The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-15
MAKING
WONDERFUL FIGHT
Aged King Rallies Well After
Serious Operation; May
Yet Recover.
PHYSICIANS AST0UNDED
BY PATIENTS VITALITY
Question Of Successor in Case
of Death Already Dis
cUSSed.

BRUSSELS, Dee, liking Leopold
today underwent a most serious opera
tion and astoundcd his physicians by
the manner in which he withstood IT,.
His remarkable rccuperatlvc powers
manifested themselves directly he re-
gained consciousness. and the optims-
tic spirit which he has shown through
out his illness returned to him. He
expressed satisfaction when informed
! of details of the operation, which WAS
for the relief of Il simple obstruction Of
the intestines,
Tonight the king is making a plucky
| fght for life. He was even strong
enough to sign the new military law
| Just passed by the senate. But the
| BATTLE has not been completely won. II
/ Is understood that the real feeling Of
| mis- physicians and household is not so
| hopeful as official bulletins would indi-
cate. The cris is probably viii last three
| DAYS. There IS possibility that the
intestine Will he grippcd by paralysis
a danger that always causes anxiety
on the part of surgeons-and. in tina
| event, recurrence of the obstruction
/ Is hhcly and another operation Dcces-
/ sary.
! Takes Cheerful View.
! Leopold emerged from the operation
/ with regular pulse and cheerful lie
/ was so talkative that the doctors were
! Obliged 10 warn him. after which the
/ patient fell into light. refreshing slum-
/ ber: The condition of his majesty to-
| nl"ht IS stated TO he satisfactory
The gravity of the king 5 illness be.
came apparent only a few dnvs ago.
and. while an operation was finally de
cided upon as imperative. the fact TINT
the KING was unable 10 retain nourisb.
mcnt, and thereby lost strength rapidly.
gave rise 10 serious doubts as To his
abIiuy TO withstand the shock
In view of the condition of the king,
| interest IS concentrated upon Prince Al.
! bert Leopold, heir presumptive, son Of
the late Count of Flanders. King Leo.
| pold s brother. Prince Albert is n strik.
ing contrast 10 his uncle. he is a dis
| tinct family man. happily welded. He
has Travelled aud studied in America
| and IS great student Of economies and
! p0iitics. often lccturiDg in public
! Nevertheless. he has modern tastes
and Is splendid horscman. and is in.
tcrcStcd in aviation and motoring. He
| has even made flight in a dirieible.
! HIS frank. good natured face hespcaks
Intelligence and invites confidence
Critical for Nation.
Today has been doublv mouotonous
| IN Belolan history. In the presence OF
/ Prince Albert. who has Il hcredity right
to a seat. the senate adopted. with
/ the concurrence of the chamber. a mill
/ tary law that yitally concerns the
country and that has aroused intense
discussion and once threatened TO over
| turn the cabinet.
The measure involves the complete
reversal of the system of recruiting
/ the army. II provides for the service
/ OF orc son in each family, instead of
general recruitment by lot. but. more
important, they are forbidden 10 hire
substitutes. I'm tho recent crisis in
| Spain. outright evasion Of service by
the rich, through the payment uf
money, aroused the anger Of the people
King Leopold favorS the law, and
| hls supporters have been most anxious
/ That he should have The opportunity to
attach his signature to it.
People Are Unconcernod.
SO far rs the kings illucss is con.
ccrncd, there are evidences OF the in.
difference of the people with reference
TO change in sovcrcignS. The news
papers are restricting themselves TO
brief accounts of tbc development Of
the malady aud discreet aIlusious to
the ling s domestic tragedies, but they
make practically no comment on Leo.
pold himself nor on tho dcstiuics OF
the country.
The Eclgians, however. arc LOYAL to
tho king, and have the greatest nd.
miratiou for his great intelligence
and genius. While they do not for.
gct that Leopold s administration in
he Congo created a storm of iutcrna,
llonal accusation and almost en-.
dangcred the couutrv 5 honor all
parties arc now united on the Congo
policies, as thcv regard tbc Congo indc-
pendent state rs an immense field for
Belgian enterprise. They remember,
also. that it was King Leopold Who
gave such material development TO