The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-17
PA|N-WRACKED
KING ASKS FOR
absent SONS
George, Henry Whispers
Ruler; Princes Speed
Over Seas.
CONDITION IMPROVES
Gets Natural Sleep During
Night; Hope Renewed !
for Recovery.
CONDITION IMPROVES
By United Press

By United Press
LONDON, Dec. 1.-THE king is
able to talk little and has asked
repeatedly for his two absent sons.
An intimate description of the
king. and scenes in his sickroom was
obtained by the United Press today
from a reliable source.
After last Wednesdays operation,
the king was in an extremely low
state and knew little of what was
going on. Now, however, he is able
to hold a brief conversation in a
weak, low voice.
where are George and Henry?'
he has asked several times, forget
ting that the two princes are at sea
on their way home. Prince George
is due from New York next Thurs
day, while Henry, the Duke of
Gloucester, will arrive from Africa
probably on Christmas eve.
At other times the king lies mo-
tionlesS in the big bed, his face
drawn with pain, staring at the
ceiling, where a Pickering pattern
is made by the light of the big
blazing fireplace, kept going to Off
set the chill of foggy London
December.
Improvement Continues
Occasionally the king means, for
the pain of his infected lung and
chest is severe. 1t has been
ameliorated constantly by sedatives.
Sunday night he fell into a natural
sleep, unaided by medicine, and the
palace was cheered greatly.
An official bulletin issued by King
Georges physicians at Buckingham
Palace shortly before noon today
said:
'The king had fair night with
some natural sleep toward morning.
The slight improvement in the con-
dition noted Sunday continues"
In connection with the bulletins
melton of natural sleep, it was said
to be the first time since his illness
that the king had passed twenty
four hours without sedative.
A meeting of the new council of
state, named to act for the king
during his illness, was held at Buck
ingham Palace this morning.
Among the earliest callers at the
palace was Ramsay Macdonald,
former premier and labor party
leader.
Expert to Use Rays Again
The prince of Wales was at the
palace during a consultation of the
doctors this morning. Sir Hugh
Rigby, the surgeon who operated
on the king last Saturday, joined
in the consultation. Lord Dawson
was at the palace for two hours
and it was understood he planned
to return this afternoon.
The ray therapy treatment prob
ably will be applied to the king
again this evening.
The natural sleep which the king
had was recognized as The most i'm
portant feature of today's bulletin
1t was regarded as extremely bene
fetal in the circumstances and
likely to help the king regain some
strength.
The Slight improvement" has
been recorded in three consecutive
bulletins covering The last thirty
six hours. While the advance is
only a little, it at least indicates
the king is on the upgrade and not
sinking.
Worn by Disease
It is now almost month since
the king became i'll. The ravages
of disease ard the lack of nourish-
ment have wasted his normally
small body pitiably, and he is gaunt
and shrunken.
The king is unable to read any,
thing and the bulletins on his con-
dition, which at one time he insisted
on hearing, are kept from him care
fully.
He evinces the greatest interest in
the visits of the queen and the
prince of Wales, and brightens pa
thetically when they come to the
sick room. The prince is in almost
constant touch with the palace.
Palace servants, devotedly loyal to
the royal family, are deeply touched
by the long, faithful vigil kept by
the queen. She has been out of the
palace only for brief periods since
the king became i'll, and on some