New-York tribune., 1909-05-14
"DOCTOR" MAY COMMAND
OLD CONTROTERSY WILL
COME BEFORE MR. TAFT.
Surgeon General Selects DR.. Pick
rcU as Commander of Hos
pitaI Ship SOIacG.
From The Tribune Buresu.I

Washington. May 13.-President Taft will be
called upon in a few weeks TO settle the ques-
tion Of detailing a naval surgeon to command a
naval hospital ship. The question will arise
from the intention of the surgeon general of the
navy 10 have Surgeon George Pickrell detailed
TO command the new hospital ship Solace- That
vessel. recently brought around from the Pacific
Coast, Is at the navy yard at Charleston. 5. c.
being fitted out, according to the plans Of
naval constructors, a modern hospital ship
so far as the necessary equipment may be in
stalled on a vessel not originally designed for
the purpose. Some weeks ago Surgeon Pickrel,
who was on duty at the Naval Academy, and is
one OF the ablest officers of his corps. was nom
mated by the surgeon general to take charge of
the special installation necessary on the Solace
for its new duties The surgeon general has
also asked that Surgeon Pickrell be detailed to
command the Solace when commissioned which
will be about July l. when 1t is planned to add
the vessel to the Atlantic fleet
The line officers. including the present chief of
the bureau of navigation. Rear Admiral J. f.
PiIlsbury and Rear Admiral William P. Potter.
who will succeed him July l, are more than
ever convinced that 1t Is undesirable TO detail a
naval surgeon to command a ship in commits
sion, and especially ship which is a part of a
fighting fleet. recommendation Will therefore
be made 10 President Taft that. whatever orders
may be gwen TO surgeon fiChIcli III SoHhcStioh
with the hospital ship Solace. the assignment to
duty be so worded as to make plain the distinc-
ton between having charge of a hospital ship as
the senior surgeon on board and exercising COM
mand, which is the function that line ofhcers be-
Ieve devolves entirely on themselves.
This is the old question which Surgeon Gen
eral Rixev induced President Roosevelt to de
eide in mis- favor the time Surgeon Charles F.
Stokes was detailed to command the hospital
rnIT1er IN
pieces on the Asiatic station, and is now a hos
pitaI station ship at Olongapo. Surgeon Stokes
was formally installed as commanding officer of
the Relief and as such properly received
by the other commanding officers of the ships of
the Atlantic fleet when the Relief was a part of
that command on its cruise from San Francisco
to Manila.
Surgeon Stokes is a most tactful and able
officer and no better selection could have been
made to carry out Surgeon General Rixey's plan
that naval surgeons actually command naval
hospital ships It was believed that the ques-
ton would not again present itself, but that was
on the theory that Surgeon General Rixey would
continue to exercise at the White House in the
Taft administration the personal influence he
enjoyed while Mr.. Roosevelt was President
One of the first acts Mr. Taft performed after
his Inauguration was TO replace Surgeon Gen
eral Rixey with Lieutenant Colonel Edie. of the
army medical corps as attending physician at
the White House, and Rear Admiral Rixey will
not be able to carry his point with the Taft
administration with equal facility.
The line officers OF the navy have been prompt
to recognize their opportunity, and it would
cause no surprise IL Mr.. Taft sustained the view
that there is incongruity in detailing naval
surgeon or any other staff officer to command
The Solace will be placed in commission when
ready for. service there being no opposition to
such a vessel. which is recognized as having
useful function in a fleet. But il will be en-
phaticaIly said 10 Mr.. Taft that the senior
naval surgeon on board that vessel should be
in charge and not in command.