Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-26

under the surgeon general of the army
ana nave remained so up to the pres
ent time.
The japanese hospital ships were
commanded by medical officers after
| having tried line officers.
Hospital ships are simply floating
! hospitals and as such are considered BY
all services to be properly under the
control of the medical department
which is directly responsible for the
care Of the sick and injured OF the
services.
Naval medical officers have haa
positive rank for years, given them
by act of congress, but as the use Of
tltles which indicate rank has been de-
MED them it is not generally known.
They also have the right to command
IN their own corps and all those who
are entrusted TO their care who are
on the sick list, in the hospital or on
hospital ships.
Il 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 should not de
sire the command of these ships, and
has always been considered a
doubtful question if the Geneva and
The Hague agreements should guaran-
tee the neutrality of these ships ir
combatant Oine) Officers and crews
We're aboard This very doubt pre-
vented the Japanese from using line
Officers on hospital ships
"A medical officer i'm command with
a civilian sailing master and crew for
the navigation of the ship has proved !
over and over again the proper per-
s0nnel for this type of ship.
The bureau of medicine and sur !
gerry is Responsible for the health of |
the navy and every friend and rela-
tive looks to 1t for the care of the |
sick and wounded. This work should |
have the sympathy and active support !
Of every one.
The International administration of |
the bureau of medicine and surgery.
has been, in my opinion, too much in- !
terfered with by the bureau Of navl-
CATION. This Interference has. at times
caused me grave concern as to how
could meet the needs of those un-
der our care. AT present the hospital
shin RELIEF would be i'm commission
and after having done good ser1te
With the fleet before starting would :
nave accomplished it on the cruise
south. The bureau of navigation
hought otherwise and the Nleet of
Is, 600 men with its auxlaries is with
)ut a hospital ship and will be until
t arrives at Magdalena Bay, more
han three months from now
Il nave only asked that the relief
De put in commission just as every
,ther hospital ship has and that the
levy medical officer be given exact
Y the same status as that accorded
o his brother officers i'm the army
Who have commanded this identical
hip Not to do this would be unfair
o our medical officers.
"As this is a matter pertaining en-
irely to the bureau of medicine and
urgery and is decided by the secre-
airy of the navy, it is hard to under
tand how Admiral Brownson could
,e specially involved, as his duties
certain entirely to another bureau
ot directly responsible for the care
i the sick of the navy and in which
e should not interfere unless elected
y the secretary
Surgeon General Rixey's statement
vas shown to Admiral Brownson to-
light but die declined to make any
onrrftnt Whatever in regard to H.