SECTION I. OFFICERS.

860. When to be granted.-Leave of absence to officers and men is to be granted or withheld, as the circumstances of the Service may render expedient.

861. Flag Officer or Commodore.-No Flag Officer or Commodore on home service shall strike his flag or broad pendant for the purpose of going on leave of absence without the permission of the Admiralty.

2. Flag Officer at Home.-Whenever a Flag Officer at home proceeds on Admiralty leave, his flag is to be immediately struck, and his command and authority shall thereupon devolve on the officer next in seniority to himself, as provided for by Article 203, or as prescribed for home ports in Article 513, clause 3. See 1384 and 1386 (Table Money).

862. Over 48 hours.-No officer shall be absent from his ship longer than 48 hours, nor proceed from the immediate neighbourhood of the port at which his ship may be lying; without receiving the approval of the senior officer present on form S. 539.

863. On Home Stations.-Officers on the home stations are not to be allowed to be absent on leave for more than 42 days in the course of a year without the special sanction of the Admiralty, the year to commence from the date of appointment to a home ship or from the anniversary of such appointment.

864. Home Ports.-The Commander-in-Chief at Sheerness, Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and the Flag Officer Commanding at Queenstown may, provided the Service will admit of it without inconvenience, grant officers in command of ships present and under his orders, leave of absence not exceeding four days, and to the other officers 42 days.

2. A Flag Officer present, senior to the Officer Commanding for the time being at any of those ports, may grant the same amount of leave to the officers of the ships under his orders, subject to the same provision.

3. At other places in the United Kingdom the Senior Officer in the same circumstances, may grant leave of absence in accordance with such instructions as the Admiralty may from time to time issue.

865. Applications.-All applications for leave, or for extension of leave, are to be made by officers of ships through their Captains.

866. Movements on Leave.-All officers on leave are to keep their Captains informed of their movements in case the exigencies of the Service should require their recall by telegraph or by letter.

867. Leave Abroad.-Officers, whether on the active or retired list, are not to proceed abroad without first obtaining permission from the Admiralty. Officers serving are to apply through their Commanding Officers.

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868. Disposable Officers.-Commissioned and subordinate officers borne for disposal in general depots may be granted leave not exceeding six weeks; but this leave is not to be granted to Acting Sub-Lieutenants when it will interfere with their examinations.

869. While serving Abroad.-Applications from officers serving abroad for leave of absence to proceed beyond the limits of the station are to be submitted to the Admiralty. The applications are to explain fully the necessities of the case, and, in forwarding them to the Admiralty, the Commander-in-Chief is to state whether he considers the urgency so great as to justify leave being granted.

Should an officer desire it, the application, in sufficient detail, may be forwarded to the Admiralty by telegraph, the cost of the message and of the reply being chargeable to the officer.

At places not in telegraphic communication with England, if the Commander-in-Chief should consider that it is absolutely necessary, he may grant permission to an officer to leave the station on which he is serving ; but all the circumstances of the case are to be reported fully to the Admiralty by letter.

870. On return from Abroad.-All officers below the rank of Flag Officer are, on their return from service on foreign stations, to be allowed leave for the period specified in Article 1398.

871. Ships under Sailing Orders.-No application for leave of absence from the port from any officer or other person belonging to a ship under sailing orders, or about to proceed to sea, will be entertained except in the most urgent circumstances; and no such leave is to be given at home without the sanction of the Admiralty.

SECTION II. SHIP'S COMPANY.

872. Long Leave.-Ships' companies of all ships on foreign service will be granted leave according to the following scale :

1. Seven days' leave for each completed period of six months' service ;
2. Leave for periods of service less than six months to be reckoned at one day for each complete months' service.

The crews of ships on foreign service will receive their accumulated annual leave on paying off at the end of the commission.

2. The crews of vessels of the Third Fleet, and of Harbour Ships and Shore Establishments, will be granted leave on the same scale at such times as may be convenient to the Service.

In the case of seagoing vessels under the orders of the Commanders-in-Chief at the home ports which spend considerable periods away from the port, discretion is given to the Commander-in-Chief to grant not more than seven days' extra long leave in each year in addition to that laid down in the above scale.

3. The crews of seagoing ships in home waters other than vessels of the Third Fleet, and vessels under the orders of the Commanders-in-Chief at the home ports, will be granted 28 days' leave in each year at such periods as the Admiralty shall determine. These periods will usually be at Christmas, Easter, and during refit.

