The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-26
Resignation of Admiral BrOWn-
 son Probably Explained ]
COMMAND OF HOSPITAL SHIP
Presidents Appointment of Medical Officer To Command the Relief Over Protest of Brownson
 Is Potent Factor.

Washington, December 25.-That se- rious breach exists between the bureau of navigation and the bureau of medicine of the nafy. involving the question of responsibility of the latter bureau, was made apparent tonight. in q statement issued by Surgeon General Presly M. Rixey of the navy. in which he touched upon the circumstances leading up to the probable selection by the President of a medical officer to command the hospital ship Relief over the protest of Rear Ad- miral Willard H. Brownson. chief of the bureau of navigation, who yesterday sent his resignation to the President. While disclaiming exact knowledge as to the cause of Admiral Brownson's resignation. the surgeon generals statement leaves little room for doubt that the controversy he reviews was a potent factor, Surgeon General Rixey prefaced his statement by remarking:
 "I have been called mp on the phone many times today in regard to the resig- nation of Admiral Brownson.
 Admiral Brownson and I have been friends for many years. and when on duty in Washington as naval attending surgeon I was his family physician.
 His resignation chief of the bureau of navigation has been assigned to va- rious causes. among others to a differ ence of opinion as to the command of the hospital ship Relief While l do not know that this is a cause, 1t may be in terestlng to know the present status of this question"
 Rixey Explains Situation.
 Surgeon General Rixey then stated that hospital ships. as rule, always have been commanded by medical officers with a sailing master and civilian crew for purposes of navigation. The Relief, he says, formerly belonged to the army. and always was commanded by medical of- ncer when used as a hospital ship. In att tempting to unify the medical services of the army and the navy he says that q joint army and navy board of medical officers, which was convened by execn- tive order more than year ago, recom- mended that hospital ships should be commanded by medical officers, and that that recommendation was approved by both the Secretary of War and the Sec- retary of the Navy in general orders.
 Since the civil war, he says, all hospital ships and medical transports of the army had been placed under the surgeon gem eral of the army. He says further that Japanese naval hospital ships were com manded by medical officers after having tried line officers. These ships he says, are simply floating hospitals properly under the control of the medical depart ment. and should be conducted in peaee. exactly as In time of war This Is es- pecially SO, he says, for during war time officers cannot be spared, and do not and should not desire the command of these ships. He maintains that 1t always has been doubtful question If the Geneva and The Hague agreements could guaran- tee the neutrality of these ships if com atant Qine) officers and crews were aboard, and 1t was this doubt which pre- vented the Japanese during the recent war with Russia from using line officers on hospital ships.
 Too Much Interference.
 "The internal administration of the bureau of medicine and energy" he says, "has been, in my opinion, too much in- terferred with by the bureau of naviga- ton. This interference has at times caused grave concern as to how l could meet the needs of those under our care.'
 The hospital ship Relief. he says, should now be with the battleship fleet on It's cruise but he adds: "The bureau of nav igation thought otherwise and the fleet of 15,O0 men, with it's auxaries, Is without a hospital ship. and will be until it arrives at Magdalena bay more than three months from now"
 He adds that he cannot understand how Admiral Brownson should be especially interested In the oflcerng of hospital ships, his duties lie in another direc- ton, and that he should not interfere in "A matter pertaining entirely to the bureau of medicine and surgery, and therefore to be decided by the Secretary of the Navy.
 Surgeon General Rixeys statement was shown to Admiral Brownson tonight. but