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President Roosevelt is indignant about the ruling regarding the dismissal of Midshipman Richard L. Desaussure from the Naval Academy for hazing. In other institutions, DeSaussure’s actions would merit a reprimand or suspension, rather than dismissal. He believes the same is true in the case of Stephen Decatur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-13
President Roosevelt requests that Secretary of the Navy Morton review William Sowden Sims’ letter regarding defects on the battleships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry requests Secretary of the Navy Metcalf’s approval to ship coal from the east coast of the United States to Honolulu, Puget Sound, and Mare Island using foreign vessels. The freight charges from American ships are “unreasonable” and only the president is authorized to approve such a request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-28
![Memorandum for the Secretary [of the Navy]](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/LC/thumbnails/064/0100/0161.jpg)
Captain S. W. B. Diehl has requested that Chaplain William Henry Reaney be transferred to the prison ship “Southery.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-27
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte reports to President Roosevelt that he can start to “see daylight” regarding the USS Bennington disaster and will share his thoughts in a few days. He discusses a potential conflict for the John Paul Jones celebration. A professor at the Naval Academy recently suggested that reproductions of a medal awarded by the French Republic to Jones should be gifted to the French officers and government in recognition of their hospitality. Bonaparte agrees it would be fitting, but the cost might be prohibitive. He is reviewing Benjamin B. Woog’s case, and while there appears to be some prejudice against him, he feels it was an issue on personal grounds.
A rupture in the boiler caused an explosion on the naval gunboat USS Bennington on July 21, 1905, and resulted in the loss of sixty-six crew members and the injury of many others.