CREATION DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY The Department of the Navy was established by act of Congress April 30, 1798 (1 Stat. 553; Title 5, § 411). Various bureaus were established by acts of Congress, August 31, 1842, and July 5, 1862. The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations was created by act of Congress March 3, 1915, and the Bureau of Aeronautics, July 12, 1921. PURPOSE The purpose of the Department of the Navy is to maintain a navy of sufficient strength to support national policies and commerce, to guard the possessions of the United States, and to protect American interests abroad. The Navy consists of ships and airplanes, a naval aviation corps, and a marine corps. Under its supervision is the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, the Hydrographic Office, the Naval Observatory, navy yards, the management of Guam and American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, and the naval petroleum reserves in the western parts of the United States. ORGANIZATION The Secretary of the Navy has general supervision over the construction, manning, armament, equipment, maintenance and employment of vessels of war, and performs such other duties as the President, who is Commander-in-Chief, may direct. The principal advisers of the Secretary are: the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the chiefs of the various bureaus, the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, the Chairman of the General Board, the Director of the Shore Establishments, the Budget Officer, and Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps. NAVAL The Chief of Naval Operations is charged with the operations of the fleet and with the preparation and readiness of plans for its use in war. What is termed the "Central Division" constitutes his immediate staff. His duties include, direction of the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Division of Fleet Training; operation of the communications service, naval districts, vessels assigned to the Naval Reserve, and of mines and mining; control over the Marine Corps except when operating with the Army or some other detailed duty outside the naval organization, and the Coast Guard when operating with the Navy; and the direction of all strategic, tactical and organization matters, maneuvers, drills, exercises and the training of the fleet for war. The Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations is next in authority to the Chief and may be classed as ad interim Chief during the absence of the Chief or during a vacancy in that office. He has charge of administrative details and coordinates the activities of all divisions. JUDGE ADVOCATE The Judge Advocate General of the Navy, in accordance with the statute creating his office, has cognizance of all matters of law arising in the Navy Department, and performs such other duties relating thereto as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of the Navy. COURTS MARTIAL The duties of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy are to revise and report upon the legal features of and to have recorded the proceedings of all courts martial, courts of inquiry, boards of investigation and inquest, boards for the selection of officers for promotion, boards for the examination of officers for retirement and promotion in the naval service, and boards for the examination of candidates for appointment as officers in the naval service other than midshipmen. He prepares charges and specifications for courts martial, the necessary orders convening courts martial in cases where such courts are ordered by the Secretary of the Navy, and court-martial orders promulgating the final action of |