Milford chronicle., 1911-12-15
MAKES BID FOR
INDIA'S LOYALTY
King George Crowned Emperor
at Great DurbaT.
TO MOVE CAPITAL TO DELHI
Makes Liberal Gift to Popular Eduea-
cation and offers Victoria Cross to
Native Soldiers.


George V, proclaimed emperor o
India at Delhi, made the greatest biz
| for native fealty to the throne eve
ventured by a sovereign since Indii
became a part of the British empire.
The king-emperor announced thai
the seat OF government will, instead
of Calcutta be Delhi, the ancient capi
tai of the Moguls. and that hereafter
natives in his majesty's service will be
eligible to the Victoria Cross for BRAY
cry on the field of battle.
The king-emperor made handsome
gifts to popular education and other
purposes, but the change of the capi-
tai and the Victoria Cross concession
are regarded as the greatest and most
significant Of all, designed to aid in
allaying the political and social unrest
that has caused the home government
no little concern in recent years.
The magnificent ceremonial by
which King George and his consort,
Queen Mary, were proclaimed emperor
and empress of India was enhanced by
the actual presence OF the sovereigns,
who were acclaimed by host of ma
tive chiefs, while a larger host of
their followers looked with dazzled
eyes on the glittering scene.
The eliminating act OF the English
monarch's accession to the throne of
his vast Indian dominions took place
amid a scene which for Richness of
color and magnifcence of heeorations
probably unequaled n m9Hern times.
The huge amphitheatreS which had
been erected in the Durbar camp was
thronged from an eatly hour. The
bright tissues and spafRNng gems of
the many Indian PRINCES and the smart
uniforms of the soldfery bontrasted
strongly with the white dresses of the
European ladies and the sober garb
of civilian officials.
It was a pretty group around the
four thrones of the emperor. the en-
press, the viceroy and the vicerine, at
the back of which the imperial and
STATS and the imperial cadet
corps. composed entirely of youthful
DlllltGS anu 6NAOlAb VI pA AAANEAg AeAAAAA~
les formed in rank.
The first formal act Of the ceremony
was performed by the foreign secre- !
tary, who advanced to the das and |
asked permission of the emperor to |
open the Durbar. At his signal a long |
roll from the drums and a thrilling |
call from the bugles were sounded, |
by a triumphant peal of mu-
sic from the bands. Then a note from |
the heralds' silver trumpets rang over |
the plain.
At that moment appeared the strik-
ing figure of the imperial herald |
on a jet black charger and |
blazing in his brilliant uniform of gold .
and purple Behind him we're a drum
mer and sixteen trumpeters, eight .
British and eight natives. Hating for |
IN instant, they sounded another blast
md then rode slowly toward the dais, !
where they gave a third call before
;aluting.
The emperor then commanded the
herald to read the proclamation an
the coronation The herald
Wheeled his charger and read aloud
20 that all could hear that George had
,een crowned king-emperOr At that
moment the royal standard was un-
urled from the tall fiagstaff in the
,entre of the arena. The national an
hem was played by the massed bands,
md as the last notes of the music died
way 101 guns doomed the tidings of
he proclamation. Then along the
line of infantry ratified
nut a cintinuous firing of blank car
ridges.
At the close of the ceremony, Lord
the yiceroy, announced that
he king had resolved to devote i'm
nediately fifty lakhs of rupees Cabout
4 ,600,0O0) to the promotion of popu-
ar education in India, and that further
gifts would be made for the
anne purpose. lie also announced
hat a half months pay would be
ranted to the non-comm:ssioned Off
ers and the men as well as the re-
ervists of the British army in India.
Then came the important announce
nent that officers and men of the ma
i've army in India would be eligible
ereafter to be awarded the Victoria
ross for bravery on the field Of bat
le A half months pay was also
ranted to subordinate civil servants,
nd certain classes of prisoners were
eleased from jail.
Another important change announc-
d by Lord Hardinge was that the
eat of government was in future to
e transferred from Calcutta to Delhi.
The grsatest OF Durbars ever held in
ndia then came to an end.