Sealed Orders

The custom of having warships sail "■nnder sealed orders" has arisen from the desire of maritime powers to prevent their plans from becoming known to the enemy. Ia the American navy snch orders come from the president and are delivered to a commander of a ship or squadron by a confldential messenger, who knows nothing of their contents. Sometimes they are in cipher, bnt they are always sealed with the official seal of the navy department, and the package cannot beopened until the time marked on it, which is usnally several hours af ter the honr of leaving port. By this precaution the newspapers are prevented from disclosing prernaturely the movements which may be of the greatest importance and the spies of the enerny arerendered useless so far as their ability to discover the secret of snch movements is concerned. Sail ing under sealed orders is now the comrnon naval practice in time of war. These instructions are found in the packet of "sealed orders," which is opened when well out to sea.