Art. 233.

Officers can not be diplomats or consuls.

Officers shall not act as attorneys

If any officer of the Navy accepts or holds an appointment in the diplomatic or consular service of the Government, he will be considered as having resigned his place in the Navy and it will be filled as a vacancy.

Art. 234.

An officer of the Navy, either on the active or retired list, who acts against the United as agent or attorney to prosecute a claim against the United States is liable to the penalty of a fine or imprisonment, or both.

States.

Art. 235.

Publication of official documents forbidden.

All persons belonging to the Navy, or employed under the Navy Department, are forbidden to publish, or to cause or permit to be published, directly or indirectly, or to communicate by interviews, private letters or otherwise, except as required by their official duties, any information in regard to the foreign policy of the United States, or concerning the acts or measures of any department of the Government, or of any officer acting thereunder, or any comments or criticism thereon, or any official instructions, reports, or letters upon any subject whatever; or to furnish copies of the same to any person without the permission of the Navy Department. No person belonging to the Navy, or employed under the Navy Department, shall act Acting as news as correspondent of a newspaper without the express authority of the correspondents. Department, or discuss matters pertaining to the naval service in the public prints, or attempt to influence legislation in respect to the Navy otherwise than through and with the approval of the Depart

ment.

Art. 236.

Information that will aid an enemy

bidden.

In time of war, or while international questions are pending, no in time of war for person belonging to the Navy, or employed under the Navy Department, shall convey or disclose, by oral or written communications, publications, or any other means, except as may be required by his official duties, any information whatever concerning the naval or military establishment or forces, or concerning any person, thing, plan or measure pertaining thereto, or any other information that may be of assistance to an actual or possible enemy.

Reports on the fitness of officers.

Art. 237.

1. Reports on the fitness of officers shall be made, on prescribed forms, to the Secretary of the Navy, on the last day of June and of December in each year; and whenever officers are detached from service or transferred, provided a period of not less than three months shall have elapsed since the last annual report.

Reports will not be required for periods of service of less than three months.

2. Officers commanding squadrons, shall report on members of their personal staff and on captains of ships; captains of ships, on all officers under their command; commandants of shore stations, on the members of their personal staff, on captains of stationary ships, and on all other officers under their command not attached to ships.

3. Form "A" will be used for reports on officers in command afloat, and form "B" for reports on all other officers.

Answers to queries from 1 to 6 inclusive, shall be either "Excellent”, “Good”, “Tolerable”, or “Not good”, and must be written by the officer signing the report. Should the answer to any query be "Not good", or otherwise of an unfavorable nature, the reasons for such answer must be clearly stated, and a copy of that portion of the report furnished to the officer concerned, who shall be granted a reasonable time to prepare such written statement in regard to it as he may desire to make, which statement shall be indorsed and forwarded with the report. Should the officer concerned not desire to make a statement, he will write a communication to that effect.

4. Officers are enjoined to prepare the required reports with great care and deliberation, bearing in mind their importance to the naval service and to the officers concerned.

5. Special reports of distinguished conduct in battle, conspicuous acts of valor or devotion in the line of duty, or extraordinary courage, ability, or resource shown in time of peril or great responsibility, shall be made at any time as occasion arises.

Serious misconduct or marked inefficiency shall also be made the subject of a special report.

6. Captains of ships shall require from senior staff officers, and commandants of shore stations from heads of departments, and commanding officers of marine garrisons, or heads of special service, written reports on the professional fitness of their subordinates.

7. Reports on naval cadets who have completed the four years' course shall be made at the end of each quarter, on the special forms issued by the Bureau of Navigation.

Art. 238.

By whom made.

Answers to que

ries.

Care in making reports.

Special reports.

Reports from subordinates.

Reports on naval cadets.

1. Officers commanding squadrons or ships shall carefully observe Intelligence duty. the "General Instructions in regard to intelligence duty”.

Art. 239.

1. Officers commanding squadrons or ships shall not permit women to reside on board of, or take passage in, any ship of the Navy in commission for sea service.

