KING FACES CRITICAL DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 527, 3 December 1928, Page 1

KING FACES CRITICAL DAY

Strength Being Taxed PUBLIC SERIOUSLY ALARMED Anxious Crowds Wait at Palace A S f RI ° US is take “ of night’s bulletin regarding H the Kings illness and considerable anxiety is said to exist- f The doctors were still at Buckingham Palace £ 111116 tt was stated, another bulletin would be issued before midmght. This should reach New Zealand this afternoon. All day yesterday thousands waited outside the Palacfor news and wild rumours flew abroad.

(United P.A.—By Te (Australian and K.Z.

■legraph — Copyright) Press Association)

Reed. 11.16 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. A bulletin issued at 8.20 p.m. stated: “His Majesty had a quieter sleep during the day, and the infective process continues to diminish. His temperature to-night was 100 degrees. At the same time there is a decline in the strength of his heart.” The increasing anxiety of the public was shown outside Buckingham Palace late on Saturday night and early this morning. Men and women in evening dress, on their way home, drove up to learn the latest news. Their motor-cars extended for a considerable distance. Palace officials regret the absence of any reassuring statement in the latest bulletin. Apparently there has been a slight set-back, the possibility of which was indicated by the doctors’ comprehensive review last week. Although his Majesty did not have much sleep on Friday night, he read the morning papers with his usual teen interest. He makes frequent inquiries as to the progress of the test match. The King is facing the critical day of his illness. The public alarm is now more serious as the result of the tone of this morning’s bulletin, which said that the King’s strength being taxed was causing a decline In the strength of his heart. The fact of there being no reassuring reports on Saturday manifested itself to an extraordinary degree in the neighbourhood of the palace Thousands crowded around the gates, and motor-cars lined up in Pall Mall. So many rushed to see the bulletin that the police had to regulate the cowd. Its contents were anxiously debated, the solemn crowds seeming unwilling to leave the palace grounds. The King’s physicians passed through the gates almost unnoticed. Similarly other prominent people who came to inquire passed unobserved. The crowd as the day wore on was of such dimensions that the Palace Guards had difficulty in taking up their stations. The Queen and Princess Mary left me Palace for a drive at 3 o’clock. Men doffed their hats and women bowed in silence, but there was no other demonstration. The Queen and Princess bowed as their car passed through the crowds lining the drive. Both were obviously anxious. Shortly afterwards Lord Daws,on was observed to return to the Palace for Ms usual visit, but he did not enter, through the customary gates. Sir Stanley Hewitt followed a few minutes later. Both were present with the King for an hour. Indeed, so great was the tension to-day that grave rumours circulated the city as far as the outer London area. Everybody was so keyed up with anxiety that it was considered desirable early this after- *° * ssue from the Palace an ?,e' al statement as follows: Everything is in order. Re Ports that his Majesty has passed “Way are absolutely unfounded.” .TJ 1 ® m atter-of-fact bulletins of last jght had prepared the people for the ?® nce °f good news to-day. It was ident during the week-end that er . e was some concern in Palace circles. The decrease in the King’s temper-m-n which will check the infective hi.M 8 : is rea ssuiing, hut the tax on . Majesty’s strength is an unsatisfactory offset. Min l6 Sunda M Papers published noon ons containing the latest bulletin. bnlWi OUS view is taken of to-night’s stats ll ’ an< ? considerable anxiety i 3 at ts V? ex ’ st - The doctors were still "alace at 9 o’clock. Another tight Wlll 116 i ssued before midA RESTLESS NIGHT talletln issued at 11.15 a.m. ip' a ®/hat the King had a rather resttu ‘ gbt - This morning his temperace 13 lower, an'’ the infective pro- ’ _ s ?°ws some improvement. His atiop.J. strength, though at present at this stage of the illbeing taxed. nea rly two and a-half hours tha h l n arriva l of the doctors before sue was issued. It did not hUTht’ a-itogether in allaying last fall or anxie ty at the Palace, but the ®ent 1 i em P e cature and the improvegarriuisl tbe infective process are refan th. a l tav “ urable signs, but the iog tj , . Majesty's strength is bethel# . e<l i. ls not - 30 Reassuring. Neverigfactor 1116 report i s considered sathi/af doctors are able to state that s length is adequate. dJ he ® bb and flow the a ease * 8 still going on. They awa iting the turn of the tide, B en 't is hoped a general im- ,■ VerT1 ent in the King's condi*,on may set in. crowd awaited the bulletin . and <3- ace gates. Lord Dawson inart™" Stanley Hewett spent threethe „«. rs of au hour with the King in afternoon. chnev lal Prayers were offered in all urches to-day. The Queen, the cess* v. i-’nchess of York, and Priuy)n Mary attended service in the ! a-lngs private chapel, u a - Dawson and Sir Stanley ; ett visited the King on Saturday, j

