GRAVE FEARS FOR KING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 528, 4 December 1928, Page 1

GRAVE FEARS FOR KING

DARK HOUR OF CRISIS NOT OVER

Slightly Better, Is Last Report; Doctors Anxious About Heart LARGER CROWDS WAIT LAST evening’s bulletin indicates a slight improvement in the King’s condition; but there is still deep anxiety because of the state of his heart. Crowds that are bigger than ever throng round the palace gates by day and by night

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and y.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

Reed. noon. LONDON, Monday. A bulletin issued at 8.15 p.m. states that the slight improvement noted in his Majesty’s condition this morning has been maintained. His temperature is nearer normal, but it is necessary to emphasise that the anxiety concerning his heart still persists. Lord Dawson left the Palace at 10.30 p.m., when -It was authoritatively stated that the slight improvement in the King’s -condition indicated in the night bulletin had been maintained. Reports from other sources confirm that there is a better atmosphere at the Palace. The doctors’ keenest desire at the moment is that the King maintain his strength in the stern fight against the malady. The Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, made a brief call at the Palace, and left with his face wreathed in smiles. He later stated: "I do not want to deceive you, or say the illness is over or anything of that kind. Things were serious last night, but there is undoubtedly a feeling in the air that the King is better today than yesterday.” The Queen remained at the Palace all day. She was joined at tea by the Duke and Duchess of York. EARLIER REPORT A bulletin issued at Buckingham Palace at 12.50 a.m. to-day stated: “It is impossible to disguise the fact that the King’s illness has taken a serious turn.” The fact is emphasised that this is the first bulletin issued at midnight. It is understood that in addition to this bulletin the King’s doctors transmitted a report to the members of the Cabinet. The bulletin was issued after a consultation which lasted an hour and ahalf. It was signed by Lord Dawson of Penn, Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir E. Farquhar Buzzard, Physician Extraordinary to the King, and Mr. L. E. Whitby, bacteriologist. It stated that his Majesty had secured some sleep in the last three hours, and that the further consultation had confirmed the opinion expressed in the previous bulletin. In spite of the improvement in the lung anxiety concerning the strength of the King’s heart persisted. QUIETER SLEEP Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson did not leave the Palace until 3.30 am. At 10.30 a.m. to-day a bulletin issued by Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson of Penn stated: “His Majesty the King has had three hours of quieter sleep since the bulletin posted soon after midnight. His temperature is now down to 99.8 degrees, and there is a slight improvement in his genoral condition.” A small quantity of oxygen was administered to the King in the night. Officials at the Palace state that this is not to be regarded as an alarming feature, because such administrations of oxygen in similar cases are common Practice. The doctors paid a third visit to the King at noon. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, visited the Palace at 12.30, sod conversed long with Lord Dawson of Penn. He did not see the King or Queen, but conversed with the Duchess of York. Lord Dawson made a fourth visit at 2.45 and remained half-an-hour. The Duke and Duchess of York have cancelled their visit to Birmingham to-morrow and on Thursday. A big organ in a Tottenham Court itoad shop played “God Save the Atog’' as the employees were arriving to-day. Three thousand, from the Managing director downwards, joined to the singing. Lord Dawson and 3ir Stanley Hewett saw the King at six 0 clock, accompanied by Sir Humphrey Rolleston and Sir E. F. Buz*«rd. it was almost nine before the bulletin was completed. A SERIOUS MEASURE The Central News Agency states j ia t Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Jtowson are remaining at the Palace, ! Duke and Duchess of York have' to the Palace and may re some time. 1 is understood that the King's; oadition to-night is the cause of much jtoxiety in the Royal circle. There is °TK^ eralj le concern at the Palace. t T “ e “Daily Express’* medical corespondent points out that the admin* tration of oxygen is a serious meas®re * because there is no object in

giving oxygen unless the lungs are incapable of extracting it from the atmosphere. There is no advantage in adding oxygen except when the respiration is so feeble that the patient cannot obtain the necessary amount in the ordinary way. Although every effort has been made both by official bulletins and newspapers’ comments to allay anxiety, the doctors’ continued reference and anxiety about the strength of his Majesty’s heart in to-night’s bulletin caused intense uneasiness to the nation. The crowds at the Palace were greater than yesterday, the people being undeterred by mist and a cold drizzle. A special force of mounted police appeared to-day to regulate the crowd. This morning’s feeling of relief was replaced by renewed anxiety. The position was accurately summed up by Mr. Lloyd George at a dinner of the English-Speak-ing Union: “I have never in my whole life witnessed such an intense, concentrated anxiety among all classes of the population.” For the first time since the illness, anxiety prevailed on the Stock Exchange. Thus far it has had little effect on actual business, but nevertheless it has had a psychological part in slowing down speculation. The “Evening Standard” editorially points out how ill-placed chance has found the Royal Family scattered, and the Queen thus deprived of the support of her sons during the crisis, which to a wife and mother, as well as a queen, is a sore affliction. Mr. J. R. Clynes, in a special article in the “Daily Express,” says: “The scenes outside the Palace ex press the solidarity and dignity of the national character, and is the truest tribute to one of the world's most correct and responsible rulers. Often it has been said that the Empire is a republic disguised with a crowned head, which is no more than a figurehead. In times like the present, the speciousness of the remark is seen in the truest light, for the personal attributes of monarchy (so easily and unconsciously taken for granted) are realised in time of crisis to mean very much to everyone, regardless of part;-, policy, or class.”

BY TRAIN AND WARSHIP

PRINCE’S ROUTE HOME British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Monday. It is officially announced that the Prince of Wales, who will leave the cruiser Enterprise at Suez and cross Egypt by train, will continue his journey homeward in the cruiser Frobisher, which will convey him from Alexandria to Brindisi. Thence his Royal Highness will travel overland, most probably via Turin, Modane and Paris. --I-,’—!—l~i—l-l-l-l-l—l—l—l— e