Evening star., 1928-12-15
KING IS REFRESHED
by REST FOLLOWING
ALARMING RELAPSE
Sleep Restores Monarch
After Public Is Made AnX-
ious by First Setback.
DOCTORS UNDISTURBED
BY CHANGED CONDITION
Expect Ebb and Flow of Strength.
Wales Takes Over Many
of Parents Duties.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, December Is. - King
George, worn by his long and trying
battle with illness, today was still strug-
Cling bravely for a new foothold on
life.
His majesty had something of set
back yesterday after his ordeal of We'd
nesday, when two operations we're per-
formed for the removal of purulent
fluid from the base of the right lung.
Yesterday was disturbed day, but the
King succeeded in getting a number of
hours sleep last night and emerged
today with steady pulse and without
further exhaustion.
Bulletin Is Hopeful.
This mornings bulletin, which served
to alleviate somewhat the dismay felt
last night, was as follows:
THE King has had several hours
sleep. The local condition is SO far
satisfactory. There is no increase in
the exhaustion and the pulse remains
steady"
This bulletin was signed by Sir Stan
ley Hewett and Lord Dawson of Penn,
his majesty's regular physicians, and by
Sir Hugh Rigby, noted surgeon, who
performed Wednesdays operation.
The fact that his majesty was able
to obtain several hours sleep was point
ed to as a favorable sign, while con-
tinuation of the steady pulse coupled
with slight improvement in the local
condition which the bulletin mentioned
was regarded as reaSSuring.
Large Crowd at Palace.
1t was just four weeks ago today
Saturday, November 17-that the first
symptoms of the Kings illness ap-
peared. During all that time his prog
reSs has been followed with the closest
sympathy by his subjects and today
there was a considerable crowd on
hand at the palace gates for the post
ing of the morning bulletin. There
was anxiety among the spectators, not
only because of last nights rather I'M
favorable bulletin, but also because the
doctors had delayed issuing their report
some time after the customary hour.
There was much relief when it was
learned that the King had had better
night, that the local condition after the
operation was thus far satisfactory and
that at least his majesty was no weaker.
That the King had not been able to
maintain the progress which he had
made Immediately after the drainage
operation was great disappointment to
the country. It was no surprise, how
ever. for his doctors gave warning sew
eral days ago that from the nature of
the case ups and downs would have to
be expected for long period.
Evening Bulletin Issued.
The doctors attending the King con-
fined their public announcements to
brief bulletins the evening one stating:
THE King had a somewhat disturbed
day and the general condition is not
quite so satisfactory. The pulse, how
ever, remains steady"
Medical contributors to the ~newspa-
perS who have interpreted these bulletins
daily today were considerably less hope
full in their statements than yesterday
The medical correspondent of the Daily
Express said: 1T looks as though the
general infection is assuming a more
serious position even than before" ="
Medical opinion seemed to be agreed
that the generalized toxemia was sap
ping the powers of the King.
To conserve the patients strength for
the long and difficult struggle which he
must make if he is to get well, every
thing TO which the King ordinarily gives
attention has been kept from him. He
was not informed OF President Coolidge's
message. Nor has he been told anything
of the progress of the international
cricket matches in Australia, reports of
which are being followed by the public
with an interest the intensity of which
is comparable only to that shown in
the Kings illness. Ordinarily the King
keeps tab on such matches with the
same keenneSS that Presidents of the
United States often reveal toward the
world series.
Teams Send Sympathy.
The two cricket teams sent messages
of sympathy to Queen Mary from
Australia. Her secretary replied: "I
am commanded by the Queen to thank
you all for your message Of sympathy
and good wishes for the recovery of
his majesty. The King will much ap-
preciate your kind thoughts of him and
when he is sufficiently recovered will
certainly inquire all about the matches" !"
The Prince of Wales has buckled
down with steady seriousness to the
task of carrying out much of his fathers
work Foreign diplomats now make
their calls upon him, and the premier
and other members Of the cabinet go
to him with the reports and advice that
they ordinarily present to the King.
In his own Offices at York House the
prince was doing today much of the
work that would ordinarily occupy the
King. He wrote a letter to the lord
chancellor, Lord Hailsham, in Lord
Hailshams capacity as president of the
hospital fund, saying that he could not
undertake any public engagements just
at present.
Public duties which the prince GUS
tomarily carries out will for the most
part and for long time to come fall
upon the shoulders of the Duke of York
Continued on Page 2, Column g.