DEATH AT WARM SPRINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25177, 14 April 1945, Page 7

DEATH AT WARM SPRINGS

DUTY DONE UNTIL THE END WIFE'S MESSAGE TO SONS MR TRUMAN NOW HEAD OF STATE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 13, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 13 The death of the President of the United States, Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt, is announced with deepest regret. The President, aged 63, passed away suddenly at Warm Springs, Georgia, after cerebral hemorrhage. The end came at 4.35 p.m. yesterday in a small room of "Little White House." He had been resting at Warm Springs for ten days. Mrs Roosevelt, the President's secretary, Mr Stephen Early, and his physician, RearAdmiral R. T. Mclntyre, are flying to Warm Springs. Mrs Roosevelt received the news of her husband's death by telephone while at a charity benefit in Washington. She spoke a few words, put down the receiver and walked out to her motor-car without a word to anyone. Mrs Woodrow Wilson, whose husband also died as a result of war labours, attended the same party. Four of the President's sons in the Services were notified by their mother, who said: 'The President slept away this afternoon. He did his job to the end, as he would want to do. Bless you all, and all our love.—Mother." Commander Howard Bruenn, naval physician, announced that the President's death resulted from massive cerebral hemorrhage and added: "Mr Roosevelt was in excellent spirits at 9.30 a.m., and at 1 p.m. he was sitting in a chair while a New York artist, Mr N. Robbins, was sketching him. He suddenly complained of a very severe occipital headache. Within a very few minutes he lost consciousness. I saw him at 1.30 p.m., 15 minutes after the episode started. He did not regain consciousness." The President's physician said that he.died without pain. Mr Roosevelt arrived at Warm Springs on Good Friday. His doctors wanted him to relax in order to regain lost weight. He motored daily in the soft spring sun, but he kept in constant touch with developments in Washington and abroad. He had planned and attended a barbecue at the Warm Springs Mayor's mountainside cottage. Mr Roosevelt spoke his last words to Commander Bruenn. He said: "I have a terrific headache." The President's negro valet, Arthur Preyman, and a Filipino messboy carried him to his bedroom. The tragic news was announced to the press by the press secretary, Mr William Hassett, shortly before 6 p.m. Mr Hassett summoned reporters to his room and in a voice that was quavering said: "It is my sad duty to announce that the President died of cerebral hemorrhage at 4.35 p.m." Besides two of Mr Roosevelt's cousins, Miss Laura Delano and Miss Margaret Suckley, those present at the cottage were Commander George Fox, White House pharmacist, Mr Hassett, and a confidential secretary, Miss Grace Tully. Commander Bruenn telephoned Admiral Mclntyre, who in turn summoned Dr. James Paullin, of Atlanta, Georgia, who hurried to Warm Springs,

A London message says the news of President Roosevelt's death was announced to His Majesty the King and Mr Churchill about midnight. His Majesty received the news with profound regret, and Mr Churchill was deeply affected. The Prime Minister is expected to make reference to the President's death when the House of Commons meets today, when he will pay a personal tribute.

The Vice-President, Mr Henry S. Truman, who now becomes President, according to American custom under the Constitution, was called to the White House and told the news by Mrs Roosevelt. When Vice-President Truman arrived at the White House a Cabinet meeting was immediately called.

The burial service will be held in the East Room of the White House at Washington on Saturday and the interment will take place the next day at the President's country home, Hyde Park, New York.

Biographies of the late President and of Mr Truman, his successor, appear on page 9.