NATION’S SORROW

Evening Star, Issue 22247, 27 January 1936, Page 9

NATION’S SORROW

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, January 25

The Queen sent a cruciform wreath of white chrysanthemums to replace the flowers on the Royal coffin at Westminster Hall. The crowd included many music hall artists, including a man eight feet in height and a woman three feet, dressed in complete mourning. Cup tie visitors removed their gaudy football favours before entering the hall.

Steady rain transformed the queue, now two miles long and 10 abreast, into a vast arcade of umbrellas. Still the dead march of London’s citizens continued at the rate of 8,000 an hour. People fainted, but resumed their positions on recovering. The procession after nightfall was allowed to enter the hall only four instead of eight abreast.

Fifty thousand barradkers hushed their clamour at Stamford Bridge when the raised baton of the bandmaster imposed silence. The occupants of the stands rose to attention as one man, and. the crowd stilled itself and stood bareheaded. Four trumpeters played the ‘ Last Post,’ and the drums broke in with a long, heart-stirring roll as a prelude to the opening bars of King George’s favourite hymn, ‘ Abide .With Me.’ The crowd, after a pause of realisation, joined in the majestic harmony, swelling in spirit the mighty chorus from football grounds throughout England, where similar observances were honoured. Intense stillness followed, and the drums rolled again their crescendo. Band and voices united in the National Anthem, and silence again supervened. Then Cup tie vociferation burst forth, the crowds cheered, coins were spun, and the game began.

CHILDREN'S DAY

LONDON, January 25

As on the occasion of King Edward Vll.’s death, to-day was children’s day, and thousands accompanied by teachers^, many from convent schools and escorted by nuns, formed a queue. The children mustered as early as 8 a.m., in drizzling rain, and by 8.30 a.m. the waiting line again extended almost to Lambeth Bridge. Officials say the crowd far exceeds yesterday’s, and estimate that 35,000 passed the catafalque by 11 a.m. As soon as the offices were closed at noon there was an appreciable increase in the queue. The King has gone to his private residence, Fort Belvedere, Sunningdale, to rest quietly during the weekend. LONG PROCESSION CONTINUES LONDON, January 26. (Received January 27, at 10 a.m.) By 10.15 a.m. the crowd extended from Westminster Hall over Vaiixhall Bridge on to the Albert Embankment. It included rich and poor, old and young, maimed old soldiers wearing medals, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, nurses, Salvation Army lasses, and several blind people anxious to “sense” the scene. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS PREPARATIONS IN LONDON LONDON, January 25. Thousands of seats to view, the R»yal funeral are being sold at from two to 10 guineas. The demand exceeds that of Jubilee Day. Sailors from H.M.S. Excellent at Portsmouth are preparing the gun carriage for the Royal coffin, while throughout London workmen are erecting and draping stands and batrriers for the funeral. Troops are rehearsing with measured tread and arms reversed for the procession in the mightiest and most solemn spectacle the city has ever seen.

Over 5,000 wreaths are received every tour, spreading fragrance through the cloisters of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. They range from an enormous chaplet of white lilies and tulips from Kemal Atturk to a tiny artificial bunch from a little country girl. The Bishop of London, recalling how King George distributed prizes to Sandringham children, said that when His Majesty gave them Bibles he used to say: “I was taught by my mother to say a prayer and read the Bible every day. I have done it and I hope you do the same.”

Such of ti.o cable news in this issue as is so headed has appeared in ‘ The Times ’ and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of ‘ The Times,’ unless expressly stated to be so. By special arrangement, Reuter’s World Service, in addition bo other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and ■II rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.

Dead King Lying in State

QUEUE TWO MILES LONG

Funeral to be Naval in Character

FIFTY NATIONS TO BE REPRESENTED

LONDON, January 25

IMPRESSIVE PREPARATIONS PERFECTION IN EVERY DETAIL LONDON. January 26. (Received January 27, at 2 p.m.) As the day of the supreme Royal obsequies approaches realisation of the extent of the world-wide mourning penetrates every heart. The impressive preparations go steadily on, assuring perfection in every detail. The majestic ceremonial of lowering the Royal coffin from the chancel steps into the vault of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor at 1.30 p.m. (G.M.T.) on January 28 will coincide with the beginning, of two minutes’ silence throughout the Empire, enabling millions to participate in the crucial moment of the burial service. This necessitates exact timing of the funeral procession, for which reason the Earl Marshal and his officials have supervised rehearsals at Windsor, achieving complete synchronisation. Though adjustment of the musical service can be made to ensure the coincidence of the silence with the actual burial, the procession over the entire route in which the troops will participate will be rehearsed on January 27 in order that the actual observance may be carried out without a flaw and in accordance with the impressive British tradition.

