The Washington herald., 1908-01-06

IN a letter given 70 the press yesterday.
President Roosevelt characterizes as ..uu-
seemly and improper" the action Of his
former intimate friend, Rear Admiral
Willard II. Brownson. in resigning the
Office Of chief of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton TO emphasize his opposition 10 the
new principle that a surgeon should be
given positive command over a naval
vessel, in this case the hospital shin Re-
lief. Admiral Brownson's attitude is ar
raigrIed severely by the President wba
takes advantage Of the opportunity IN
condemn in scathing terms those officers
Of the navy suspected Of having been
responsible for the recent articles critl-
eising the Navy Departments policy OF
warship construction. No names are
mentioned. Another letter from the Pres
ident. somewhat milder in tone. was made
public also. It is devoted TO an explana-
ton Of the reasons for placing surgeon
in command Of a hospital ship. In con
cluding the letter. the President directs
that the decision to give the Relief into
supreme charge Of an officer of the
Medical Corps be carried out as a general
policy with reference 10 all naval hos
pital vessels. Both letters are addressed
to the Secretary Of the Navy.
BrOwnSOn Letter stiII Secret.
| No explanation IS forthcoming as to
why these two chapters were added to
the official public literature Of the naval
/ imbrogliO at this time. The first chapter
Of an official character was the state
ment Of Surgeon General Rixey, the
/ White House physician, through whose
efforts the Presidents determination to
/ place 2 surgeon in command of the Re-
/ lief was brought about In that state
ment the Surgeon General made the
| charge Ihat the Bureau Of Navigation.
by which was meant Rear Admiral
| I. 0wns0n. had interfered seriously with
the work OF the Bureau Of Medicine and
Surgery. Of which Surgeon General Rfxev-
IS chief. No public rebuke was admin
lstered 10 the Surgeon General for reflect
Ing upon a brother officer through the
columns Of the press. and the inference
was that the publication Of the state
ment had been authorized by the Presi-
dent
Mr. Metcah the Secretary Of the Navy.
personally furnished 20 the press the tVa
letters Of President Roosevelt He de-
clined TO say why the letters were given
out When asked If the letter Of Admiral
Brownson, stating his objections TO the
| appointment Of a surgeon to command
the Relief would be made public also.
Mr. Metcalf said:
You will have to apply to the whita
House for information on that point. Ad-
miral Brownson's letter was not. sd-
dressed to me"
President Roosevelt's first letter to Sec
retary Metcalf is dated January 2. 10
follows:
Letter on Admiral BrOwnsOn.
"The White House,
Washington. Jan. ?, 1905.
TO the Secretary Of the Navy:
In accordance with our conversation
Of to-day. Capt. PiHsbury viii be ap-
pointed chief Of the Bureau Of Naviga-
ton.
The action of the late chief of the
bureau, Admiral Brownson, in rendering
his resignation because he did not agree
with the President and the department.
regarding an order, issued before he came
into the bureau. by the Secretary Of the
Navy, as TO the control of the hospital
: ships, was unseemly and improper. and.
coupled with the various controversies
among the officers Of the navy and their
adherenCs as to details Of naval con
: struction and methods Of training, has
undoubtedly been prejudicial to the in
terests of the navy and may seriously
impair the confidence in the navy which
is essential to securing the legislation 50
: sorely needed by the navs.
"The way In which these controversies
have been carried out is highly injurious
to the service, whether the cOmmunic&
tions are made openly over the signatures
of the naval officers or by civilians who
have evidently gained their information
from naval officers, There always are
and always will be defects to correct
both in the construction OF ships and in
the organization OF the department and
bin the actual drill of the meet.
Defects Are Pointed out.
ut is well that these defects should be
pointed out, but it is also well that they
should be pointed out without hystericaI
exaggeratiOn OF malicious untruthfulness;
: while it is of course reprehensible in the
highest degree to exploit them I'm grossly
exaggerated form in the fancied interest
Of an individual or clique of individuals
or for the sake of supplying sensational
material to some service OF nonservice
newspaper. The officers of the navy who
are guilty of such conduct deserve grave
rebuke. They cast dscredlt upon the
service and their conduct is deeply NOR
tifying 20 every American who believes
in the navy and is anxious 10 uphold its
interest and honor.
There has been so much misTepresenta-
= ton and exaggeration that I desire you
z / 10 make me a statement as 10 the exact
) facts concerning which there has been
dispute In particular. I desire you 10
get the opinion OF Admiral Converse.
who. until last spring, was chief Of the
Bureau OF Navigation. and whose high
Z professional standard Of conduct and
3 duty and high professional knowledge
and attainments render him peculiarly
Y fit TO give judgment
II would willingly pass over the con
. duct OF Admiral BTownsOn because OF his
q fine service in the past, il it were not
that at time when new chief Is
s chosen 20 succeed him. Il becomes im-
CeutlHusS ca Psse 3, cslamA &