The Cambria Daily Leader

IN BRUSSELS. O M TRAINS OF GERMAN DEAD. BAVARIAN TROOPS ARE ON THtiR PRUSSIAN COLLEAGUES. INTERESTING NARRATIVE -.N-or-b,crn France, DecemL-pr Bel- gian gentleman, a resident of Brussels, liter a most adventurous journey, was recently able to get through from that city, which he left on November 2S last. He gives a long account of the then conditions of the in the Belgian capital to fhe "Tele-,ramme. du Pas-de-Calais,' or which fhe folio wing extracts appear in the "Daily Tel(-,graph" Life in Brussels daily becomes more and more gloomy. It is true that the cafes are open till ten o'clock, and there are even a few picture palaces still going. Hut, on the other hand, tfco Germans are daily becoming more exacting. For the ,.F,ight,est ofience against any of their hundred and one bye-laws, which onlj the most retentive memory can recollect, a fine of 200f. is impend or a term of six months' imprisonment. The want of provisions does not at present make itself much felt, although there is only grey-black bread to be had at 40 centimes the kilo. Coal is beginning to arrive in the town, and provisions snch as cheese, eggs, butter, milk, and eren preserved herrings and a few live beasts, are making t bei r way into JHrussels from Holland, ria Maastricht. Concessions in Railway Fares. Railway communication with Germany is regular and constant. The authorities have even made a fPdnction of 50 per cent, in the rharges for fares iii, the eases f! of those Belgians who wish to visit their wounded or imprisoned relatives in Gel -1 many. It is also generally believed that the enemy are making use of these lines tor sending provisions in large quantities ■ through to various part.; of Germany. Railway passenger traffic was only inter- rupted for five days, and this, of course, was owing to the transportation of reserves to the front, and the removing of wounded and exhausted troops from Bel. 11m. The fresh troops arriving from Germany ,ire on the whole very well equipped. The; men look very young, and amongst the^e now troops it is easy to distinguish a. few vdder men in oddly made-up uniforms, who arp evidently those who have I-)"ni wounded and are returning to the front. Hospitals Full cf Wounded. All British and French civilians are prisoners. It is a fact that the former are not treated half ItS well as the latter. All the h\ita15 are full of wounded, 85 per ceut* of whom are Germans, the remaining 15 per cent. being made up of British, Frer.ch, and Belgians. The hatred exhibited by the Germans and even the medical authorities towards the British is really remarkable. As for the cases that prove fatal in the hospitals, the percentage is not large. At Ixelles, a suburb of Brussels, where ail those who succumb to their wounds are buried, in the space of ten days eighty-eight Allies were interred, while 661 deaths, occurred amongst the German wounded. After the battl" of the I-scr twenty-seven goods trains full of German dead passed through Brussels and were taken on to the neighbourhood of Xamur, where they were cremated in huge fur- naces. Air-craft Arrangements. One of the sights of Brussel s now is to watch the movements of the, three captive balloons, the famous 'Draohen Ballonen.' These are formed in the shape of a cigar, The Brnxellois have named them les boudins." Or. Nov. lo.during a storm, th<> cablMi of two of these balloons were • smashed, and the aeronauts were taken ofr in a northerly direction. The next day these two were- replaced, and the Germans again were in possession of their points of .,b5ervation. With regard to Zeppelins'" a hanger for dirigibles already existed on thoj manoeuvre ground at Tlett-')rbec.k. Th, Germans, who, usual, had thought; everything ont beforehand, immediately1! on their arrival in Brussels on Aug. 23, j began upon the work of enlarging the j hangar with materials they had brought; wi tb theilf. and in two days had, lengthened it by 43 yards. The enemy have also put up work s hebind the hangar for the production of hydrogen. Close to I the cemetery of Ixelles and at the Chateau. d'Eau they have put up specially con- structed mac hi ungues for use against! aeroplanes. Prussians and Bavarians. It is quite true that there was a tight be- tween Prussian and Bavarian troops in Brussels. A quarrel arose on the subject 8f the Qoeen of the Belgians, who is held in great respect by the troops of the lat- ter country. The Prussians made some insulting remarks about; her Majesty which go incensed- the Bavarians that they opened fire upon their companions in arms, and a fight ensued which was with great difficulty subdued. The Bavar- ;:in. wre severely pwnished, several of them being taken out and shot for insub- There are actually 12t.000 German troops in Brussels- They all belong to the Land- wehr and La11d-turm. There are, on the ")/rer hand, a vast number of German ivi'lions who have lived for years in Bel- gium. and in Brussels in particular. These latter do the police work. In the Farly days of the German occupation, hat is to say, from abwit August 2-1 or 25, up to the end of September, the. invaders Jpd lives of considerable luxury upon the T-mey stolen during their march on the capital and their exactions upon Brussels, vow they have been obliged to lead ptieter lives; money is no longer plenti- ful. and. consequently, there are far fewer orgies. Lead" Requisitioned." As for the German army in Belgium, it is short of horses, transport, and winter clothing. There is also a great scarcity of zinc, lead, and copper. All •'ir pliee of theso commodities are im- mediately reqiAritioned." In the. vil- lages which are still left shrnding the leaden gutters are torn from the bo"5fs, ¡I no every piece of zinc or copper found carefully collected and despatched to Germany. At present the German population of ■russels have still every hope of ulti- mate victory over the Allies, and their oificial notices, which are placarded pro- fusely all over the town, are couched in the most high-sounding and arrogant terms. However, a marked difference in the tone of their announcements hM become noticeable. Their 4t ccim- rnnniques" as to the progress of hostili- ties have Income laconic, and are con- fined to such statements as. Slight ad- vance in such and such a direction," An attack of the Allies repulsed," or There is nothing to report."

