The Washington herald., 1908-01-03
NAVAL CHIEF NAMED
Capt. Pillsbury to Head Nav.
igatiOn Bureau.
SUCCEEDS ADMIRAL BROWNSON
will Have to Deal with Same Prin-
ciDie for Which His Predecessor
Resigned, and Many Think He
shares Latter's Views Relative TO
ApDOiEtmentS-Fnm with ONCE

| shares Latter's Views Relative 10
ApDOiEtments-Fnmi with ONCE
Capt John Elliott PiIlsbury will sue
coed Rear Admiral Willard II. Brownson
as chief OF the naval Bureau of Naviga-
ton, according to an announcement made
at the White House yesterday. Capt
/ Pillsbury. or Rear Admiral PllIsbury, as
he will be then. will become head of the
most important executive Office in the
naval administration at a critical period
/ in its existence.
He will have to take his share Of the
| food Of criticism against the naval bu-
reau system, which is sure to set in with
the reassembling of Congress. Com
mander Cameron MGR. Winslow, the act
/ Ing chief Of the Navigation Bureau, did
not want the office, which now comes TO
] Capt Pillsbury. He is anxious 10 10 to
sea as a battle ship commander when he
| reaches the rank Of captain. and it is the
intention Of the President 10 assign him
10 the New Hampshire, now under con-
struction.
Did Not Apply for Post.
The question as TO whether Capt. Pills
bury did not sympathize with the action
Of Rear Admiral Brownson IN surrender
| ing his commission as chief of the Navi-
cation Bureau. because President Roose-
| welt insisted that a surgeon should be
| placed in command of a hospital ship did
| not enter into the selection Of Capt pills
| bury for his important new assignment.
He did not apply for the place, and his
appointment was decided on very sud
denly.
As line officer It is supposed that his
views as 10 giving command TO STAFF Of
hcers are the same as those of Rear Ad-
mlrai Brownson, but il would be unfair
| % capt. Pillsbury 10 say that he has
| made any declaration that his opinion
comedies with that Of his predecessor.
The order 10 Surgeon Charles F. Stokes
TO command the hospital ship Relief has
not been issued. Secretary Of the NAVY
Metcaf admitted that much. but would
make no other direct statement on the
subject except that the department was
endeavoring TO employ officers and crew
| for the Relief from the merchant service
II is known that il this cndeavor should
tall. and crew Of regularly enlisted
oluejackets Is sent 10 the Relief. Surgeon
| Stokes will not be given command. as the
| law provides specifically that no stan
/ officer shall command men OF the line or
# any other SIAN department. 4 line
/ cf1cer viii be assigned 10 command the
Relief il bluejackets compose her en-
listed complement
May Have sympathy.
While the chief interest I'm naval circles
over Capt. PiIsbury's selection lies in
the fact that he VIII succeed another line
officer who resigned for a principle with
which Capt. Pillsbury may have To deal
the prospective appointment is regarded
as having q deeper and more important
relation TO the troublesome questions in
volving the administration of naval af-
fairs and the construction Of war ships.
Capt. Pillsbury's affiliations have been
with the general board Of the navy. and
there is a strong suspicion in the Navy
Department that the general board has
not been out Of sympathy with much Of
the criticism that has been directed
against the plans for building battle ships
and armOTclads.
Nothing has come TO light 10 show
that Capt, PilIsbury agrees with the
critics Of the present naval system. but
he is familiar with the trend of opinion
among his colleagues Of the general board.
and viii be in position TO throw Hight on
many Of the points raised by those who
believe that the whole method Of naval
administration should be overhauled.
Officers May Be Punished.
There is reason to believe that the
higher authorities of the administration
are giving consideration 10 the advisa-
bility of undertaking disciplinary meas
ures against naval officers suspected of
having furnished information upon which
the recent criticisms have been based. 1t
is rumored that Rear Admiral George A.
Converse. president of the board on con-
struction. viii make some pointed al
lusions 10 the source of the criticisms in
the report which he will prepare in an
swer TO the allegations Of incompetent
ship construction. Officials are doubtful
of the wisdom OF any policy which con-
templates COuTt-maTtiaI proceedings and
radical policy Of discipline to stop dis
cussion.
The whole navy personnel is honey
combed with criticism of the bureau sys-
TEN and the methods Of ship cOnstrlIc-
ton In this condition of affairs the
President or the Navy Department. il is
commended. would hardly know where to
begin If it were determined TO bring be-
fore Courts-martial any officers believed
10 be responsible for the published stric-
lures, or who had not hesitated to voice
their opinions Of the present condition.
Doubt About COurt-martiaIS.
In the minds Of many Of those who are
giving the subject much thought, it is
questionable whether an officer who fur
nished information for magazine or
newspaper criticism Of naval affairs with
the sole idea of helping the navy. is prop
erly a subject for measures that might
result in his dismissal from the service.
But even if a few were selected for trial
by court martial, the cry would go I'D
that they have been made scapegoats,
while many who have INDUCED in equally
severe criticisms are permitted to escape.
A considerable number of naval officers
have not condemned the present discus
sion because they believe that it will re-
suit in good for the navy. Their chief
regret - mat II may serve 10 lnIufe the
chance of the pay and personnel bills, |
which are regarded as necessary to en- |
courage the desire to enter the commits !
stoned and enlisted grades Of the service. !
From what was said around the Navy /
Department yesterday. there is apparently |
some idea in the minds of the higher !
authorities of going after several officers |
VINO are suspected OF having been in |
strumental in furnishing documentary
evidence upon which much Of the criti- |
cism has been based.
Leader Is Mentioned.