Salutes

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

MILITARY. All officers salute on meeting and on making or receiving official reports. Military courtesy requires the junior to salute first or, when is introductory to a report the salute made at a military ceremony or formation to the representative of a common superior, as, for example, to the adjutant or , the officer making the officer of the day report, whatever his rank may be, is required to salute first; the officer to whom the report is made will acknowledge by aluting that he has received and understood it. When under arms the salute is made with the sword or saber if drawn, otherwise with the hand, and a mounted officer always dismounts before addressing a superior who is not mounted. On official occasions officers, when indoors and under arms, do not uncover, but salute with the sword, if drawn, and otherwise with the hand. If not under arms they uncover and stand at attention, but do not salute except when making or receiving a report. When an enlisted man without arms passes an officer he salutes with the hand farthest from the officer, but if mounted he salutes with the right hand, and officers are to be saluted whether in uniform or not. When armed with the saber and out of ranks an enlisted man salutes with the saber, if drawn, but otherwise with the hand. If on foot and armed with a rifle or carbine he salutes with his weapon. A mounted soldier dismounts before addressing an officer not mounted. An enlisted man, if seated, rises on the approach of an officer, faces him and salutes; if standing he faces the officer for the same purpose. If both remain in the same place or on the same ground such compliments need not be repeated, and soldiers, if at work, do not cease work to salute an officer unless addressed by him. Before addressing an officer an enlisted man salutes as prescribed, and he also makes the same salute after receiving a reply. Indoors and unarmed an enlisted man uncovers and stands at attention on the approach of an officer. He does not salute unless he addresses or is addressed by the officer. If armed he salutes as though outdoors. When an officer enters a room where there are soldiers the word "attention" is given by someone who perceives him, when all rise and remain standing in the position of soldier till the officer leaves the room; but soldiers at meals do not rise. Officers are required at all times to acknowledge courtesies of enlisted men by returning salutes given, and when several officers in company are saluted, all who are entitled to the salute return it. SALUTES WITH CANNON. Salute to the Union. This is one gun for each State, and is commemorative of the Decclaration of Independence. It is fired at noon of the Fourth of July at every military post and on board commissioned naval vessels belonging to the United States. The National Salute, 21 guns. This is the salute for the National flag, the President of the United States, presidents of foreign republics or sovereigns of foreign states visiting the United States. Vice-President of the United States, American and foreign ambassadors, 19fee, indigo, and sugar. Cotton growing guns. The president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the cabinet, the chief-justice, a congressional committee, governors within their respective States or Territories, viceroy or governor-general of provinces belonging to foreign states, general of the army, admiral of the navy, and same ranks in foreign armies and navies, 17 guns. American or foreign envoys, or ministers plenipotentiary, assistant Secretaries of the Navy or War, lieutenantgeneral, or a major-general commanding the army, and corresponding ranks in the navy and foreign armies and navies, 15 guns. Ministers-resident accredited to the United States, major-general, rearadmiral, and corresponding ranks of foreign armies and navies, 13 guns. Chargés d'affaires, brigadier-general, commodore, and corresponding ranks in foreign armies and navies, 11 guns. Consuls-general accredited to the United States, 9 guns. Salutes are only fired between sunrise and sunset, and not on Sundays, except in international courtesies. The national colors are always displayed at the time of saluting. The salute to the flag is the only salute which is returned, and this must be done within 24 hours. United States vessels do not return the salute to the flag in United States waters if there is any fort or battery there to do it. Nor do United States vessels salute United States forts or posts. If there are several batteries or forts within sight or 6 miles of each other, one of them is designated as the saluting fort, and returns all salutes of foreign men- William, of-war. In New York, Castle stle on Governor's Island, is the saluting fort.