"You Must Be Tired"

In Halifax Harbor, after four last slow days in Quebec and the wooded Maritime Provinces, Their Majesties King George and Queen Elizabeth last week wound up their month-long American tour, went aboard the white-sided, yellow-funneled Empress of Britain and headed homeward.

Their last act before the ship sailed was to receive for the second time the 50-odd correspondents who had traveled with them on their long ordeal. The Royal couple passed down the line, exchanging a few words with each man and woman. Their remarks reflected their own condition: "You must be tired. . . . You must be simply dead. . . . You must be glad you are going home. ..." A woman reporter told the Queen that she had never seen anyone with the power to give such happiness. The Queen blushed, murmured her thanks. "It is very kind of you to say that about my wife," added the King.

Escorted by the Canadian destroyers Skeena and Saguenay and the British cruisers Glasgow and Southampton, the Empress put out to sea, while crowds ashore roared God Save the King. From the bridge the King and Queen waved their farewell; the Queen was almost invisible behind the high railing until something was brought for her to stand on. On Chebucto Head a great smelly bonfire of wood, oil and old tires, visible for 80 miles, was built to cheer them on their way. But for a brief stop at St. John's, capital of Newfoundland, Britain's oldest colony, a week of unbroken rest was ahead. Besides the King and Queen, the roomy old ship carried only 58 passengers--all members of the Royal party. At St. John's the King and Queen had an unscheduled thrill when they visited each of the accompanying British warships to decorate their commanders. A half-gale had whipped up a heavy sea that drenched them with salt spray as they clambered to and from theirpitching launch.

In England their subjects were preparing to show them how glad they were to have them back. Planes and more battleships will meet them at sea to escort them into Southampton. A five-car special will whisk them to London, where their children, Queen Mary and the Cabinet will be waiting at the station. In the is-minute procession to Buckingham Palace the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose will ride in the open landau with their father and mother. There will be no formal decorations, but residents along the way are invited to display "spontaneous" decorations, and M.P.s will gather outside the Houses of Parliament to cheer. State business--discussions with the Prime Minister of the international situation, rearmament, and the date of the general election, ceremonies and a speech at the Guildhall --must come before the well-deserved vacation at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

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