KING GRAVELY ILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1936, Page 7

KING GRAVELY ILL

STRENGTH BEING MAINTAINED RESISTANCE TO WEAKNESS ' \ NO CHANGE IN CONDITION (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Extraordinary.) Received January -20, 9.25 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. His Majesty King George V lies gravely ill at Sandringham House. He is suffering fioni bronchial catarrh, accompanied by cardiac (heart) weakness, and his condition is cansipg anxiety. Eminent specialists are in attendance. They comprise Sir Frederick Williams, Sir Stanley Hewett, Lord Daivson of Penn, and Sir Maurice Cassidy. A bulletin issued at 7.45 p.m. to-day (Sunday) states that the King passed a quiet day. There is no change in his condition. The bulletin was signed by Lord Dawson, Sir Frederick Williams, and Sir Stanley Hewett. The fact that the King is maintaining his strength, as was announced at midday, shows that he is resisting Saturday’s increasing weakness. ‘ . . A message has just been received from Sandringham saying that the King had seveiai hours sleep during l the day. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York have -left Sandringham by car for London. It is understood the Prince of Wales will be seeing the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baidum) before his retyrn to Sandringham.

ORIGIN _IN CHILL THE DOCTORS CONCERNED. SPECIALLY HEATED ROOAI. OXYGEN ADAiINISTERED. LONDON, Jan. 18. Their Alajesties went to Sandringham on December 21. The King first showed signs of a chill on January 15 when Sir Frederick Wilians was called in. He took a turn for the worse late last night when his advisers decided to administer oxygen to,relieve his breathing. The King is lying in a specially heated and ventilated room. Early this morning a snowstorm blew up, covering the windows of Sandringham House with a white film. The surrounding countryside and roads are thickly covered with snow. The nurses in attendance include Sister Agnes Black, who nursed the King throughout his serious illness of 1925-29, afterward becoming a permanent member of the Royal household. The first bulletin was the first intimation that His Alajesty was seriously indisposed, as it was understood that he was confined to his room with a cold as a precautionary measure owing to the severe wintry weather. This is the King’s first indisposition since last June, when he was suffering from bronchial catarrh, and was ordered to take a fortnight’s rest. A slight chill in the same month prevented his attendance at a London County Council reception. VERY COLD WEATHER, The News-Chronicle’s special Sandringham correspondent was officially informed at midnight yesterday that the King’s condition was “less comfortable.” Oxygen apparatus had been brought from London and two nurses were in attendance. The King was last seen, outside the grounds at Sandringham on January 15, riding his white pony. Early yesterday morning at oundringlnun the thermometer dropped 10 degrees below freezing point.

]A .CONCERN SOLICITUDE OF THOUSANDS. PRAYERS FOR RECOVERY. LATEST NEWS SOUGHT. LONDON, Jan. 18. | Nation-wide concern for the King ' increased after the afternoon buletin introducing the word “anxiety” and , signed by the four eminent specialists who are fighting for His Alajesty’s life. , With the King lying ill at Sandringham there is no opportunity to display public feeling on' the scale shown in 1929, when thousands continually thronged about Buckingham Palace awaiting bulletins. Nevertheless scores , to-day clustered outside the forecourt • of the Palace seeking the latest news, j People of all degrees of life came, inj eluding men and women in evening dress arriving in cars. Soldiers and airmen visited the Pa (ace throughout the evening, read the bulletin and de- ; parted with troubled faces. 1 Meanwhile anxiety for His Alajesty’s j health is repeatedly demonstrated in ’ conversations heard on all sides in ' streets and public places, proving the ' closeness with which his well-being lies •to all hearts. At Sandringham, where | public interest can chiefly.be manifested, farmhands finishing work went straight to Sandringham Palace and ' joined the groups of villagers and visitors who had been waiting throughout the,day outside the Jubilee Gates hoping for some sign, that the King was progressing. Even when a bulletin was placarded they did not disperse, remaining a long time watching the lighted windows of tlie stately mansion glowing-across the snow, eyes specially fixed on the room where the King is gallantly battling for his life. '

