NATION'S LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 13

NATION'S LOSS

BELGIAN QUEEN V tragedy described CAE OUT OF CONTROL CEASII DOWN A BANK < geief-stihcken king J fly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 30. 5.5 p.m.) BRUSSELS. Aug. 00 The entire country is grief-stricken o ver tho tragic death of Queen Astrid. Their Majesties were spend- ' ing a holiday at their Swiss villa of Hasslihorn, at Horw, on the bank of Lake Lucerne. The children, Prince Baudouin and Princess Josephine, jeft for Brussels yesterday. They are still unaware of the tragedy. Their Majesties departed on a motor excursion early in tho morn- / jng, the King driving in an open touring car with the Queen beside . him and the chauffeur in the dickeyseafc.

A second car followed with four members of the suite. A mile from Kussnacht the King apparently removed his attention from the road in order to glance at a map in the Queen's hand. The car swerved to the right-hand side and the wheels mounted the concrete kerb and continued thus for 17 yards to a sunken transverse path. The shock evidently fcaused the King to lose control of the car and it swung to the right and ran for 20 yards down an embankment and collided with a tree, against which the Queen was violently thrown, her skull ' being fractured. King's First Thought for Queen The car rolled on and struck a second tree, hurling the King out and slightly injuring one arm and his head, then plunged over a stone wall into the lake, whence the chauffeur scrambled out. Peasants and the occupants of the Second car rushed to the scene. The King was assisted to tho side of tho Queen, and a priest was brought from Kussnacht with a doctor, and recited the prayer for the dying. Only when hope was abandoned did tie King permit the doctor to attend to his injuries. The identity of Their Majesties was not immediately known as the King was travelling incognito. His Majesty's wounds were bandaged fcnd he was taken back to the villa, to which the Queen's body also was removed.

An eye-witness stated that the car was travelling at 30 miles an hour when it suddenly skidded and hit a small embankment. It rebounded against a tree. The Queen -was thrown through the window and was terribly cut and her skull was fractured. The car. with the King still clinging to the wheel, ran into a small field and hit another tree, then overturned into a bed of - reeds on the edge of the lake. His Majesty's Dazed Condition As the King extricated himself from the wrecked car blood was streaming from his face and he looked round and saw his wife. He knelt beside her, picked her up and kissed her dazedly as he called,for help. Reports vary as to the King's condition. Some say it is not serious, but others state that his head is injured ; 'and that he is still too dazed to be able to describe the accident. > Tho chief of police at Lucerne says he received a report that the King was eerio'isly hurt. When the car Was removed from the lake it was found that the radiator had been wrenched off. The offside of the car where the Queen had been sitting was completely wrecked and tho body was twisted and iiearly torn off the chassis. News Stuns the People

The news of the tragedy was broadcast, and it stunned the people. The Prime Minister of Belgium, Dr. van Zeeland, after holding a special meeting of the Cabinet to issue mourning proclamations, flew to Lucerne, and Jatfer accompanied the King to Brussels in a special train conveying the body of the Queen. Telegrams of sympathy have arrived from all parts of the world. They include messages from the Italian Royal family and Signor Mussolini. The funeral of the - Queen probably will take place on Sep- ' tember 3. FEELING IN AMERICA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE BELGIUM'S GRIEF SHARED WASHINGTON, Aug. 00 The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, ahd other high officials, joined with President Roosevelt to-day in extending sympathy to tho Belgian ruler and people* on the death of Queen Astrid. The President cabled to King Leopold as follows: — " Mrs. Roosevelt and I have been deeply moved by the tragic news of tho death of Her Majesty the Queen. We hasten to extend to Your Majesty our heartfelt sympathy. The people of the United States will share the grief of the Belgian people in the loss of a Queen who so graciously personified the ideals of Belgium. I earnestly hope Your Majesty will rapidly recover from the injuries which, I understand, you personally suffered. I send my affectionate regards in this tho hour of your great Borrow." .

Mr. Hull paid a formal call of condolence on Prince Eugene Delingne, Belgian Charge d'Affaires in Washington.