SEEKING LATEST NEWS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 9

SEEKING LATEST NEWS

Anxiety Demonstrated On All Sides PRAYERS IN CHURCHES (Received January 19, 7.40 p.m.) London, January IS. Nation-wide concern for the King increased after the afternoon bulletin introducing the word “anxiety” and signed by the four eminent specialists who are fighting for his Majesty’s life. With the King lying ill at Sandringham there is no opportunity to display public feeling on the scale shown in 1929, when thousands continually thronged about Buckingham Palace awaiting bulletins. Nevertheless scores to-day clustered outside the forecourt of tlie palace seeking the latest news. People of all degrees of life came, including men and women in evening dress arriving in cars. Soldiers and airmen visited the palace throughout the evening, read the bulletin and departed with troubled faces. Meanwhile anxiety for his Majesty’s health is repeatedly demonstrated in conversations heard on all sides in streets and public places, proving the closeness with which his well-being lies to all hearts. At Sandringham, where public interest can chiefly be manifested, farmhands finishing work went straight to Sandringham Palace and joined the groups of villagers and visitors who had been waiting throughout the day outside the Jubilee Gates hoping for some sign that the King was progressing. Even when a bulletin was placarded they did not desperse, remaining a long time watching the lighted windows of the stately mansion glowing across the snow, eyes specially fixed on the room where the King is gallantly battling for his life. Before he departed for home, one of the King’s employees, using the affectionate title by which the King is known in the neighbourhood, said, “AU we hope is that the Squire will have sufficient strength to rally as he did before.” Thousands Head Bulletins. Numerous residents of East Anglia are motoring to the village of Dersingham, near Sandringham, at night to ascertain the latest news. Thousands of Londoners silently made a pilgrimage on foot and in motor-cars to Buckingham Palace on a similar errand. Despite the cold people stood in little groups discussing the bulletins. Hundreds of cyclists, riding north from a rally at Albert Hall, rode to the palace for news. Special prayers were offered at evensong in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Duchess of York is recovering from Influenza at the Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, and is in constant ’ dephonic communication with Sandringham. The Duke of Kent will join the family at Sandringham on Sunday. The Princess Royal arrived at Sandringham and had a long talk with the Queen immediately. Lord Wigram, Private Secretary and Extra Equerry to the King, also arrived from London. The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York are in constant attendance and saw the King after the medical consultation which preceded this morning’s statement regarding continuance of anxiety. The Prime Minister is remaining at Downing Street instead of spending the weekend at Chequers. Grounds For Hope. The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking at Canterbury Cathedral, said that it would bo foolish to deny there were grounds for anxiety in the King's illness, but there were good grounds for hope in his Majesty’s proved poweis of recovery ami the knowledge, experience and skill of doctors and nurses. “I am sure,” he said, “the iove and loyalty so wonderfully manifested in Jubilee year will now be expressed by

prayers that the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life, may ring him full strength and recovery, give trust and confluence to the Queen and wisdom and skill to those flavins care of him. Let us all pray that the life which means so much to the realm may e restored to full health and strength.” Dr. Amigo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark, ordered special prayers to be said for the King in all the 100 churches of his diocese. Prayers for the King were said to-day in all Jewish synagogues throughout the Empire. The King’s illness was a complete surprise to the Royal estate villagers, who saw him a day or so ago apparently in the est of health and spirits. A woman declared: He looked just as he always does, and wished me “good day” in his usual kindly fashion. The nurses in attendance include Sister Agnes Black, who nursed the King throughout his serious illness of 1928-29, afterward becoming a permanent member of the Royal household. The Post Office qt Sandringham was overwhelmed with telephone calls all of letters and telegrams of sympathy are arriving, including General Evangeline Booth’s message: “His Majesty’s serious illness has deeply distressed Salvationists throughout the world. We plead with the Everlasting Father to grant speedy and complete recovery.” A later cable, dated January IJ, states that though London is still fogbound aud frost-bound, there was brilliant sunshine in the morning at Sandringham, and villagers are hoping ffiat it will have a tonic effect on the King. Early Communion in the little church of St. Mary Magdalen, in the snowcovered grounds of the Royal estate, was attended by Lord Wigram, two women from the Royal Household, and three villagers. The King’s Chaplain. Rev. A. R. Fuller, said special prayers for his Majesty’s recovery.