KING NICHOLAS AT SOMME FRONT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 4

KING NICHOLAS AT SOMME FRONT.

KEEN INTEREST IN TACTICS OP THE FIELD. WITH THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE SOMME. NOVEMBER, 2. The population of these busy roads —riders, drivers find trndgers—is used (writes Mr Percival Gibbon) to the sight of etraiige uniforms, from the horizon blue and gold braid of the French to the grey-green and constellation of orders of visiting Russians; but even men who would scarcely turn their heads for the peacock-splendour of a Haitian field-marshal stopped to gap© yesterday when the Knig of Montenegro and his suite went up towards the front. For the King wore his native costume, and added to it the enhancement of his own venerable and impressive presence. A MAJESTIC FIGURE. The title ‘'majesty” is something more than a courtly convention when applied to him; the habit of power and royal precedence is in his every gesture and tone; and the tall old warrior-chieftain, grizzled, with his eagle-beak and still black eyes, wearing the costume which his mountaineers have made glorious as a uniform, is not a figure that could pass unremarked anywhere. His visit to the front lasted only three days; it was Upon the last of them—having upon the first two visited a hospital and the staff of one of the armies —that he motored up to the Somme battle-front. It was a windy, chilly day, clear and rainless; at two points along our front the enemy was shelling steadily, with no particularly object in view that anyone could-discover; and the King, with a set of staff maps to make things clear, showed a keen and soldierly interest in the shape and possibilities of this long and spacious river-battle. GOLDEN LARGESSE. There was one village upon his route where there are yet children; they range up as one passes and ask—one can hardly call it begging—-for pennies. “Gimme vienny, please—one penny please.” One little girl held out her hand as the King and his suite went'by, and piped her request to one of the English officers. The King stopped. “What was she saying?” he enquired. The officers laughed and explained, and would have walked on, but not the King. “No, bring her here,” he commanded.

She was brought. It; is part of the business in life of good kings to live up to the story-books, and Nicholas of Montenegro was equal to the demands upon him. He'produced a louia—not a billet de banque'euch as one pays mere bills with, but the real thing, the authentic) gold. “Teaez, mon enfant!” He smiled, and gave it to her. THE GREATER POWERS. The King was greatly impressed by what he saw of the great organisation

of power —gun-power, man-power, money-power—which is the sign and visible token of Britain’s impulse to victory—the unbelievable guns, the supply of munitions which flows towards the bateries, the vast accumulation of magnificent manhood. The time at his disposal was short, but to all with whom he came into contact he expressed his wonder and his admiration of the great effort which is still growing upon the Somme. This morning, before leaving, his Mejesty utilised bis last moments in the war zone in a manner which those who know him best describe as entirely characteristic of him. He enquired for a church. There was one near by, and thither the old King went to offer up prayers for the success of the British.arms.