The funeral procession, of which the sections will earlier take up their positions at various points adjacent to the route, will finally be marshalled, at 9 a.m. It starts at a wireless signal at 9.45, arriving at Paddington at 11.45. All the armed forces of ' the Crown, including the dominions’ Air Forces and Navies, will be represented. All the troops will be dismounted ■and marching to slow time and solemn music, with reversed arms. The bearer party and the King’s Company of Grenadier Guards will march on each side of the naval gun team drawing the coffin. The Earl Marshal precedes it, and the Royal Standard of England follows. , Then will come King Edward, the Royal Family, foreign Royalties, Queen Mary, and the Court ladies.

The funeral of King George will be of a distinctly naval character, befitting his many years in the service, but the Army will supply nearly tow divisions for duty in London. The overseas military representatives will include dominion officers attached to the staff and other colleges. Many foreign armies are sending detachments and 50 nations will be represented by either the king or Ministers. The procession will pass through streets draped in purple and black. WREATHS FROM DOMINIONS LONDON, January 25. New Zealand’s wreath for the King’s funeral consists of white stocks and orchids, and bears the inscription “ The Dominion of New Zealand mourns its beloved Monarch.” Australia’s wreath is 36 inches in diameter, and consists of dark red carnations. It bears the inscription, “ With heartfelt sympathy and loyal devotion from the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Australia.” Captains Maxwell and Sugden will represent the New Zealand Forces at the funeral. Newspapers recall that the two minutes’ silence was first associated with Queen Victoria’s funeral, when a national silence was introduced. READING THE PROCLAMATION CEREMONY AT WINDSOR LONDON, January 25. Under the shadow of Windsor’s ancient castle walls below the halfmasted Union Jack on the summit of the massive round towor, lowered only when the sovereign dies, King Edward the Eighth was three times proclaimed King with ceremony dating to Tudor times. The proclamation was made first at the statue of Queen Victoria, the sceptred arm of which was extended as in a blessing, then at Henry the Eighth gateway, and at Windsor bridge, on the boundary of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Heralds and the macebearer led the procession from the Guildhall, including the scarlet-robed mayor, ceremonially garbed aldermen and officials. Coldstream Guards in full dress uniforms, with bear skins, crossbelts, and overcoats, supplied the guard of honour, and the Life Guards the band music, their trumpeters, in red, gold, and silver, sounding a double fanfare precisely at noon. All civilian heads were bared in reference to the dead

King while the mayor was reading the Proclamation. Three cheers were given for the new King. The dean and canons, in scarlet, attended the gateway ceremony. The ancient car from which the sheriff proclaimed the King at Bristol has been similarly employed in the proclamation of the last six sovereigns.

FUNERAL BROADCAST RELAYED THROUGHOUT WORLD LONDON, January 25. A zone of silence will stretch round the globe during the funeral of King George. The Broadcasting Corporation will broadcast from Daventry throughout the Empire descriptions of the procession between 9.30 a.m. and 10.45 (Greenwich mean time). The service at Windsor, at approximately 1 p.m., will be broadcast on'GSG, 6SF, GSB, and be relayed by world centres outside the Empire. NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT TRIBUTES TO LATE KING LONDON, January 25. All parties in the Northern Ireland Senate and the House of Commons paid a tribute to King George. Members, silently standing, passed motions for loyal addresses to King Edward, after which messages of condolence were sent to Queen Mary. A Nationalist, Mr Campbell, said King George was a constitutional monarch who did not swerve a hair’s breadth from the constitutional path, never even when urged by high and mighty influences during the Home Rule struggle to exceed its limits. , He had nothing but generous thoughts and deeds for the Irish people, striving with all his might for reconciliation and healing between the British and the Irish. NO HOLIDAY IN CANADA OTTAWA, January 24. The Government announces that the national holiday proclamation for Tuesday has been cancelled in deference to the wishes of King Edward VIII. Two minutes’ silence will be observed instead. KREISLER CANCELS CONCERT LONDON, January 25. The ‘ Sun-Herald ’ Service says Kreisler has cancelled his Albert Hall concert on January 26 because of the King’s death. “My heart is sad, and I cannot play my fiddle. What a man he was! So quiet, calm, and dignified, and he never interfered, never made a fuss. I shall never forget his kindly smile and lovable, dignified manner.” MEMORIAL SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA SYDNEY, January 26. Memorial services for King George were held by all churches throughout the Commonwealth to-day. A NATIONAL MEMORIAL FEDERAL CABINET’S DECISION CANBERRA, January 26. The Federal Cabinet has unanimously decided that a fitting national memorial to King George should be erected in Australia. The State Premiers are to be consulted with regard to the form and site. VISITING ROYALTIES ESCORT OF DESTROYERS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 25. (Received January 27, at noon.)

