The Salt Lake Herald

LINE AND STAFF.

In view of the fact that the controversy between Admiral Brownson and Surgeon General Rixey is sure to be in the public eye more or less during the next few weeks, it may be well to state something about the difference between staff and line officers in the navy.

We are told, briefly, that a line officer is one whose duties consist solely in fighting his ship. The staff officer furnishes the tools with which the line officer works, or is subject to the line officer's direction in carrying out general orders.

An engineer of the staff has nothing to say as to the direction in which a ship is to be sailed. His duties are to look after the machinery and to start or stop it when he is directed to do so.

A surgeon is a staff officer, and his duties are to look after the physical welfare of the officers and men under his medical care. He has no more to do with the movements of the ship than if he did not exist. This rule also applies to paymasters and all naval constructors.

More than a year ago, when the hospital ship Relief was placed in commission, the decision was reached that, if the vessel were manned by a merchant crew and master, a surgeon would be placed in command. But if she were manned by a naval crew, then a naval officer of the line would be in command. The Relief was never put into actual service, so the selection of a commander and crew was never made.

Now, however, it is understood that Surgeon Stokes will be given the command and that a civilian crew and sailing master will be placed under him.

It was this decision that caused the resignation of Admiral Brownson as head of the bureau of navigation. The resignation, by the way, should be explained, or rather the status he takes after his resignation. In an ordinary case, Brownson's resignation would take him out of the navy entirely. And, as far as active work is concerned, this is what it actually does. But Brownson is a retired officer and by resigning he simply goes back to his old status, that of a retired rear admiral on retirement pay.

Commander Winslow, who succeeds him, will carry out any orders the president sees fit to give, because he will understand that to be the duty of an under officer. All such must hold themselves strictly at the orders of their superiors.