Before he departed for home, one of the Kiug’e employees, using the affectionate title by which the King is known in the neighbourhood, said, “All we hope is that the Squii’e will have sufficient strength to rally as lie did before.” . Numerous l-esidents of East Anglia are motoring to the village of DersingTiam, near Sandringham, at night, to ascertain the latest news. Thousands of Londoners silently made a pilgrimage on loot and in motor-cars to Buckingham Palace on a similar errand. Despite the cold people stood in little groups discussing the bulletins. Hundreds of cyclists, riding north from a rally at Albert Hall, rode to the Palace for news. FAMILY PRESENT. Special prayers were offered at Evensong in St. George’s Cliapel, Windsor. The Duchess of York is recovering from influenza at the Royal Lodge, Windsor! Great Park, and is in constant telephonic communication with Sandringham. The Duke of Kent will join tlie family at- fcandringham on Sunday. The Princess Royal arrived at Sandringham and had a long talk with the Queen immediately. Lord YVigram, Private Secretary and Extra Equerry to the King, also arrived from Lpndon. The Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York are in constant attendance and saw the King after the medical consultation which preceded this morning’s statement regarding,the continuance of anxiety. The Prime Minister is remaining' at Downing Street instead of spending the weekend at Chequers. The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking at Canterbury Cathedral, said that it would be foolish to deny there were grounds for anxiety in the King’s illness, but there were good grounds for hope in His Majesty’s proved powers of recovery and the knowledge., experience and skill of doctors ami nurses. “T am sure,” he said, “the love and loyalty so wonderfully manifested in Jubilee year will noxv be expressed by prayers that the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life, may bring him full strength and recovery, give trust and confidence to the Queen and wisdom and skill to those having care of. him. Let us all pray that the life which means to much to the realm may be restored to full health and strength.” Dr Amigo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark, ordered special prayers to he said for the King in all the 150 churches of his diocese. Prayers for tlie King were said to-day in all Jewish synagogues throughout the Empire. The King’s illness was a complete surprise to the Royal estate villagers, who saw hiui a day or so ago apparently in the best of health and spirits. A woman declared: He looked just as he always does, and wished me ‘ good dav” in' his usual kindly lasluon. The Post Office at .Sandringham was overwhelmed with telephone calls all night. , , , , Hundreds of letters anti telegrams of sympathy are arriving, including General Evangeline Booth’s message: “His Majesty’s serious illness has deeply distressed Salvationists throughout the world. We plead with the Everlasting Father to grant speedy and complete recovery.”

The Daily Telegraph’s medical coirespondent points out that bronchial catarrh is usually accompanied, especially in older people, by some embarrassment of breathing, placing . extra strain on the heart muscle, hence the bulletins’ reference to cardiac or heart weakness. Oxygen is one of the commonest aid in overcoming this embarrassment. Sir Maurice Cassidy, an authority on heart diseases, was summoned to Sandringham at 8.17 a.m. The King’s condition was unchanged at. 7.45 a.m. CONSIDERABLE CONCERN. It was stated before the second bulletin that anxiety expressed in last night’s bulletin persists. The “anxiety” indicates that the doctors view the King’s condition with considerable concern. The little Princesses, Elisabeth and Margaret Rose, have been told that theii grandfathei is very ill. They left Sandringham for London tins afternoon. The fact that the Princesses were sent away is further m- “ ilication oi the gravity of the illness. The only hopeful feature is the restful sleep reported in the bulletin.

The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal saw His Majesty several times to-day. The two little Princesses, before leavi’j r for London, were taken to see their "randfather from whom they parted affectionately, after which they kissed the Queen good-bye and said they were looking forward to seeing Grandpa soon well again.

Sir Maurice Cassidy lias left Sandrimdiam and is not expected to return, but° undue significance is not attached lo this. It is explained that the fact that oxygen was administered and further supplies rushed from London should not he exaggerated m view of the fact that the King, like other sufferers from bronchial troubles, lias frequently had oxygen in recent years.

