CRITICAL DAYS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 298, 3 December 1928, Page 5

CRITICAL DAYS

IN KING’S ILLNESS

HIS MAJESTY’S STRENGTH TAXED.

PUBLIC ANXIETY DEMON-

STRATED.

(United Prfces Association—By Cable Copyright.) [Australian Press Assn.—United Service.

(Received 3, 11.35 a.m.) London, Dec. 2. H.M. the King is facing a critical day's illness. Public alarm has been caused by the more serious tone of the morning bulletin, which said that “his strength is being taxed owing to a decline in the strength of the heart," and by the not too reassuring ones on Saturday,

This anxiety manifested itself to an extraordinary degree in the neighbourhood or Buckingham Palace, where thousands crowded the gates and motor cars lined the Mall.

bo many rushed to see the bulletin that the police hud to regulate the movements of the crowd. The contents ot the bulletin were anxiously debated, the solemn crowds being seemingly unwilling to leave the palace grounds. The King's physicians passed through the gates almost unnoticed, as diu other prominent people who came to inquire.

the crowd as the day wore on, assumed such vast dimensions that the palace guards had great difficulty in taxing up their stations.

A SLIGHT SETBACK. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.J (Received 3, 9.5 a.m.) London, Dec. 2. The increasing anxiety ot the public was shown outside Buckingham Palace late at night and early this morning, when men and women in evening dress, on their way home, drove up to learn the latest news, motors extending a considerable distance from the palace. Officials regret the absence of any reassuring statement in the latest bulletin. There has apparently I -u a slight setback, the possibility of which was indicated in the doctors’ comprehensive review last week. Although His Majesty did not have much sleep on Friday night, he read the morning papers with his usual keen interest the next day. He makes frequent inquiries as to the progress of the English-Australian test match.

AWAITING TURN FOR IMPROVEMENT.

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service.

(Received 3, 9.55 a.m.) London, Dec. 2.

A bulletin issued at 11.15 a.m. states that the King had rather a restless night. This morning his temperature was lower and the infective process show's some improvement. His general strength, though at present adequate, is, at this stage of the illnaes, being taxed. It was nearly two and a half hours after the arrival of the doctors before the bulletirf was issued. It did not succeed in altogether allaying last night’s anxiety at the palace but the fall of temperature and the improvement in the infective process are regarded as favourable signs. That His Majesty’s strength is being taxed is not so reassuring, but, nevertheless, it is considered satisfactory that the doctors are able to state that his strength is adequate. The ebb and flow of the disease is still going on. They are awaiting the turn of the tide, when it is hoped that general improvement in the King’s condition may set in. A record crowd awaited the bulletin at the palace gates. Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley Hewett spent 45 minutes with the King in the afternoon.

STARTLING RUMOUR CONTRADICTED.

(Australian Press Assn. -United Service.

(Received 3, 11.40 a.m.) London, Dec. 2.

A serious view is taken of to-night’s bulletin, and considerable anxiety is stated to exist.

The doctors were still at the palace at nine o’clock. Another bulletin is expected before midnight. H.M. the Queen and the Princess left the palace for a drive at three o’clock. Men doffed their hats and women bowed in silence as they passed. There was no other demonstration. The Queen and the Princess bowed as their car passed through the crowds lining the route of the drive. Both were obviously looking anxious. Shortly afterwards Lord Dawson was observed to return to the palace, which was an unusual visit, and enter uncustomary gates. Sir Stanley Hewett followed a few minutes later. Both were present in the palace for an hour.

