The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-03

| London, Oct. s.--Althongrl 1t has
been found necessary to curtail some
what the military portion Of the Inn
perial Durbar to be held In Delhi in
December, this great assemblage VIII
afford spectacle probably never be-
fore equalled, even in this home of
oriental display.
Delhi has for centuries been the
chosen place for all great Indian cele-
brations. Here the grand moguls once
held court, and when the British gov-
eminent after the mutiny decided
that it was impossible to continue to
rule the country through John Com
pany, Queen Victoria was proclaimed
empress OF India. Her son, King Ed
ward, was thirty years later proclaimed
emperor In the same city, and now
comes the turn of her grandson, King
George.
He, as is well known, takes more
personal interest in Britain's colonial
possessions than did his predecessors,
and as mark Of his interest has de-
cided to travel to India with his con-
sort to be present at the ceremony
which accompanies his formal assump
ton of the title of king emperor.
Thus, for the first time, India is to be
visited by ruling king emperor.
The king and queen travel to India
on the new liner Medina, which has
been fitted up even more sumptuously
than any royal yacht. The Medina
will be escorted by four first class
cruisers, the Cochrane, Argyll, De-
fence and Natal. in command Of Sir
Colin Keppel, one Of the captains OF
the royal yachts. This fleet will
leave England about the middle OF
November, reaching Calcutta and what
promises to be wonderful procession
Of military and the civil services, with
Indian princes, in their spectacular
uniforms along the red road to gov
eminent house. Two days will be
spent here, their majesties taking train,
as soon as they have rested, for
Delhi. where they are due to arrive
on Dec. z.
At Delhi the king and queen will
be received by $50 Indian princes, the
viceroy and Lady Hardinge, by whom
they will be accompanied through the
city. The royal party will aaight at a
special station Immediately opposite
the historic kings cafe, which will be
opened for the first time since
1857.
The durbar proper or ceremonial
gathering, will be held on Dec. IL,
The days preceding that will be
given over to the reception Of the
Indian chiefs and princes, review OF
troops. and on the day following the
king will lay the foundation stone Of
the All-Indian King Edward memorial.
The proclamation Of the king emperor
will take place IN an arena surrounded
by the brilliantly bedecked tents Of
the princes and other subjects of King
George There is no browning of the
king and queen, but in some respects
the ceremony will resemble that held
in Westminster Abbey in June last.
The king and queen will be seated in
pavilion, brilliant in hangngs Of red
white and blue silk or satin en-
broidered in gold, in front of which
the ruling Indian princess and higher
British officials will be seated in a
semi circle, each Indian with his own
banner floating over his chair. Each
in turn does homage to the king en-
peror with the strictest attention to
formsAities, which vie Indian con-
siders so important. Homage having
been paid the proclamation Of the
kings coronation will be read and his
portrait displayed to the spectators,
batteries will belch forth a salute of
1O1 guns, while the bands Of the regi-
ments, camped on the plain, will play
the national anthem. The reading
of the proclamation, display of the
portrait and firing OF salute will be
repeated in every town and village
throughout India, while the after cele-
brations will take on many forms.
Every where in the evening, however,
there will be fireworks and iliumina-
tions. In Delhi itsel fthe celebrations
will extend over five days and include
a military tournament, hockey and polo
matches. garden fetes, races and many
other forms sports. From Delhi the
king will proceed on tiger hunt, while
the queen will visit number Of places
of interest, including Agra. The cost
to the governments OF England and In
dias Of the durbar has been estimated
at nearly $6,0OO,o0 but this viii be
but a small portion Of the amount that
will be spent.
Two matters are giving the author
tiles some anxiety. The first Is the
danger Of an outbreak of cholera, or
rather, the spread of that disease.
Delhi has been threatened with an
epidemic and officials have been work.
ing day and night to prevent 1t. The
other is the protection of their maJes-
ties, There are scores OF secret
societies in India which aim at driving