Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-01-06

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased "ltel
Washington, Jan 5.-President
Roosevets attitude on the question
Of the command of hospital ships in
the navy, which resulted in the res,S-
nation Of Rear Admiral Willard Fl,
Brownson, and incidentally some
caustic observations on that incident
and the controversies among the
naval officers and their adherents as
to details of naval construction and
methods of training, were made
known today when Secretary Metcalf
gave to the press two letters from the
president addressed to him on these
subjects,
In the first of these letters Presi-
dent Roosevelt condemns in unmeas-
ured terms the act Of Admiral Brown
son, declaring it to ne unseemly
and improper. The question upon
which Admiral Brownson took issue
with the navy department the presi-
dent declares is one ON which ,nerc can
be entirely legitimate differences Of
opinion, but he adds: There is no
room for differences of opinion as to
the gross improperly of the admlraI's
conduct In resigning sooner than
carry out the orders of his superior
officers in such a matter. The officers
of the navy must remember that 1t
is not merely childish, but in the
highest degree reprehensible to per-
init either personal piquc, wounded
vanity or facuonal feeling on behalf
Of some particular bureau of the or
ganization to render them disloyaI 10
the interests Of the navy and thera-
fore Of the country as a whole"
Regarding the controversies il the
navy the president admits there al
ways are and always will be defect To
correct. both in the constructors OF
ghips and in the organization of nc
department and in the actual drt,' OF
the feet 1t is well, he says, that th'5r
defects be pointed out but it is also
well that they shouid be Dointea out
without hystcrical cXaggerations ol
fnHilClOuS ull III ulill hl'''''''' 49,
ingly rebukes those guilty Of exploit
ing them in grossly exaggerated form
i'm the fancied interest of an indIVld-
lal or CLIQUE of individuals orior the
,lke of supplying sensational mateTlaI
to newspapers. Because OF so mucI'
misrepresentation and eXagGeratIo''
the president has asked Secretary
Metcalf for a statement of the exact
data concerning which there nave
been disputes, desiring particularly
the opinion of Admiral Converse, Ior-
mcrly chief of the navigation bureau
who because Of his high professional
attainments and standard Of conduct
and duty the president considers pc
culiarly fitted to give judgment Ihe
letter to Secretary Metcalf regarding
the retirement of Admiral Brownson
and the controversies in the navy Is
as follows:
"The White House, Washington, d
c.. January ., 1908,
The Secretary Of the Nayy;-l
accordance with your conversation oI
today, Captain Pilsbury will be ap'
pointed chief of the bureau OF naVi'
CATION,
"The action of the late chief Of inc
bureau, Adm iral Brownson, in tender
ing his resignation because he did no
agree with the president and the de-
partment regarding an order issuct
before he came into the bureau by TN
secretary of the navy as to the con
trol OF the hospital ships, was un
seemly and improper, and coupled
with the various controversies amoni
the officers of the navy and their ad
herents as to details of naval con
struCton and methods of training, ha
undoubtedly been prejudicial TO tn
interest of the navy and may serousl,
impair the confidence i'm the navy
which is essential to securing the leg
islation 80 sorely needed by the navy
The way in which these controversies
have been carried out is highly IN
furious TO the service, whether tn
communications are made openly owe
the signatures Of the naval officers
or by civilians who have evidenu
gained their information from MAYA
officers There always are and alway
will be defects to correct, both in tn