In the case of the arrival of a ship in a foreign port calls are interchanged according to well established international rules between the senior officer of the ship or ships arriving and those already stationed at the port. The general rule is that if the two officers are of the same grade the latest arrival makes the first call, but if they are of different grades the junior makes the first call. The arriving officer, however, always makes the first call upon the highest civil official ashore at a foreign port. Upon the arrival of a United States fleet, squadron or single ship at a foreign port, the senior naval officer exchanges calls with diplomatic and consular officers who may be stationed there according to the following rules:— A flag officer or commodore pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of _chargé d’affaires_ and receives the first visit from consular officers. A commanding officer pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of _chargé d’affaires_ and to a consul general and receives the first visit from all other consular officers. It will readily be seen that all of these rules and conventions are devised for the purpose of avoiding friction or misunderstanding and to secure efficiency and smoothness in the official and social relations between officers and officials of different services and nationalities. CHAPTER XV HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS The honors and distinctions shown to the National Flag, to the President and other high Government officials, to the National Anthem and to the officers of the various ranks in the different services composing the Armed Forces of the United States are prescribed in the U. S. Army Regulations and the U. S. Navy Regulations, which are issued by the Secretaries of War and the Navy by authority of the President of the United States. At Army Posts and Stations the National Flag is hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset and on board ships of the Navy the National Flag is hoisted at 8 a. m. and lowered at sunset, these occasions being known as “Morning Colors” and “Evening Colors.” While the National Flag is being hoisted and lowered all officers and enlisted men stand at attention facing the flag, if in uniform and covered they stand at the salute during the hoisting or lowering of the flag and if in civilian dress covered, they uncover and hold the headdress opposite the left shoulder. The latter form of salute is the correct one for all civilians who desire to so honor the flag of their country.