KING GOES WELL WITHIN RANGE OF THE ENEMY'S GUNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16310, 17 August 1916, Page 7

KING GOES WELL WITHIN RANGE OF THE ENEMY'S GUNS

INFORMALITY THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF VISIT. UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH A BODY OF ANZACS. Australian and N Z. Cable. 'Received 0.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 15. Writing to the London Daily Chronicle, Mr. Philip Gibbs states that the King visited all parts of the front. All the traffic and turmoil of war surged about him, and an endless procession of the manhood of the Empire passed him on the roads, not in review order, but as men going to do the work of war. The King took certain risks, going well within the range of the enemy's guns. lie stood among the wreckage and the ruin of war, where the ground was a graveyard for gallant men. The King's Presence in the danger zone stirred the troops greatly. The King and General Sir Douglas Haig met M. Poincaire, General J off re, and General t'och on Saturday, and attended a service among the troops on Sunday. He visited the King and Queen of the Belgians on Monday. The essential character of the visit was informality and absence of ceremony. The King inspected the men's billets -without escort, fie passed moo Australians assembled round their own headquarters. The men made a great demonstration, and the King, addressing General Birdwood, expressed high appreciation of their magnificent Work. A little later, quite unexpectedly, there came down the road a large body of Anzacs from Pozieres in full kit, with all the dirt and dust of battle, upon them, whistling and singing. '" Hullo boys.'' shouted an officer, here's the King!'' They halted, flung off their " a -ts, and cheered tremendously. This fine, stirring scene was all the better for its unexpectedness."