The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
PRESIDENT ASSAILS
ADMIRAL In LETTER
Continued from Page one.

Continued from Page One.
perative to stamp with dsapproval the
behavior which, if followed throughout
the navy generally. would literally ruin
the navy's efficiency. The question as TO
which Admiral Brownson took issue with
the department. / viii deal with in a
separate letter It is one as TO which
there can be entirely legitimate differ
ences OF opinion. although in my iudg-
ment the considerations in favor Of the
course decided upon are overwhelming.
No Room for Difference.
But there is no room for difference Of
opinion as TO the gross improprlety Of
the admirars 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 it is not
merely childish but in The highest de-
gree reprehensible TO permit either per-
sonal pique, wounded vanity. or factional
feeling on behalf of some particular bu-
rcau or organization, TO render them dis
loyal 10 the interests Of the navy and
therefore Of the country as a whole.
The question whether one officer or
another shall command a ship IS Of lit
tie consequence compared with the weak
ening of all command and discipline
which would result II officers were 20 re-
fuse 10 serve whenever their tempers
are ruflied by adverse decisions on the
part of their superiOrs. Their sole con-
Germ should be the good of the service.
and save only lack Of courage in actual
warfare. obedience and loyalty, are the
most essential qualities in keeping the
service up 10 the highest standard.
The dllferen; bureaus of the GeBavt-
ment, the different branches Of the ser,-
lee, must act IN coordination. and the
questions that arise between them must
be settled by the authority Of the Sec
retary OF the Navy ana Of the Presi-
dent, under and in accordance with the
law enacted by Congress. ana the first
duty Of every officer whether Of the line
of the pay department. Of the medical
department, or Of the construction de-
partment, whether in one bureau OF in
another, Is 10 give immediate and Ioval
obedience 70 every lawful command OF a
superior, land, Of course. above all, to
the law itself.
This duty is incumbent upon all. but
ii is most incumbent upon those highest
IN rank. whose example may be of far
reaching effect
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The second letter was written on jan
uary Z, two days later. Its text follows.
Letter on Merits OF Contest.
'The White House,
Washington Jan 4. 1865.
ITO the Secretary OF the Navy.
Your predecessor in the Navy Depart
ment on December i. 1896. directed that
hospital ships should be treated as float
ing hospitals, and that each such shin
should, therefore, be placed under the
command OF medical officer, the navi-
cation being controlled by a competent
sailing master. This order was issued
after tGe most careful consideration by
the Secretary Of the Navy and bv the
President of all the reasons that could
be- adduced for and against it.
THE case mas now been reopeued, and
the Secretary of the Navy and the Presi-
dent have again listened to and consider
ed all the reasons that could be adduced
against putting the order into effect
After the fullest consideration. I have
determined that the order is right. and Il
is hereby confirmed.
The hospital ships Of the navy will
hereafter, unless otherwise directed by
Congress, be placed under the control and
command of medical officers of the navy,
their navigation being exclusively con
trolled by competent sailing master
and civilian crew, the sailing master hay
ing the complete responsibility for every
thing connected with the navigation Of
the ship.
Floating Hospital.
such a ship Is merely a floating hos
pital. The hospital ship now in question
the Relief, has already been used by
the United States army as such. Il was
then commanded by a medical officer.
with a sailing master under him. This
arrangement worked well, and il is pre-
posterous TO suppose that it will not
work as well under q medical officer of
the navy as under a medical officer Of
the army.
Certain hospital ships in the British,
German. japanese, and Italian navies
have already been commanded by medical
officers-sometimes feet surgeons. some
times Red Cross surgeons. In those navies
the only ships of which I have been
able TO get record were thus commanded; +;
save that in the japanese navy the hos
pital ships at the beginning of the late
war were commanded by line officers.
but were then put under the command of
medical officers, TO avoid all question of
possible breach OF neutrality.
In our own service, at the close Of the
civil war, by general order of February
6, 1860, hospital transports and hospital
boats were placed exclusively under The
control Of the medical department; the
hospital ship on the Mississippi being
under the command Of a fleet surgeon,
with an acting master under him as
navigating officer.
Under Surgeons Command.
in the Spanish-American war the hos
pitaI ships Vigilancis, Relief, Missouri,
Bay State and Olivette were by various
orders Nos. 10S. 122, 1SS. 212, 273. Re-