FINAL HOMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 46, 23 February 1934, Page 7

FINAL HOMAGE.

KING'S FUNERAL. ALBERT OF BELGIUM. Thousands Mourn Passing of Beloved Monarch. SCENE IN BRUSSELS. (United r.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) BRUSSELS, February 22. Despite a continuous mist, which later turned to a drizzle, thousands waited in the streets all night long to witness the funeral of King Albert. The Palace Square was thronged and the route was deeply lined with people. The first ceremony was the final homage paid by ex-servicemen, including British. The parade inarched past saluting the coffin, which lay on a gun carriage in the square. A detachment of Inniskilling Dragoons was in the parade, which also included an array of military and naval forces. Heading the procession, which began at 10.38, was the King's favourite charger followed by the coffin, then the new King, with his brother, Prince Charles. Afterwards came the Prince of Wales, and other Royalties and diplomats, Requiem High Mass was celebrated, and absolution given in the Cathedral of St. Gudulc, in which the new King and Queen sat 011 gilded chairs beneath the High Altar canopy. A salute of 21 guns was fired as the coffin was removed to the crypt. Widowed Queen Attends. The widowed Queen, notwithstanding a sharp attack of lumbago, was present in the Cathedral. Quite 100.000 ex-servicemen from almost all parts of Europe shared in King Albert's last review with his old army. It was thought that 20,000 Belgians would come, but over 90,000 arrived, providing a tribute which, in sincerity and magnitude, eclipsed the formal ceremonies. The King lay in the forecourt of the Palace amid a carpet of flowers stretching for 00 yards in all directions, sent by admirers and sympathisers in every corner of the world from rich wreaths of roses and lilies six feet in diameter, to the humble posies of the poor. Throughout three hours the ex-service-men marched past the coffin, masses in civilian attire marching shoulder to shoulder. There were so many medals and their jingling, mingled with the tramp of feet, was the only sound in the procession, over which thousands of banners of many countries waved. Even the almost forgotten Blue Cross, the Imperial Russian colours, was carried by a phalanx from the Baltic and Eastern Europe. No Higher Honour.

The marchcrs were of all types and ages, men with grey beards, priests and monks with breasts covered with fighting decorations, while in the less organised sections men brought their wives and families. There were many pathctic groups, some men with wooden legs, some with crutches and others wheeled in chairs. One lieutenant, who was blind, armless and legless, was carried past. Mr. Ward Price, writing in the London "Daily Mail," says: "No higher honour could have been paid a hero and a monarch than this simple soldier's funeral with almost war-time impressiveness. Khaki-clad troops in shrapnel helmets lined the streets and escorted the cofiin. Their bayonets were not even bright. The horses in the gun-carriages had long winter coats. The coffin was strapped to a greygreen gun barrel. No plumed hat lay on it, the only colour provided being by the flags of the associations of war veterans, the British marines, sailors and Air, Force, and the French horizon blue. After them inarched a delegation of every rank of all the Belgian regiments, colonels striding with privates beneath the crepe-draped colour#. SERVICES IN LONDON. KING AND QUEEN ATTEND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.80 p.m.) RUGBY, February 22. The King and Queen, with other members of the Koyal Family, and most of the members of the Cabinet, attended the memorial service to King Albert in Westminster Abbey to-day. Every seat in the Abbey was filled, and the service was of a most impressive character. Sir James Parr represented New Zealand. At the same time a memorial service was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, which was attended by the Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Collett, and members of the corporation of London. King George has received the following reply from the Duke of Brabant, in answer to his message of sympathy:— "I am deeply touched by the affectionate message that Your Majesty has sent in your own name and in the name of the people of Great Britain in the terrible misfortune which has befallen me. Belgium will be deeply moved by this token of sympathy from a nation that is always at our side in the great moments of our history."