New-York tribune., 1908-01-06
PRESIDENT ON THE
BROWNSON AFFAIR.
MR. METC1LF CITES OUT
CORRESPONDENCE.
President RooscJcIt Calls Rear Id
miraFs .1ct Unseemly and
Improper.

attitude on the question of the command OF
hospital ships in the navy. which resulted IN
the resignation of Rear Admiral Willard II
Brownson and. incidentally. some csustic OBJ
servations on that incident and the contro-
versies among the naval officers and their sd-
herents as to details OF naval construction ana
methods of training. was made known to-day.
when Secretary MetcaIf gave to the press two
letters from the President addressed TO him on
the subjects.
In the first of these letters President Roose-
welt condemns in unmeasured terms tn,
act of Admiral Brownson. declaring il to
be unseemIy and improper. The question
on which Admiral Brownson took issue
with the Navy Department. the President
declares. is one as to which there be en-
tireIy legitimate differences Of opinion. but, he
adds ''theresis room for difference Of opinion
as to the gross imprOpriety OF the adn1irais
conduct In resigning sooner than carry out the
orders of his superior officers in such matter
The officers Of the navy must remember that it
is not merely childish but in the highest degree
reprehensble to permit either personal piqus.
wounded vanity or factionaI feeling on behalf
of some particular bureau OF organization 70
render them disoy4I to the interests of the
navy. and therefore of the country whole.
Regarding the controversies in the navy the
President admits there always and always
will be defects TO correct both in the construc-
partment and in the actual drill of the feet. II
is we'll he says. that these defects be pointed
out. but it is also we'll that tRey should bs
pointed out without hystericaI exaggeraticn or
malicious untruthfuIness- He scathingy re-
Dukes those guilty of exploiting them in grossly
exaggerated form in the fancied interest of an
individual or clique of individuals or for the sake
of supplying sensational material to newspapers.
Because of so much Misrepresentation AMI
1
tary Metcalf for a statement as TO the exact
facts concerning which there have been disputes.
desiring particularly the opinion of Admiral
Converse, formerly chief OF the navigation bu-
reau, whom, because of his high professional at
tainments and standard of conduct and duty. the
President considers peculiarly fitted to give
Judgment.
ON ADMIRAL BROwNSONS RETIREMENT.
The letter to Secretary Metcalf regarding tbs
retirement of Admiral Brownson and the con-
troversies in the navy is as follows
The White House.
Washington, January :. 13es.
To the Secretary Of the Navy
In accordance with our conversation of to-
day. Captain Pilsbury will be appointed chief
of the bureau of navigation
The action of the late chief of the bureau.
Admiral Brownson. in rendering his resignation
because he did not agree with the President and
the department 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 unseemly and improper, and. coupled
with the various controversies among the ON
GERS of the navy and their adherents as to de-
tails of naval construction and methods OF train
ing has undoubtedly been preJudicia1 10 the is-
terests of the navy and may seriously impair
the confidence in the navy which is essential 70
securing the legislation so sorely needed by the
navy The way in which the controversies have
been carried out is highly injurious 20 the ser
vice, whether the communications are made
openly over the signatures of the naval officers
or bV civilians who have evidently gained their
information from naval officers. There always
are and always will be defects TO correct bcto
i'm the construction OF ships and in the Crganizsi
ton of the department and in the actual drlli OF
the fleet II is well that these defects should os
pointed out, but IL is also Wei that they Should
he pOinted out without hysterfcai eXaggeraIloiI
or malicious untruthfulness, while II IS Oh
course reprehensble In the highest degree 10
exploit them in grossly exasSeratsd IoiIn IN 'i.
fancied interest of individual or Clique OF
individuals or for the sake of supplying sensa-
tionaI material 10 some service or hoh-setNICs
newspaper The officers of the navy who aTs
guilty of such conduct deserve grave rebuke.
They cast diScredft upon the service anu tleA
conduct is deeply mOrtifyfng TO every American
who believes in the navy and Is ANXIOUS 70 up
hold its interest and honor There has been e
much instrumentation and exaggeTatlon Jha<
/ desire you make me a statement as 20 'he
exact facts concerning which there mas oeSi
Sjispute In particular I desire you 10 get the
oDinion of Admiral Converse. who until IasI
snrine was chief of the bureau OK naFigatl0h
and whose high professional standard OF con
duct and duty and high professional knowledge
and attainments render him pecuiiariy NJ 10 siNS
Judgment
7 would willingly pass over the conduct OK
Admiral Rrownson because of his fine service m
the mast If il were not that at time when a
new chief is chosen 10 succeed him il becomes
in,perative to stamp with dtsapprovaI the De
hayior which. if followed throughout the navy
generally, would literally ruin the n2Vys EN-,
Cheney The question as 10 Vnlcn AdIniraA
Rrownson took issue with the department. VIII
deal with in a separate letter IL Is one as %
which there can be entirely legitimate difer-
ences of opinion, although in my Judgment the
considerations in favor OF the course decided
unon are Overwhelming- But there IS no room
for difference of opinion TO the gross tmpro-
prtety of the admiraIs conduct IN reSiSnins
sooner than carry the orders of his superior
of.icsrs in such a matter. The officers of the
navy must remember that IL IS not merely
childish but in the highest degree reprehensibie
to permit either personal pique WOUNDED VANITY
or factionaI feeling on oehalr or some pdrticuar
bureau or organization to render them diSloS1l
TO the interests of the navy and therefore or tns
country as a whole. The question Wnetner one
officer or another shall command a SKIP IS Sf
IitrIe consequence compared with the weakening
Of all command and discipline, which would rS-
suit if officers were 70 refuse 70 serve WhehsNer
their tempers are rutffed by adverse DECISIONS
ON the part of their superiors Their sole con-
Germ should be the good Of the service. and save.
only lack OF courage in actual warfare, obedience
and LOYALTY are the most essential qualities IN
kaeping the service up 20 the highest standard
The different bureaus Of the department.. the
different branches OF the service. must act IN
coordination and the questions tlat arise De
tween them must be settled by the authority ef
the Secretary OF the Navy or OF the President
under and in accordance with the law enacted
bv Congress-: and the first duty OF every officer.
whether OF the line. of the pay department. OF
the medical department or OF the construction
department. whether in one bureau OF another.
ia give immediate and loyal Obedience To
every lawful command or superior, and. %
course above all. To the law itself This duty y
Incumbent upon all. but il is most incumbent
upon those high In rank, whose example may he
of farreaching effect.
THEoDORE ROOSEVELT