NO RAGING TO-DAY I A mesaagj from Wolverhampton early this mornjng; says that a heavy snowstorm visited the district last evening. and the course being covered to a depth of three I' inches this morning, raeing-i-s extremely doubtful to-day. A later message from our Wolverhampton correspondent states that at ten o'clock the course was still covered with three inches of snow, and the stewards therefore decided to formally abandon the meeting at nooa I OFFICIAL SCli..l TOHIXGS. I Sportsman Flat Baoe, Ifanchmt--r-Tom- lin- Peel Park Hurdle Racc, Manchester—Wild AFter. All eiigagements--Fr-asquino (dead), Sup- per War Duke. Manchester and Wolverhampton engage- ments—Dabber. All engagements under National Hunt riiles--Ifam Hill. All engagements in Mr. C. Bower Ismay's asjne—Meru. Dalnaspidal. January 'Chase, Manchester—Heathstone.

SWANSEA-OR BLACKBURN?I The Swansea Town team to oppose Barry next Saturday will be selected this evening. The directors will also have: under consideration the question as to' whether an offer to transfer the Cup; match fo"Blaekhurn sha]l,be entertained. I U Prmdragon" understands that the! directorate have practically made up their minds to make the Vetch Field tot" Vfinne j and to fix a shilling U gate." This will j mesn that the English I>eaguc champions will Tie engaged in serious football for thf> i first time in the historr of the game in Wales.

MORE BORDERERS WOUNDED. The following names of South Walet4 Borderers appeared in tjie casualty lists in last night's London Ga-zeWe :— WOUNDED. Buckley. Pte. G. F.. 3923; Byrne, Pte E.. 10879; Carroll. Serpt. P.. &S72; Oookv?, Pte., W. H.. 1001; CTonm. P?. C, 6034; Dweritt. Pte., U237; Evans, Pte. J., &551; Howard, Je..Cpl. W.P., 10071; Jones, PLe. A.. 11177; M?d?n. He. H., 9340; Morgan, Pte. A., 8560; Pocter, Lce.-Sergt. H., 10815; Robinson, Pte. R., .11-S3; Saimd^ns, Pte. G. A., 10316; Sullivan. Pte. D., 7796; Weston, Pte. A., 8349; King, Pte. F., I

I.LP. CONFERENCE. I The final agenda, was issued on Monday for t,h arlUI1 conference of the Scottish division of the Independent Labour Party I at Glasgow on Saturday, when Mr. Keir Hardie is to address the delegates. The majority of the resolutions relate to tho war. One asks that all members of the Independent Labour Party assisting the Government in the present recrilihngi; campaign be expelled, and another asks for expressions of regret that the! National Labour Party did not call a conference at the outbreak of the war to I determine the policy of the party.

