Striking or threatening superior officers.

Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,--

1. (a) uses criminal force to or assaults his superior officer; or
2. (b) uses threatening language to such officer; or
3. (c) uses insubordinate language to such officer; or
4. (d) behaves with contempt to such officer, shall, on conviction by a Coast Guard Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned: Provided that in the case of offences specified in clauses (c) and (d), the imprisonment shall not exceed five years.