The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-06
Text of Correspondence is Made Public. EXHIBITION OF PIQUE IS
 DESERVING OF REBUKE Hospital Ships Must De Command cd By Medical Officers. only saislnx Master and civiIian Crew Responsible for Navigation-- Admiral Brownson Refuses
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Roosevelt's attitude on the question of the command of the hospital ships Tn the navy. which resulted in the resig- nation of Rear Admiral Willard II. Brownson, and incidentally some caus- tic observations on that incident. ana the controversies among the naval or ficers and their adherents as to details of naval construction and methods or training, were made known today when Secretary Metcalf gave to the press two letters from the President ad- dressed to him on these subjects
 Tn the first of these letters President Roosevelt without mincing words, con- denns, in unmeasured terms, the act of Admiral Brownson, declaring 1t to be unseemly and improper. The ques- tion as to which Admiral Brownson took issue with the Navy Department, the President declares is one as to which there can be entirely legitimate differences of opinion but he adds "There is no room for difference of opinion as to the gross impropriety of the Admiral's conduct in resigning sooner than carry out the orders of his superior officers in such matter. The officers of the navy must remem- Der that 1t is not merely childish, but in the highest degree reprehensible, to permit either personal pique. wound- ed vanity or factional feeling on behalf of some particular bureau or organi- zation to render them disloyal to the interests of the navy, and therefore of the country as whole.
 Always Defects to Correct.
 Regarding the controversies in the navy the President admits there al- ways are and always will be defects to correct both in the construction of ships and in the organization of the department and in the actual drill of the fleet It is well, he says, that these defects be pointed out. It is ,. xrr0 nat out and 1t is also well that they be pointed out without hysterical exag geration or malicious untruthfulness. He scathingly rebukes those guilty of exploiting them In grossly exaggerat- cd form in the fancied interest of an individual or clique of individuals, or for the sake of E2plytng sensational matter to newspapers.
 Because of so much misrepresenta- tion and exaggeration, the President has asked Secretary Metcalf for statement as to the exact facts con cerning which there has been disputes, desiring particularly the opinion of Admiral Converse, formerly Chief of the Navigation Bureau, who because of his high professional attainments and standard of conduct. the President considers peculiarly fitted to give judg- ment.
 The President's Letter.
 The letter of Secretary Metcalf re- garding the retirement of Admiral Brownson and the controversies in the navy is as follows:
 "The White House,
 washington, D. C., Jan. 2, 1908. The Secretary of the Navy:
 "Tn accordance with our conversation of today, Captain Pillsbury will be ap- pointed Chief 1.-the Bureau of Naviga- tlon.
 "The action of the late chief of the bureau, Admiral Brownson, in tender ing his resignation because he did not agree with the President and the De- partment regarding an order issued be- fore he came into the bureau by the Secretary of the Navy, as to the con trol of hospital ships, was unseemly and improper and coupled with the va rious controversies among the officers of the navy, and their adherents as to details of naval construction and meth ods of training. has undoubtedly been prejudicial to the interests of the navy and may seriously impair the confi- dence in the navy which Is essential in securing the legislation so sorely need ed by the navy.
 "The way in which these contro- versies have been carried out is high ly injurious to the service, whether the communications are made openly over the signatures of the naval officers or by civilians who have evidently gained their information from naval officers
 
 defects to correct in both the construc- tion of ships and In the organization of the Department and in the actual drill of the fleet It is well that these defects should be pointed out without hysterical exaggeration or malicious untruth fuIness while it is of course reprehensible in the highest degree to exploit them in grossly exaggerated form in the fancied interests of an in- dividual, or clique of individuals. and
 kHes. matter to service or non-service news papers.
 Deserve Rebuke.
 "Ohlcers of the navy who are guilty of such conduct deserve grave rebuke. They cast discredit upon the service and their conduct is deeply mortifying to every American who believes in the navy and is anxious to uphold it's in terest and honor. There has been so much misrepresentation and exaggera- tion that I desire you to make me statement as to the exect facts con corning which there has been dispute. In particular I desire you to get the opinion of Admiral Converse. who. un- til last spring, was chief of the Bureau of Navigation, and whose high profess sional standard of conduct and duty, and high professional knowledge and attachments, render him peculiarly f1t- ted to give judgment.
 q would willingly pass over the con- duct of Admiral Brownson because or his fine service in the past if 1t were moi that at a time when a new chief Is chosen to succeed him it becomes in- nerative to stamp with dlsapproval the behavior which. if followed throughout inc navy generally, would literally ruin the navy's efficiency. The ques- tion as to which Admiral Brownson took issue with the Department I will deal with in a separate letter. It is one as to which there can De entirely Ieesitimare differences of opinion, al- though, in my judgment. the consider ations in favor of the course decided mon are overwhelming. But there Is no room for difference of opinion as to the gross impropriety of the Admirars conduct in resigning sooner than carry