1. Observance and enforcement of Regulations, &c.-Every officer shall make himself acquainted with and shall duly observe and obey, and so far as he is able enforce the due execution of the Naval Discipline Act or Acts in force, the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions and all other regulations, orders or instructions that may be issued by the Admiralty or with their authority, and shall further in all respects conform himself to the established customs and practices of His Majesty's Service at sea.

New Orders to Ship's Company.-Any new orders concerning the ship's company are to be read to their men by the Divisional Lieutenants and the Marine Officer, and copies are to be displayed in some accessible place for at least a week. When such orders affect particular duties care is to be taken to ensure that the ratings concerned are thoroughly instructed as to their contents.

2. General application of Regulations.-Although for convenience of reference the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions are divided into chapters, it is to be distinctly understood that every direction contained therein is to be considered as applicable to all whom it may concern, notwithstanding that it may appear in a chapter addressed to a particular class of officer.

3. Attendance on board.-- Every officer so long as he belongs to a ship shall be constant in his attendance on board; no officer subordinate to the Captain shall quit the ship without permission, except for some pressing reason on the public service. See 727 (Sleeping out of the Ship).

4. Uniforms.-The officers, men and boys of His Majesty's Fleet and the Royal Marines shall wear such uniforms as the Admiralty in pursuance of His Majesty's pleasure shall from time to time direct. See 154 et seq. (Uniform Regulations).

5. Conduct to be observed.-Every person in the Fleet is to conduct himself with the utmost respect to his superior officer and with strict obedience to his orders ; he is at all times to discharge every part of his duty with zeal and alacrity, and so far as circumstances admit to assist all officers in the duties they have to perform. He should on all occasions strive to promote the

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welfare of the naval service, and by the good order and regularity of his conduct show an example to those who may be subject to his command.

6. Conduct to be avoided.-Every person in the Fleet is to discountenance and endeavour to repress all cursing, swearing, drunkenness and dissolute conduct in the Fleet ; he is to abstain from gaming, rioting, quarrelling, and from abusive or irritating language, especially to inferiors, and is at all time to exert his influence against all that tends to the disparagement of religion and the encouragement of vice and immorality.

7. Conflicting Orders.-If an officer should receive from his superior an order which he deems at variance with his obedience to any Article in these Regulations and Instructions, or with any particular order that may have been issued by the Admiralty or other his superior officer - he is to represent verbally - or in writing if it does not require immediate obedience - such contrariety to the officer from whom he receives it ; and if after such representation that officer shall still direct him to obey the order, he is to do so ; but if he thinks it necessary, he may report the circumstances, as the case may require, through his Captain to his Commander-in-Chief or to the Admiralty, to which every officer has the right of ultimate appeal through the proper channel. See 1863, 1864 (Correspondence of Officers through their Superiors).

8. Complaints.-- If an officer or other person should observe any misconduct in his superior, or should suffer any personal oppression, injustice, or other ill-treatment at his hand:, he is not on that account to fail in any degree in the respect and obedience due to such superior, but he may represent such misconduct or ill-treatment in the first instance to the Captain of the ship to which he belongs, or subsequently, as the case may require, to the Officer Commanding the squadron in which he serves, the Commander-in-Chief, and finally to the Secretary of the Admiralty, in the order given. In each instance the representation is to be sent through the proper channel, and the applicant is only justified in appealing direct to a superior authority when the authority to whom the appeal is made has refused to forward it.

2. Should any petty officer or man consider that he has been treated unjustly in any way, he may, after a lapse of at least 24 hours, request to see his Captain, to whom he should state his complaint verbally. and, should the Captain refuse or be unable to remedy it, he may respectfully request that his complaint in writing should be forwarded as provided in clause 1. He is to be given 24 hours to reconsider his decision, and is to be allowed the advice and assistance of an officer in stating his case, but the officer is to warn him that, should there be no reasonable grounds for his complaint, he is liable to be treated as having made a frivolous or vexatious complaint, which is an act to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline. Although the superior authority to whom the matter has been submitted may not see fit to alter the ruling of the Captain, the latter is not thereby justified in dealing with the appeal as a breach of discipline, and is only to do so when expressly authorised by such superior authority.

