UNITED IN TRIBUTE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 100, 22 January 1936, Page 15

UNITED IN TRIBUTE

British Press Extols Noble

Monarch

PEOPLE LOSE A FRIEND

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received January 21, 8.40 p.m.) London, January 21. First editions of the London Press present a strange contrast. One had no news of the death and another only stop-press news. The majority achieved a wonderful display very speedily. The “Daily Express” was quickly on the street with pictures of the King and the Prince of Wales with the caption, "The King is dead; long live the King!” the latter over a photograph of Edward VIII. “The Times” states: “The Empire mourns a man who never forgot-and never cheapened one obligation of his rank and office. What touches the Throne touches the Empire in every part. High-flown formalities would be inept and inadequate to describe King George’s peculiar service to his House and realm. He applied the strictest and most modern theory of the Royal function, and with him a finally-settled and unambiguous tradition of constitutional duty may be said to begin. The King spared himself nothing in hfs leadership of the community. The instinct of the man in the street rallied easily to him. He knew as thoroughly as his ministers the character of tlie times and the tasks before us. To his heir, as to him, every part of the Dominions will offer more than constitutional courtesies —namely, a vivid flesh and blood loyalty. A reign of great deeds, sufferings, perils and splendour is ended.”

Empire Family Mourns.

The “Daily Telegraph,” in a lengthy editorial, stresses that an Empire-wide family is mourning for its head, and recalls his Majesty’s “great family” broadcast. It says his personality was a force for stable and kindly relations between man and man and. an encouragement to generous-mindedness . in public service. Alluding to the Prince of Wales, it says that he has served an apprenticeship to the Throne such as none before him had pursued. The "News Chronicle” says:. “His Majesty’s career becomes a kind of allegorical illustration of the lives of that vast army of homely, ordinary men and women who fared with him through the dangers and sorrows of dark years. It was because he was so typical that Englishmen loved him and foreigners respected him. His passing is not the end of an epoch. In any ago he would have played his part with the same unassuming modesty.”

The “Daily Express.” in a fullpage editorial, says: They say the King wept with humble gratitude when he returned with the Queen from the Jubilee drive through the capital. They say he drove with the Queen through the meanest, streets decked to honour him. He said again and again: “I never knew they eared for us like this.”

He kept faithfully to his sphere as a constitutional monarch, but the poorest of Britain will recall that unofficial cry when, turning to the Prime Minister on a State occasion, he said impetuously: “My God, can’t you restore the cuts.” ■ The New King. The “Daily Express” says of the new King: “No citizen ever born to the Empire was better fitted to bear its leadership. He has done his part as a Prince, and to-day enters in the full vigour of manhood a more vast and more magnificent labour.” The “Daily Mall’’ says: “The allmeaning bereavement cannot be realised now. Nevertheless, we are conscious of having lived through one of the great reigns of history. New nations have come of age in the Empire and taken their places at the side of tlie Mother Country through years, of sacrifice, loss and glory. The nation and Empire looked in every crisis to its head, and never in vain.” The “Daily Herald” says:: “The nation pays tribute without distinction of party or class. His devotion, energy and industry were beyond praise.” The “Morning Post” says: “We feel as if a blow has been struck at our very homes.” The “Manchester Guardian” says: “The common Englishman feels lie has lost not only his King, but a friend.” LINKED BY RADIO Nation Joins Royal Family’s Vigil (Received January 21, 5.5 p.m.)

London, January 21

Prior to news of his Majesty’s death, Britain was as a place stilled —numbed by the magic of wireless. Each broadcast session since Friday had been prefaced by the latest news of the King’s health, the gravity of which was realised from the outset. Anxiety was intensified by the afternoon’s bulletin telling of his diminishing strength, and thereafter listeningin seemed unreal. Then the same medium which on Jubilee Day and again on Christinas Day. when that wondrously intimate touch of human kinship brought His Majesty's millions into, a real bond of delighted contact with him, now hushed them with the Intimation that their loved King's Hie was ebbing. ‘‘All the transmitters of the 8.8. C. including those which serve the Empire overseas, are now being joined up to London to hear an announcement at 9.3 G p.m.,” it was announced last even ing. "That minute seemed an age, then in tones of deep feeling came the bulle tin: ‘‘The King’s life is moving peacefully toward its close.” The announcer added that all stations were closing down till 10 p.m., when there would be a further announcement.

Big Ben chiming the hour broke the silence with which the universality of wireless had invested every fireside on this night of gale and rain. The earlier bulletin was repeated with the postscript: “We invite you to join in recollection and prayer for the King.”

The voices of a choir begun a subdued chant, “The Lord is My Shep-

herd,” followed by the Lord’s Prayer. The 8.8. C. had earlier cancelled all its variety or light programmes. Now. as the majority of the people would have desired, it took their thoughts to the King’s bedside in a spiritual union of intercession.” There had been touching thought for the Queen in the mid-morning service with the special prayer, “Deal graciously, we pray Thee, with all who are anxious at this time, especially Thy servant Mary, our Queen, the Royal family, and the subjects of our King in all parts of the world who by easting their care on Thee may know the greatness of Thy strength and tin' consolation of Thy love." In her Majesty’s wifely vigil every household by common instinct now felt itself joined, an'd gathered around the wireless sets eagerly awaiting some news of the King, even though it was merely repetition of the earlier bulletin. Then, finally, came the last-said intimation. Th e 8.8. C. is discontinuing its Empire programmes till It p.m. on January 21 except for news bulletins. The Prime Minister will broadcast for the Australian and New Zealand zone at 9.-15 a.m. on January 22. The Empire programmes will be subject to drastic revision till further notice.