The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-06
PRESIDENT SCORES
ADMIRAL BRONNS0N
He Says the Officer Was
Guilty of Very Gross
lmpropriety.
REBUKES THOSE
WHO CRITICIZED
Calls Statements Made Detri.
mental to the Navy "Misrep-
resentations and Exaggera-
tions' '-Brownson De-
clines to Discuss
Matter.

WASHINGTON. D. c., January o.
President Roosevelt's attitude regard
ing the command OF the hospital ships
In the Navy. which resulted In the res
,ignntion OF Rear Admiral Willard III.
Brownson and incidentally. some caus-
tic observations on that incident and
the controversies among the naval Of
ficers and their adhcrents as to details
OF naval construction and methods of
when Secretary Metcalf gave to tho
press two letters from the President
addressed to him on these subjects. In
the first OF these letters. President
Roosevelt. without mincing words.
condemns In unmeasured terms the act
OF Admiral Brownson. declaring It to
be unseemly and improper.
The question as to which Admiral
Brownson took issue with the Navy
Department the President declares, ts
one as to which there can be entirely
Legitimate differences of opinion. but
he adds. there Is no room for differ
ence OF opinion as to the gross impro-
priety of the Admirafs conduct in re-
signing sooner than carry out the or
ders OF his superior officers in such
matter.
The officers OF the navy must re-
member that 1t is not merely childish.
puL III lHS oC6ICC
ble to permit either personal pfque.
v ounded vanity or factional feeling,
or both. to render them disloyal to the
interests OF the navy. and therefore of
tile country as whole"
Admits Defects.
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. 1t is well, he says. that these
defects be pointed out. but 1t Is also
we'll that they should be pointed out
without hysterical exasseration or ma
El:eious untrutafuiness. He scathingly
rebukes 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 $50 much misrepresenta-
tion and exaggeration," the President
has asked Secretary Metcalf for a
statement as to the exact facts con-
corning which there has been dispute.
desiring particularly the opinion Of
Admiral Converse. formerly chief CT
the Navigation Bureau, who. because
OF his high professional attainments
and standard OF conduct. the President
considers peculiarly fitted to give judg
ment.
Medical Commanders.
The Presidents second letter to Mr..
Metcalf is an argument to sustain his
decision to assign medical officers to
the command Of hospital ships.
He recalls an order Of the Navy De-
! partment of December IL. 1906, made
! by Secretary Bonaparte. directing tina; ;
] hospital ships be placed under COM
mand of medical officer. Such ships
i the President therefore directs sllatl
! hereafter. unless otherwise directed by
| Congress- be placed under the control
and command OF medical officers their
navigation being exclusively controlled
| by competent sailing master and
| civilian crew. the sailing master hav-
| Ing the complete responsibility for
! everything connected with the naviEn-
! tion Of the ship.
Hospital ships should be in time OF
peace exactly under the same condi-
Itions as In time Of war" declares the
PRESIDENT: "the system has been tried
in the army, and tried in foreign
ravies. and has worked without a
| titch.'
Druwnson Silent.
i Admiral Brownson was shown the
Presidents letters to-day by repre-
sentative of the Associated Press. and
asked If. in view Of the fact that Mr.
Roosevelt's side of the subject had beer
! stated in these communications. he
would not feel at liberty TO say some
thing in his own behalf
"Not a word,"was his prompt reply
and this attitude he maintained to al
4 Inquiries for his Views. The admira
4 has consistently declined to say any.
thing for publication in the whole
4 matter.
!. Accompanied by a friend. Admira
|Brownson left Washington this after
|noon for a trip to South Carolina. wher,
The expects to indulge In duck shooting
TO: the next week or ten days.