DAY OF INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 8

DAY OF INCIDENT

.CONTROL OF CROWDS

9585 AMBULANCE CASES

SOLDIERS' RATIONS

United Press Association—By Elect.-le Tele

crapta—CooyrlEht. (Received May 13, 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 12,

Their 'Majesties rose before 7 and the little Princesses, called at 7.30, rushed to the windows for a glimpse of the crowd, after which they visited their 'parents, who breakfasted alone in the Chinese room, from which they had a splendid view of the crowds lining the Mall.

While their Majesties were robing for the ceremony Pipe-Major Forsyth walked up and down the corridor playing lively Scottish airs. The Queen, before leaving the Palace, was presented with a bouquet from the Worshipful Company of, Gardeners. It contained scarlet carnations,,, white '•dses, and royal blue irises. .... ORDERLY CRdWBS. The crowds everywhere' were amazingly orderly. Women who fainted after the long strain were quickly ■ assisted to ambulances, which were situated at short intervals along the route. There were 60 first-aid stations at 120-yard intervals. ; I Loud-speakers blared out popular tunes to entertain the waiting crowds, who joined in community singing, accompanied by mouth-organs and concertinas, a favourite tune being "I Was One of the jEarly Birds." Every renewed outburst of enthusiasm left casualties iri its wake, and ambulances were busier as the morning, wore on. Amazing scenes were witnessed ;in Whitehall .and Trafalgar Square. People stood precariously, even on narrow window ledges. Others clung to chimney pots. Only the summit Of the Nelson Column was bare, of human figures. The crowd mercilessly chivvied the soldiers lining the route because they were served. with substantial raf^ns,. which they ate self-consciously. An ugly situation occurred in' Trafalgar Square, where crowds in the rear disregarded appeals to cease pushing- Dozens fainted in the crush and mounted. police were forced to drive their horses into the crowd to force it back. Large coils of rope were rushed up and used as a barrier. OVERSEAS TROOPS. As the guns thundered , out, a salute and the bells of the Abbey pealed out the vast crowd stood in solemn silence with their heads bared. Then.wave after wave of cheering swept through the multitude. The enthusiasm Was as suddenly stilled as ,the broadcast from the Abbey continued. The Australians and New Zealanders stood rigidly to attention while the guns fired the salute, and then proceeded to the Abbey. The Australians were especially popular with the crowd. The contingents halted at the rear of the Abbey to await the afternoon procession. They were immediately besieged for. autographs. Books and scraps of paper which were handed to them were cheerfully signed until they were; ,with , rations of applet rice-cake, chocolate,: arid a dry roll, the last of which did riot seem to impress them, one soldier saying glumly: "What about .butter?" as he fed it to a horse. (! • !': At the close of the Abbey ceremony the crowds between ■ Hyde Park ■and the Abbey stood and sang the National Anthem and then settled down patiently to await the afternoon procession. ■■ Occasional- incidents were reported at various points. . While the police were trying to force back the crowd a high naval officer drew his sword and ordered Royal Marines to assist them. GERMAN SWASTIKAS. Many irritated comments were heard in the big crowds near the German Embassy because it displayed only Nazi swastikas. " . , Rain began to fall,at 2.30 p.nvbut though it was heavy enough to oblige the crowds to put up umbrellas, the troops lining the route were ordered not to put on their waterproofs, and it was not sufficient ; to take the colour from the pageantry. ■ . Up to the present over 9585 cases have been treated by ambulances, the bulk of the cases being minor troubles, but over a hundred people were taken to hospital. Most of. the. casualties were due to fatigue and excitePart Of the procession was successfully televised, despite the failing light. People within fifty miles of London were able to listen-in and see simultaneously a" great Imperial pageant for the first time in history.