CULTIVATION OF DANDELIONS. I A fresh path to fortune is to be found by digging up dandelions. At least tl is seems an obvious corollary from a Board of Agriculture leaflet that advocates the I cultivation of dinrip-lion-g for the sake of the dried roots, which have hitherto been produced mainly by Germany. These dried roots fet.che.d 110s. per nwt. last September, and the absence of German competition must send prices much higher. The rootr,, when dug, must be washed clean, sliced, and d.ried. and a hundred parte of fresh root will yield twenty-two partR of dry material.

NAVAL RESERVE DIVISION. I Monday was a record day at the Re- cruiting Office for the Royal Naval (Re- serve) Division at H.M. Custom House in Swansea, no less than 32 men being paseed for active service. Mr. John Hodgene, the recruiting agent, writes as follows:- Sir,—Some hundreds of men belonging to the Royal Naval Division have been on furlough for the past four days in our town, and the inhabitants of Swansea will be interested to know that not a single case of intemperance has to my knowledge occurred. Although they have received lavish hospitality during their stay, they havet shown that they are well able to resist temptation, and I feel sure that Swansea will be proud of her sailor lads.

MTJSIOAL suoorss. j At the recent examination hold by the I London College of Music, Miss Irene Stephens. Llauelly, Mreg M. Hooper and piaster Sidney Williams., Gorseinon. were successful in obtaining first-class certificates <elem.-entfl.ry; Mi" Millie Beynon, Lkunell.v (Primary), in pianoforte. Prepared by Miss K. Beven, A.L.C.M., May field, Alerandra- road, Goreeinon. 255iA32-29 >

í "KILLED BY GERMANS" END OF EXTRAORDINARY SCOTCH CASE IN SIGHT. In the High Court at Edinburgh to- day beofre Lord Strathclyde, the hearing was resumed of the charge against Kate Hume, of Dumfries, of having concocted letters alleging that German soldiers mortally mutilated her sister Grace, whilst ^acting as nurse in Belgium. There was again a large attendance of the public. Accused, who maintained her usual1 stolid demeanour, sat in the dock be- tween two policemen. The evidence was concluded lost, night, and the Lord Advo- cate addressed the jury for the prosecu- tion. He said three questions arose for consideration. They were— (1) Did the accused do the things it was alleged she did? C2) Was she responsible for her action at thA t j mf, and (3) Was it her intention to alarm and annoy the public, and in particular her, father and stepmother? With regard to the first counsel sllb-I mitted there could not be the least doubt that accused wrote and uttered the letters and forged signatures to both. As to whether she was so hysterical 10 not to be responsible for her action, he urged that nothing short of insanity was sufficient, as an answer^ to a criminal charge. Accused, however, had shown mental alertness, in- telligence, quickness, capacity, will power and determination. Her appearance when in the witness-box demonstrated her normality and not abnormality of mind. It would be dangerous if it went forth that the mere fact of a person suffering from hysteria, was an answer to a charge of this grave nature. The intention to alarm the public, and particularly her father and step-mother, was abundantly proved, and people who read the abominy- able and revolting story were shocked and horrified by it. The jury, he continued, must return a verdict of guilty. Mr. Wilson, K.C., in his speech for the defence, spoke of the manner in which accused had en affected by the loss of her brother on the Titanic. This reference by counsel deeply affected prisoner, who buried her face in her hand- kerchief, wept convulsively, and had to be given water. Mr. Wilson submitted on on the grounds! of reason ancl common sense the prosecu- tion had broken down, and nothing in the way of criminal intention had been Droved. It was preposterous to regard this girl as a criminal. There were clear indications that the girl was abnormal. The idea that her intention Was to alarm her father and stepmother negatived by the fact that, it was as plam as a-pike staff that the letters were in the handwriting of the prisoner, and the truth or falsity of them could easily have been ascertained. There was no crime, he contended. because there could notbe any felonious intention. To say prisoner had alarmed the public was a fantastic distor- tion of facts. Counsel conclddeu his ad- dress after speaking for an hour and a half. í

SUNKEN TUG RAISED. The Liverpool tug, vVest Cock, which was suniz in collision with a hospital ship in the Mersey a few days ago, has been raised, and to-day the body of Ed- ward Smithers, chief engineer, was found in the engine-room. One hand was rest- ing on the lever.

NEVER LEFT THE JAIL. It. was officially stated this morning that the German prisoner, John Jurgen Kuhr. who was supposed to-have escapod from Newcastle Gaol, and after whom there v.as hut- and cry, has never actually been out of the prison, TIe was discovered there this ihorning in a place of conceal- ment, but no further details are 3-et to hand.

