SLOW PROGRESS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19502, 26 December 1928, Page 9

SLOW PROGRESS.

LATEST BULLETINS. OUKE OF GLOUCESTER ARRIVES (Received December 25th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. . A bulletin issued at 8.30 p.m. stat. id: "The very slow progress of the King's local and general condition con-| tisues. No further bulletin will be is- j lued until Tuesday evening." The bulletin is signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir Hugh Rigby, and Lord Dawson. The noon bulletin, also signed by Sir z Stanley Hewett, Sit Hugh lligby, and lord Dawson, and issued at 11.40 today, stated that the King had a quiet night. Local conditions continued to (how progress, his general condition remaining unchanged. . The Duke of Gloucester reached Southampton nt 6 o'clock in the morning, and left immediately by car for London, driving himself, arid travelling fast, despite the drizzle, 93 he «ras anxious to reach the Palace, j Passengers report that the Duke was fcloof early in the voyage, but was inore cheerful when the bulletins im- ' proved and joined in the ship's social lifti—Australian Press Association, TJnited Service. family reunion. * PRINCE'S RETURN FROM AFAR. • (Received December 25th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. Thq Duke of Gloucester is evidently '|t capable driver. He travelled along lib? crowded, and dreadfully greasy towards London, distance Of 79 in 140 minutes, thereby not only ■-'Completing the family party at the flace, but 17,800 miles jointly covered ihe three Princes during their homeward rush, the Prince of Wales\from f podoma (6200 miles), the Duke of fcrlou••;.s4ster from Sakania (8000 miles) 1 and. < 'prince George from Bermuda (3600 N jnjlos). The-,Prince of Wales to-day had his t flrpt outing with the houhdr for the seahion. 3 Se overnight 'at' Nottihg. ham, hunted at.Quorn, and returned to London in the evening. The train was heldup to enable him to catch it. He met the Duke of Gloucester for the first time since they parted in the African wilds. —Australian Press Association. CHRISTMAS AT THE PALACE. (Reeeived December 25th, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 25. The overnight bulletin is regarded tt distinctly favourable, being the frit for some days noting any definite Improvement in the King's general condition. In view of the fact that pro-

grcss is so satisfactory, the physicians ' ape able to suspend the li|jht treatment for a night or two. There is a distinct air of hopefulness It the Palace on Christmas Day. The , Boyal Family, quiet on\any.family oc« cation, is naturally quieter than usual this year, but the King's progress has Wade the Palace a happier plaee than it has been for many days. she Queen gave special orders ~con Mining the comfort of, and entertain* * «netat for, the servants. Parts of the '|*«iaee were decorated with holly and nptletoQ* • The staff at the Palace is ?''■s)> much larger than at Sandringham wit the tima-honoured Christmas cus* - of assembling servants in the , Inqraifig and giving each a present had V> he abandoned. The Queen, however, Arranged for all the family's old » detainers to Receive gifts. >-* . fie prejjsnta the members of the i, xßoyal Family give to one another are fjirays a close secret, and the most ; .leeret of all are Princess Eliabeth's . Sifts to her 1 parents, grandparents, and r"i tfycle David." „ His Majesty is naturally far too ill tft;j)a;rticipate in the festivities. It is ' jMerttood that his family visited the room in twos and threes. —Austral' Association. *Vt >' ROYAL FAMILY PARTY. \ * —— December 24th, 0.0 p.ra.) y LONDON, December 23. bulletin is regarded as one ■% R most remarkable ever issued sinoo H# King's illness becamd grave. It in- ,>/ fpftttt dearly and more definitely than ■i *F*° past two or three days that is pursuing the course the hoped and anticipated. It llljWyts the suggestion that there is feSrv' c^ance °f his Majesty being definS!w t ol,t danger by Christinas Day. IJifjllfce officials emphasise to-night Majesty is going on as well as iaSmfl expected, slow progress con|BiJMreferences to sleep and nourish* * re most satisfactoiy features, that bis Majesty is beginning Sffiytjuiy to build up his strength by MEfflW'-ilCep and nourishment. Boyal Family, united by tbe bßsSe/ 1 iflness, is spending Christmas at E||lgsgtytba m Palace for the first time Ifffllfoyewg. The usual wale of testiv. T Tfi* naturally been abolished. if the King's improvement there will be a simple on Christmas Day. time sinoe there has been K^K' family gathering ' A luncheon party will m» 'prince of Wales, the D"ke KilßlfigfllMs of York, Viscount Lasoellee Mary. the Duke of GlfnplaßSjjre Prince George, and the little . and Princess Mnry'S Queen ban ordered a Christ- • BMaBBE from Sandringham specially of her young grandbe a number of pte«ents ■reffißfiftmbera of the family have ■H&|P&-£acb other, including those KggllUl. ultimately be given to the < pfftat Aieodstion.

