their respective Commanders will be responsible to the Commander-in-Chief for the efficiency, discipline, and management of the vessels composing their squadrons or divisions.

115..All reports, returns, and requisitions will be forwarded in accordance with the routine prescribed in the article on 66 Correspondence."

116..In preparing their commands for sea, Commanding Officers of squadrons or of divisions have authority to make out and sign requisitions on a Commander of a navy yard, station, or Chief of a Bureau, independently of the Commander-in-Chief.

117..Commanders of squadrons and divisions shall inspect the vessels under their command as often as once in a quarter; and they will make written reports to the Commander-in-Chief of their efficiency, discipline, and preparation for battle.

Commanders of Squadrons under a Commander-in-Chief, etc. 118..Commanding Officers of squadrons or divisions will regulate, by signals, vessels belonging to their divisions.

119..A Commanding Officer of a squadron or division will correct any mistake committed by a vessel of any other squadron or division, if it is probable that the error cannot be seen by the Commander of that division or squadron.

120..In presence of the enemy general signals are only to be made by the Commander-in-Chief, but they are to be repeated to squadrons or divisions by their Commanding Officers.

121..If a Commander of a squadron or division should, during battle, perceive any vessel of a squadron or division commanded by an officer inferior or junior to himself, evidently avoiding battle, or not doing his duty, he shall make proper signals to him, or take such other measures as the case may require, and give the earliest information of his proceedings to the Commander-in-Chief, and to the Commander of the squadron or division to which the vessel may belong.

122..If, during an action, the vessel of a Commander of a squadron or division should be entirely disabled and incapable of making signals, he must change his flag to an active vessel..

123..Under no other circumstances can he change his vessel without the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.

124..If, during an engagement, the last order of battle prescribed, should be broken, and the vessels of the Commander-inChief should be in danger and unable to make signals, every Commanding Officer of a squadron or division should use his own discretion, and send all the help he can spare to relieve his superior officer from jeopardy.

125..If, by any event whatever, the Commanding Officer of a squadron or division becomes separated from the Commander-inChief, he will take command of all vessels in his company, and out of sight of the Commander-in-Chief.

126..He will direct the said vessels to range themselves in order under his flag, and will make every effort to join the Commanderin-Chief without delay.

127..When an officer commanding a squadron or division is thus separated, he will call for a statement of events from the Commanding Officers of the vessels in his company, and submit it to the Commander-in-Chief without delay.

Chief-of-Staff.

128..If a Commanding Officer of a squadron or division should be killed in action, his distinguishing flag will continue aloft on board his vessel until the enemy is out of sight.

129. After battle commanders of squadrons and of divisions will forward to the Commander-in-Chief the reports of the officers commanding vessels, required by paragraph 92, accompanied by full remarks of their own.

CHIEF OF STAFF.

130..A Chief-of-Staff should be selected for his known ability to conduct all the administrative duties of his office.

131..He should be fully competent to maneuver a fleet, and form orders of battle in all their detail, and be prepared to take on himself, in time of engagement, the command of the fleet in case of the death of the Commander-in-Chief.

132..He is to assist the Commander-in-Chief in the various details and arrangements for the management of the fleet or squadron, and for maintaining it in the most efficient condition, and to this end he is to be embarked on board the same vessel with the Commander-in-Chief, and subject only to his orders.

133..He will preserve the correspondence of the Commander-inChief, and will keep an historical journal of the operations of the fleet. This journal will be very full in all its details, so that it may aid the Commander-in-Chief in making out his dispatches.

134..He shall also keep a register of all orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief or by his authority, and of all signals that may be made in the fleet or squadron, noting the day and hour when the former were received or transmitted, and when the latter were made. (See forms No. 5 and 6, appendix.)

135. He shall take care when officers are called on board to receive verbal orders, that they note in an order-book, which they must bring for that purpose, the substance of the order given.

136..He will immediately report to the Commander-in-Chief any neglect or disobedience of the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. 137..Whatever orders he may give to officers junior to himself, he will report without delay to the Commander-in-Chief.

138..He will make out all orders of the day, such as detailing

Chief of Staff.

look-out vessels, guard-ships, inspections, exercises, or other duties assigned by the Commander-in-Chief.

139..He will receive the pass-word daily from the Commandern-Chief, and issue it to the vessels of the fleet.

140..He will have under his direct orders all the officers composing the general staff, whose duties he will regulate according to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.

141..His supervision also extends over all officers composing the staffs of squadron or division commanders.

142..He will have control of the signal corps of the fleet.

143..He will see that the signal-books are properly cared for and correctly kept, and that all vessels of the fleet or squadron are prepared with a uniform system of signals for night and day.

144..He will keep a register of the names of all officers of the fleet or squadron, and of the general staff.

145..He shall always be ready to give the Commander-in-Chief a statement of the stores, provisions and munitions of war on board vessels of the fleet, and the amounts on hand in store-ships.

146..He should also be prepared to inform the Commander-inChief in relation to the personnel of the fleet.

147..In order to expedite the administrative duties of a fleet or squadron, the following reports, returns, &c., will be transmitted by Commanding Officers to the Commander-in-Chief, through the Chief-of-Staff, who, after examining and indorsing them with such remarks as may appear to him expedient, will place them before the Commander-in-Chief for his information, and, if necessary, for his action and decision: Reports of state and condition of ship; reports of defects; applications for refitting or repairs; requisitions for money, stores or provisions; all periodical returns; applications for leave, transfer or discharge; applications for surveys; and, in general, all reports connected with the equipment and efficiency of the vessels. All reports of the operation of their commands, the execution of their orders, or of the discipline of their vessels, Commanding Officers will transmit direct to the Commander-in-Chief.

148..When the Commander-in-Chief convenes the Commanding Officers of divisions for the discussion of projects relating to the operations of the fleet, the Chief-of-Staff will be present, and will act as recorder, keeping correct minutes of the proceedings.

Personal Staff Officers-Officers Commanding Vessels.

149..In all important ceremonies he will take charge in the name of the Commander-in-Chief, and will see that they are conducted according to regulations.

150..In time of battle his station is at the side of the Commander-in-Chief, whom he is to assist with all his knowledge and ability in maneuvering the fleet or squadron in presence of the enemy or in going into action.

151..He will have immediate superintendence of all signals made during battle, and will keep a register of them.

152..He will be responsible that the minutes of the action are correctly kept.

153..At the death of a Commander-in-Chief, or of a Commanding Officer of a squadron or division, the officers composing the staff of either will cease to exercise their duties, unless confirmed by the new Commander-in-Chief, or of squadron or division.

154..Chiefs-of-Staff of divisions or squadrons have duties similar to those of the Chief-of-Staff to Commanders-in-Chief.

PERSONAL STAFF OFFICERS.

155..All officers attached to the personal staff of the Commanderin-Chief are under the immediate direction of the Chief-of-Staff. 156..They will act as aids to the Commander-in-Chief at such times as he may require their services.

157..The Commander-in-Chief can assign to them the duties of Secretaries.

OFFICERS COMMANDING VESSELS.

158.. When an officer shall be appointed to the command of a vessel, he shall join her forthwith, unless a particular day be designated for him to do so by the appointing authority; and on joining her, he is to examine and ascertain her state and condition, and inform himself of the character and qualifications of the officers placed under his command.

159..If the vessel be still under the charge of the Commanding Officer of the navy yard, he will be attentive to her repair and equipment, and report to such Commanding Officer any defects or deficiencies which, in his opinion, require further attention. He will