WORLD-WIDE GRIEF

Evening Star, Issue 20612, 11 October 1930, Page 15

WORLD-WIDE GRIEF

RlOl VICTIMS SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 10. (Received October 11, at 10 a.m.) Two hours before the memorial service commenced at St. Paul’s a long queue waited to gain admission. A dense throng also waited to witness the arrival of the principal mourners. The presence of the Prince of Wales on behalf of His Majesty, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, the members of Cabinet, the dominion delegates to the Imperial Conference, and Ambassadors and other distinguished foreigners testified that the grief was not only national, hut world-wide.

The service was broadcast throughout the world, including Germany, by special request. Thousands of disappointed people remained reverently outside. The traffic was diverted. Mr Forbes, Sir Thomas Sidey, and Sir Thomas Wilford represented New Zealand. ;

THE AIRSHIP’S ENSIGN LONDON, October 10. (Received October 11, at 10.40 a.m.) The service commenced with the National Anthem, and concluded with the ‘ Dead March.’ The ‘ Last Post ’ was sounded by Air Force buglers. The most poignant touch was a pall draped over the altar. It was the airship’s ensign, which was tattered and charred, but glorious. It had still floated over the shattered skeleton after RlOl plunged to destruction.

THE LYING IN STATE AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE. LONDON, October 10. (Received October 11, at 9 a.m.) The'dim light of Westminster Hall, the profound silence, and the motionless figures of the Air Force guards standing bareheaded with reversed arms combined to make the lying in state of the RlOl victims an impressive scene. . Lady - Brancker, one of the first to arrive, passed into the hall with the general public. The coffins were draped with Union Jacks, and rested almost in a garden of flowers. Tho hundreds of wreaths included tributes from their Majesties and other Royalties to the heroes, who lay where tho Kings of England have lain in state; indeed, where no other commoner but Mr Gladstone has rested. Crowds waited to pay their last respects, the door opening as Big Ben boomed 8 o’clock. • .

HELIUM GAS AMERICA ENCOURAGING EXPORT. WASHINGTON, October 10. (Received October 11, at 11.30 a.m.) President Hoover, in a statement today, said that tho Government was encouraging tho exportation of helium gas for lighter than air craft, rather than hampering it.