GERMAN, POSITIONS BROKEN THROUGH. Amsterdam, Dec. 28.—There was no cessation during Chrietmastido of the operation of the Allies in the south- vestern part of Belgium- On the con- trary. French and English troops {roni co- operated in a forward movement, from Ijombaertzyde. To the south of Dixmudo [detachments of Belgian troops crossed thp River Yser and reinforced the posi- tion won by the Belgian troops sonio time ago. The Allies have definitely broken through German positions there. Along the coa.st. the action of the Allies is being continued in co-operation wth the British vrarshpe. The report that Mariakerko has been occupied by the Allies is un- fcunded.

CHAPLAIN VISITS PRISONERS. In the course of a letter home, the Rev. H. M. Williams, Chaplain at the English Church of St. George in Berlin, says. I still enjoy entire freedom, and take all the services at St. George's as usual, al- though only comparatively few are able to ?come. Still we keep going. I now go regularly on Sundays to take service at Ruhleben" (where the British civilian prisoners are interned), "which is quite inspiring. There is a wonderful men's choir, that can even manage anthems, and we get a congregation of between 1,000 and 2,000. I now hear that I have at last been granted permission to visit the soldiers at their oamp. Everyone is extremely kind to me; I meet with the greatest courtesy wherever I go. although you can well imagine the general feeling."

SHIPPING NEWS. I The following vessels have arrived at Swansea:— King's Dock.—Dec. 28 p.m.: Telemachus s 4801, Liverpool, Burgess and Co., A shed; Helga s 392, Rouen, G.W. Nq. 2 hoist. Prince of Wales Dock.—Dec. 29, a.m.: Alice s M9, Liverpool, Stockwood Rees. South Dock.—Dec. 28 p.m.: Raven 177, London, Austin and Silcocks; La Resolue 186, Bordeaux, W. G. Jeffreys, buoys. Dec. 29 a.m.: Ettrick, s 465, Cardiff, M. Jones and Bror, Glasgow Wharf; Velocity s 79, Avonmouth, Pockett's Ltd., Pockett's Wharf; Agra, s 62.. Bristol, Pockett's Ltd., Pockett's Wharf. ortb Dock.-Dœ. 28 p.m.: Primerosc 49, Bordeaux, J. Cabot. Dec. 29 a.m.: Thorsea s 825, London S. Stephens; Portia s 198, Liverpool, G. Shepherd, Victoria Wharf; Thames s 171, Belfort, G. Shep- herd.

MR. PERCY ILLINGWORTH. Mr. Illingworth passed a comfortable night, and his condition to-day shows no change.

[_ i PROMOTED FROM RANKS .01 CAi.t.r T LIEUTENANT DESCRIBES THRlLlINC EVENTS IN FLANDERS. Lieutenant H. G. Winton, 2nd Suffolk J Regiment, who was recently promoted from the ranks for gallantry on the battlefield, writes home from the trenches on Docember 18th as follows:— During the last, few days I have been I through my worst part of the war. We left our billets at 2 a.m. on December 14th, and marched to a position in re- serve to a regiment which had to attack and capture a line of the enemy's trenches. If they wanted support we were to support them; but tli,% regiment gallantly captured the line and held it. It so happened that the French on the left and another regiment on the right, who had to attack and take the trenches on the left and riglit respectively, failed to do so, owing to immense barbed wirt entanglements in front. This, of course, left this gallant regiment in an isolated trench far advanced into the German lines. At five o'clock on the night of the Hth my company was ordered to relievo these brave fellows in the most advanced of this line of trenches in frout of a wood. We relieved all night with luck. but about 6 p.m. the Germans advanced into the wood, which was only fifty yards in front, and gave us Lell. We only suffered one casualty, hut it WB6 tho most .r hiit it, wm the most terrible of the lot, for it was my captain in charge of our company. lie, was killed instantaneously, shot through tho head, and this left me and another junior subaltern in charge of a company nearly 200 strong. Things quited down a bit in the night, afnd another captain cam cup temporarily. You can fancy what a terrible sight I saw on going over the ground over which a regiment had charged ten hours before. I will iiot describe it. Good and Beloved Friend. On the 15th the enemy got up in force in the wood and gave us hell again, but we did not lose many men. We were re- lieved that night by another regiment, which on relieving lost 16 men out of one company. We only lost one, but it was one of the best of our men. You can fancy what our trenches are like in this weather. Essex mud is a dean bed to it, and we have to throw the German dead out of the trenches to make room, and 160 that they can be buried later on when things aro calm. Yesterday I was taken in front of General Smith-Dorrien to ex- plain and describe the position. In our late captain we have lost one of the finest gentlemen in the regiment, and he was a good and beloved friend to me. A stirring incident occurred to us about three p.m. n the 15th, whilst in the trenches. My men noticed some men in khaki digging behind a hedge in front of | us, so we ordered a few shots to be fired at them. Instantly about two dozen Germans dressed in khaki stood up with their hands to the surrender, so we sent two patrols along old trenches to fetch them in, at the same tim ccovering them well with our rifles. We found their ruse out, though. They thought that we should all go out to fetch them in, and they -would then, have mown us down by a party of over 100 which they had concealed in the wood, and would have retaken the trenches. When they saw that we were not to he "had" the party in the wood fired on our piitrols. Instantly we put volleys into j them, and I hoped wiped them out.

