Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1908 — HE SETTLES THE CONTROVERSY [ARTICLE]

HE SETTLES THE CONTROVERSY

So Far as His Administration Is Con« cerned—Characteristic Comment. The president’s second letter to Metcalf is an argument to sustain his decision to assign medical officers to the command of hospital ships. It also directs shall hereafter, unless otherwise directed by congress, h ispital ships be placed under the control and command of medical officers, their navigation being exclusively controlled by a competentsailing master and civilian < rew, the sailing master having the complete responsibility for everything connected with the navigation of the ship. In this letter the president says, among other characteristic comment: “The hospital ship now in question, the Relief,, has already been used by the United States army as such. -It I was then commanded by a medical officer, with a sailing master under him. This arrangement lias worked we 1, and it is preposterous to suppose that it will not work as well under a medical officer of the navy as under a medical officer of the army.” The president | says that in other navies the hospital ship is thus commanded, and the practice was followed in our civil war, and he declares that “Tbs command of a hospital ship should unquestionably be vested in a medical officer, and no line officer should be ahftard it.” Then the president tells how United States ships when commanded by line officers, but flying the Red Cross flag and therefore neutral took belligerent part in the Spanish war, and adds: “In time of war the presence of combatants — that is. of line officer* 4»r crew—'would certainly cast a suspicion upon the neutrality of the ship; and no line officer worth his salt would wish to be on such a ship, while it seems Incredible that any line officer should desire to have another line officer on board such a ship.” Admiral Brownson was shown Hie president’s letter by a representative of the Associated Press and asked ff in view of the fact that Roosevelt’s side of the subject had been stated in these communications he would not feel at liberty to say something in his own behalf. “Not a *vord,” was his prompt reply, and this attitude he maintained to all inquiries for his views. The admiral has consistently declined to say anything for publication.