COAST GUARD, a British force formerly under the Customs Department, but since 1856 under the Admiralty, and intended only to pre vent smuggling, but now organized also for purposes of defense and governed by the Ad miralty. The men, who are generally old men of-war's men of good character, have high pay and are furnished with free cottages. The force numbers, with officers and men, about 3,000. In the United States the coast guard was formed by an act of Congress approved on 28 Jan. 1915 from the Revenue-Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service (qq.v.), estab lished respectively in 1790 and 1871. It is under the administration of the Secretary of the Treasury in times of peace, of the Secretary of the Navy in times of war. It takes care of the saving of life and property along the coast and at sea, the enforcement of maritime law, the prevention of smuggling, the removal of ob structions to navigation, etc. It is commanded by a captain commandant, ranking with a navy captain. The other coast guard officers are senior captains and the engineer-in-chief, rank ing with commanders in the navy; and captains, first, second and third lieutenants of the line and of engineers, ranking with lieutenant-com mander, lieutenant, senior grade, lieutenant, ju nior grade, and ensign, respectively. The es
tablishment is: 1 captain-commandant; 6 se nior captains; 31 captains; 37 first lieutenants; 94 second and third lieutenants; 1 engineer-in chief ; 6 captains of engineers; 28 first lieuten ants of engineers; 51 second and third lieuten ants of engineers; 2 constructors ranking as first lieutenants; 1 district superintendent rank ing as captain; 3 district superintendents, rank ing as first lieutenants; 4 district superintend ents ranking as second lieutenants; 5 district superintendents ranking as third lieutenants.
These officers are trained at the Coast Guard Academy, at New London, Conn. The ranks of warrant officers are master's mate, keeper, boatswain, gunner, machinist and carpenter. Petty officers and men are enlisted for a year. The coast guard has about 268 shore stations.