The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-01-07
WHY BROWNSOA QUIT
Roosevelt Finally Makes Rear
AdmiraPs Letter Public.
He REBUkES THE PRESIDENT
Naval Officers Say Former Head Of
Navigation Bureau Must Obtain Vim
dication From Chief Magistrates
Charge Of Disloyalty or Leave Navy.

Washington, Jan. President Roose-
! welt made public Admiral Brownson's
resignation as chief of the bureau Of
navigation. 1t proves to be singing
rebuke to the president.
The morning newspapers generally
pointed out that while the president
yesterday issued two letters of his own
denouncing Brownson and upholding
Surgeon General Rixey, the admirals
| letter of resignation was still not
Forthcoming. The public demand for
the contents of the letter, which was
known to have given the reasons for
Brownson's resignation, had become SO
persistent that resolutions were about
to be introduced in congress calling
for all the correspondence in the con
troversy.
Inadvertently Omitted"
The president in giving out the
Brownson letter, made the explanation
that ii, was inadvertently omitted
from the correspondence published this
morning. The letter follows
sir-In April last I was detached by
! your order from the command of the
United States Asiatic fleet and ordered
| to washington and appointed chief of the
most important bureau in the navy de-
| partment, the bureau which under the
secretary is charged with matters relating
! to the personnel, the discipline and the
| efficiency of the fleet.
This transfer from command which
ranks second in Importance afioat to one
which is second to none on shore. coming
on the eve of my retirement from active
service, while not to my personal liking.
was deeply gratifying to me, as 1t APP
peared to be an evidence Of your conf
dence in my professional ability.
| In order, however that any efforts OF
mine to maintain a high standard of eff
cheney and discipline in the service be
attended with success, 1t is absolutely es-
sential that / should have the confidence
of the service at large as well as that of
higher authority.
The efficiency of the fleet can only be
| maintained when the officers and men
feel that the chief of the bureau of nav-
! cation has the confidence Of the COM
mander in chief of the army and navy
and when a strong military spirit exists
in the service. Anything that shows q
lack of confidence or that tends to break
down this military spirit, which has been
the safeguard and principal asset of the
navy since its beginning. can but impair
such efficiency
Il
Ger In command of hospital ship is, in
my opinion, and as | have endeavored on
several occasions to point out to you,
clearly opposed to the intent of the law;
is radical departure from established
naval usage and is fraught with danger
to the efficiency of the fleet; will tend, /
believe to break down the military spirit
of the service and shows a want of your
confidence in my advice regarding mat
ter so vital to the best interests of the
service.
am left therefore, with no alterna-
| tive but to tender my resignation as chief
Of the bureau of navigation, much as
regret to sever my active connection with
the service to which have been devoted
and to which have given my best efforts
for over forty-six years.
Painfully Curt Reply
The presidents letter Of acceptance,
! painfully curt to one who had been a
| prime favorite Of his, follows:
sir-I accept your resignation. to take
effect Immediately, You will this after
sistant, Captain Winslow, informing him
that he Is to act until such time as your
successor is appointed and qualities
Naval officers are of the opinion that
Brownson will either demand court
| VI ihlutiy " fttiulNdttOu lEUAtA
the presidents charges OF disloyalty
and INSTRUMENTATION or else resign from
the navy.
1t is recalled that there was such
endless elimination and recrimination
in the case of SchIey, the hero of Santi-
ago, that he was at last induced to ac-
cept the court of inquiry to right him
self before the public.
Two more reports are to be made
one by Admiral Converse on the causes
of contention in the navy and the au-
thors Of information that has been Civ
en- to the public; the other by Surgeon
General Rixey in further support of
his contentious that a medical officer
should be in charge OF hospital ship.
Brownson win probably await all the
official reports before seeking vindi-
cation. AaslM