They issued a bulletin at 11 a.m. This said that in spite of the fact that his Majesty had passed a fair night there had been a slight rise in his temperature since yesterday. His general condition was unchanged. The two doctors arrived at the Palace at 7.5 p.m. on Saturday, and issued a bulletin at 8.30 p.m. saying the King had passed rather a disturbed day, with short intervals of sleep. He was, therefore, somewhat fatigued. This bulletin, with its mention of fatigue, following upon the morning’s reference to the King’s temperature, has given rise to some concern The doctors are hoping the King will have a good night’s rest to-night. The “Sunday Express” announced that it would publish Sunday’s bulletins in special editions. Again special prayers were offered in all the churches. The Duke and Duchess of York had intended to spend the week-end at the Duke of Rutland’s Belvoir Castle, Grantham, but postponed their visit.

PRINCE SPEEDS NORTH

WILL REACH LONDON ON DECEMBER 14 BY CRUISER AND TRAINS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. A message from Dar-es-Salaam says that the cruiser Enterprise arrived at midnight on Saturday. The Prince of Wales embarked at 10 o’clock this morning and sailed at 10.30 a.m. The Governor of Tanganyika, Sir Donald Cameron, farewelled him. At Suez the Prince intends to entrain for Port Said, proceeding by the cruiser Frobisher to Brindisi. He hopes to arrive home on December 14. A message from Malta says the Frobisher will leave for Alexandria tomorrow. By leaving the Enterprise at Suez and taking a train to Alexandria the Prince will save the delay of the Suez Canal route, also at least 20 hours which would have been needed for refuelling the Enterprise. His Royal Highness will be speeding across the Mediterranean on the same day he arrives at Suez. The Enterprise should leave Dar-es-Salaam before noon on Sunday and ' should cover the 2,650 miles to Suez by the morning of December 7. The Prince should reach Brindisi on board the Frobisher from Alexandria on the evening of December 9. The cruiser Frobisher has left Malta for Alexandria to await the arrival of the Prince of Wales. SOUTH AFRICA’S SYMPATHY General Hertzog, the Prime Minister of South Africa, has sent a telegram to the Prince of Wales expressing the extreme regret of the South African Government at the sad circumstances which have rendered necessary the cancellation of his Royal Highness’s visit to South Africa, says a British Official Wireless message. On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa the Prime Minister wished the Prince God speed and a safe return, and expressed the hope that the health of the King would improve, and that all cause for anxiety might soon be over. The Prince replied: “I am deeply grateful for your telegram and good wishes. Tell all in the Union of South Africa how keenly disappointed I am at having to postpone my second visit, to which I had been looking forward to so much.” The Prince of Wales yesterday visited Zanzibar which, though a British protectorate, is still ruled by a Sultan as an independent State. He crossed to the island in the Government steamer Azania, and visited the ancient palace at Zanzibar. He was i able to see something of the strange Arab town, with its narrow streets and quaint buildings, and the clove plantation from which the island derives most of its wealth.

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

SPEEDING TO CATCH BOAT British Official Wireless Reed. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Sunday. I It i s learned that communication ! has been established with the Duke of i Gloucester, who has intimated that he I will return Home with due speed. ; The Duke was expected to reach , Sakania in Belgian Congo last night. 1 and arrangements were made tor him I to travel south by train, j The South African Government is ! making all the necessary arrangei ments to enable the Duke to rush to I the coast. Tentative arrangements have been made to take him by special | train from Rhodesia to Capetown to ! enable him to catch the mail steamer | Balmoral Castle, which leaves there j for England on December 7. A later message says that the Duke : left Sakania by special coach and will | arrive at Victoria Falls at 8 a.m. on ] Tuesday.