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CHAPTER VI (ii).

6. All men-of-war flying the colours of, or recognized as belonging to, the enemy, should be at once signalled as hostile. Any vessel approaching at speed that shall not only disobey the signal to her to "bring to," but use hostilities towards the examination steamer either by trying to run her down or by firing at her with rifle or revolver, or by any other means (it is unlikely that a vessel attempting to rush a port with hostile intent would proclaim her character by firing guns) should be signalled as "hostile."

Vessels approaching the port with no lights showing, that refuse to stop when ordered, should be signalled as "hostile."

7. Each examining officer is to keep a record of all vessels communicated with by the examination steamer of which he is in charge during the time she is on duty, showing the names of the vessels and the times at which they were passed in or otherwise dealt with. All special circumtances to be entered.

8. The personnel of the examination steamers should include three men who are efficient in the working of signals.

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(d.) Special Instructions for Examination Battery.

1. The officer in charge will satisfy himself on taking over that the special stores connected with the examination service are available and in good order, and in the event of there being deficiencies or defects, he will immediately report the same.

2. The guns are to be kept always ready for immediate action, the detachments being close at hand, and a sentry posted in the emplacements. A few rounds of blank charges and plugged shell should be kept available near the gun detailed to "bring to" vessels, but separate from the service ammunition, so that there is no danger of confusing them by day or night.

3. The officer in charge is responsible that two look-out men, one of whom should be a signaller, are constantly kept posted to keep a watch on the examination steamer, and that a sufficient number of men to furnish reliefs for this duty, and also the officer or non-commissioned oflicer next in seniority to himself, know the position of the examination line. The examination battery should have a sufficient number of signallers to admit of at least one being on duty day and night.

4. On the alarm signal for a hostile vessel being made, fire will at once be opened on the vessel, care being taken that the examination steamer is clear of the line of fire. The officer in charge of the examination battery will immediately report to the military officer in command.

5. If the examination steamer signals an incoming vessel as friendly, such vessel will be allowed to pass in without action on the part of the battery.

6. If an incoming vessel disregards the signals from the examination steamer to bring to, and continues to approach the port at speed, a blank round is to be fired in her direction by the examination battery; if after an interval she still has not brought to, a round of plugged shell should be fired across her bows, so as to strike the water at least 100 yards ahead of her; if she fails to regard this warning, after a further interval she is to be treated as hostile.

7. In the event of no signal being made by the examination steamer, after closing an incoming ship, or in her temporary absence, any vessel approaching the examination line should be brought-to by the examination battery as described in Instruction 6.

8. If the examination steamer signals that the incoming ship is undergoing search as provided for by Instruction 4 of (c), the detachments will fall in on the guns, and a sharp watch be kept both on the ship and the examination steamer, so as to be ready should the "alarm" be given. Should any hostile action on the part of the incoming ship, such as firing on the examination steamer, be observed, she should at once be treated as hostile.

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