Hill SEED MIMING TOWARDS TIC IK

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 7

Hill SEED MIMING TOWARDS TIC IK

TERRIFIC STRUGGLE.

His Majesty Unmoved By Commotion.

QUEEN A SPECTATOR.

Clilted Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDOX, November 11. A remarkable scene occurred during, the Armistice Day ceremony in Whitehall, in which the King, who wa* watched by members of his family, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers placed wreaths on the Cenotaph. The silence had just started when a man—middle-aged, fair, hatless and dressed in a raincoat—hurled himself, shoulder first, through the police into the backs of the naval guard. He lurched through the guard into the open space and began running towards the King, his arm raised, gesticulating and shouting. Cries arose of ''Hold him, hold him!" By the time the police had llung him down the man was six yards from the King and three yards from the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlitiii, and Cabinet Ministers. He continued shouting from the ground. * After a terrific struggle the police silenced hiiu by holding their hands to his mouth. Commotion Broadcast. The noise, intensified by the profound silence, was picked up by microphones mid broadcast to millions of listeners throughout Britain. The ceremony, also being televised for the first time, the incident was seen miles from Whitehall. The man was dragged, apparently unconscious, and was held down in the doorway of the Home Office until the end of the silence, when he was picked up and taken to Downing Street through a menacing crowd. After the silence the crowd gave vent its feelings by booing and shouting, "Kill him, kill him!" but he was removed in time. The King, the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, and the Ministers were unmoved throughout the whole incident. The vast throng sang, "Cod Save the King," with great fervour at the close of the service. The incident was watched by Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary from the window of the Home Office. It is understood the King did not see the incident. He called for a full report after returning to Buckingham Palace. The Cenotaph service in Spitalfields Markets was interrupted by shouts from another middle-aged man after the two minutes' silence. He was set upon by the crowd and badly knocked about. Vet a third man narrowly escaped being beaten by the crowd at Ludgate Circus \yhen his loud whistling broke the silence. He was chased but escaped.

PLACED ON CENOTAPH.

NEW ZEALAND WREATH. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 11. Apart from the incident, the Cenotaph service was patterned on those of previous years. Crowds , were un-> diminished. After the service the King walked across to ex-servicemen and inspected tlie new statue to the late Earl Haig. Mr. F. T. Sandford, of the High Commissioner's Oltice, placed a wreath on the Cenotaph on behalf of New Zealand.