Health of the King. ENCOURAGING BULLETINS. May Soon Be Out of Danger. There seems to be every ground for optimism in view of the most recent reports regarding the illness of the King, who is making very slow but continued progress. Bulletins are being issued at less frequent intervals, and the King's doctors hope soon to be able to announce that his Majesty is out of danger.

FAVOURABLE NEWS. OPTIMISTIC STATEMENTS. LONDON, December 23. A bulletin issued at 8.45 p.m. stated: "The King's progress is following a favourable, though slow course. The amount and quality of sleep js satisfactory. There is less disinclination to take nourishment." 'though no bulletin was issued this morning, Palace officials state that there is little change in the King's condition and nothing has occurred to interrupt his slow progress towards recovery. The fact that for the first time m four weeks his Majesty's doctors have thought it unnecessary to issue two bulletins in the day is greeted with the greatest satisfaction. It has been pointed out also that last night's bulletin bore a more favourable complexion than it would seem to do. It was stated that there was no change in his progress to report, but the word progress was used instead of the word condition. The "Sunday Times" makes an optimistic statement, on what it describes as a high authority, that while the King's progress to recovery is slow it has reached a stage at which the physicians in attendance have strong hopes of being able to announce "on, or about Christmas Day" that his Majesty has definitely passed out of danger. It is added with truth that nothing would add so materially to the gladpess of Yuletide in the British Empire as the confirmation of the doctors' hopes.—Australian Press Association. "ANXIETY LIFTED.'? BISHOP BRODIE'S TRIBUTE. Speaking at the Catholic Cathedral last evening, his Lordship Bishop Brodie made reference to the illness of the King. "In our Christmas rejoicing thi? year is added another source of gratification ip the news recently received to the effect that his Majesty the King would seem to have passed the danger period of his serious illness and is now on the road to recovery," he said. "As i Catholic citizens we prayed for our i temporal rulers, that God may guide ; and direct them in the exercise of their [ exalted office, and as citizens of a Dominion of the British Empire we rejoiced at the spirit of the benign Constitution under which: we lived. "We realised the blessings we receive when our njlers use their authority wisely and well, and when we know th&t our King uses that authority not only in accord with the limits of his constituted power, but adds to it a persona] graciousness and a symnathetic interest in the well-being of his subjects, we rejoice that such a life will be prolonged and thank God that the anxiety of the post weeks is being . lifted from the hearts of her Majesty the Queen and the members of the Royal Family fend from the hearts of the citizens of our own Dominion and • of the various territories under the rule of his Majesty the King." THE POPE'S APPRECIATION. (Received December 25th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 22. The Pope, replying to the Cardinals' greetings, said that the improvement in King George's condition gave him cause for rejoicing. " "We trembled and prayed for 'the life of the Sovereign who has graciously visited us, and whose Empire is the greatest in the world. Maiiy millions of Catholics live and prosper within it, as the Eucharistic Congress in Australia proved. "We trembled and prayed for the life of a Sovereign who always showed himself wo!) disposed and benevolent towards all these Catholics," his Holiness said.—Australian Press Association. THE HONOURS LIST. LONDON, December 23. The lobbyist of the "Daily Express" says that though the New Year honours are postponed they will be issued as soon as his Majesty is well enough to approve it. If the King continues his present progress the list will be announced early in February. The lobbyist believes that Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr W. C. Bridgeftian, First Lord of the Admiralty, will figure in the dissolution honours- Mr Bridgeman at first declined a Peerage, but there is reason to believe that he has changed his mind. There will be a further list on the King's Birthday.— Australian Press Association.