Evening star., 1928-12-13
KING PROGRESSING
AFTER OPERATIONS;
FACES HARD FIGHT
Royal Patients Weakness
of Grave Consideration
Despite Improvement.
MORE SERIOUS RESULT
OF LUNG TAPPING FEARED
Physicians and Public Gratifed by
Favorable Reaction-Blood
Infection Found.
BY the Associated Press.

NDON, December IS. - King
George, apparently relieved by last
nights operation for the removal of
purulent fluid at the base of the right
lung, today was making progress.
At o'clock this afternoon it was
stated in authoritative circles:
"The King is progressing"
Shortly before this statement was
made Lord Dawson of Penn and Sir
Stanley Hewett, the Kings principal
physicians returned to the palace and
again saw his majesty.
Queen Mary left the palace shortly
before the o'clock statement for a
motor drive. She had luncheon with
the Prince of Wales, who drove to
Buckingham Palace about noon. Prin-
cess Mary also drove from the palace
some time after the Prince of Wales
had left.
Princess Reports Condition.
Speaking at League Of Mercy meet
ing at st. James Palace this afternoon,
Princess Mary said: You will be
pleased to know hat so far the condi-
ton of the King is satisfactory"
1t was stated authoritatively that the
weakness reported in the earlier morn
ing bulletin was not unduly alarming,
but for the next few days, until 1t was
known definitely whether the King
strength was sufficient to conquer the
weakness or not, anxiety must continue
Emphasis was laid in palace circles
this morning on the fact that the Strug-
gle which the King faces was likely to
be hard and difficult one.
That weakness was certain to result
was one of the grave considerations the
doctors had to weigh before perform
ing the operation. It was understood,
however. that as soon as the fluid
around the base of the lung had been
detected yesterday morning. there was
little doubt that an operation would
have to be performed.
Word AnxiOuSly Awaited.
The feature of this mornings btlle-
tin which struck the public most grate-
fully was the statement that his majeS-
ty was not losing ground. The general
public had anxious1y awaited the result
of the physicians examination this
morning in fear that the surgeons work,
however necessary it had been, might
have had such an effect on the weak
ened patients general system as to
BRING about rapid or gradual collapse.
This foreboding was relieved by the
doctors announcement that despite
weakness and considerable blood in
lection, the Kings pulse was steady
and he was suffering no loss OF ground.
Sir Stanley remained on guard at the
palace throughout the night as usual,
the other doctors leaving after they
had issued a bulletin last night on tbs
second operation.
Sir Stanley was Joined this morning
by Lord Dawson of Penn and Sir Hugh
Rigby, the surgeon who operated on
the King. and these three signed the
morning bulletin after examining their
patient.
Physicians Show Relief.
When Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley
Hewett left the palace after submitting
the morning report they were smiling
and chatting cheerfully,
The crowd on hand to watch the
posting of this mornin's bulletin was
larger than usual because of the SEN
sational nature of yesterdays develop
| mentS and widespread concern as tf
how his majesty had stood the shock
of the operation.
The crowd surged forward eagerly tc
read the report when it was placed on
/ the palace ratings Among the specta-
/ tors was an old army penSioner who
had been waiting in the cold for hours
and had watched the changing of the
guard. He smiled with satisfaction, as
did many others. when it was seen that
| the bulletin was of somewhat reaS-
| Suring character.
Prayers Are Continued.
Each day at noon until further notice
prayers for the King will be said al
Westminster Abbey. Today all classes
and creeds went there to offer silent
prayer for the ruler struggling againsi
! illness. Women in rich furs, side by
i side with those in plain and Worr
clothes, knelt in the abbey and joined
in the silent prayer. They were fol.
| lowed at intervals by business men anc
government officials who had taken 6
few minutes from their luncheon hour
Before intoning petitions from the
litany. Canon Storr announced that he
had Just received message from Buck
| ingham Palace saying, THE King has
had some sleep and is not losing
! ground"