Hankow Jan, 24, As in other places, the news of the death of King George V was received with profound regret, which not only was evinced by the British community, but by all nationalities, Flags were dropped to half mast, and general gloom seemed to spread over the city as the tidings were received, On Wednesday moming H.MS. Bee, flagship of Rear Admiral Crabbe, pulled out to midstream, and at 10 o'clock began to fire a seventy minute gun salute in tribute to his late Majesty. "At 1145 am, a large gathering of the British community, aS Well ax representatives of other nationalities, assembled at the Consulate grounds, where a guard of honour from "HM, gunboats was drawn up facing the Consulate building, while opposite the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts from St. Mary's School were paraded. At a few minutes before noon, Mr. G. 8. Moss, HIM, Consul-General, (ok his. stand {fo the left facing the Cenotaph, and in front of the Consulae staff, Mayor Wu and Mr, Quo Tai-tsang representing tha Chinese Government, On his right Rear Admiral Crabbe stood in "rant of his officers from Mr, Moss then steppes! forward and addressing those presen: sald,""Ladies and gentlemen, the flag which is now at half-mast will at twelve o'clock bbe hoisted to the magt head to mark the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Edward VIII by the Grace of God of Great Britain and the British Dominions beyond the seas, King Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." The bugler then blew the attention, and the guard of honour came to the present, and the Royal Salute was sounded.
The flag on the Consulate mast was then slowly hoisted to the top, and immediately H.MS, Bee fired the frst gun for the salute to the new King. Other ships in port taking their time from Bee also joined in the salute, The guard of honour was then inspected by Rear Admiral Crabbe and the consul-general, after which they also passed down the ranks of the Guides and Scouts, thus bringing the ceremony to 0 close.
Messages of sympathy were sent by the British community to King Edward VIII, the United Services Association 10 HIM. the Queen, and the Zero Club to the Duke of Kent, and most gracious replies were received.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.