A GRUELLING DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 11

A GRUELLING DAY

THE KING AND QUEEN PROGRESS OF ROYAL TRAIN THROUGH SOUTHERN ONTARIO (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WINDSOR (Ontario), June 6. (Received June 7, at 10 p.m.) With their train an hour late, due to delay by throngs and an unscheduled stop on the journey through southern Ontario, their Majesties, who spent 34 minutes here, saw for the first time the skyscrapers of the American city Detroit, 500,000 inhabitants of which crossed the border to catch a glimpse of royalty. Detroit’s own welcome was a sign 45 feet long and 15 feet high, reading “Detroit Welcomes Their Majesties the King and Queen.” The nearness of the approach to American territory, however, caused intensification of the precautions to ensure the safety of the sovereigns. A detachment of Detroit police joined the Canadian authorities at Windsor. Their Majesties, who experienced the most gruelling day of their tour, standing for hours on the back platform of the train as it crawled through towns and even at crossroads which were thronged with immense crowds, kept up a seemingly endless round of greetings. Despite pain from an elbow injury received when the train came to a sudden step at Stratford, throwing him against the wall on the platform, the King did not reduce his programme one jot. The extraordinary precautions ordered by Scotland Yard were particularly noticeable at Windsor, where a car bearing mounted police was attached to the royal train for the first time. More guards were evident than at any other time during the tour and there were fewer informal meetings between their Majesties and their admiring subjects. Lights erected nearby kept the train in a very bright glare. The Queen, dressed in a light rose beige costume, with fox neckpiece and white hat, was a striking figure as she stepped from the train. The King wore a grey lounge suit._ Their Majesties, after the presentation of civic officials, conversed with war veterans.

Thirty thousand school children who sat for hours in special stands some distance from the station were bitterly disappointed when the royal train failed to make a scheduled stop on the outgoing journey. Many cried in their disappointment. ENTHUSIASM OF PEOPLE MAIW STAND IN SWAMP LONDON (Ontario), June 7. (Received June 8, at 0.5 a.m.)

The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says:

“A heavy guard of mounted police is stationed at London railway vards, where to-night their Majesties are sleeping aboard the royal train. The passage down Niagara Peninsula, the most heavily populated section of Canada, was almost like a royal procession through the city. It is estimated that a million and a-half people will see their Majesties during the 36 hours of travelling between Toronto and Niagara Falls, where they will arrive at 6 p.m. to-morrow. Almost unbroken ranks of cheering people lined the railway right-of-way today, in some places people standing knee deep in swamp. At one place someone shouted ‘ How ya. King? ’ The King, laughingly replied ‘l’m fine. How are you? ’ Their Majesties spent almost the entire day on the rear platform of the train returning salutes. “ Their Majesties to-morrow will receive loyal addresses at seven Canadian cities at which they are making 10-minute stops.”