The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-06
BROWNSON'S ACT
 CALLED CHILDISH
Letters from Roosevelt to Met calf Made Public at the Request of the
 President.
DEFECTS ALWAYS IN NAVY
But Personal Pique Should Not Per- init Officers to be Disloyal to
 the Interests of the Country.


 Washington, Jan. 5. -- President attitude on the question of the command of hospital ships in the navy, which resulted in the resignation of Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson and, incidentally, some caustic obser- vances by him on that incident and the controversies among naval officers and their adherents as to details of naval construction and methods of training, were made known to-day when Secre- tary Metcalf gave to the press two letters from the president addressed toI him on the subjects.
 The letter to Secretary Metcalf re- garding the retirement of Admiral Brownson and the controversies In the navy is as follows:
 "The White House, Washington,
 January ?, 1908. "To the Secretary of the Navy:
 "In accordance with our conversation of to-day, Captain Pillsbury will be appointed chief of the bureau of navi- gation.
 "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 control Of the hospital ships, was unseemly afrd improper. and, coupled with the various controversies among the off, cers of the navy and their adherents as to details of naval construction and methods of training. has undoubtedly been prejudicial to the interests of the navy and may seriously impair the confidence in the navy which is essen tial to securing the legislation so sorely needed by the navy. The way in which the controversies have been car- ried out Is highly injurious to the ser- vice, 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. There always are and always will be defects to correct both fin the construction 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, but 1t Is also well that they should be pointed out without hysterical ex- aggeration or malicious untruthfulness; while it is of course reprehensible. in grossly exaggerated form in the fancied Interest of an individual or clique of individuals. or for the sake of supply ing sensational material to some ser vice or non-service newspaper.
 The officers 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 be- lieves in the navy and Is anxious to uphold It's interest and honor. There has been so much misrepresentation and exaggeration that I desire you to make me a statement as to the exact facts concerning which there has been dispute. In particular I desire you to get the opinion of Admiral Converse who, until last spring, was chief of the bureau of navigation and whose high professional standard of conduct and duty, and high professional knowledge and attachments, render him peculiarly f1t to give judgment.
 T would willingly pass over the con- duct of Admiral Brownson because of his fine service in the past if it were not that at time when a new chief is chosen to succeed him it becomes imperative to stamp with disapproval the behavior which, if followed throughout the navy generally, would literally ruin the navy's efficiency. The question as to which Admiral Brown son took issue with the department, will deal with in separate letter. I, Is one at which there can be entirel, legitimate differences of opinion, al- though in my judgment the consider ations in favor of the course decided upon are overwhelming. But there is no room for difference of opinion as tC the gross impropriety of the Admiral's conduct in resigning sooner than carry out the orders of his superior officer: in such a matter. The officers of the navy must remember that 1t is mol merely childish, but in the highest de, gree represensible to permit either per sonal pique, wounded vanity, or fact. ional feeling on behalf of some partic. ular bureau or organization to rende, them disloyal to the interests of tn, navy and therefore of the country a. a whole.
 The question whether one officer o another shall commNld a ship is O little consequence compared with tn, weakening of all command and dis cipline that wouH result If the. office were to refuse to serve whenever thei tempers are ruff1ed by adverse decis ions on the part of their superiors.
 The sole concern should be kh good of the serivce, and save onl lack of courage in actual warfare obedience and loyalty and the mos essential qualities in keeping the ser vice up to the highest standard. Tn different bureaus of the department the different branches of the service must act in coordination and tn questions that arise between then must be settled by the authority c the secretary of the navy and of tn president, under and in accordanc with the law enacted by congress and the first duty of every officer whether of the line, of the pay de partment, of the medical departma1