LESS ANXIETY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 7

LESS ANXIETY

HIS, MAJESTY'S ILLNESS A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT BEST NEWS FOR WEEK MINOR OPERATION PERFORMED (Eke. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Australian und N.Z. Press Assoeiatiou. 1 (Received Dec. 13, 11 a,m.) LONDON, Dec. 12. The following bulletin concerning His Majesty's health was issued hy Sir Frederick Hewett and Lord Dawson at 10.30 a.m.: "The King had some hours' sleep. The slight improvement noticed late last night has been maintained, the temperature peiug somewhat lower. The patient's condition is a little better."

The Central News says the King had a better night and was able to obtain some refreshing sleep. There was a slight improvement in his general condition. The anxiety, which had reached a climax on Monday, burst with last night's bulletin. This niorning.'s unofficial news made better reading than any for the past week. Coinciding with the Prince's return, it is regarded as a happy omen. The weather is cheerless and it is rairiing in the precincts of the Palace. '■"'":

Sir Frederick Hewett and Lord Dawson remained at the Palace until 1 o'clock, and returned at 3 o'clock accompanied by Sir Farquhar Buzzard and Sir Humphrey Rolleston, when they saw the King again. Sir Hugh Rigby, His Majesty's honorary snr-geon-in-ordinary, wa,s summoned in flip afternoon. Much secrecy surrounded a minor operation performed on the King in the morning. Very few even in the Palace knew the reason.

Lord Dawson and Sir Frederick Hewett remained so long with His Majesty that the bacteriologist arrived in the afternoon before the bulletin, which was issued at 3.20 p.m., and which read: "A slight improvement in the King's condition was noticed this morning. His strength is maintained. Some virulent fluid around the base of the right lung was removed by puncture this morning, and further drainage will be necessary."

It is officially announced that though it is anxiously anticipated that the localisation of the infection makes the direction of the advance more defined, and the position more hopeful, there is still in prospect a long and difficult struggle. Tho most satisfactory feature of the bulletins is the lowered temperature. QCR EN V V LEILS EN< lAG KM ENTS Prayers for tho King have been arranged for noon every day at Westminster Abbey till further notice. The happiest news from the Palace was .the Queen's statement that she would fulfil her engagement at Tower Hill to unveil the mercantile marine memorial, thus emphasising the .note of hope and that the great anxiety which prevailed at the Palace yesterday and on Monday has appreciably lessoned to-day. Not only did the Queen unveil her first memorial, but her voice was heard over the wireless for-the first time. Despite, the weather thousands of people gathered along the route to show their appreciation of the Queen's action in keeping the appointment.

The seamen's memorial, engraved with the names of 12,080 officers and nnii who gave their lives in the war, has been erected by all the government's of the Empire through the Imperial War Graves Commission. After the Queen had unveiled if, the Archbishop of Canterbury dedicated the memorial.

A little past noon the Prince of Wales drove up to the Palace heavily muffled with a large overcoat us a precaution against the unpleasant weather, in contrast to the sunshine of Africa. The Duke of York, who called for the Prince at York House, accompanied him. A large crowd greeted the Princes (it the Palace gates. Princess Mary attended a charity concert at Green Park Hotel last night. Although authoritative circles did not regard last night's bulletin as reassuring, the Daily Express medical correspondent, says: "Although the bulletin does not mention the temperature, the fact that the King had a quiet day suggests that, the temperature is satisfactory. The other items are encouraging, and we arc justified in regarding it as a distinctly- good bulletin.'.' Sir Win. Joynson-Hicks, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, after reading the'bulletin at the Imperial Club dinner, said: "I am sure we rejoice at even the slight additional hope thai to-night's announcement gives us." Throughout the King's illness, the painter of the Royal portraits, Mr. Hoinevville Hague, has been at work in a special room at the Palace supplying the finishing touches to a'life-size equestrian painting of His Majesty mounted on his favorite horse, Anzac, providing a picturesque background. Anzac was originally ridden during the war hy ah Australian officer, and has been in the Royal mews since the King purchased it seven years ago.

THE PRINCE'S JOURNEY

ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED (British Official Wireless.) Rec. noon, . RUGBY, Dec. 12. The British representatives at Paris, Rome, and Berne have been instructed to convey to the governments to which they are accredited an expression of the Prince of Wales' warm appreciation of the invaluable assistance afforded by them to His* Royal Highness in expediting his journey through France. Italy, and Switzerland, and of the admirable organisation of arrangements made for his convenience, safety and comfort. : The Prince had also expressed a desire that his sincere thanks should be conveyed to the railway staff and officials who were instrumental in carrying out these arrangements. An expression has also been added of the warmest thanks of the British Government for tho assistance so freely and readily given,

PRINCE GEORGE RETURNING DEPARTURE FROM BERMUDA (British Official Wireless.) Rec. noon. RUGBY, Dee. 12. It was officially announced to-day that Prince George, the King's youngest, son, who is in the Navy, is coming home. He left Bermuda, to-day in the cruiser Durban for New York, where he will embark in the Cunard liner Berengaria, which sails for England on Friday. The Berengaria is duo at South ampton on December 20, which is Prince George's birthday. He will bo 26 years of age. The Duke of Gloucester, the third son of the. King and Queen, who i.s on his way home from South Africa, is expected to reach London on Christmas Eve.