THE KING AT THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1914, Page 7

THE KING AT THE FRONT

(Press Association.)

DIARY OF THE VISIT. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. LONDON, Bth December. An eye-witnoss tells the story of the King's, visit. He says that on Monday Hiss Majesty inspected the base hospitals, including that of the Indians. He reached Sir John French's headquarters in Jtha afternoon and spent Tuesday,

Wednesday, and Thursday touring the army corps. Complete units, except the men actually in the trenches, were generally paraded on the roadside. • After the King drove through, talcing the salute, each unit gave three cheers, spontaneity showing that genuine enthusiasm had been aroused by the Sovereign's presence among the warworn troops. In several places the troops formed a hollow square. The King presented decorations, including Victoria Crosses. On Tuesday morning he visited the Indians, and received the Indian princes. In the afternoon he met M. Poincare i and M. Viviani (the French Premier) and conferred the Grand Cross on each, as well as on General Jbffre, and Grand Crosses of St. Michael and St. 1 George on Generals Maudhuy, Durbal, Conneau, Demitry, Maistre. Dubois, and Grossetti, and the Grand Cross of the Bath on General Foch. On Wednesday 'he motored seventy miles, inspecting the Third Army Corps. He visited the convalescent homes and inspected the men's trench kit, consisting of goatskin coats, woollen Balaclava caps, and sandbags filled with straw for the legs. On Thursday, he visited the First and Second Army Corps and watched the German bombardment of Ypres, and the fighting on the Yser canal. On Friday he inspected the headquarters, including the Intelligence Department, where three thousand mes1 sages are handled daily. In the after- | noon he went to tho Belgian front. King Albert received the King on the frontier. Op Saturday His Majesty inspected the Flying Corps. Throughout the visit, aviators maintained a continuous aerial patrol above the Royal party, ensuring their safety. Finally, the King issued an order, expressing his. admiration of ,the splendid manner in which the Army fought a powerful and relentless enemy. | He said he was particularly impressed !by the men's soldierly, -healthy, and cheerful appearance, and added :— " I can assure you of the proud confidence and gratitude of myself and your fellow countrymen." "A SIMPLE FORMAL VISIT." MIIIEB INK ITSNEY gtfN SKRYICIJ.) LONDON, 7th December. The London Times, iD its leading article on the subject of the King's tour, says :— "The simple, formal character of the King's visit to France, and the quietness of his departure and return as in exact accordance with the feelings of his subjects who are engaged in this tremendous struggle. The nation prefers U> show sense of the gravity of the situation by its restraint and simplicity on all occasions."