Evening star., 1936-02-23
H. |. ROOSEVELT
DIES SSUDDENLYAT
NAVAL HOSPITAL
President Cuts Harvard
Visit Short to Attend
Cousins Funeral.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
II YEARS IN MARINES
News of Death Withheld From
Swanson, Who Is Seriously Ill.
Rites to Be Tuesday.

Col. Henry Latrobe Roosevelt, As
sistant Secretary of the Navy and act
ing head Of the department during
the present serious illness of Secretary
Swanson, died suddenly late yesterday
afternoon at the Naval Hospital here.
He had been confined to the hos
pital for several days with an attack
Of intestinal influenza. A heart attack
brought unexpected death yesterday.
He was Sc years old.
Col. Roosevelt was a distant cousin
Of President Roosevelt, and news Of
his death was transmitted at once to
the Chief Executive, attending a din.
ner at Harvard University, Cambridge,
Mass. President Roosevelt boarded
his special train. cutting short his stay,
to join Mrs. Roosevelt at his Hyde
Park, N. Y, home, and they plan
to be in Washington Tuesday to at
tend funeral services. The President
expressed himself as 'inexpressibly
shocked"
Swanson Not Told of Death.
Word of Col. Roosevelt's death was
being withheld, however, from Secre-
tary Swanson, himself a patient at
the Naval Hospital. Recovering from
an attack of pleurisy which followed
the breaking Of rib, Secretary Swan
son was believed not strong enough
to withstand the shock.
Arrangements are being made for
funeral services at st. Johns Epis-
copal Church. Sixteenth and H streets,
on Tuesday. He will be buried in
Arlington National Cemetery. with
full military honors.
With him at the end was his physi-
clan, Comdr. c. A. Broaddus of the
Navys Medical Corps. and Rear
Admiral Perceval s. Rossiter, surgeon
general of the Navy. COL Roosevelt
died at Sis pm. Members of his
family had visited him earlier in the
afternoon when his condition was be-
lieved to be improving. His aide. Mai.
John w. Thomason, jr-, United States
Marine Corps, told high ranking OFF,
cials late in the afternoon that the
Assistant Secretary was apparently
gaining strength.
Entered Hospital Thursday.
DR.. Charles F. Mitchell of Phila-
delphia and Drs. James w. Esler and
Walter A. Bloedorn of this city had
been called into consultation. The
Assistant Secretary was admitted to
the Naval Hospital for treatment Of
intestinal influenza on Thursday
afternoon.
The death of Col. Roosevelt leaves
Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews, chief
of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy
Department, as Acting Secretary Of
the Navy, by virtue of seniority.
Admiral william H. STANDBY, chief Of
naval operations-the highest rank
ing officer in the American Navy-is
in London, participating in the Lon
don naval arms conference.
One of the first official acts Of
Admiral Andrews last night was to
dispatch this "Alnav"-a message to
the entire naval establishment:
1T is with the deepest regret that
I announce to the Naval Service the
death of the Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy, Henry Latrobe Roosevelt.
which occurred at the Naval Hospital,
Washington, D. c., at 17:15 (5:l5 pm.
Eastern Standard Time) on February
%. The Navy has suffered a great
loss. Col. Roosevelt began his service
career at the Naval Academy at the
age of IT; was commissioned second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps in
1899 and served with distinction as
commissioned officer for a period OF
81 years.
Since 1888, he has served as the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Throughout his entire career he de-
voted himself unremittingly and with
out reserve to the best interests OF his
country and of the Naval Service.
Funeral ceremonies will be held at
Arlington during the forenoon OF Tues
day. February Is. 1t is directed that
colors be displayed at half mast on all
ships and at all navy yards and stations
until sunset on the date of interment;
(see COL ROOSEVELT, Page a.