NEWS FOR THE KING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 8

NEWS FOR THE KING

HOW HE KEEPS IN TOUCH. Tiio part which King Goorgo is playing in tho war is pictured in tho "Daily Express" as follows:— "A continuous round of increasing activity and a mastery of detail, such us might alarm oven a. great financier comprise tho present daily routine of His Majesty tho King. "Often soon after 6 o'clock in tho morning the King is husy in his study, and. by the timo his advisers and helpers appear ho has conned tho dispatches and documents of tho early delivery, mastered their contents, and perhaps made numbers of marginal, notos m readiness for the forthcoming conference. "The very Bight of tho contents of the numerous dispatch boxes would intimidate most men. Admiralty, War Office Home Office, and India Office all contribute thoir daily quantum, while from the Govornment comes a tremondous amount of pressing business which cannot be sottled without the King's sanction; but happily controversial matters have sunk into oblivion, and there are no difficulties of this sort to contend with. All Dispatbhes to the Palace. "All the blue dispatch boxes' .are taken to tho palace by the recognised special messengers cf the various officers. Every box is fitted with a patent lock, to which only two keys are provided, one for tho use of the King and his chief secretary, and tho other for the Minister or official from whom the box comes. Then there are the dispatches from the foreign Powers—thoso from France aud Russia being now particularly heavy-brought over almost daily by the 'silver Breyhounds or King's Messengers; and last, but by no means least, the momentous and weighty dispatches which are continually arriving from the front, supplementing the many cipher messages from the commanders of the Navy aud Army. ~ ~ "The problems oortinually arising anent the war are many and great, but nothing is too intricate for the King, who insists on going into everything, and seeing that the needs of the services are grappled with by the business heads of the various departments. The number, qualification, equipment, end location of the new army are all known to him. In the same way he follows the fortunes of the auxiliary branches of the naval service, and he is also able to quote particulars of Indian and colonial aids to the colours at a moment's notice. ~ . . "With regard to the ever-changing panorama, as evinced by the long struggle between the Allies and tho Germans, there is a most perfect system in use at Buckingham Palace, by which disposition of the troops and ileet can be seen at a glance by menus of elaborate plans and maps, as well as models. A large saloon is specially set apart for the purpose, and to this none have access but the King, his private secretary, and the civil and active heads of the Navy and Army. Doors Locked and Guarded. "hTe double doors of this apartment are kept locked, and, with the corridor approach, are guarded night and day. The exact position of all war craft, with names of vessels and gun complement and other details, is shown on one plan, while another shows the seat of war, with trenches, forts, town, and disposition of all troops clearly designated. , "Tho King is also extremely solicitous as to the creature comforts of his lighting forces, making continual inquiries as to the supply of food, clothes, and the little extras that go to, the maintenance of their health and spirits. The slightest hint as to. any special article of appirel is accepted, mid the King's invariable reply, when anything outside the '.cope of the Admiralty or War Office is named, is, 'I will tell the Queen.'" •