Under this rule are included the Training Squadron and the seagoing training cruisers for Cadets, with the exception of vessels stationed at Gibraltar or employed off the coasts of Africa and North and South America to which clause 1 applies.

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4. Leave due to the ships' companies of vessels under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, the Commanders-in-Chief at the home ports, the Rear-Admiral Commanding the Training Squadron, and the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves, should be taken before the vessel pays off. Leave on paying off will only be granted to the ships' companies of such vessels in special circumstances, which should be represented to the Admiralty at least a month before the ship is expected to pay off.

5. Proposals for giving long leave to vessels referred to in clause 3. are to be submitted for Admiralty approval, with the exception of leave which may be granted while a vessel is under refit.

6. Long leave to ships' companies of boys' training establishments is to be governed by the Training Service Regulations.

873. Non-C.S. Men paying off.-Non-continuous service petty officers and men belonging to ships about to be paid off, if they wish to remain in the Service with a fresh entry, and are accepted, will be allowed long leave, with the advantage of continuing pay and time ; but if they do not return at the expiration of their leave they will be discharged from the books of the ship in which they are borne, and forfeit their claim to pay and time from the date of being paid off. See 358, clause 8 (Full Pay Leave of Officers' Stewards and Cooks).

2. Men re-engaging.-One month should be granted to men re-engaging at the home ports after completing time for pension, and 14 days to men re-engaging after completing first continuous service engagement, if no inconvenience to the Service is caused thereby.

874. Classification for Leave.-The classification for leave of the ship's company is provided for in Articles 785 to 790.

2. General Holidays.-The following days are to be observed as far as possible as general holidays by ships in home waters:

• The day set apart for the celebration of the birth of the Sovereign.
• First Monday in August.
• Whit Monday.

3. Short Leave in Shore Establishments, &c.-

1. In shore establishments and harbour ships, leave to men in the first class for leave should be arranged on the principle of giving them the maximum amount of short leave which can be granted without the ship or establishment suffering in efficiency. This leave may be arranged by sections, watches, and parts of watches, or by retaining a duty party, but chief petty officers are to be granted leave whenever the Service admits of it, irrespective of watch. Attention is directed to the necessity of retaining sufficient petty officers for the efficient supervision of men not granted leave.
2. Men in the second class for leave are to be allowed leave only when and where the Captain may decide, but never less frequently than once a month if the Service admits.

Men should be encouraged to return on board at night, and every facility given them for so doing.

As far as possible, the arrangements for all the large establishments in the same port should be similar.

4. Ships at exposed Anchorages.-In the case of vessels lying at exposed anchorages within the limits of the home ports, leave is to be given to one watch only at a time. The above scale is to be applied so far as is possible consistently with the observance of this precaution. Fully-manned vessels inside the home ports may be allowed to give leave to more than 50 per cent. of their complement at one time, but sufficient men are to be retained for the

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efficiency and safety of the vessels. As regards vessels with less than a full complement, when they are in the stream, at moorings, or at their own anchors, the general rule should be that 50 per cent. of the reduced complement should be on board at night.

5. Tenders and Auxiliaries.-Commanding Officers of tenders and auxiliaries to ships and establishments are to make arrangements conforming with the above rules for leave as far as possible.

6. Boys' Training Establishments.-Ratings in boys' training establishments when in the second class for leave are to receive leave in accordance with the above regulations.

Ratings in the boys' training establishments when in the first class for leave are to receive leave as laid down in the Training Service Regulations.

7. The time of going on and returning from week-end leave to be arranged at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief to suit circumstances (railway facilities, &c.) at each port, but as a general rule leave should not commence before noon on Saturday, and should expire on Monday morning. See 876 (Young men and boys).

875. Short Leave, except at Home Ports.-In all cases, other than those dealt with in Articles 874 and 876, the scale of short leave will be as follows :-

1. Chief petty officers are to be granted leave whenever the Service admits of it.
2. Ratings in the first class for leave are to be allowed leave to the fullest extent possible, when such leave can properly be given and the Service admits of it.
3. Men in the second class for leave are to be allowed leave only when and where the Captain may decide, but at least once a month if the Service admits.

2. Foreign Stations.-Commanders-in-Chief will give such orders relative to leave on their respective stations as the climate or local circumstances may make expedient.

3. Permission of Senior Officer.-Captains of ships in company are not to grant leave without previous communication with the senior officer present, in order that, so far as possible, the same leave may be given to the different ships' companies.

876. Young men of the seaman and stoker classes, except in special circumstances, are not, to be allowed all-night leave until they become Able Seamen, Stokers First Class, or reach the age of 20. The application of this rule to ratings of other classes under the age of 20 is at the discretion of the Captain.