Indeed so great was the tension today that grave rumours were circulated in the city and as far as the outer London area. Everybody was so keyed up with anxiety that it was considered desirable early in the afternoon to issue from the palace an official statement, which read as follows: “Everything is in our reports. Rumours that His Majesty has passed* away are absolutely unfounded” THE EVENING BULLETIN. NOT VERY REASSURING. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 3, 12, noon.) London, Dec. 2. The bulletin issued at 8.20 p.m. states that His Majesty had quieter sleep during the day and the infective process continued to diminish His temperature to-night is 100 degrees. At the same time there is a decline in the strength of the heart. PRINCE EMB4RKF.S ON CRUISER DUE LONDON DECEMBER 19. (Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l (Received 3, 9.55 n.m.) London, Dec. 2. A Dar-es-Salaam message states that tile cruiser Enterprise arrived there at midnight and that the Prince

(Continued on Next Column),

of Wales embarked at 10 o’clock this morning, and sailed at 10.30. Governor Donald Cameron farewelled him. The Prince of Wales, by leaving the Enterprise at Suez and entraining for Alexandria, will save delay in the Suez Canal, also at least 20 hours for refuelling the Enterprise. He will be speeding across the Mediterranean the same day he arrives at Suez. The port of disembarkation in Europe cannot be settled until the train arrangements are made, also the degree of urgency which may exist next week. The Enterprise should cover the 2850 miles to Suez by the morning of Friday next. The Prince should reach Brindisi aboard the Frobisher from Alexandria on the evening of Sunday, December 9. Special train arrangements should allow him to reach Paris on the morning of December 11. Thence he would travel to London in two hours by air. Should the Enterprise and the Frobisher be pressed to the absolute maximum and the special trains leave immediately, the Prince cannot be in London earlier than the morning of December 10.

SPECIAL PRAYERS OFFERED IN ALL CHURCHES.

(Australian and N.Z. Press Asin.l (United Press Association—By Cable

Copyright.] (Received 3, 1.25 p.m.) London, Dec. 2.

The Duke of Gloucester left Sakania by special coach, which arrives at Victoria Falls at 8 a m. on Tuesday. The cruiser Frobisher left Malta for Alexandria, where she will await the Prince of Wales.

Special prayers were offered in all the churches to-day. The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York, and Princess Mary attended service in the private chapel. PRINCE’S EARLIER ARRIVAL EXPECTED. (United Service.l (Received 3, 12 noon.) Dares-es-Salaam, Dec. 2. On arrival at Suez the Prince intends to entrain to Port Said, thence he will travel to Brindisi. He hopes to arrive home on December 14. SOUTH AFRICA’S FAREWELL MESSAGE. I British Official Wireless. I (Received 3, 11.20 a.m.) Rugby, Dec. 1. General Hertzog, the South African Prime Minister, has sent a telegram to the Prince of Wales expressing tjre extreme regret of the South African Government at the sad circumstances which have rendered necessary the cancellation of His Royal Highness’s visit to South Africa.

'“On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa,” says the message, “the Prime Minister wished the Prince of Wales God-speed and a safe return.”

The hope was also expressed that the health of the King would improve and that all cause for anxiety might soon be over.

The Prince of Wales replied; “1 am deeply grateful for your telegram and good wishes. Tell all my friends in

the Union of South Alrica how keenly disappointed I am at having to postpone my second visit, to which I had been eagerly looking forward.” The Prince of Wales yesterday visited Zanzibar, which, though a British protectorate, is still ruled by the Sultan as. an independent state. He crossed to the island in the Government steamer Azania and visited the ancient palace at Zanzibar. He was able to see something of the strange Arab town with its narrow street and quaint buildings, and also the clove plantation from which the island derives most of its wealth.

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

TO LEAVE CAPETOWN ON DECEMBER 7.

I British Official VZire'e’s.] (Received 3, 11.42 a.m.) Rugby, Nov. 2

It is learned that communication has been established with the Duke of Gloucester, who has intimated that he will return home wh'th all due speed The Duke was expected to reach Sakania. in the Belgian Congo last night, and arrangements were made for him to travel south by train The South African Government is making all necessary arrangements to

enable the Duke to rush to the coast. Tentative arrangements have been made to take him bv special train from Rhodesia to Capetown to enable him to catch the mail steamer Balmoral Cnstle, which leaves there for England on December 7th.