The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-07
BROWNSON'S LETTER
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MAKES THE CORRESPONDENCE PUBLIC.
The Admiral Tells the President That His Advice Was Not Followed Which Showed Lack of
 C0nf3deuee

Washington. Jan. 6.-The President today made public the following letter of Admiral Brownson, who resigned as chief of the Navigation Bureau of the Navy Department. with the explanation that it was inadvertently omitted" from the correspondence made public this morning. The letter follows:
 Department of the Navy,
 Bureau of Navigation,
 Washington, D. C., Dec. 24, 1907.
 '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 Department, the bureau which under the Secretary, is charged with matters relating to the personnel, the discip- line and the efficiency of the fleet. 1T This transfer from a command which ranks second in importance atioat to one which is second to none on shore. coming oL the eve of my re- tirement from active service, while not to my personal liking. was deeply grat- flying to me as 1t appeared to be an evidence of your confidence in my pro- fessioI.al ability.
 "In order, however, that any efforts of mine to maintain a high standard of efficiency and discipline in the ser vice be attended with success, it Is ab- solutely essential that I should have the confidence of the service at large as wei as that of higher authority. The efficiency of the fleet can only be maintained wheu the officers and men feel that the chief of the Bureau of Navigation has the confidence of the commander in chief of the army and navy and when a strong military spirit exists in the service. Anything that shows a lack of confidence or that tends to break down this military spir- 1t. which has been the safeguard and principal asset of the navy since its be- ginning, can but impair such efficiency.
 The recent order placing a medical officer in command of a hospital ship, is in my opinion. and have endeav- ored on several occasions to point out to you. e.eariy opposed to the intent of the law, is a radical departure from the established naval usage and is fraught with danger to the efficiency of the fleet. will tend. believe. to break down the military split of the service. and shows a want of your confidence in my advice regarding a matter so vital 10 the best interests of the service. am left, therefore, with no alternative 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 I have been devoted ard to which I have given my best efforts for over forty-six years.
 ''Very respectfully,
 willard H. Brownson,
 "chicf of Bureau" "To the President.
 The Presidents letter of acceptance is as follows:
 'SThe White House. Washington. D. C., December 24. "Sir-I accept your resignation to take effect immediately. You will this afternoon turn over your office to your assistant Captain Winslow, informing him that ne Is to act until such time as your successor is appointed and qualities.
 ''Very truly yours
 (Signed.) Theodore Roosevelt" Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson, U. S. N.
 ''Navy Department"