CHAPTER VII.

A FLAG OFFICER NOT IN CHIEF COMMAND.

chief

367. Flag officers and others, not in chief command, shall obey To obey the without delay or modification all orders of the commander-in- commander - in chief. Unless otherwise ordered, signals made by the commanderin-chief shall be answered by the officers commanding squadrons and divisions; these officers shall repeat the signals to the ships of their commands.

Duties of com

sions.

368. (1) When a fleet is formed in accordance with article 324, the commanders of divisions, in the presence of the com- manders of divimander-in-chief, shall, within the limits of their respective commands, perform the duties prescribed by the following articles: 302; 303; 304; 306; 307; 317, paragraph 1, and paragraph 2 (first two lines), paragraph 2 (d), paragraph 2 (e), paragraph 4; 318; 320; 321; 322; 323; 325; 326; 327; 328; 329; 330; 331; 332; 333; 334; 335; 337; 338; 340; 344; 345; 346; 347; 348; 349; 350; 354; and 366.

(2) They shall also perform such other duties as may be re- To perform quired by the commander-in-chief, to whom all reports and similar duties required by commanderpapers called for by the above enumerated articles shall be in-chief. addressed. The authority of the commander-in-chief over his entire command is in no way diminished by the provisions of this article.

369. (1) In carrying out the provisions of article 306, with regard to vessels under his command, a division commander shall carefully choose the times for the inspections required by paragraphs a, c, and d of that article, and shall regulate those to be made semiannually so that preparation therefor shall not interfere with training for target practice. Before inspecting a ship he shall report to the commander-in-chief in order that the fleet ordnance officer, if practicable, may be detailed to assist.

Inspections.

Inspections

notice.

(2) He shall frequently visit the vessels of his command, informally and without previous notice, for purposes of partial without previous inspection, in order that he may be fully informed as to their condition. If, on these occasions, anything particularly worthy of praise or censure is discovered, it shall be reported to the commander-in-chief. When making these inspections special attention shall be paid to the condition of the crew's messes and to the state of discipline on board.

(3) Commanders of divisions shall make to the commander-in- Reports to commander-inchief such written suggestions and reports concerning the efficiency, chief. discipline, and condition of the ships under their commands as they may deem important.

When on detached service.

Drills ashore and afloat.

Surveys,

(4) When an officer not in chief command is separated from his senior, and is in command of a squadron or division of ships on detached service, he shall, under the commander-in-chief and subject to his orders, routine, and instructions, be governed by the articles of Chapter VI. Such officers shall assume the title of commander of detached squadron (or division)" and, if not a flag officer, shall be governed by articles 150 and 154 in regard to the display of the insignia of seniority.

66

370. The commander of a division shall not hesitate to request permission to land brigades (when in home ports) or to carry out a drill with the boats of his command, or to perform any other individual or collective drills which in his opinion may be necessary to increase the efficiency of his command.

371. (1) He shall order and act upon all medical and other boards, and sum- surveys within the limits of his command, but reports of boards of medical survey shall be forwarded for the action of the commander-in-chief when present.

mary courts

martial.

Navigation du

ties.

Maneuvers and signals.

In case of separation, to assume command.

May shift his flag or pennant.

(2) He shall order all boards for the examination of petty officers (excepting turret captains) for promotion required by regulations or by departmental order.

(3) He shall perform such duties in connection with the inspection of the records of summary courts-martial as may be prescribed by the commander-in-chief.

372. He shall see that the ships under his command observe proper precautions in navigation, and that when in pilotage waters they so direct their course as to avoid dangers and not risk accidents through a rigid observance of formation. When in narrow waters he shall specially correct the tendency of the rear of a column to sag down with the tide or wind thereby hazarding ships in passing outlying dangers which have been safely passed by the head of the column. The duties required of the captain by articles 456 and 457 shall also be performed by him within the limits of his command, but this shall not be construed as relieving the individual commanding officers of the responsibility placed upon them by the above mentioned articles.

