The New York herald., 1921-09-04
LINE OFFICERS BACK
ON HOSPITAL SHIPS
Change Indicated by Assign
ment Of Capt. johnson
From Annapolis.

Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALp.
ANNAPOLIS, Sept. 3-Orders received
by Capt. Thomas L. Johnson. COM
manding the ships at the Naval Acad-
emy station. detaching him from that
post and ordering him to the command
Of the hospital ship Relief, are Of much
significance as they indicated return
by the Navy Department to the policy
OF assigning line officers to the command
0f such vessels, which since the ad-
rninistration OF President Roosevelt
have been commanded by medical Of
fcers.
The designation of Captain johnson
to the command of the Relief Is the first
instance since that time Of the assign
ment OF a line officer to such duty. The
change has become necessary through
the fact that these vessels are no longer
oflcered by members of the Merchant
Marine, but in the main by officers Of
the Naval Reserve. 1t lis not only a
matter of regulation. but of United
states statute, that staR officers can
the line.
It will be recalled that when Presi-
dent Roosevelt designated the first med
ical officer. Medical Director Stokes, to
the command OF hospital ship many
OF the line officers felt very bitterly about
It, and 1t was 10 kecnly felt by Rear
Admiral Willard II. Brownson. COM
mAnding the fleet to which the medical
vessel belonged, that he was relieved
Of his command. President Roosevelt II
used some characteristic language at
the time.
The system worked weIl enough as
long as officers were drawn from the
Merchant Marine, but more than one
clash is understood to have taken place
when officers of the reserve were as
signed to these ships and were placed
In position to receive commands from
medical officers. In one of these cases
coming to the attention OF the depart
ment 1t was determined that medical
officers could not be placed in authority
over line officers In any case.
In view OF the present situation and
the existing law on the subject q change
OF method became necessary, and the
assignment OF Capt. Johnson to the Re-
lief In the flrst instance of IT,
For purposes OF drill and discipline the
members OF the new Fourth class az the
Naval Academy have been formed into a
regiment OF four battalions with two
companies each. and the mIdshipman
officers appointed. The regiment Is
much further advanced than is usual for
the organization OF new class. as the
class was formed moro promptly than
usual giving better opportunity to the
drill officers
The regimentai commander, or Ave
striper." IL M. A. Powell OF Arkansas
a member OF the A. r. f., who saw active
service in the trenches In France. His
military training and experience stood
him we'll when he came TO the academy
and he received the highest rank In the
nAwly formed regiment. He Is big,
powerful fellow, and recently won the
heavyweight championship OF the class
In the boxing tournament just concluded
Tho next ranking members OF the
class are the "four-stripera' or battalion
commanders They are r. r. York, G.
p. Elliott. +. G. Be,rrkle and o. w.
vandenbere. The eight company com
manders, OF "three-stripers. are II. II.
Dean, n. g. Lanstcn, r. w. McKinnon,
J. N. Hart. NJ j. Wilson, q. r. Bannon,
c. G. Grimes and II. M. Rice.