Evening star., 1928-12-19
KING CONTINUES
TOSHOW PROGRESS
Hopeful Atmosphere Prevails,
but Ruler Is Still in
Danger.
Nv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
london, December Is.-The des-
perate battle which King George has
been waging for his life continued
somewhat in his favor today.
This mornings medical bulletin, like
the two of yesterday, recorded improve
ment, even though slight Despite the
fact that his maiesty's gain has been
slight, it has been definite and a more
hopeful atmosphere prevailed among
palace officials.
This mornings bulletin, which was
signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir Hugh
Rigby and Lord Dawson of Penn, was
as follows.
"The King has had a restful night.
The slight improvement noted yester-
day continues"
Anxiety continues.
On the whole t'<a situation was re-
garded as favorable and satisfactory,
although it was emphasized that
anxiety continues and must continue
for some time. Uninterrupted progress
for several days, it was said, would be
necessary before real confidence in the
outcome can - felt.
the develcpments of the immediate
fLhlre are awaited anXiously, the pos
sitAlity always being present of his
majesty suffering a setback and losing
some of the ground so painfully won
during the past two or three days.
There was no disposition to minimize
the fact that the royal patients con-
dition still was critical.
It was q month ago today that the
public was first informed that the King
was Ill. It has been q month OF deep
est anxiety for the nation, as wnat
was first announced to be a teveriSn
cold turned out to be serious conges-
ton of the lung and pleurisy.
Prince Appears Cheerful.
The critical phase of the illness
which was poisoning the patients SyS-
tenn apparently was reached on Decem-
ber 2. when the official bulletins report
ed heart weakness, and this period OF
most anxious suspense continued almost
a fortnight, until after December IL,
when an operation was performed Ior
chest drainage which seemed to nave
marked the end of the downward trend.
The physicians consultation at BUCK
tncham Palace this morning lasted about
an hour. The Prince of Wales was In
the palace while the consultation was
being held. He drove away shortly after
the doctors visit. He seemed TO be IN,
cheerful mood and motored TO the Batn
Club to watch the final in the squash
racquets championship.
Queen Mary and the royal family
were understood to have been consid-
erablv feartened by the recent medical
he fo rf
Of them told of progress. however signt.
Bulletins Carefully Edited.
OF the last six official bulletins, up
til today four have given reports OF
Improvement. These terse oficial an
nouncements are costing the physicians
an amount of thought which, might
seem out of all proportion to their
length The doctors must avoid giving
the public false impression by empha-
sizing one feature or another in their
dali diagnosis. The task Of drawing a
nice balance between hopeful and dis
couraging signs entails the expenditure
Of much time.
After each examination of the King
the doctors confer and compare notes
They spend considerable time in editing
the first draft of the bulletin before
Issuing it in Its final form.
With no announcement as 10 the
prospects of the Kings recovery, Queen
Maud of Norway, who has been In Eng
land since September, decided to stay
over Christmas and New Year. She
viii remain longer If the Kings condi-
ton shows no decided improvement.
There is very strong bond Of affection
between the King and his younger sis
ter, whose anxiety during the past
month over her brothers illness has
been acute Her husband, King Haa-
kon, is coming to spend Christmas in
London.
Queen Mary took her usual after
noon outing today. Accompanied by
Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles,
her majesty visited the Zoo.
To this cheerful sign was added the
fact that Lord Dawson of Penn did not
visit his royal patient at the usual
hour this afternoon and no interim re-
port regarding the King was issued. In
palace circles this combination of facts
was interpreted as an indication that
the improvement noted in the morning
announcement had continued.