I DANUBE BRIDCE DESTROYED. Amsterdam, Tuesday.—The Serbians have ngain blown up the bridge over the Danube at Semlin.

BOOM IN RECRUITING. Yesterday there was a boom in recruit- ing in London, and the authorities are satisfied with the steady response to Ivi t cher er's appeal. Brisk recruiting is anticipated in the new year.

I CHANCELLOR RETURNS TO LONDON. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, ac- companied by his pilvate secretary, Mr. J. T. Da vies, left Criccieth this morning for London. Mrs. Lloyd George and her daughters, Miss Olwen a.nd Miss logan. will remain at Criccieth .some time longer.

I SPIES EXPELLED FROM jWlI Berhe, December 28th.—The. so-called Young Egyptians who have flourished in Geneva some years past, prove to have been really German spies, one of whom has been lately expelled, while the ring- lader has escaped to Constantinople. Not only are the authorities glatf tl) rid of these German-yaid Egyptian spies, I but also respectable Egyptian, residentt; of Geneva, who have just sent the new Sultan a congratulatory address assert- ing their loyalty to him. The Sultan acknowledged the address by telram.

I PROPHECY FULFILLED. A naval officer, writing before the raid I on the East Coast, says:— I think the last action (naval) off the Falkland Islands" TTas pretty satisfactory, and it is somewhat of a comfort to know that practically all. their ships are ac- counted for now. All the same, 1 expect one eNect it will have will be to make them dash over and bombard some places Ion the East C??sL, and then run back again. So do not be At a- surprised if this does take e, and do not take it as a Rign that we are getting careless. The same writer_adds:— A captured German naval officer (a decent fellow) remarked to one of our people the other day, just, before he left for his prison qua rters old man, it will always be the same; .you will always be fools, and we shall never be I gentlemen."

I NOTICE TO A READER. I Will the brother of Private J. H. Jones (4296) G. Company, 6th Welsh, visit the "Leader" Offices. A letter is awaiting him.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICE. The committee of tho United School of Social Service for Wales meets at the Cardiff Y.M.C.A. next Saturday afternoon at 3.30 p.m. There are several interesting matters on the agenda, including con- sideration of the arrangemeints for the school of 1915. and an application by the Y.M.C.A. with regard to camp work. The latter is a request for an appeal to clergy aud ministers to offer their services in the camps for the month of February. The welfare of Belgian refugees in Wales is also down for consideration. V

| WHERE WE CAN lArD I AMERICAN EXPERT ON THE CUXHAYEN RAID. 5 The New York Times" quotes a military expert and engineer, whose name cannot be uced because of his connection in an advisory capacity with the Ameri- can Army1, as saying that the Cuxhaven raid is the best strategic move made thus far hy Eugland. The effect of a single raid might he inconsiderable; but it harl firoved to England that an army could he landed in Schleswig-IIolstein, the only exposed part of the German Empire. England, this man declares, T.-i? never accomplish her object of the destruction of the German Fleet unless she lands an army in Schlcswig-Holstein, and he be- liev, 's a move in that direction will soon he made. He admits that, the first troops would have a hard time in landing, but once having gained a foothold the guns of the Navy would prevent their being dis- lodged. The destruction of the Kiel Canal would soon see the destruction of the German Navy. The Times says its expert has directed important public works in Germany and England, and has I written extensively on military operations of the European countries.