2. Sunday shall be observed on board of all ships and at naval stations in an orderly manner. All labor shall be reduced to the requirements of necessary duty. The religious tendencies of officers and men shall be recognized and encouraged. The religious institutions and customs of foreign countries visited by ships of the Navy must be respected.

Women on board

ship.

The observance of Sunday.

Saturday half holiday.

Officers of all grades.

3. Saturday afternoon shall in general be regarded on board ship as a half holiday.

Art. 240.

Officers of all grades must carefully examine the rules governing commanders in chief and captains, under which frequent reference is made to the duty of subordinate officers.

CHAPTER V.

A COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

SECTION 1.-ON ASSUMING COMMAND.

Art. 241.

The duties, prerogatives, and honors of a commander in chief commence on the date of hoisting his flag and continue until it is finally hauled down.

Art. 242.

An officer of flag rank shall be addressed in correspondence by his official title; in addition, if afloat, as commanding the particular force placed under him; and if commanding a naval station ashore, as commandant. He shall append the same to his official signature. The same rule shall apply to commodores. The title "Commander in chief", when occuring in naval laws, regulations and other documents, shall be held to refer to the officer in chief command of a fleet or squadron.

Art. 243.

Upon the date of assuming command, a commander in chief shall announce the fact in a general order to the fleet or squadron, setting forth the authority for his assumption of command. At the same time, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, he shall announce the officers who are to serve upon his staff, both personal and fleet.

Art. 244.

Pariod of duty of

a commander in chief.

Title of an officer of flag rank.

Officers on the staff of a flag officer.

To become famil iar with his com

He shall, as soon as possible, make himself familiar with the condition and capabilities of the ships of his command and thoroughly mand. inform himself as to the qualities of their officers and crews, armament, speed under different circumstances, economy of service, and capacity for warlike stores; as to the skill, capacity, judgment, and aptitude of their several captains; and as to such other matters as may be necessary in order to enable him to make the best selections of officers, men, or instruments for the performance of any important public duty.

Art. 245.

tion.

He shall make himself familiar with the facilities for making re- To become famil pairs and obtaining supplies at the various ports within the limits of iar with his sta his station, and with the climatic and sanitary condition of the latter, in order that the service of ships may be directed as far as possible, with a view to their economic administration and efficient condition.

Equipment and condition of ships.

Routine, instructions and orders.

Art. 246.

He shall use every exertion to equip the ships of his command expeditiously and keep them ready for service. If he discovers any defects in the ships, their armament, or equipment, whereby they are rendered unfit for their destined service, he shall report the details of such defects to the Secretary of the Navy.

Art. 247.

He shall regulate exercises and sanitary duties in general instructions to the ships of his command. These instructions must be in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the Navy, the orders emanating from the Secretary of the Navy, and the usages of the naval service. Copies of all standing orders, instructions, and routine issued to a fleet or squadron, shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy.

SECTION 2.-GENERAL DUTIES.

Art. 248.

Inspection.

Details of inspection.

Circumstances affecting the

reported on.

The commander in chief shall inspect every ship of his command as follows:

1. As soon as practicable after assuming command, or after a ship has joined his command.

2. Semi-annually from the date of the first inspection.

3. Immediately before the departure of a ship from his command, if not inspected within the previous six months.

4. At such other times as he may deem necessary.

The inspections prescribed in this Article, except the last, shall be conducted in a careful and deliberate manner, and full reports according to prescribed forms, with such additional information as may be important, shall be made to the Secretary of the Navy. The additional inspections provided for in Par. 4, may be more or less complete and may be reported or not, at his discretion.

Art. 249.

1. He shall not delegate the inspection of a ship to another unless absolutely necessary. If so delegated, the officer selected must be under his command, and senior to the captain of the ship inspected. This officer shall conduct the inspection in the same manner, so far as possible, as the flag officer. With this end in view and for his assistance he may, by permission of the latter, be accompanied by any members of the fleet staff that he may select, who are his juniors. His report shall be made to the flag officer for transmission.

2. The report of an inspection shall take into consideration the condition of a ship length of time a ship has been in commission, and mention any special circumstances that may have interfered with routine drills and duties, such as long continued special service, exposure to inclement or enervating weather, or prevailing sickness.