The Admiralty is arranging for a destroyer escort to meet all Royalties and Heads of State coming to England to attend the funeral of King George at Windsor on Tuesday. H.M.S. Montrose and two destroyers will take over the escort in mid-Chan-nel from the French destroyers escorting the President of the French Republic, who is leaving Calais at noon on Monday.

CHURCH SERVICES IN LONDON HUNDREDS EXCLUDED FROM WESTMINSTER LONDON, January 26. (Received January 27, at 11.25 a.m.) The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Princess Royal, the Earl of Harewood and his two sons, and the King and Queen of Norway will attend a service in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. King Edward remained at Fort Belvedere, and is not expected to return to town until to-morrow.

In the meantime a special service of motor-cycle dispatch riders has been organised between the Palace and Port Belvedere.

The doors of Westminster Abbey this morning had to be closed early and the hundreds who were excluded waited for thg afternoon service. The Archbishop of Canterbury preached, recalling that the King had said he was a very ordinary sort of fellow. “ It is early,” he said, “ to fix King George’s place in history, yet 1 venture to predict it will be the spontaneous judgment

passed by a workman at my palace at Lambeth that ‘ we never had a better.’ Assuredly there hayo been kings and queens conceivably more powerful and more romantic, yet the historian must give a high place to King George, whos. reign witnessed more changes than any other. These changes could not have been possible unless the King himself had been a mail of tact and self-control and resolute in his loyalty to the principles of constitutional government.’’ Methodists crowded the Central Hall at Westminster, where there was a special service.

The French Hugenot Church in Soho Square was crowded for the morning service. Boy scouts conducted the Ambassador (M. Corbin) to his seat. The service was in French except the National Anthem, which was sung in English.

Prince Peter of Greece and the .Rumanian and Greek Ministers attended the Greek cathedral of St. Sophia at Bayswater, the interior of which was draped in black. The German Ambassador (Herr Hoesch) and members of the Embassy staff attended the Christus Kirche at Montpelier. The Bishop of London, preaching at St. Barnabas Church, North Finchley, recalled King George’s disgust at Christians bickering over the Holy Sepulchre. He said: “ Though shy and reticent, King George had an unfailing sense of humour. 1 had not been with him any time during the last 40 years for more than five minutes before he told me a story over which we laughed. King George was so ■touched with the demonstrations at the Jubilee that he was never able to speak of them without emotion.” SOLEMN STREETS FOREIGNERS ARRIVING LONDON, January 26. (Received January 27, at 2 p.m.) , The foreign royalties arriving yesterday noticed that London was already arraying herself in mourning garb. Tall Venetian masts, silver-tipped and bound with purple, with heavy black corded crepe stretching between them, are being erected on the funeral route. Black painted hoardings protect the shop windows. Special window seats are realising £25, but 10,000 cheap seats will be provided for the public. Rows of chairs along Pall Mall will be available for 6d to the first arrivals. All shop windows not boarded up will be transformed into shrines with suitable adornments. The early arrivals were Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, and King Boris of Bulgaria, whom the Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester respectively met at Victoria Station. M. Mapsky met M. Litvinoff, representing Russia. The Italian Crown Prince, the King of the Belgians, Prince Felix of Luxembourg, King Carol of Rumania, Princes Frederick of Russia, Ernst Augustus of Hanover, Baron Von Neurath, and King Christian of Denmark arrive on January 27. Passengers from the Continent greatly swelled the air traffic and included the Duke of Hesse and Baron Mallenheim of Finland. The majority of royalties will stay at Buckingham Palace. ROYAL FAMILY VISITS WESTMINSTER HALL KING TO HOLD INVESTITURES IN FEDRUARY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 25. (Received January 27, at noon.)

Yesterday evening the unending silent procession of the mourning public through Westminster Hall was arrested for a quarter of 'an hour when the King arrived unexpectedly, accomvpanied by Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family, including the King of Norway and Queen Maud, King George’s only surviving sister. The Royal party stood before the catafalque for about 10 minutes. During their stay they witnessed the impressive ceremony of the slow, silent changing of the inner guard. The midday watch yesterday was performed by the lieutenant-colonels commanding the five regiments of the Brigade of Guards. Many shared in changing the watches, among them a blind V.C., Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, one of the Gentlemen-ai-Arms.

The King will hold, on February 18 and 19. the two investitures which were to have been held by the late King. and will confer the insignia and decorations on those honoured by King George in the New Year lists. These will be the first official functions which the new Kinf will perform after his father’s funeral. QUEEN AND PRINCESS ROYAL , LONDON. January 26. (Received January 27. at 1 p.m.) The Queen and the Princess Royal, clad in black and' heavily veiled, drove from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace this afternoon. KING AND HIS BROTHERS TO WALK IN PROCESSION LONDON, January 26. (Received January 27, at 11.25 a.m.) It is officially stated that whatever the weather the King and his brothers will walk in the funeral procession on Tuesday. The King will wear a naval uniform.