The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-26
Resignation Of A dmi RI a |
BroWnson Due to Eric.
ton With DR.. Rixey.
DISAGREE AS TO
HOSPITAL. SHIPS
Snrgeon-General Rixey Insists on
Medical Officers Commanding
Them. While Brownson Con-
tends for Line Officers.
President With Sur
gcon- General.

WASHINGTON. December 25.-That
serious breach exists between the
bureau OF Navigation and the Bureau
ef Medicine of the navy. involving the
question OF the responsibility of the
intter bureau, was made apparent to-
night In statement Issued by Sur
seon-General Presley NJ Rxey. of the
navy. in which he touches upon the
circumstances leading up to the prob
nble selection by the President of a
medical officer TO command the hos
pital ship Relief over the protest Of
R.ar-Admiral Willard II. 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
Hrownson's resignation, the Surgeon
Generals statement leaves little room
tor doubt that the controversy he re-
views was potent factor
Dr. R:sey's Contention.
Surgeon-G General Rfxey maintains
that hospital ships. a rule, always
lieye been commanded by medical Off
eers, with u sailing master and civil
ian crew for purposes of navigation.
This particular vessel he says. for
neriy belonged to the army, and was
always commanded by u medical officer
when used as a hospital ship. In at
tempting 10 unity the medical services
Of the army and the navy lie says that
u Joint army and navy board of medical
officers. which was convened by execu-
tive order more than year ago. recon-
nlended that hospital ships should he
commanded by medical officers, and
that the recommendation was approved
l,v both the Secretary OF War and the
Slcrctary OF the Navy in general or
aers. Since the Civil War; he says
ali hospital Ships and medical trans
.uorts OF the army had been placed
under the Surseon-G General OF the
army, He says further that Japanese
naval hospital ships We're commanded
Icy medical officers. after having tried
iinH officers. These ships, he says. are
simply floating hospitals, properly
ui;der the control of the medical de-
partmen,. and should he conducted in
peace exactly as in time of war. This
is especially so. he adds. because dur
ing war time line officers cannot be
spared, and do not ond should net de-
sirt the command of these ships.
He maintains that 1t always has been
a doubtful question if the Geneva and
The Hague agreements could guaran-
tee the neutrality of these ships II
.ombatant line officers and crews we're
aboard. and 1t was this doubt which
prevented the Japanese during the re-
cent WIT Win ituSsid lEoHi uslHS i'he
officers on hospital slips.
Too Much Bureaucracy.
"The internal administration of the
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery" he
says. has been, in my opinion. too
much Interfcrred with by the Bureau
Z of Navigation. This interference has at
times caused grave concern as to how
j could meet the needs of those under
our care" The hospltale slip Relief.
he says. should now he with the bat
tlcship fleet on it's cruise. but. he adds:
..The Bureau of Navigation thought
otherwise, and the fleet OF 15.0O0 men
with its auXiliaries. is without hos
pital ship. and will be until II arrives
at Magdalena Bay more than three
months from now. He adds that he
cannot understand how Admiral Brown
son should be specially interested in
the oticering of hospital ships, as his
duties lie in another direction, and that
he should not interfere In matter
pertaining entirely to the Bureau OF
Medicine and Surgery. and therefore
to be decided by the Secretary of the