Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-26
Question of Authority Of Sur
geon General to Officer Hos
pitaI Ships Starts An Active
Controversy,
SURGEON GENERAL RlXEY
ISSUES LONG STATEMENT
Argues VaIiantIy to Show
That Line Officers Should
Have Nothing To Do With
Hospital Ships,
[By Morning journal Special Leased Wire ]

lOoplldl OlllpSi
IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire
Washington, Dec. 25.-That ser.
ious breach exists between the bu-
reau of navigation and the bureau OF
medicine of the navy, involving the
question of the responsibility of the
latter bureau. was made apparent to-
night in a statement issued by Sur
geon General Presley NJ Rixey of the
navy in which he touches upon the
circumstances leading up to the prob
able selection by the president of a
medical officer to command the hos
pltal relief over the protest of Rear
Admiral Willard II. Brownson, chief
terday sent his resignation to the pres
ident. While diselaiming exact
knowledge as to the cause of Ad-
miral Brownson's resignation the
surgeon generals statement leaves lit
tie room for doubt that the contro-
versy he reviews was a potent factor.
Surgeon General RiXey maintains
that hospital ships. as a rule, always
have been commanded my medical Of
AOFlos WIN a ofttiii6 hibNtfl anu Alf -
ilian crew for purposes Of navigation
This particular vessel he says, for
merly belonged to the army, and al
ways was commanded by medical
officer when used as a hospital ship.
In attempting to unuy The medical
services OF the army and the navy he
says that a Joint army and navy board
of medical Officers which was con-
vened by legislative order more than
aff1p pnHgH that hnEpf-
tai ships should be commanded by
medical officers, and that that recon-
mendation was approved by the secre-
tary Of war and secretary OF the navy.
Since the ciVil war, he says, all hos
pital ships and medical transports OF
the army had been placed under the
surgeon general of the army. He says
further that japanese naval hospitals
ships were commanded by medical Of
ficers after having tried the line Of
ficers. These ships he says, are SIM
ply floating hospitals properly under
the control of the medical department.
and should be conducted in peace eX-
actly as in time of war This Is es-
pecially 50, he adds, because during
times of war line Officers cannot be
spared and do not and would not de-
sire to command these ships.
He maintains that it always has
and the Hague agreements could guar
antee the neutrality OF these ships if
combatant tline) officers and crows
were aboard and it was this dolbl
which prevented the japanese du ing
the recent war with Russia from uf-l
ing the line officers on hospital sAlps'
THE international administrd' non
of the bureau of medicine anu u
gerry" he saws, '' has been in my opin-
ion. too much interfercd with by the
bureau Of navigation. This tnteller-
ence has at times caused grave con
cern as to how | could meet the netfS
of those under our care
The hospital ship relief, he says
should be with the battleship tleet
on its cruise. but he adds:
The bureau of navigation though'
otherwise, and the fleet OF l"'Ooo men
with its auxiliaries. is without a hos
pital ship. and win be until " ar
rives at Magdalena Bay. more IMAM
three months from now.
He adds that he cannot understand
how Admiral Brownson should be
specially Interested in the oftlcellhs
Of hospital ships, as his duties he N
another direction and that he should
not interfere in a matter pertaining
entirely TO the bureau OF medicine anu
surgery and therefore TO be ueclueu
by the secretary of the navy
The surgeon generals statements
in full follow:
u have been called up on the tel
ephone many times today IN regard
to the resignation of Admiral broWh-
son.
Admiral Brownson and ] have been
friends for many years. and when on
duty in washington "a naval attend
ing surgeon / was his family phNSl-
clan.
His resignation a. chief Of the bn-
reau of navigation has been ASSIGNED
10 various causes. among others TO
difference of opinion as to the com
mand of hospital shin relief While /
do not know that this IS the cause. 81
may be interesting 10 know The pres
ent statutes Of this question.
sHospital ships. as a rule, AWAY
l.9ve been commanded by medicai OF
ficers, with a sailing master and ciNn-
ian crew for purposes OF naNl-ali'l.-
The relief. formerly belonging ~
tha United States army. was always
commanded by a medical officer When
used as a hospital ship.
"A Joint board Of army ana naNF
medical Officers convened by legisia-
tive order more than year ago 70
attempt To modify the medical serf zee
as much as possible. rccommenu''
that hospital ships should De- COM
manded by medical officers. and the
recommendation was approved ny tne
both the secretary OF war ana the
secretary Of thf navy In general or
ders
The question was settled definitely
so far as the army was concerned.
during the civil war and an hospital
ships and medicsl transports placed