Was advocate of Big Navy, World Comity Washington, July 7.
Mr. Claude Augustus Swanson, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, died today at the age of 77. He had been head of the Naval Department since February, 1933.
The first news of Mr. Swanson's death came from the White House today when President Roosevelt, in a statement, said that he joined the entire country in mourning one whose many years of faithful service to the nation had endeared him to all.
"I personally mourn the passing of a steadfast, intimate friend for more than a quarter of a century," Pre dent Roosevelt added, A firm believer in international cooperation, one of the chief supporters of President Woodrow Wilson in his attempt to get the United States into the League of Nations and a firm advocate of American adherence to the World Court, Mr. Swanson was known throughout his long political career as a "big navy" man.
He had served for over forty veal in American public life, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt called upon him in February, 1993, to join his Cabinet ds Secretary of the Navy.
Claude Augustus Swanson was born at Swensonville, Virginia, on March 31, 1862, the son of a tobacco planter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.