The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-01-03
DR.. RlkEY TAKES 4 FIRM STAND
Medical Officers For Command Of
Hospital Ships.

Washington, D. G. (Special) The,
resignation OF Rear Admiral Willard
H. Brownson from the Office Of chief
of the Naval Bureau of Navigation
because President Roosevelt over
ruled his objection to placing naval
surgeon in command of q hospital
ship, is not likely to end the contro-
versy between the line and the stan
of the naval service involved In this
incident Admiral Brownson's pro-
test was the breath applied to q
smouldering flame, and those who
have known of all the trouble that
has been brewing for a long time
realize that the matter cannot be adj
Justed without much discussion and
the distribution of some hard knocks.
Coming right on top of the publi-
cation Of Henry Reuterdahl's attack
on the bureau system of the Navy
Department, the controversy between
Admiral Brownson and Surgeon Gem
eral Rixey assumes very important
and far-reaching aspect. 1t has
served to call attention to the differ
ences that exist between the bureaus
of the Navy Department and to dem
onstrate the need of more harmo-
NOUS administration. Nothing more
will be needed to attract the atten-
ton of Congress to Mr.. Reuterdahl's
structures, and when the Senate and
the House reassemble after the holt
days there is bound to be Thorough
airing of the causes which have
operated to bring about conditions
which naval officers themselves are
anxious to remedy.
Surgeon General Presley M. Rixey
issued statement in which he
touches upon the circumstances
leading up to the probable selection
by the President of medical officer
to command the hospital ship Relief
over the protest Of Rear Admiral
Brownson. While disclaiming exact
knowledge as to the cause of Admiral
Brownson's resignation, the Surgeon
Generals statement leaves little room
for doubt that the controversy he
reviews was potent factor.
Surgeon General Rixey maintains
that hospital ships, as. rule, always
have been commanded by medical
officers, with sailing master and
civilian crew for purposes of naviga-
ton. This particular vessel, he says,
formerly belonged to the Army and
always was commanded by medical
officer when used as hospital ship,
In attempting to unity the medical
services of the Army and the Navy
he says that joint army and navy
board of medical officers, which was
convened by executive order more
than year ago, recommended that
hospital ships should be commanded
by medical officers, and that that
recommendation was approved by
both the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy in general or
ders.
Since the Civil War, he says, all
hospital ships and medical transports
of the Army had been placed under
the Surgeon General of the Army
He says further that Japanese naval
hospital ships were commanded by
medical officers after having tried
line officers. These ships, he says.
are simply floating hospitals, prop
eriy under the control of the medical
department, and should be conducted
in peace exactly as III time of war.
This is especially so, he adds. because
during war time line officers cannot
be spared and do not, and should not,
desire the command of these ships.
He maintains that it always has
been doubtful question If the Gene
va and The Hague agreements could
guarantee the neutrality of these
ships If combatant (line) officers and
crews were aboard, and it was this
doubt which prevented the Japanese
during the recent war with Russia
from using line officers on hospital
ships.
mans sECREr wEDDINGs