A GRACEFUL SOVEREIGN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13169, 30 January 1936, Page 6

A GRACEFUL SOVEREIGN.

MESSAGE TO FIGHTING FORCES. OTHER C OUNTRIES IMPRESSED. (Received I p.m.) United Press Assn.——By Electric Telegraph—Copvright. LONDON. January 29. The. King .sent a message to. the fighting service's expressing thanks and satisfaction for their part played in the funeral procession The War Office has been informed that his Majesty was much gratified by the bearing and steadiness under arms of all troops. The First Lord of flu* Admiralty sent this message to the Navy: “The King has commanded me toi express profound satisfaction that the Navy was so fully represented at the funeral. H;> noted with pride and gratification the fine bearing of all those ofi duty, and feels it was particularly fitting that the gun carriage* was drawn by men from the service in which his father spent sc many years of his life.” The King similarly congratulated all ranks of the Air Force "on their excellent appearance and bearing. BRITISH CEREMONIAL* EXTOLLED. All foreign visitors agree in applying -superlative's to yesterday's ceremonies. Those who, like the French, have frequent opportunities of witnessing a British ceremonial, agree that Britain is unequalled for pageantry whether sad or joyful and declare that nowhere else, save, perhaps in Japan, arei rational emotions of an entire people transmuted into symbolism so perfect in dignity, taste, impressiveness and sincerity. FRENCH KINSHIP EMPHASISED. French observers are also frankly envious of tile good behaviour of the London crowds, for the more presence of large masses ot people in Paris is so dangerous that the city is transformed into an armed camp According to one wliter, unity of the British .people has undoubtedly impressed France which has drawn her closer in effection to England, but it is not- so easy to* fathom German opinion. Nazi pageantry is, more liarsh and more militaristic and it expresses, a will to power, which is alien to the spirit of the British people, and the essentially civilian character of yesterday’s ceremonies puzzles the Germans. THE AFTERMATH. LONDON. January 29. After what the Times- describes as an eight days’ respite from ruthless routine in which all activities, were slowed up enabling the nation to look back over the* years when King George was its supreme-head and guardian, Britain has returned, today to normal life. London, has resumed workaday appearance and hundreds of workmen removed mourning standards from streets. The Catafalque was removed from Westminster Hall, and lip. clearing of litter the vast multitude left at West End presented an all night task, while the Post. Office engineers are still engaged in dismantling the special broadcast material. ROY A LTI ES DEPARTING. Tlie Palace officials are busy arranging the departure of foreign royalties', and other distinguished visitors. some of whom are remaining in London for several days. One of the first to depart was .President Le Brum who was farewelled at Victoria! by the Duke of Kent in the presence of a large gathering from the French Embassy. King Leopold of Belgium and Prince Felix ot Luxembourg, departed half an hour later, and the Dutch delegation departed from Liverpool Street. Prince Axel, of Denmark, departed by air from Croydon, and the Duke ot York fare welled the Crown Prince of Italy, who held an informal reception in the Italian colony. At the platform station the Duke shook hands with the Prince warmly as the train was leaving. The Duke of Gloucester fa rewelled the King ol Belgium and Prince of L uxembourg. LO NI)0 N . J a.ii ua ry 29. Russians, who have always loved pageantry, of which they are still masters, wore deeply impressed and marvelled that such enormous crowds would stand for hours in drenching rains without compulsion but out of devotion to a monarch. Soviet delegates, whose doctrines associate monarchy with suppression, admit that they received food for though in the late King, who embodied all the grandeur of imperial power, yeti was generally regarded as the father of a vast family and sincerely beloved by all his subjects. The fact that the dock workers who are “proletariat par excellence” freely sacrificed adav’s pay to enable the closing of the docks o*n the day of the funeral, especially impressed some of the Russians-. The News-Chronicle hopes that the presence of the loaders ot so many nations marching slide by side joined in common bonds of respect for the dead monarch will help the cause of peace and points out that near M Litvinoff marched Baron, von Neurafcli. representing the bitterly antisocialist Nazis, while other antagonists similarly walked ; n friendship. SIMPLICITY OF THE OCCASION. An impressive touch of simplicity crowned the pagea.ut.rv of the funeral. A Court Circular issued from Buckingham Palace contained five type-written lines—“Th,. funeral of bis Majesty, George V., took place to-day at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.” “Tin* King, Queen and Royal Family. together wittfi sovereigns and heads of States and Foreign representatives were present ”