NOT LOST GROUND. It was officially stated at 10 p.in. that there was no change to report in the King's condition since the previous bulletin At midnight it was. learned that the King was sleeping peaceluliy, and iiis condition was unchanged. The announcement that his condition ■ unchanged is regarded as showing tliat His Majesty has not lost ground, although it has not indicated appreciable improvement. Sir F. Willans, Sir S. Hewett and Lord Dawson will mun in within call throughout tlic night.

WAITING CROWDS PRAYERS AT \YESTAIINSTER, VISIT BY ARCHBISHOP. PRINCE SEES PREAII ER. Received January 20, 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. The Duke of Gloucester is much 1 better but was unable to go to-day to Sandringham, whither the Duke of i Kent and the Archbishop of Canterj bury are en route. | No undue importance is attached to the visit ol the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is an old and dear personal friend of Their Alajesties. | The question of the setting up of 1 Counsellors of State, as during the King’s former illness, will not he considered till a better idea is obtained ol the probable duration of the King’s illness. j For the first time for many years ! members of tiie Royal Family mu not attend the morning service at St. Mary’s. They remained at Sandringham House, where crowds awaited news, but there was no sign of unyi thing from the house. !“ A throng was also waiting at Buckingham Palace. Hundreds remained tluoughout the day outside. A constant stream entered Westminster Cathedral and offered prayers. The Prince of Wales, after acquainting the Duke of Gloucester of the proI gress of the Kind’s illness, lotb .BuckI ingham Palace lor Downing Street land saw AH Baldwin, j The Duke of York will spend the I night at the Royal Lodge at V incisor, I where the Duchess is progressing excellently. Other inmates are the Prin--1 cesses Helen Victoria, Elizabeth, and : Margaret Bose. The Duke of York will return to Sandringham on Alonthiy. . ' i The Queen and the Princess Royal (walked in the grounds of SaiulnngI ham this afternoon.

A QUIET HOLIDAY. STAY AT SANDRINGHAM. SUNSHINE RETURNS. LONDON, Jan. 19. With His Majesty's illness the happy life at Sandringham, where Their Majesties like to forget cares of State and where the King has been happiest with his guns and dogs, has been J over clouded. The picturesque house has j become the centre of the Empire s, j indeed the world’s, anxieties, j The King’s sudden illness caused the abandonment of a private cinema m the ballroom last night, to which many residents bad been invited. lester- ! day’s shooting party was cancelled, j The King occupies a room overlooks j in" the park, while in the distance can be seen the little grey tower, of | the parish chui'ch, dating back to 11150, where the Royal r aimly worship on Sundays and where special prayers will be offered for His MaI jesty’s recovery. | Until his illness His Majesty spent ! the present holiday quietly and has j not done a great deal ol shooting as is customary during his New rear I visit to Sandringham. The King at- ! tended Sandringham Church every ! Sunday, walking a quarter of a mile Ito it through the Sandringham garI dens. People fast Sunday were impressed by his appearance ol good health. Circles in close* touch with the Court emphasise that the King s illness is not only the result of a sudden cold, and point out that the King, for seven years, has carried on unremittingly tlie duties of Ins high station after his recovery from liis illness oi 1929, oi which tlie strain would inevitably remain, leaving His Highness more susceptible than others. Nevertheless the 1 King, in the opinion 8f those seeing ! him daily, came through the Jubnee I celebrations excellently, but last I month grief, due to the deatn. or | Princess Victoria, inevitably atj fected his spirits. £ 1 Though London is still fog-bound 1 there was brilliant sunshine this morning at Sandringham. UV? villagers are hoping the weather will have a tonic effect on the King, Early Communion was celebrated in the little church of St. Mary Magdalen in the snow-covered grounds of the Royal estate and was attended by 'Sir Clive Wigram (Private Secretary) 1 and two women from the Royal Household, and three villagers, j The King’s Chaplain, Dr. Fuller, said special prayers lor His Majesty’s recovery.