2. In barracks, &c., ships alongside dockyards or in enclosed harbours where it is easy to bring men off at night, these young men are to be granted leave whenever it is given to men in their class for leave, but they are not to be allowed to sleep ashore, except when visiting parents or other relatives, or in other special circumstances.

3. In other places where there may be a doubt as to the advisability of sending for them at night, they are to return to their ships in time for supper, and in these circumstances they are, when possible, to be allowed to land on two afternoons a week at 1.30 p.m. The Captain may, however, make an exception to this rule when he is satisfied that night leave is required for the purpose of staying with parents or other relatives, or in other special circumstances.

4. Boys are frequently to be allowed leave at such ports as are considered suitable for the purpose, but they are not to be allowed to sleep out of the

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ship except in special cases with the Captain's permission. They should, as a rule, return from leave in time for supper.

877. Short Leave Book.-All leave not exceeding 48 hours granted to petty officers, seamen, marines, and boys is to be recorded in the short leave book (form S. 247). Separate short leave books are to be kept for seamen and for marines.

When a man does not return at the expiration of his short leave, he is to be immediately checked if his absence should occur before noon, and his name is to be entered in the gangway check book kept by the Master-at-Arms, or by the senior non-commissioned officer. See 1684 (Victualling and Check Book).

The books are to be sent to the ship's office whenever required; when filled, they are to be lodged in that office for safe custody, and they are to be destroyed on paying off.

Long Leave.-All leave exceeding 48 hours is to be recorded in the gangway check book (form S. 258).

Further instructions relative to the record of leave which are printed in the short leave book are to be complied with.

2. Leave Tickets.-At the home stations and in British possessions abroad, all petty officers, seamen, marines, and boys, proceeding on leave exceeding 48 hours, are to be furnished with leave tickets (form S. 248).

Tickets may also be given, if considered desirable, in cases of men proceeding on leave not exceeding 48 hours.

The counterfoils of the tickets are to be initialled by the Executive Officer and Marine Officer respectively, when they sign the tickets, and are to be sent to the ship's office whenever required by the Accountant Officer, for the purpose of examination or check. Erasures are not to be made in the tickets nor in the counterfoils, nor are any counterfoils to be removed.

When the book is finished the counterfoils are to be sent to the ship's office for safe custody; and they are to be sent to the Accountant-General on paying off, unless called for at an earlier date.

878. Limits of Leave.-Men are never to be granted more than four days' leave at any one time without the permission of the senior officer present; nor are they to be allowed to be absent from the port in such numbers as to interfere with the efficiency of their ships in the event of their being suddenly called upon for service, without the sanction of the Admiralty, or, abroad, of the Commander-in-Chief.

" Blue Peter."-Whenever the " Blue Peter " is hoisted in any ship, it is to be understood as recalling all persons belonging to her who may be on leave, and they are immediately to return to the ship.

879. - Leave after paying off.-Men and boys proceeding on paying-off leave are to be warned that they are to return to their own ships, or to the general depots of their own port division, and that they are not at liberty to return to any other port. If, at the expiration of their leave, they should be without means to enable them to return to their proper ships they may repair to the nearest of His Majesty's ships, recruiting, or Coast Guard stations ; but in that case they will forthwith be forwarded to the ship to which they properly belong, and the cost of forwarding them is to be charged against their wages. They are also to be informed that no magistrate nor other civil authority has power to extend leave; and that if they fall ill and are thereby prevented from returning when their leave has expired, they should forward medical certificates weekly to their ships or to their general depot.

2. Travelling Warrants for return.-Officers who issue travelling warrants to men on leave, to enable them to return to their ships, are to give immediate notice thereof to their Captains, in order that the cost of the warrants may be duly charged in the ledger.

3. Loss of Liberty Ticket.-Cases having occurred of men improperly obtaining travelling warrants, the following rules are to be made generally known. among the men serving on board His Majesty's ships:-

1. If he should lose his liberty .ticket, he must apply for a warrant in sufficient time for inquiry as to the facts of his case. If in London, he must apply to the Accountant-General's Department, Admiralty, before 4 p.m.
2. In no circumstances will a man be granted a warrant unless he applies personally in uniform.

880. Medical Attendance on Leave.-If any man or boy should be taken ill whilst on leave, he is without delay to report the fact, or cause it to be reported to the Captain of his ship or, if near any other of His Majesty's ships, or a Coast Guard station, to the Commanding Officer of such ship or station. If the naval officer who receives the report is not the man's Commanding Officer, he will at once inform the Captain of the ship to which the man belongs or the Commodore of his division.

