(4) He shall require, from officers and noncommissioned officers, Reports of distribution and commanding marines of other ships of the fleet, monthly re- battalion organiports of the strength and distribution of such detachments, and zation. shall organize the marines of the fleet into a battalion for drill, instruction, or other duty on shore when required.

(5) He shall, through the proper channel, keep the flag officer informed of any changes in the strength and organization of the battalion.

(6) He shall, when authorized by the flag officer, collect the marines of the fleet on shore for drill and instruction, and shall avail himself of any favorable or convenient opportunity for so doing, and he shall exert himself to make them as efficient as possible in all drills and duties required of them.

Changes in the battalion organization.

Marines to be landed for drill.

(7) All monthly and quarterly reports and returns, which may Monthly and be required from the officers and noncommissioned officers in quarterly reports to be forcharge of detachments on board ships of the fleet, shall be warded. forwarded through the fleet marine officer for examination or remark.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SENIOR OFFICER PRESENT.

two or more ships meet.

408. (1) When two or, more ships meet in port or at sea, the Command when chief command during the time the ships are within signal distance of each other shall be exercised as laid down in article 19. (2) Upon meeting, the ships shall hoist their ensigns and official numbers.

(3) When ships meet, and there is doubt as to which has the senior captain, the fact shall be ascertained by signal.

Junior to show

409. When ships meet in port, the junior commanding officer of one or more ships shall, if circumstances permit, call upon the orders. senior commanding officer of one or more ships, show all the orders not secret under which he is acting, and inform him of the condition of his command. For the time being he shall consider himself subject to the authority of such senior.

a senior.

410. When the commanding officer of one or more ships ar- Duty of an offrives at a port within the limits of a foreign station, he shall, if cer in command when passing the junior, immediately communicate with the commander-in-chief through the of that station, either by mail or telegraph, as expedient. He cruising limits of shall report to him the tenor of his orders, if not secret; the condition of his command; his proposed movements, and how communications may reach him. These reports shall be continued from time to time, as necessary, or as required by a change of circumstances, until he has left the limits of his senior's command. 411. A junior in command must, when meeting a senior, either at sea or in port, obtain permission by signal or otherwise to con- mission of the senior to pertinue on his course, to anchor or get under way, to haul fires or form evolutions, get up steam, to communicate with the shore, or to perform any etc. evolution or act of importance which would require the permission of his commander-in-chief, if the latter were present.

To obtain per

When the senior officer may divert or detain

412. (1) The senior officer shall not, in the absence of special instructions, take advantage of his superior rank to detain or divert from their destination the whole or any part of any forces forces not under which he may fall in with. His authority to do so, however, must his immediate be recognized without question and should the public interests command. imperatively demand it, he may employ temporarily the ships which he meets. If the captains of these ships have special instructions which forbid their being diverted from their course, they must inform the senior officer, in order that he may give such instructions due consideration.

(2) As soon as the coöperation of these ships ceases to be imperative, he shall order them to continue the service on which they were engaged when he met them, unless circumstances in the meantime render this inexpedient.

Investigation

of all serious damages by a board.

Reports to the officer in chief command.

To require ex

(3) He shall limit the exercise of command over training ships to such general matters of naval routine, discipline, and official intercourse as shall not interfere with the special service upon which they are employed.

413. (1) When serious damage, from whatsoever cause, is received by any vessel under his command, he shall order an investigation by a board of three officers, who shall be directed to report fully the circumstances and to state to whom, if to anyone, fault is to be attributed.

(2) In the event of a collision he shall proceed as provided in article 464.

414. He shall make to the officer in chief command a detailed report of any important circumstances in connection with, or duty performed by, the forces under him, requiring from his subordinates such reports as may be necessary.

415. He shall, when two or more ships are together, have freercise in signals. quent exercises in day and night signals, each ship making and reading signals in turn.

Duties of flag officer dis

ior officer.

416. The senior officer present shall discharge the duties of the flag officer in chief command, as laid down in article 309, paracharged by sen- graphs 3, 4, 6, and 8; and articles 313; 314; 315; 316; 317, paragraph 1; 322; 325; 326; 327; 328; 329; 330; 333; 334; 335; 336; 337; 338; 339; 340; 341; 342; 343; 344; 345; 346; 348; 351; 352; 355; 357; 362, and 364, and authority for that purpose is hereby conferred upon him.

CHAPTER X.

THE CAPTAIN.

SECTION 1.-ASSUMING COMMAND AND FITTING OUT.

417. (1) An officer who has been ordered by the Navy Department for the command of a ship not yet in commission shall at once make a thorough personal examination of her, and inform himself as to her condition and state of preparation for service.

(2) He shall, if the ship be at a navy yard, exercise no authority or control over her preparation before she is transferred to his command, but shall keep himself constantly informed of the progress made and offer to the commandant such suggestions concerning the preparation as he considers essential or important to her efficiency.

(3) If, when the commandant signifies his intention of transferring the ship to his command, he considers her in an unfit condition to be commissioned, he shall represent the fact to the commandant in writing, stating the reasons.

418. When the ship is to be placed in commission, she shall be formally transferred by the commandant, or by an officer representing him, who shall not be inferior to the captain in grade, as follows: As many of the officers and crew of the ship as circumstances permit, including a guard and music, shall be assembled and properly distributed on the quarter-deck. When ready, the commandant or his representative shall cause the national ensign and the proper insignia of command to be hoisted, in accordance with articles 145 and 162, and turn the ship over to the captain; the latter shall then read his orders to command, assume charge of the ship, and cause a watch to be set.

When ordered to a ship not in commission.

Going into commission.

Responsible

419. (1) The captain, upon assuming command of a ship when she is commissioned, becomes responsible for the discipline on for discipline.

board.

(2) He shall at once make himself familiar with the details of the material and personnel of his command, in order that he may make proper representations if any portion of either is unfit for the service to which the ship is destined.

(3) He shall apply to the commandant for detailed plans of the ship, and for such other information as can be given him concerning her condition and the repairs and changes made to her hull, machinery, and equipment.

(4) He shall use every exertion to complete the equipment of the ship and fit her for sea.

(5) He shall make requisition for such articles as are required to render her efficient.