MRS. SIMPSON AT CANNES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22595, 7 December 1936, Page 9

MRS. SIMPSON AT CANNES

DRAMATIC DASH BY MOTOR HOT PURSUIT BY NEWSPAPER MEN VILLA NOW GUARDED BY DETECTIVES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 6, 9.30 p.m.) _ CANNES, Dec. 5 Mrs. Simpson concluded an all-day dash by motor across southern France when her car sped at 1 1.35 p.m. into the narrow lane leading to her friend Mrs. Herman Rodgers villa, Lou Vei, scattering 1 00 newspaper men and photographers who were awaiting her arrival, which they had been led to expect by reason of the fact that eight large trunks and five valises had arrived on the morning Riviera express, labelled " Miss Burke," but bearing the initials " W.W.S." Mrs. Simpson arrived at Dieppe, France, early yesterday morning. A Central News representative on the same steamer said: " Mrs. Simpson's arrival on board was a complete surprise. A car drove up just before the steamer sailed and three men and a heavily-veiled woman walked to the Passport Office quickly, were passed on, and went to their cabins. A car was awaiting at Dieppe and the party set off at 2 a.m." They stayed at Rouen until 1 1 a.m., and later arrived in Paris, whence messages suggested that Mrs. Simpson was staying with Lady Mendl, wife of Sir Charles Mendl, press attache at the British Embassy, at the Villa Trianon, Versailles. Lady Mendl was formerly Miss Elsie de Wolfe, of New York, and a great friend of Mrs. Simpson. The King, as Prince of Wales, had tea at the Villa Trianon in the autumn of 1935. Mrs. Simpson also was present. Strict Police Secrecy The Paris police admitted having been instructed to maintain the strictest secrecy regarding Mrs. Simpson s movements. It is understood she travelled to Paris in one of the King s private cars. When it was found later that Mrs. Simpson was not staying with Lady Mendl, it was correctly guessed that she was going to the Riviera. She was travelling in a black closed car at high speed, pursued by a number of cars filled with journalists, who recorded the trip by news flashes to the whole world, detailing what she did in every town she passed. Mrs. Simpson reached Blois, on the River Loire, at 1 1 p.m., and the Daily Mail's special representative says that soon after her arrival she put through a telephone call to London and remained talking for nearly half an hour. Watchers Eluded by Ruse Although it was assumed that Mrs. Simpson would spend the night at the Hotel de France at Blois, the British United Press says she eluded the watchers and at 1.15 a.m. she left by car on the Bordeaux Road, which leads to Biarritz. The, police kept up a pretence of guarding the hotel long after she had left, giving her three hours' start on the newspaper men. Mrs. Simpson lunched at Vienne. She left the hotel by a back door and changed her motor-car, as the one she had so far occupied was too familiar. She ate a cold dinner in the car at Avignon, fearing to meet journalists. A large crowd of the inhabitants watched Mrs. Simpson s arrival at Cannes. English and French detectives are now guarding the gates of the villa. Workmen installed a special telephone to enable Mrs. Simpson to talk to London immediately she arrived.