Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
STATES HIS POSITION
Surgeon General Rixey Main
tains His View.
COMMAND OF THE RELIEF
Why a Naval Surgeon Should Be in
Control Of Vessel. -, .
GENERAL PRACTICE IN WAR
Declares Navigation Bureau Has In
terferred Too Much With Con-
Germs Of His Own Bureau.
GENERAL PRACTICE IN WAR

That a serious breach exists between
the bureau of navigation and the bureau
Of medicine and surgery of the navy is
evident from statement just issued by
Surgeon General Presley M. Rixey, chief
Of the latter bureau in regard to the cir
cun1stances leading up to the selection
by the President of medical officer to
command the hospital ship Relief over
the protest of Rear Admiral Willard II.
Brownsoh, chief of the bureau Of naviga-
tion who recently sent his resignation to
the President. While disclaiming exact
knowledge as to the cause of Admiral
Brownson's resignation. the surgeon gen.
erals statement leaves little room for
doubt that the controversy be reviews
was potent factor:
The Surgeon Generals Statement.
The surgeon generals statement fol-
lows.
II have been called on the telephone
many times today in regard to the resig-
nation of Admiral Brownson.
Admiral Brownson and / have been
friends for many years, and when on
duty in Washington as naval attending
surgeon I was his family physician.
His resignation. as chief of the btu
reau of navigation has been assigned to
enoe of opinion as to the command of
the hospital ship Relief. While 1 do
not know that this is the cause. it may
be interesting to know the present status
of this question.
Hospital ships as a rule always have
been commanded by medical officers, with
a sailing master and civilian crew for pur-
pose of navigation.
1.-THE Relief. formerly belonging to the
United States Army, was always COM
NV nffiPpr whom need
as hospital ship.
"A joint board of army and navy medi-
cal officers. convened by executive order
more than a year ago to attempt to
unity the medical services as much as
possible, recommended that hospital ships
should be commanded by medical officers.
and the recommendation was approved by
both the Secretary of War and the Secre-
tary of the Navy.
Practice in the Civil War.
1.-THE question was settled definitely SO
far as the army was concerned during
the civil war, and all hospital ships and
medical transports placed under the sur
geon general of the army. and has re-
manned so up to the present time.
1.-The Japanese naval hospital ships were
commanded by medical after having tried
line officers.
pitfalls, and as such are considered by all
! services to be promptly under the control
of the medical department. which is di-
rectly responsible for the care of the sick
and Injured OF the services.
Naval medical officers have had pos
tive rank for some years given them by
Congress- but as the use of titles which
indicate rank has been denied them 1t is
not generally known. They also have the
right to command in their own corps and
all those who are intrusted to their care,
whether on the sick list, in the hospitals
or on the hospital ships
II have contended that hospital ships
should be conducted in peace exactly
as in time of war. During war time line
officers cannot be spared and do not and
ships. and II has always been considered
a doubtful question If the Geneva and
Hague agreements could guarantee the
neutrality of these ships If combatant
Oine) officers and crew were aboard. This
very doubt prevented the Japanese from
using line officers on hospital ships.
"A medical officer in command. with a
civilian sailing master and crew for the
navigation Of the ship. has been proven
over and over again the proper personnel
for this type of ship.
THE bureau OF medicine and surgery is
directly responsible for the welfare of the
health Of the navy. and every friend and
relative looks to it for the care of the
sick and wounded This work should have
the sympathy and active support of every
one.
Too Much Interference.
"The internal administration of the bu-
reau of medicine and surgery has been, in
my opinion. too much interfered with by
the bureau of navigation. This interfer-
ence has at times caused me grave con-
Germ as to how could meet the needs of
those under our care.
AT present the hospital ship Relief
would be in commission, and after having
done good service with the fleet before
starting would have accompanied it on
the cruise south. The bureau of naviga-
! ton, thought otherwise. and the fleet of
10 900 men, with its auxiliaries. is without
a hospital ship and will be until it arrives