The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-06
TWO LETTERS ON THE
NAVAL CONTROVERSY
Continued From PAGE /.

,, Continued From Page I.
been p7ejudicial to the interests of the
navy, and may seriously impair the
confidence in the navy which is es-
sential to secure the legislation so sore
I ly needed by the navy. The way in
which these controversies have been
carried out Is highly injurious to the
service, whether the communication
are made openly over the signatures of
the naval officers, or by civilians who
have evidently gained their informa-
ton from naval officers.
There always are and always will
be defects TO correct both in the con-
struction of ships and the organizat ton
of the department and in the actual
drill of the fleet. 1t is we'll that these
defects should be pointed out, but it is
also well that they should be pointed
out without hysterical exaggeration or
malicious untruthfulness while il is of
course reprehensible in the highest de-
gree to exploit them in grossly exag-
gerated form in the fancied interests of
an individual or clique of individuals
or for the sake of supplying sensation
al material to some service or non-ser-
vice newspapers. The officers of the
navy who are guilty of such conduct
deserve grave rebuke. They cast dis
credit upon the service and their con-
duct is deeply Notifying to every
American who believes in the navy and
is anxious to uphold it's interests and
honor. There has been so much misrep-
resentation that | desire you to make
me statement as to the exact facts
concerning which there has been dis
pute In particular I desire you to get
the opinion of Admiral Converse. who
until last evening was the chief of the
bureau of navigation and whose high
professional standard of conduct and
duty, and high professional knowledge
and attachments render him peculiarly
fit to give judgment.
Roast for 6rownson.
4 would willingly pass over the con-
duct of Admiral BrOWnson because of
his fine service in the past if it were
not that at a time when a new chief
is chosen to succeed him it becomes i'm
perative to stamp with disapprOval the
behavior which, if followed throughout
the navy generally. would literally
ruin the navy's efficiency. The question
as to whether Admiral BTownson took
issue with the department, 1 will deal
in a separate letter.
ct is open to question as TO
whether there can be entirely
legitimate differences of opinion,
although in my judgment the con-
sideration, in favor OF the course decid-
ed upon are overwhelming. But there
is no room for difference of opinion as
TO the gross improperly of the ad-
mirars conduct in resigning sooner than
carry out the orders of his superior
officers in such q matter. The officers
of the navy must remember that it is
not merely childish, but in the highest
/ degree reprehensible, to permit enough
/ personal pique, wounded vanity or fac
tional feeling on behalf Of some partic-
uIar bureau TO render them disloyal to
the interests of the navy and therefore
OF the country as a whole.
Obedience Essential.
THE question whether one officer or
another should command a ship is of
little consequence, compared with the
weakening of all command and discip
line which would result if officers were
to refuse to serve when their tempers
were ruffled by adverse decisions on
the part of their superiors. Their sole
concern should be the good of the SER
vice, and, save only lack of courage in
actual warfare, obedience and loyalty
are the most essential qualities in keep
ing the service up to the highest stan
dard. The different bureaus of the de-
pdIllutllls TIE inherent branches OF the
service, must act in cooperation, and
the questions that arise between them
must be settled by the authority of the
secretary of the navy and of the presi-
dent under and in accordance with the
law enacted by congress; and the first
duty of every officer, whether of the
line, of the pay department, of the med
zeal department or of the construction
department whether in one bureau or
another, is to give immediate and loyal
obedience to every lawful command of
a superior, and of course, above all. to
the law itself. This duty is incumbent
upon all, but it is most incumbent up
on those high in rank, whose example
may be of far reaching effect.
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Letter No. 2.
The presidents second letter TO Mr.
Metcalf is an argument TO sustain his
decision to assignment of officers IN