Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-19
KINGS DEATH
CAUSES GRIEF
FOR BELGIUM
Beloved Kings Tragic End Is
Signal For Universal Mourn
ing Throughout World.
BY SAMUEL DASHIELL
United Press Staff Correspondent

/ BRUSSELS. Feb. 19.-Belgium,
mourning a beloved king. today
prepared TO honor him in death and
to crown formally. as Leopold III,
his 32-year- old eldest son.
Parliament was summoned TO
meet in special session today to
hear officially the news that King
Albert l had been killed by a fall
from mountain cliff.
The kings body, clad i'll the uni
form OF a general, which he wore
with gallantry in the World war.
will be brought from Laeken palace,
outside Brussels, TO the Royal palace
here, where it will lie in state on q
giant catafalque tomorrow and
Wednesday.
The funeral was set for Thursday.
Kings, princes and the president OF
France, departing from rigid tradi-
ton against a French chief eXecu-
tive's leaving his own country, will
attend.
Leopold will take the formal oath
of office Friday. The coronation
ceremonies will come later, at
time when the intense grief for the
dead king is lessened.
The cabinet will offer the new
monarch its resignation as soon as
he has taken the oath of office.
Leopold is expected to ask the pre-
mier, Count Charles De Broqueville,
and his ministers to remain in Of
flee, thus reconStituting them as his
cwn cabinet.
Until he takes the oath of office,
Leopold is technically still crown
prince, and executive power is vest
ed in the government during the in
terregnum-betWeen reignS.
Leopold will be proclaimed king
formally after taking the oath OF
office long before both houses of
parliament Friday.
Leopold and Astrid spent an hour
alone with the dead kings body at
Laeken palace. Visits Of officials
were suspended Tor the time.
Leopold and his princess, Astrid Of
Sweden, arrived at the capital late
last night from a Swiss holiday, dis
traught and even without baggage.
They went at once to Laeken pal
ace to console Queen Elizabeth, the
widow.
Pomp. circumstance. and elabor-
ate evidences OF mourning usually
malk the passing OF king.
Grief Intense
In Alberts death the pomp and
circumstance were secondary to the
deep mourning for the loss OF man
loved and hcnored for himself, a
soldier Of gallantry, patron of the
arts, a sportsman ana athlete, ana
a statesman OF the first rahk.
Messages from abroad, which eX-
pressed in formal terms the sorrow
Of other monarchs and presidents III
the name of their countries were
supported by the sorrow OF their
people.
Shock at the manner Of Albert S
death added to the sorrow. Like all
members of the Belgian royal TAM
ily, he sought as simple life as
was possible. He went for an eXcur-
sion, driven by chauffeur, Satur-
day afternoon. They went to the
Marches les Danes, 35 miles from
Brussels. and he set cut to climb a
peak by the most difficult route, up
its rock face. A frost rotten rock
gave way. He plunged few yards,
10 strike his head on a rock point
and to be killed perhaps instantly.
Ftlling. sliding, sometimes drop
ping, the body kept on down the
mountainside leaving a trail Of
blood Spectacles, cap, bag, bel,
were found along the way.
The chauffeur waited for hours,
then telephoned for help. Baron
jacques de DiXmude, one of those
summoned in the cautious telephone
call OF the chauffeur from near
by inn, found the body when he
stumbled over the climbing rope at
tached to the body.