The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-08

Mastery Manner--Fully En-
dOrsed by the President
Washington, Feb. I'm unequiVOcal
terms President Roosevelt has approved
Admiral Davis entire action in CON
nection with his visit to Kingston to
render aid to the stricken city and in
addition requested the secretary of the
navy to express to Admiral Davis his
heartiest commentator Of all that he
did.
The long expected report OF Admiral
Davis of the circumstances Leading up
to the withdrawal of his squadron from
Kingston reached the navy department
yesterdaYand was at once lald oelore
the president. Inasmuch as the presl-
dent already has announced that the
diplomatic phase Of the case IS closed
incident the report itself will not be
made public but Secretary Metcalf
gave out the letter of Admiral Evans,
communicating chief of the Atlantlc
fleet. warmly commencing Davis for
his conduct in the situation.
The correspondence is supplemented
by a strong letter of commentator OF
Davis by the president and by Metcail'
Admiral Evans letter is as follows:
"Respectfully forwarded approved
to the secretary of the navy, through
bureau of navigation. The report ana
its appendices made by officers who
were on the spot and therefore best
able to judge appear to set forth the
whole situation very clearly.
"The commander-in-chief feels that
he cannot too highly commend Rear
Admiral Davis for the very dlgnlheu
and mastery manner in which he con-
Quoted a situation which was, to say
the least, somewhat embarrassing, and
he deems it particularly fortunate that
there was at hand an officer such as ne
to deal with the problems which arose.
"The commander in-chief heartily ap-
proves the commendatory remarks re-
lating to the officers and men OF the
sbips who accompanied Admiral Davis,
hut they did no more than Is expected
of officers and men in the navy ana no
more than would have been done by
officers and men of the other ships OF
the fleet, and indeed, the ships sent
were not chosen above others OF the
feet for any other reason than that
they were more nearly ready for steam
ing when the news of the disaster was
received"
The presidents letter to Secretary
Metcalf follows:
81 have read carefully the report or
Admiral Davis submitted to you, to
pether with the report of Admiral
Evans, commenting on the action of Adj
miraI Davis at Kingston. | return
them herewith and desire that you ex-
press to Admiral Davis my heartiest
commentator of all that he did at
Kingston. l approve his entire action.
He upheld the best traditions of our
navy in thus rendering distinguished
service to humanity"
Secretary Metcalf to Admiral Davis;
1.-THE department has carefully con-
sidered your report and those of your
subordinate officers on the aid rendered
by your squadron to the distressed PEG
pie of Kingston, Jam, after the disas-
trous earthquake and conf1agration
which visited that city. The reports,
with Admiral Evans endorsement APP
proving your actions and praising your
able performance of duty in the face
of so much confusion and difficulty,
have been submitted to the president
"The president directs that the de-
partment express to you his heartiest
commentator of all you did at Kings
ton. In his note to the department he
states that you upheld the best tradi-
tons of our navy in thus rendering dis
tipguished service to humanity and
approves your entire actions. The de
partment desires to add also its APP
prevail and commentator of your able
service and those of the officers and
men under your command"