THE KING IN FRANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23444, 8 December 1939, Page 8

THE KING IN FRANCE

TOUR OF WESTERN FRONT VKiT TS eMTISH SECTOR LONDON, December ’6. The largest concentration of troops in the British zone since the outbreak of war began at dawn for the second day of the King’s tour of the western front. Viscounji Gort and the Duke of Gloucester again accompanied! His Majesty. Thousands assembled at the numerous points the King visited in the course of his eighty-mile journey. The sky was clear, and it seemed just the weather to tempt eneniy aircraft into the sky, and for this reason protective patrols circled overhead continually.

The King covered several miles on foot and saw the operation room at the Royal Air Force aerodrome, and studied the way the movements of hostile aircraft were recorded. • At the invitation of the commanding Officer, the King gave orders by telephone to patrol fighters, which were in the air within 30 seconds. He spoke to a number of pilots, including one 24 yearij of age, who was credited with bringing down the first German machine in France. “ A jolly good show,” .the King remarked.

'H» Majesty had lunch with several FMich generals in that eighteenth century chateau where Napoleon slept and where .Wellington had his head-

TOUR CONTINUED

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 7. '(Received December 8, at 10.30 a.m.) The King’s inspection'of units of the British expeditionary force in France, .which yesterday included visits to aerodromes, a review ,of the Guards’ Regiment, and a parade of several thousand troops belonging to the various brigades, was resumed early to-day following a brief conversation with war correspondents od the terrace of the chateau where His Majesty spent the night. The distinguished French .writer, Andre Maurois, and the doyen of the. British correspondents, Sir Philip Gibbs, were among those with whom jthe King conversed. Later, accompanied by ih© Duke of Gloucester and Lord Gort, the King left for a tour of the areas in which the units of the force are stationed.

LUNCH WITH PRESIDEHT LEBRUN

RUGBY, December 7, December 8, at 1 p.m.) Th« French. President, M. Lebrun, Junched with the King at the front to-day. His- Majesty was accompanied by Lord Gort and the Duke of Gloucester, and President Lebrun by M. Daladier and high Allied officers. The luncheon was held in a tiny restaurant in a provincial town behind the lines. They exchanged cordial toasts. The French statesmen, motored from Paris. They expressed delight at the further evidence of the strength and solidarity of the Entente. During the third day’s tour of the B.E.F. sector His Majesty travelled over 300 miles and visited the headquarters of the anti-aircraft batteries, armoured car units, and regiments of the‘ line. He traversed muddy com-' munication trenches and was greatly Amused at the gunners’ dugouts placarded with cartoons of English and German leaders and a caricature of £litler going skyward on top of a shell.