Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-24
President Wilson's Reply.

ZION PRESIDENT Wilson wrote.
MY Dear Admiral Caps: 1t is with
something more than regret that
have received through the Secretary OF
the Navy your letter informing me OF
the necessity you are under to relin-
ouish your duties in connection with
the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
have admired the work you have done
there most warmly, for / have kept in
formed concerning 1t, and know with
what devotion and intelligence you
have done 1t 1t will be a very great
loss to the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton that you must withdraw. and 1t
particularly distresses me to know
that the cause is your impaired health
''Of course, I will yield to your desire
and assign you to other duties as soor
as your health will permit you to
undertake them, but / want you tc
know with what reluctance do so and
with what genuine personal esteem
and confidence. l realize now that you
have remained longer at your presen,
post than your strength justified. and
know that you have done so from mo-
tives Of patriotism. May I not express
my obligation to you as public serv-
ant? Cordially and sincerely yours.
"(Signed) WOODROW WILSON"
Chairman Hurley's Letter.
This letter from Chairman Hurley tc
Secretary Daniels also was made public
MY Dear Mr.. Secretary: Admira
Caps has Informed me that he has
asked you to detail him to some other
post He has told me of the advice OF
his physician. which is that his health
will not stand the constantly increas-
ing strain Of the work Of general man.
ager of the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton DR.. Grayson suggested to me q
few weeks ago that it was very doubt
full whether the admiral could continue
to bear the burden.
7 need not tell you that these re-
ports. confirming what Admiral Capps
himself has told me on numerous oc-
casions, are source of great concern
to all of us. The work that Admiral
Caps has been doing has won the ad
mirAtion OF the officers and trustees OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Nc
consideration. other than personal con-
Germ for his health, could bring us tc
Join in his own request for a transfe,
to work less arduous.
we have been building up the or
ganization of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation. bringing into it the best
the country. and we have been hope
full that, by relieving Admiral Caps
OF part of the tremendous work he has
been doing. we would be able to ease
the pressure upon him.
"As the program Of shipbuilding Is
enlarged the duties and responsible
ties OF general manager also must be
enlarged. and Admiral Capps reluc-
tAntIy mas yltlOeC TO the ADVICE OF his
physicians. My association with Ad-
miral Caps has been SO congenial, his
remarkable abilities have SO won nv
admiration. that I am divided between
sense of loss in letting him go and
the sense of personal loyalty to him In
suggesting that you approve of his re-
quest. in order to conserve his health
and retain his skill and experience In
work where physical endurance Will
play q smaller part.
Incidentally. Admiral Caps work
has convinced me that his successor
should be some one trained in the
same service-a naval engineer or con-
structor. Might I not ask you to look
over the field and suggest some one OF
equal skill and devotion to the ma
tons interest?
Faithfully yours.
.(signed) edward N. HURLEY.
Chairman