SALUTES, MILITARY. All officers salute on meeting and on making or re ceiving official reports. Military courtesy requires the junior to salute first or, when the salute is introductory to a report made at a military ceremony or formation to the representative of a common supe rior, as, for example, to the adjutant or officer of the day, the officer making the report, whatever his rank may be, is re quired to salute first; the officer to whom the report is made will acknowledge by saluting that he has received and under stood 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 address ing 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 receiv ing 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 ad dressing an officer not mounted. An en listed 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 com pliments need not be repeated, and sol diers, 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 sev eral officers in company are saluted, all who are entitled to the salute return it.