"PASSING MUSTER" IN THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3100, 2 June 1917, Page 7

"PASSING MUSTER" IN THE NAVY

THE ADMIRAL'S SHARP EYE (By "Jackstaff," in the "Daily Mail.-") It is admiral's inspection. The Com-ma'iider-iii-Chief, having been duly "piped inboard" by the boatswain and received wjtli the!. "Admiral's salute," has gone over the ship and is nowrcady for the "muster by open list." A very old naval ceremony, this, though one which does not grow in popularity by repetition, for admirals have sharp eyes.. What they-c-annot Bceof a man's general appearance in one glance would not be discovered if-you'put him unde.r a microscope. "Muster- by open list"' is designed to give the Commander-in-Chicf an opportunity of "running hia eye over" each officer and man individulsor this purpose "the- admiral takes bis station on the quarter-deck. . Behind him. gather his staff. . Tn' front of him a circle is chalked on the deck, and at a , small table close by stands the captain's.clerk with the ship's ledgers, open in front of him. Each officer a* his name is called slens forward.--suites, and . passes 011. The ship's company have been lined up to the right. "-'ohnCleats," calls the clerk.. EromptJvUeats, the first man in the Tine. stepTinto the chalked -ring, takes oft' his cap, ami says, "Petty officei:, first- class, torpedo gun-'. jut's "male, two badges." The admiral: looks him over keenly, then nods, whereupon Cleats put on his cap and moves bristly away, greatly pleased that his oriKil is over. , "Samuel Shanks." reads-out the clerk. Shanks "nips into tho ring,' uncovers, and gliblv recites his rating, qualifications, and the like. Then ofl' he goes, if he is luckly enough tn pas? muster, and another man follows him into the- niucli■fraral circle. So the procession continues until the admiral has seen all the , crew Should one of them not please liis fastidious oyev "Make this man muster his bag." orders the admiral, turn- .. ing to his flag lieutenant Off "oes (he unhappy wight to turn out lifs Yd iindoi- tho supervision of "Fln« Jacl:," and woe be to him if his bag doe's not contain the "two or three of everything" which, the regulations decvee should be found in it. Some few -. mor. arc always made to lay out their %_. at everv' inspection, this being ft •; part- of the "routine. Generally thtfso "dropped upon" for this' inquisition are men whom tho admiral suspects from their general appearance rimy, be slack in their belongings. The kit inspection is usually'carried out by the flag lientenant while the admiral watches tho crew go through evolutions. . \dmiral's inspection is hold so tliac the Commander-in-Ohu'f may satisfy him- . =olf bv personal observation that the «hip and her complement aro right on ilii) ton line" of efficiency and V able to assure the Admiralty of this fact. Tf he doe-5 not. find things nWd bcr , invrt enough for his liking, big trouble wilts for somebody. Tho commander j^rr^rCsMe^ Uw commander's promotion.