9. Letters of Complaint.-If a letter of complaint is received from any officer or other person, containing a request that it may be forwarded for the consideration of a superior authority, the Captain of the ship will deal with it in the exercise of his discretion as may seem to him best in the interests of the Service, being guided in his judgment by the general rule that, while ever person in His Majesty's Service has the right of representing to his superiors any just cause of complaint, frivolous complaints, and such demands as are

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contrary to the regulations or subversive of discipline, are to be checked. The procedure laid down in this and the preceding Article will alone be recognised, and any other method of obtaining redress from a superior authority is forbidden.

10. Remarks or criticisms on Superiors.-Every officer is to refrain from making remarks or passing criticisms on the conduct or orders of his superiors which may tend to bring them into contempt, and is to avoid saying or doing anything which, if seen or heard by or reported to those under him, might discourage them or render them dissatisfied with their condition or with the Service on which they are or may be employed. If an officer should so far forget his duty as either by his conduct or remarks to detract from or to lessen the respect due to his superiors or to dishearten those under him or to render them dissatisfied, every officer who may witness such conduct or hear such remarks is enjoined to report the same immediately to his Captain, or through his immediate superior to the Commander-in-Chief as circumstances may require.

11. Combinations.-All combinations of persons belonging to the Fleet formed for the purpose of bringing about alterations in the existing Regulations or customs of His Majesty's Naval Service, whether affecting their interests individually or collectively, are prohibited as being contrary to the traditions and practice of the Service and injurious to its welfare and discipline. Every person is fully authorised individually to make known to his superior any proper cause of complaint, but individuals are not to combine either by the appointment of committees or in any other manner to obtain signatures to memorials, petitions or applications, nor are they collectively to sign any such documents.

12. Communication with other Services, &c.-No person in the Fleet is to enter into direct communication with any Service or Department of the State or with any subordinate officer of such Service or Department, at home or abroad, on subjects connected with the, Naval Service or with his particular duties or present or future employment, unless authorised to do so by the Regulations of the Service or superior authority ; but all communications on such subjects are to be made through the proper channels to the Admiralty or to the Commanders-in-Chief abroad, in order that such steps may be taken therein as may be necessary. See 1864 (Officers to write through their Captains).

13. Civil Service Examinations.-- No person actually serving in the Navy is eligible to attend an open competitive examination for a situation in the Civil Service unless he produces to the Civil Service Commissioners, when called upon to do so, the permission of his commanding officer to attend the examination dated before the commencement of the competition.

2. Before an applicant is granted permission to attend an examination under this rule, his commanding officer is to satisfy himself that the application is made for valid reasons, and that the applicant's retirement or discharge from the Navy will probably be allowed, in the event of his proving successful.

14. Publication, &c.- All persons belonging to the Fleet are forbidden to write for publication, or to publish or cause to be published, either directly or indirectly, any matter or information relating to the Naval Service unless the permission of the Admiralty has been first obtained. .See 411 (Communicating Confidential Retorts a breach of confidence).

2. All such persons are further forbidden to deliver any lecture, or to read any paper, at a public meeting on any subject connected with the Naval

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Service, unless a copy of such lecture or paper has been previously submitted to the Admiralty, and permission has been granted.

15. Unnecessary Expense, Fraud, &c.-Every officer is strictly enjoined to avoid all unnecessary public expense, and, so far as may depend upon him, to prevent it in others ; and every officer is to report to the Captain of the ship to which he belongs, or through the proper channel to the Commander-in-Chief, or to the Secretary of the Admiralty, as circumstances may require, any neglect, collusion, or fraud which he may discover or know of in any contractor, agent or person concerned in supplying His Majesty's Naval Service with stores or provisions, or in executing any naval works either ashore or afloat. See 1373 (Deductions for improper expenditure).

16. Interest in Contracts.-Every officer is forbidden to have any pecuniary interest or personal advantage in the purchase of, or in contracts for, the supply of provisions or stores of any kind for the use of His Majesty's ships or the Naval Service generally, or in contracts made for the executing of any naval works on shore.

2. Directorships of Companies.-An officer on the active list on full pay, or holding an appointment under the Admiralty, is forbidden to hold the post of director of a company.

An exception to this rule will be permissible in cases in which the following conditions are fulfilled, viz. :-

1. That the company is a private one ;
2. That the stock is neither quoted nor sold in the open market ;
3. That the directors do not give personal attendance, but are allowed in all cases to vote by proxy.

In every such instance the sanction of the Admiralty must be obtained, each case being decided on its merits.