373. (1) When the fleet is underway he shall take such steps as may be necessary to see that his ships maintain their positions and obey promptly all orders issued by signal or otherwise. He shall, in fleet maneuvers, make signals to his division or squadron as required by the Tactical Signal Book.

(2) He shall give special attention to the efficiency in signaling of the vessels under his command.

374. (1) If from any cause the commander of a division becomes separated from the commander-in-chief, he shall assume command of all vessels within signal distance, not in sight of the commander-in-chief, and then proceed to join the latter with the utmost dispatch. (Arts. 19, par. 4, and 408, par. 1.)

(2) He shall upon rejoining the commander-in-chief submit a report of the cause of such separation, and direct similar reports to be made by the captains of the ships under him, and forward them with his own. (Art. 458, par. 1.)

375. A commander of a division may shift his flag or pennant to another ship should his own become disabled during an action; under no other circumstances, however, shall he do so without the authority of the commander-in-chief, except as provided in article 1557, paragraph 5.

To aid the commander-in-chief.

376. During an action commanders of squadrons and divisions shall do their utmost to aid the commander-in-chief. 377. Commanders of divisions shall after an action or any Reports of an important service, forward to the commander-in-chief their reports; also those of the captains under their command, prepared ice. as laid down in article 331.

action or any important serv

be observed.

378. Commanders of divisions shall require that orders and Orders and regulations issued by the Navy Department or by the commander- regulations to in-chief are observed by all under their commands, and that their ships are maintained efficiently. They shall conduct their work so as not to delay the transaction of business between individual ships and the commander-in-chief.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE STAFF OF A FLAG OFFICER.

SECTION 1.-THE CHIEF OF STAFF.

379. If an officer is detailed by the Secretary of the Navy to The detail of act as chief of staff to a flag officer, he shall perform the duties of a chief of staff. that office as laid down in these regulations; otherwise these duties shall be performed by the captain of the flagship, who shall be chief of staff. If the flag officer considers the services of a chief of staff other than the captain of the flagship necessary, he shall represent the fact to the Secretary of the Navy, and suggest for the position some officer who, if practicable, shall be senior in rank to all commanding officers of the fleet to which he is thus assigned.

380. He shall be attached to the flagship, and subject to the orders of the flag officer in all matters of duty, and to him only. He shall perform the duties herein prescribed and shall assist the flag officer as the latter may require.

381. The authority of the chief of staff is authority delegated by the flag officer, and officers of the personal and fleet staff shall be subject to the orders of the chief of staff in all matters pertaining to staff duty.

General duty.

Authority.

transmitted to

382. The following papers shall be transmitted to the chief of Papers to be staff, who shall endorse upon them his opinion as to the disposition the chief of of their contents, and place them before the flag officer: All papers staff. concerning the condition, efficiency, equipment, or repair of ships, or any of their appurtenances; applications for surveys; applications for leave, transfer, or discharge; requisitions for money and, when on a foreign station, requisitions for stores or provisions; and all periodical returns, except those rendered to the accounting officers of the Treasury.

383. He shall keep a roster of all officers, with the times when their regular tours of service expire, and a summary of the returns concerning the crews of ships, so that he may at any time inform the flag officer fully concerning the personnel of his command.

Personnel of the command.

Account of

384. He shall always be prepared to supply the flag officer with any information concerning the amount of stores, provisions, and supplies. other munitions of war on board of the ships of his command; also those available in store or supply vessels, and at depots under his control.

385. He shall keep a journal of the operations and movements To keep a jourof ships, including such details as may be of importance as a mat- nal of events. ter of record, or for transmission to the Secretary of the Navy.

386. He shall keep a record of all orders issued by the flag To keep a recofficer or by his authority, and shall require the flag lieutenant to ord of orders keep a record of all signals made and received by the flag, noting and signals. as nearly as possible the exact time of each signal.