2. If the patient's home should be near a port at which one of His Majesty's ships is stationed, or near a Coast Guard station, the naval officer who receives the report will make arrangements for him to be visited by a naval Medical Officer or a Surgeon and Agent, in order that his sickness may be fully reported upon with a view to ascertaining whether he is fit to travel. If so he is to be sent at once either to his ship, or to a naval hospital, as the nature of his illness may require. If he is not fit to travel, his home, when offering the necessary facilities for treatment, is to be regarded as sick quarters, and he is to be treated as a naval patient, either under the King's Regulations or the Sick Quarters' Regulations, as the particular case may require.

3. The Surgeon and Agent in charge of a patient is instructed to send at the end of 14 days, and fortnightly thereafter, a report on the case to the man's Captain. If the man belongs to a ship under orders for a foreign station, this report is to be sent to the Captain of the man's depot who will, if necessary, forward it to the ship. As soon as a patient requiring hospital treatment if fit to travel he will be discharged to the nearest naval hospital, accompanied by a certificate (form M. 212), a copy of which will be forwarded by the Surgeon and Agent to the Captain of the man's ship or the Commodore of the depot as necessary. A man who does not require hospital treatment will be sent, as soon as he is fit to travel, to his ship, or, if the vessel is not in or near port, to the nearest Coast Guard station, a copy of form M. 212 reporting his discharge being sent to the Captain of his ship.

4. If the patient is unfit to travel and his residence is not near a ship or Coast Guard station, the Captain of the ship to which he belongs is to require him to furnish a certificate from a duly qualified medical practitioner specifying the nature of the illness, and stating explicitly that the man is unfit to travel. A similar certificate is to be furnished weekly until the man is fit to travel (not necessarily fit for duty) or is removed to a naval hospital or invalided. Upon receipt of the certificates the man may be granted, with Admiralty approval, a sick allowance of 2s. a day, for a period not exceeding one or other of the periods specified in clauses 5 and 6. This allowance is to cover board, lodging, and medical attendance ; and it is to be distinctly understood that the Admiralty will not pay the bills of any private practitioner whom the patient, or his relations, may have called in. The allowance is not to be paid

without previous reference to the Accountant-General of the Navy, but the Captain, if he thinks fit (particularly in cases of prolonged sickness), may apply for authority to pay the allowance weekly from the ship, such allowance being granted for the purpose of ensuring that the patient is properly cared for, with a view to his speedy cure and return to his ship. The medical certificates should accompany all applications for payment of the allowance.

5. A continuous service man or boy, or a marine borne on the books of one of His Majesty's ships, may be granted the allowance either until pronounced fit for return to his ship, or for removal to hospital, or until he is invalided ; provided that in no case is payment made for more than 91 days without the express sanction of the Admiralty.

6. A non-continuous service man will not be granted the allowance for more than 30 days, except when specially authorised by the Admiralty.

7. If the officer receiving the report of illness should not be the Captain of the ship to which the man or boy belongs, he is to keep such Captain fully informed of any action that may be taken in the case, and of the patient's progress, and ultimate recovery or otherwise.

8. A special report on the illness of any man or boy sick on shore is to be made by the Medical Officer of the ship, through his Commanding Officer, to the Medical Director-General as soon as the man or boy completes the period of sickness for which full. pay is allowed under Article 1425, or earlier if the sickness is of such a nature that it is improbable that the patient will again be fit for general service. The Medical Director-General will arrange, if desirable, that a survey shall be held on the man or boy at his own home by a naval or private practitioner, so that, when necessary, the patient may be invalided without delay.

When a man or boy is invalided as the result of the survey, the Commanding Officer of the ship in which he is borne will be so informed by the Medical Director-General, and the Commanding Officer is to cause the man or boy to be acquainted of the fact as soon as practicable.

9. On the return to his ship of a man or boy, who whilst absent on leave. has been treated by a Surgeon and Agent, it should be ascertained whether he has received any money to enable him to rejoin his ship, and such advance should be charged against him in the usual way.

881. Involuntary Absence without Leave.-If it should be proved to the satisfaction of the Captain that the absence of a man or boy without leave has not been owing to any misconduct or fault of his own, but to circumstances that made it impossible for him to return at the appointed time, he is not to be considered as a defaulter; nor punished for his involuntary absence. See 806, clause 3 (Removal of R.Q.).

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