The President of the United States died this morning at 2:15, in the city of Buffalo, N.Y. Officers and men of the navy and Marine Corps need not to be reminded of the public and private virtues of their late Commander-in-Chief. The whole people loved William McKinley, for he loved and trusted them.
As soldier, statesman, husband, and as a pure-minded, great-hearted American, his fame now belongs to his country.
Under the Constitution, Theodore Roosevelt, previously Vice-President, has become President and Commander-in-Chief of the navy and Marine Corps of the United States.
F.W. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary.
The ceremonies to be observed are provided for in the naval regulations as follows:
Upon the receipt of official intelligence of the death of the President of the United States, the senior officer shall direct that on the following day the ensign and union jack be displayed at half-mast from sunrise to sunset, and guns fired every half hour from all ships present. Similar orders shall be given at naval stations.
A naval regulation provides that salutes shall not be fired on Sunday except in cases wherein international courtesy would suffer from the breach. Therefore the firing of the guns will take place on Monday at those points where the department's announcement was received yesterday.
ORDER TO THE ARMY.
A dispatch was received at the War Department on the afternoon of the 13th from Secretary Root approving the draft of the order to the army, announcing the death of President McKinley. It was sent to all officers in command. The order follows:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, September 14.