San Juan, Porto Rico, March 6, 1907.
To the Editor:
—The substance of your editorial on this subject in The Journal, February 16, 1907, is so at variance with my experience that I can not let it go unchallenged, even though your deductions are drawn from the paper of my friend, Dr. Lovering.After a service of nearly twenty years, comprising duty on all stations and in many ships, I feel safe in saying that I know of no more generally abstemious class of men than naval officers, no type more keenly appreciative of their responsibilities, no type better qualified for their duties. Conscientiousness in the matter of duty is a characteristic of the service. When you see a naval officer, no matter what the conditions he is under, nor where he may be placed, you will find that he will ring true ninety-nine times out of a hundred. There