ON THE WAY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10230, 8 January 1927, Page 7

ON THE WAY

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK START ON, EMPIRE MISSION

ENTHUSIASM AT PORTSMOUTH

CROWD NUMBERS HALF A MILLION.

PROLONGED MIGHTY ROARS,

CHEERING FOR NEARLY FIVE MINUTES.

(United Press Assn—-Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 6.

.Nearly 500,000 people gathered on the shores of Portsmouth as the pale grey Renown, spotless and gleaming, bearing the Duke and Duchess of York on their ambassadorial mission of vital interest to Australia and New Zealand, moved off on her voyage. Though Portsmouth is accustomed to naval ceremony, none in recent years has occasioned greater interest and none has brought such a gigantic crowd from throughout England' When the Royal special reached the. viaduct after London’s triumphant farewell a mighty roar went up. The Duke and Duchess of York, looking from the carriage window, were obviously delighted, particularly the Duchess, who was smilingly continuously. When they drew up alongside H.M.S. Renown, gleaming like a silver ship, 2000 relatives of the officers and crew in privileged places cheered for fully five minutes.

IMPRESSIVE PICTURE ON QUARTER DECK. -

From, the train the Royal couple stepped to the centre of an impressive picture on the quarterdeck. Royal marines formed a guard of honor, with a hand all dazzling in full dress uniform. The decks, gun turrets and bridge were lined with sailors eagerly awaiting the signal to cheer. When it was given a prolonged mighty roar swept round the cruiser and echoed and re-echoed from stein to stern. It was then taken up by the civilians, and everywhere could be heard far and near, cheers growing in volume until it was deafening. Standing at rigid attention on the crimson colored gangway were Captain Sullivan and the officers of .H.M.S: Renown in full dress. Two naval hands on the jetty struck up “The Girl I left Behind Me,’’ while everywhere in the harbor men-o’-war fully dressed constituted a magnificent pageantry," which only England is capable of providing. Amidst this spectacle the Royal couple held a brief conversation with distinguished military and naval officers. The Duke walked towards the gangway, closely followed • by the Duchess and the Prince of Wales, and other Royalties. ROYAffi STANDARD HOISTED.

The instant the Duke stepped on the deck' his standard was hoisted, the bugles rang out, the guard of honor presented arms, and the Royal salute was given, while 21 gims 11)uudered out from the assembled warships. With hand to cap the Duke stood in acknowledgement. At the close he extended his hand to Captain Sullivan, as did the Duchess, after which Captain Sullivan presented the officers of the ship. Thereupon Captain Sullivan conducted the Duke and Duchess nf York fa the Royal apartments, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Prince George, and Prince Henry, and there the final leave-taking vas observed. RENOWN MOVES OFF.

Precisely at 1.30 p.m. the Renown flew xhe signal usual on such occasions, “May we part company f” the Commnnder-in-Chief sigi ailing “Yes,” whereupon the Renown giacefully moved off to renewed salutes and cheers from each warship as it passed. The Duke and Duchess of York stood outside their apartment waving farewell. Ahead steamers, the destroy ers Vancouver and . Vortigern. Outside, the destroyers Warwick and Velox joined the party until si lidown, when they signalled “Gocd-byc; God speed,” and returned to the base.

LONDON’S FAREWELL. LONDON, Jan. 6.

Despite a drizzle there was a dense, crowd at Brunton street to see the Duke and Duchess of York depart from Victoria Station, where the approaches were packed with cheering throngs. The whole of the Royalties assembled on the platform, the enclosure of which was fringed with struggling humanity, which gave a rousing ovation and some coo-ees when the King and Queen embraced the Duchess and farewelled the Duke. Cheers were renewed when the train steamed out. The Prince of .Wales, Prince Henry and Prince George accompanied them to Portsmouth.

The ceremony at Portsmouth was almost equalled in London, where human emotions had a sweeping triumph over the bare formality with which it was designed the departure from Victoria Station should be invested. There was no guard of honor, nor the pomp and pagentry usually associated with such an historic event, but. the crowd tvas determined to give a background to such an impressive occasion, and grew- so rapidly that the vast concourse spread from Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station. “GOD BLESS MY BABY.”

Most of the Duchess’ intimate friends performed' their leave taking at Brunton Street yesterday, hut the few who came this morning quickly realised how keenly the Duchess felt leaving her baby behind.

The Duchess was every spare minute in and out of the nursery fondling Princess Elizabeth till the summons came at 10.35 a.m. that the car was awaiting. The Duchess lingered for a last hug of the infant and then laid her down with a kiss and whispered: “God bless mv baby.” Only one close elderly friend witnessed the touching parting. Thereafter the Duke and Duchess sped in a limousine to Victoria Station, the Duchess throwing a last kiss to the Princess in the nurse’s arms at the drawing-room window. GREETINGS FROM WOMEN AND

GIRLS OF ALL CLASSES. En route there were incessant bursts of greetings from women and girls, while Mayfair society leaders stood on balconies and landings waving farewells. Specially cordial as the car entered'the station was a starling which alighted on the roof, the on-lookers acclaiming the incident as the happiest omen. The Duke wore naval uniform and the Duchess a costume of dove grey, with hat to match, and a big posy of violets in her coat. Except for the crimson carpet and a few ferns and chrysanthemums there was no attempt at decoration. . Indeed, the whole ceremony, was purposely shorn of any touch of pageantry. FAREWELLS BY EMPIRE LEADERS.

In the enclosure were Mjr Baldwin, the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, Sir Joseph and Lady-Cook, Sir James Parr, Earl Beatty Earl of Clarendon, Mr W. Ormsby-Gore, and Mr \V. O. Bridgeman, and thev were soon joined by Lord and Lady Strathmore, Prince Arthur of Connaught and the Princess Helena and Mane Louise. . . . _ ?- . Their Majesties drove up at, 10 •*> a.m. and the farewells were instantly

(Continued at foot of next column.)