17. Duels.-Every officer in His Majesty's Fleet is hereby ordered neither to send nor to accept a challenge to fight a duel. See 726 (Duelling forbidden, further regulations).

18. Relations with Foreign Officers.-All officers of the Fleet in their relations with officers of foreign ships of war are, if they meet them in any port in His Majesty's dominions, to show them such attention and respect as their rank and condition may entitle them to, and are to offer such assistance as they may stand in need of and as a Power in amity with His Majesty may reasonably expect. If they meet them in any foreign port, they are, in addition to fulfilling all the obligations of international courtesy elsewhere prescribed, to be careful to avoid causes of offence, and to show due deference to the regulations and customs of the port. See 480 (Foreign Ships at British Ports).

19. Foreign Orders.-No subject of His Majesty shall accept a foreign order from the Sovereign of any foreign country, nor wear the insignia thereof, without having previously obtained His Majesty's permission, which will be signified by warrant under His Royal sign-manual. See 162 (Foreign Orders and Decorations).

20. Presents.- Officers belonging to His Majesty's Naval Service or to the Royal Marine Corps are not to accept presents from any foreign Sovereign or State nor from any foreign functionary unless the permission of the Admiralty has been previously obtained. Nor shall any officer allow himself to be complimented by presents or by any collective expression of opinion from officers or ships' companies.

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21. Military Command.-- No officer of the Royal Navy or Royal Marines shall be entitled to any " Military command " unless he is serving on full pay and borne on the books of one of His Majesty's ships.

22. Command by Officers of Non-military Branches:- Officers of branches other than the Military branch are to have command over the subordinates of their own branch, but no officer of a branch other than the Military branch is to assume military command, either afloat or ashore, over the officers and men of other branches unless the latter have been appointed or detailed for duty in his department or placed under his orders by superior authority.

23. Royal Marines embarked.-The officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines embarked on board His Majesty's ships, whether as part complement, for service on shore or otherwise, are to be borne on the books of His Majesty's ships, and shall be entitled to the same advantages and subject to the same discipline as the rest of the ship's company. See 1134 (Marines when embarked or employed on shore).

24. Land Forces embarked as Marines:-When any of His Majesty's lard forces shall be embarked in the Fleet to serve as marines they shall be considered as Royal Marines in every respect except as regards pay, clothing and stoppages, which will be governed by the Regulations of the Army.

25. Command of Land Forces by Naval Officer and vice versa.-Nothing contained in these Regulations is to be considered as giving a claim to any officer of His Majesty's Navy to assume command of His Majesty's land forces on shore, nor to any officer of the Army to assume command of any of His Majesty's squadrons or ships, or of any of the officers or men thereunto belonging, unless under special authority from the Government of His Majesty. See 220 (Naval Officers employed with Land Forces on joint Service).

26. Courts-Martial.-Courts-martial shall be held, charges framed, offences tried, sentences pronounced, and the execution of such sentences carried into effect according to the Naval Discipline Act or Acts in force for the time being, and according to the rules of procedure, and the forms established from time to time under the authority of the said Act or Acts. See 663 to 701a (Courts-Martial).

27. Prisoners of War.-Officers are to take particular care that all prisoners of war are treated with humanity, that their personal property is protected, and that they receive their proper allowance of provisions ; they are to have every comfort of air and exercise which the circumstances will admit of, but they are to be carefully watched and guarded to prevent their committing any hostile acts.

2. The permanent detention of both naval and military prisoners of war will be on shore (in the United Kingdom if possible) under arrangements made by the military authorities. They will only be embarked in H.M. ships, or in transports, for temporary custody or for transit over sea.

3. Instructions in regard to prisoners of war when embarked in transports are laid down in the Instructions for Officers for Transport Service, and Instructions for Masters of Transports.

28. Responsibility of Flag Officer.-The Flag or other Senior Officer is responsible for the safe conducting of the fleet, squadron, ships or ship present with him and acting in concert under his orders; the Senior Officers in charge of divisions or columns being responsible for the ships under their immediate orders.

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29. Movements of Ships.- The movements, i.e., the arrival and intended departure of all H.M. ships are to be at once made known by telegraph to the Admiralty, to the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer within the limits of whose command the movement takes place, and to the Commander-in-Chief or Senior Officer of the fleet or squadron to which the ship or ships belong. The actual departure is also to be telegraphed to the Admiralty. These reports are to be made either by land wire or by wireless, as may be most expeditious. This regulation applies to home stations as well as to foreign stations. The gunboats employed on river service in China will report as directed by the Commander-in-Chief. They need not telegraph their movements to the Admiralty.

