Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-07
PRESIDENT SCORES
ADMIRAL BROWNSON
Roosevelt Says That The Officer
Was Guilty Of Very Gross
improperly.
RFBHKfS THOSE Who CRITICIZED
Calls Statements Made Detrimental to
the Navy Misrepresentation and
acknowledgements Declines
to Discuss Matter Because 1t Would
be a Breach for Him to Talk.

VIC 81 DISdCn TOT ftlm 10 ak.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. c.
President Roosevelt's attitude regard
ing the command of the hospital ships
i'll the navy, which resulted in the res
gnation of Rear Admiral Willard II
Brownson, and incidentally, some
caustic observations on that incident
ana the controversies among the ma
val officers and their adherents as to
details of naval construction ana
methods of training were made known
when Secretary Metcnlf gave to the
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 unmeasurod terms the
hct OF Admiral Brownson, declaring
IL TO he unaeemly and improper.
The question rs to which Admiral
Brownson took issue with the Navy
department. the President declares. is
one AS to which there can be entirely
legitimate differences of opinion. bnt
lie ADDS, there is no room for differ
ence of opinion as to the gross i'm
propricty of the Admiral's conduct In
resisning sooner than carry out the
orders of his superior officers In such
n matter
me officers of the navy must re-
member that ii Is not merely childish.
but III the highest degree reprehensi-
PIE TO permit either personal pique,
wounded vanity or factional feeling,
or both, to render them disloynl to the
interests of the navy. and therefore
or the 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 tho
department, and in the actual drill of
the fleet 1t is we'll, he says. that
these defects lie pointed out, hut If
is also well that they should be point
ed out without hysterical eyageera
ton or malicious untruthfulness. He
scathingly rebukes those guilty of ex-
plotting them in grossly exaggerated
form In the fancied interest of an in
dividual or clique of individuals. or for
HE. sake of supplying sensational ma
terial to newspapers.
i5ecause of so much misrepresan-
tation and eNaggeration.r the Presi-
aeht has asked Secretary Metcalf for
statement rs To the exact facts con-
corning which there has ben dispute
desiring particularly the opinion of
Auihltal Converse, formerly chief of
'ne navigation Bureau. who. because
Oh ms nigh professional attachments
ana standard of conduct. the Presi-
nent considers peculiarly fitted to give
judgement.
Medical Commanders.
Mr.. Metcalf is an argument IN ems
tam his decision to assign medical
officers 10 the command of hosnital
ships '''"'
He recalls an order of the Navy
Department of December 10 1aoG
made by Secretary Bonaparte. direct
ing that hospital ships be placed nm
| der command of n medical otfcar
such ships the President therefore,
directs shall hereafter, unless other
wise directed by Congress-, be placed
under the control and command OF
medical officers. their navigation be-
ing exclusively controlled by com.
petent sailing master and civilian
crew. the sailing master having the
| complete responsibility for everything
ship. '"''oi VI we
Hospital slips should be in time
! OF peace exactly under the same CON
ditions as in time OF war;" declares
| me PRESIDENT: the system has been
tried III the army. and tried in foreign
havies. and has worked without a
erownson Silent
Admiral Brownson was show, ,tbe
Presidents letters today by n repre-
| sentative of the Associated press
and asked If, in view OF the fact that
Mr. Roosevelt's side of the subject
mad been stated in these communica-
IONS, he would not feel at liberty IN
say something in. his own behalf
Not a word" was his prompt re-
ply, and this attitude he maintained
70 al inquiries for his views. The
ADMIRAL has consistently declined to
say anything for publication In the
whole matter.
accompanied by a friend. Admiral
browlson left Washington this after
noon for a trip TO South Carolina
where he expects to Indulge in duck
snootins for the next week or ten