Morris tribune., 1908-01-18

Il
into the bureau as to the control of the
hospital ships as ''tlnseemly and inn
proper and coupled with the various
controversies among the officers Of the
navy and their adherents as to details
Of naval construction and methods Of
training has undoubtedly been preju
dicial to the interests Of the navy and
may seriously impair the confidence in
the navy, which is essential to secur-
ing the legislation which is so sorely
needed by the navy" He further says
that sthere is no room for difference
Of opinion as to the gross improperly
Of the admiral's conduct in resigning
sooner than carry out the orders of his
superior officers in such q matter. The
officers of the navy must remember
that it is not merely childish, but in
the highest degree reprehensible, to
permit either personal pique, wounded
vanity or fractional feeling on behalf
Of some particular bureau or organiza-
ton to render them disloyal to the in
the country as a whole" The presi-
dent states that there have been so
much Misrepresentation and exaggera-
ton that he wishes the secretary to
make him a statement as to the exact
facts concerning which there has been
dispute and particularly wishes him to
get the opinion Of Admiral Converse
who until last spring was chief of the
bureau of navigation and whose high
professional standard Of conduct and
knowledge render him peculiarly fit to
give judgment.
| The day following the publication of
| the above letter the president gave to
! the public the letter of Admiral Brown
son resigning his position as bureau
chief. This letter is dated Dec. "a.
After referring to the honor conferred
upon him in appointing him to the post
he was then holding he intimates that
his usefulness in that position will be
impaired by the lack of confidence
shown in placing medical officer in
command of a hospital ship contrary
to his advice, a course which he con-
siders clearly opposed to the intent Of
tablished naval usage and fraught with
danger to the efficiency of the feet"
In view of this he felt that there was
no alternative but to tender his resig-
nation.
Doctor to Command Relief
BY direction Of the president Secre-
tary of the Navy Metcalf signed an Or
der directing Surgeon Charles F.
Stokes to take command Of the hos
pital ship Relief. This Is the last step
in the controv ersy which resulted in
the resignation of Rear Admiral Brown
son from the Office Of chief Of the bu
reau of navigation. In connection with
this action the president transmitted
to the secretary a letter defending his
course and citing the precedents in the
American and other navies for such
procedure.
Taft Urges Higher Pay.
In his annual report Secretary of
War Taft presents figures showing a
rapid decrease in the strength Of the
regular army in recent years, the net
loss last year being no less than 4, 428
men. The secretary declares that,
while many reasons have been ad-
vanced in explanation, sufficient one
is to be found in the fnadequacy Of
army pay. He recommends the adop-
ton for the army Of the navy system,
under which the president is author
lied to fix the rates of pay within de-
fined limits, as means Of obtaining |
better discipline and higher eff
cheney. He also recommends the crea-
ton Of general service corps to re-
lieve the soldiers Of the vast amount |
Of unmilitary work they are now called |
upon to perform. In his opinion the |
military service should be so attractive |
and desirable that it will not be diff |
cult to get and hold the class Of men |
needed for the enlisted personnel. The
estimates for the support Of the mill
tary establishment during the next fis- |
cal year are 11,5S2,93 greater than
last years appropriations. By far the
greater part Of the increase is for coast |
defense works.