Omaha daily bee., 1908-01-06
BR0WNs0N
Rear Admirals / .agnatiOn Called Act
Of Gross Improperly.
OFFICERS SHOULD OBEY ORDERS
Service Cannot Be Maintained if Men
in Command Are Disloyal
CL1oUEs ROUNDLY DENOUNCED


WARRINGTON, n. G.. Jan 5.--Prcsiden-
Ilooseyelt's attitude on the question Of the
command OF hospital ships in tho army
which resulted IN the resignation Of Rear
Admiral willard ". Browuson and inc
CeH'ely caused some caustic observations
on that incident and that the controversies
among the naval Officers and their adher-
eris as - details os naval construction
and methods OF training. were made known
today when Secretary Metcalf gave to the
press two letters from the president. ad-
dressed to him on these subjects.
In the first OF these letters President
Roosevelt without miucing words, con-
demns IN measured terms the act of Ad-
mlral BroWnson. declaring vt TO be un-
seemly and improper. The question as to
which Admiral Brownson took issue with
the Navy department the president declares
IL one as to which there can be entirely
legitimate differences of opinion. but he
adds there Is no room for difference Of
opinion as 10 the gross improperly of the
admirals conduct in rcsgning sooner than
carry out the orders OF his superior off
GERS ln such matter. The officers of
the navy must remember that It is not
merely childish, but in the highest degree
reprehcnsiblc 70 permit either personal
piquc wounded vanity or ractlonal feeling
on behalf OF some particular bureau or or
ganization to render them disoyal to the
interests of the navy, and therefore Of
the country as a whole
Wrons Methods Criticised.
Regarding the controversies In the navy.
thn president admits there always are and
always will be defects to correct. both in
tho construction of ships and I'm the or
ganAatlon OF the department and In the
T.tn 90 ha fo en ho
sayY. that these defects be pointed out,
but a. Is also well that they should be
pointed out without hysterlcal eNaggera-
ton or malicious untruthfulness. He scath-
inRly rebukcs those guilty of exploiting
them IN grossly exaggerated form In the
fanciod interest of an individual or clique
OF individuals or for TIE sake of supplying
sensational material to newspapers. Be
cause OF so much misrepresentation and
sSaseeration the president has asked Sec
~ sstaHy sMotealf forsR statement as te-the
exact facts concerning which there have
been disputes, desiring particularly the
opinion OF Admiral Converse, formerly
chief Of the navigation bureau who, be-
cause of his high professional attainments
ana standard OF conduct and duty the presi-
dent considers peculiarly fitted TO give
Judgment,
Text of Letter.
ing the retirement of Admiral Brownson
and the controversies in the navy is as
follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON,
Jan 2 lgOS.-The Secretary of the Navy:
today Captain Pillsbury will be appointed
CHIEF OF the bureau Of nayisatlon -,
u Hdmra Pi BrownsoS 59S sSS iet S ne
hisf>esignation because he did not agree
with the president and the department re-
uar iurr an nrHa haf ha as,an
into the bureau by the secretary OF the
navy, as to the control of the hospital
ships was unseemly and improper. and.
coupled with the various controversies
among the officers of the navy and their
tion and methods Of training. has un-
doubtedly been prejudicial TO the interests
of the navy and may seriously impair the
TO securing the legislation so sorely needed
by the navy. The way in which these
controversies have been carried out is
highly injurious to the service whether
the communications are made openly over
the signatures, OF the naval Officers ar by
civilians who have evidently gained their
Information from naval officers. There
also were 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 that these defects should be pointed
out, but il Is always well that they should
be pointed out without hysterical eNaggera-
Il is of course reprehensible i'm the biEhest
degree TO exploit them In grossly exagger-
ated form In the fancied interest OF an
individual or clique OF individuals or for
the sake of supplying sensational material
70 some service or non-service newspa per.
of such conduct deserve grave rebuke.
They cast dseredit upon the service and
their conduct is deeply mortifying 10 every
American who believes In the navy and
is anxious to uphold IT'S interests and
honor. There has been 50 much misrepre-
sentation and eXaggeration that I desire
you to make me statement as 10 the
exact facts concerning which there has
TO get the opinion Of Admiral Converse
who until last spring was chief of the
tessional standard Of conduct and duty
and high professional knowledge and at
tsinments render him peculiarly fit to give
objection to BAD Precedent.
would willingly pass over the conduct
OF Admiral Brownson because OF his fine
service IN the past II II were not that al
time when a new chief is chosen 10 sue.
ceed him Il becomes imperative to stamI
with disapproval the behavior which, Il
Would literally ruin the @ naSys S effSiensyy ffhsiF5y
The question TO which Admiral BrownsoI
took issue with the department l will deR
which there can be entirely legitimate dif
ferenees OF opinion. although in my judg
ment the considerations In favor Of the
course decided upon are overwhelming But
there e no room for difference OF opinion
as 70 the gross improperly OF the admiral's
conduct IN resigning sooner than carry out
the orders OF his superior officers In suct
remember that II Is not merely Childish
but IN the highest degree reprehensible to
permit their personal pique. wounded van
ity or factionsl feeling on behalf OF some
particular bureau or organization 20 render
them disloyal 10 the interests OF the navy
and therefore OF the country as a whole
Tho question whether one officer or another
snail command ship is OF little conse-
quence compared with the weakening OF al
command and discipline which would result
II officers were to refuse 10 serve whenever
their tempers are ruffled by adverse de.
cisions on the part OF their snperiors, Theil
sole concern should he the good 0f the
service, and save only lack OF courage In
actual warfare, obedience and loyalty are
the most essential Qualities in keeping the
service up 10 the highest glandard. The
different bureaus OF the department. the
different branches OF the service must act
IN coordination and the questions that arise
between them must be settled by the au-
thority Of the secretary Of the navy and OF
tcontlnued on second PaEs1