Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-28
COMMISSION FOR STOKES
Medical Officer to Be Assigned to
Command of Hospital Ship.
HALE DEFENDS BRowNsoNssTAND
Head of senate Naval Committee says
An Commands should BE Held
by Line Omcerr in Interest
of Discipline.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-The orders as
signing Surgeon Charles F. Stokes TO the
company of the hospital ship Relief are
expected to be signed very soon, it having
been definitely decided. according TO Sec
retsry Metcalf to appoint him to that po-
sition. with this end in view every effort
viii be made to obtain a merchant crew
and master for the vessel. Failing to man
tie Relief with a crew from the merchant
marine the enlisted force OF the navy will
be drawn on and hne of1cer assigned as
captain. in which case he viii have com
mand.
While the ship is practically ready for
service there are a number of things TO be
done to put II in the best Of shape, which
will take probably until February l. The
scheme Of having a medical officer COM
mRnd the Relief in the event a merchant
crew is secured is to have a trial for at
least six months and II the experiment
proves satisfactory then the expectation is
that the assignment Of surgeon to com
mand hospital ships viii be a permanent
feature of naval administration.
Admiral Brownson's REIMBURSEMENT of
his position as chief Of the bureau Of navi-
CATION carrying with It. as IT did ex-
offcio connection with the naval general
OF pay to the officer. Being entirely with
out duty and relegated 10 the retired list,
his income will be diminished in the first
place by the loss of Is per cent of the full
pay Of an admiral on the active list
namely. 1850 a year. Also he will no
longer receive the allowance to an active
officer ~of his grade of $3.50 a year for
quarters and $500 a year for heat and
] TF~~f,N 14aN A 4
miral Brownson is a man of independent
means and able TO disregard financial con-
sideration in taking his stand as champion
of the line in the present battle with the
stan.
The formal order detaching Rear Admiral
Brownson from duty as chief of the bu.
reau Of navigation was made public today
The same order detaches him from mem.
bership IN the Joint army and navy board
Hale Defends BrownsOn.
Senator Hale, chairman Of the senat,
committee on naval affairs today voice,
frankly his attitude toward the resignation
of Admiral Brownson as chief Of the bureau
of navigation.
II think that Admiral Brownson ha
acted with praiseworthy coourage AM
promptness in rendering his resignation.
said Senator Hale, adding that. he had no
seen the admiral since his resignation. Mr.
Hale continued;
II have always sustained the stan oficer
in their fight for positive rank and com
plete recognition such as is received b.
their. peers Ia the army and Isnow have
/ bill pending which gives them such recog
milton throughout the service But in tina
measure there is a precautionary provision
against giving them actual command o
I any naval vessel. This is the continuation
and extension of the fight between the tw
/ branches of the service. That fight Is tn
/ crux of the present controversy and be
cause / think he is right my support
! given unreservedly TO the admiral a
against the contentious of Surgeon Genera
Rixey. il may be that on some occasion
star officers have been in command o
vessels, but I know of no instance whe
such officers have been given comman
after the point was raised and both side
were heard. I do not believe that tn
contention for command by staff officer
has ever been pressed seriously in tn
past"
In Interest of Discipline.
When asked for his reasons for tn
position taken. Mr. Hale replied:
They are entirely in the interests @
discipline. Think what might happen
the command of the vessels should b
turned over to a chaplain, or even to
paymaster. and It is just as reasonable {
put the crews of naval feet under tn
charge Of those officers as it is to plac
them under the command of a surgeon
Admiral Brownson recognizes this fact. an
being a man of character and decision.
did not hesitate TO resign his position
when, as the active head OF navigation, hi
view of the law and of the best polio
in the interest OF the service was ovel
ruled. He will not lose anything by hi
manly course. either in the navy or wit
the public"
Physicians stand by RiKey.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 27.--Dr c. A. s. Reed
chairman of the legislative committee {
the American Medical association, toda
sent the following telegram to Surgeo
General Rixey at Washington:
Your demand and the presidents orde
giving the medical corps Of the navy actui
control where II has actual responsibillt
command grateful approval by the 400
physicians of the United States"
When DR.. Reed learned of Rear As
miral Brownson's resignation and III
reason therefor he telegraphed the pres
dent commencing his stand in the nan
OF the American Medical association.