2. In the event of a vessel whilst on passage in home waters from one port to another putting into an intermediate port, she is also to report the fact by telegraph or wireless to the Commanders-in-Chief or Senior Officers at the. ports of departure and destination, if this would not be done under the orders contained in clause 1.

3. If the Flag Officer of the fleet or squadron to which the ship belongs is present the necessary telegrams are to be despatched by him.

If the ship is detached from her own fleet, and is in the presence of any other Flag or Senior Officer, the telegrams are to be sent by the latter officer.

30. Responsibility of Captain.- The Captain is responsible for the safe conduct and steering of the ship which he commands. See 979 (Navigation, &c.).

31. Evolutions.- Every officer is to follow the motions of the Senior Officer present in regard to the performance of any evolution or the carrying out of any duty which should be done at the same time as they are done in the Senior Officer's ship, unless such Senior Officer should dispense with his doing so. See 409 (Surveying Ships, &c., not to follow motions).

32. Classification, Armament and Complements.-The ships of His Majesty's Fleet, in respect to their stores and the pay and allowances of their officers and ship's companies, shall be classified or rated as laid down by the Admiralty.

2. They shall be equipped with such proportion and description of ordnance as the Admiralty may, from time to time, direct ; and they shall be denominated, as to their ordnance, according to the number of guns of 4-inch calibre and above, which they actually carry, and exclusive of boat, field; and all other natures of guns.

3. Should circumstances arise which render necessary any change in a ship's armament or in her established proportion of arms, without the previous sanction of the Admiralty, the Senior Officer, sanctioning, or, on being informed of such change, is immediately to report the particulars for the information of the Admiralty, but no such change is ever to be made unless absolutely necessary for the fighting efficiency or for the safety of the ship.

4. They shall be established with complements of such proportions, denominations, and ratings of officers and men as the Admiralty may direct. The established number of officers and men in a ship (form S.591) is not to be altered without the express authority of the Admiralty.

5. The Admiralty may from time to time change the classification or rating, armament, or complement of any ship or class of ships if they think fit.

33. Accounts.-- Every officer who is required to keep accounts of the receipt and expenditure of public money, stores or provisions is to take care that they are rendered correctly, and that every transaction is set out in the documents precisely as it occurred.

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34. Clerical Duties in War-time.-In time of war the ordinary regulations for the conduct of clerical duties on board ship are to be observed and carried out in their entirety, unless the Commander-in-Chief, if the ship is with the fleet, or the Captain, if the vessel is on detached service, directs otherwise.

The modified procedure given in Appendix XIX. represents the limit of the alterations which may be allowed in ships affected by the outbreak of hostilities.

2. The returns, accounts, &c., which may be dispensed with in time of war are indicated by an asterisk in the first column of Appendix XVIII., Part 1.

35. Books, Accounts, &c., when to be signed.-Every Flag Officer and Commodore before he strikes his flag or broad pendant, and every Captain or other officer who may be a signing officer, before he leaves the ship to which he belongs, is, so far as practicable, to sign all books, accounts, and certificates which may be necessary to enable the officers to pass their respective accounts, provided he is satisfied that the same ought to be signed by him ; every officer is to examine very carefully all ship's books, accounts of the receipt, expenditure or other disposal of money, stores or provisions, and all other books, accounts or papers before he signs them ; he will sign such only as he shall know to be correct, and he is never to sign a certificate for any service without being satisfied that such service has actually been performed.

36. Officers performing Special Duties.- Every Flag Officer holding a command, and every Captain of a ship in the Fleet, is to afford to every officer under his command charged with special or particular duties, the means of performing them properly and faithfully, so that no officer may be enabled to :allege the want of such means in case of default,

37. Powers of Customs Officers.-Every officer of the Fleet in command of any ships or ship is to bear in mind that by statute His Majesty's ships may be searched by Custom House officers in the same manner as merchant ships for the protection of the revenue, that officers of Customs may freely go on board all such ships in the performance of their duties, and that these ships are subject to such Custom Regulations as the Treasury may from time to time issue. See 1884 et seq. (Regulations as to Custom House Officers and Customs Duties).

38. Personal Copy of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.- Every commissioned officer of Ibis Majesty's Fleet is to provide himself with a copy of the Ring's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions actions which are at the time in force.

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