I FOR POOR ACTORS I 1 —— 0 —— KING AND QUEEN TO WITNESS COVENT CARDEN PRODUCTION. "I'll I The King and Queen will be present at a performance of The School for Scan- dal at Covent Garden Theatre in the afternoon of Tuesday, Febraury 2, in aid of the Actors' .Benevolent Fund, This will he their Majesties' first visit to a theatre since the outhreak of war. Mr. Dion Boucicaxilt, the hon. secretary of the Ador Emergency War Fund, has received the following letter Privy Purse Office, Buckingham Palace. December 24, 19T1. Dear, Sir,-In roply to your letter. which I have laid before the King and Queen, I am commanded to inform you that their Majesties will be pleased to grant their patronage to the perform- ance which it is proposed to give at Covent Garden Theatre on Tuesday, February 2 next, in aid of the Actors' Benevolent Fund. Both the King and Queen recognize that the war has caused much distress in the .=:c profession and among those who in various capadties look to the theatre for a livelihood. The dra- matic profession enjoys a just public regard from the invariable readiness and generosity with which in time of peace it places at the disposal of every | ood cause of national charity, and their Majesties feel that in this time of dis- tress an obligation rests on the public to alleviate in some measure the anxiety which the war entials on the profession, more especially through its humbler ranks. The King and Queen have therefore signified thwir intention of being pre- sent at this performance and further commanded me to forward you the enclosed cheques of £100 from the. King and S50 from the Queen towards the fund.—Believe me yours very truly, F. M. Ponsonby, (Keeper of the Privy Purse). The theatre has been lent by Mr. F. Rendle. and the cast for the play will be ehesen from the leading members of the I theatrical profession.

TOMMY THE CENTLEMAN i TERRIERS' TRIBUTE TO HUMANE QUALITIES OF REGULARS. An officer connected with a well-known London regiment of Territorials, who pro- leeeded to the front with a draft for is battalion less than a month ago, has just returned for ,i short rest with 'a bullet wound in the right cheek, the bullet pass- ing out unde rthe chin. In conversation yesterday afternoon at the headquarters of his regiment, he said his experience of a month on active ser- vice impressed him more than he had ever been impressed before with the character of the British Regular "Tommy," who, in addition to being pro- bably the finest fighting man in the world, was a perfect gentleman to his finger-tips. "JQuring the four weeks [ spent in France," he added. "I never once saw an animal treated otherwise than with the greatest kindness. The horses had in their very eyes that quiet-, Gontented look which can only come as a result of the very best treatment. I1 never saw ilA-hip used during the whole time I was there, and I saw many hundreds of horses at work. "The organisation of the arrangements for feeding the troops and for conveying the wounded from the field of action are far beyond anything I could have imagined, and are as near perfection as I possible." I From Football to Trenches. "I had an opportunity," the officer continued, "of seeing troops in aotion on Monday and Tuesday last when I re- ceived my wound I was not tar from the London Scottish, and their friends at home will be glad to know that they are in tip-top form, in the very best of spirits, and thoroughly set and determined in their work. They have not suffered so much as some regiments, but there arc no keener fighting men in the lins." "Th London Scottish were, in far-t, en- gaged in a football motch last Sunday afternoon, when they were suddenly called to go. into action. The whole regi- ment at once responded to the call-from play to work. "While I was at the front," added the officer, "I was particularly impressed I with the excellence of the ambulance ar- rangements for conveying wounded to the I base, and on board the transports en route for home. So rapid is this convey- ance, that it is quite possible for a wounded man to be on hoard the home- going vessel within 24 hours from the time of receiving his wounds, although the firing fine may be over 100 miles away. The only complaint I have to make about this expedition in the ambu- lance service is that I was so hustled from point to point that I had no oppor- tunity of thanking the doctors and the sisters for their great kindness and de- voted attention.

I FLOODS IN ESSEX. j Snow fell heavily in east Herts and i east Essex last night, followed by a gale of great violence. The Stort and a I Valleys are flooded from Bishops Stort- ford to Tottenham, and much damage has been done by water, which at places haa I submerged railway lines.

j WHY DOES A CORN RESEMBLE A I HEADACHE? Because they are both sent by Nature to ehow you that there is something wrong. They are both just eymptoms- A corn is caused either by pressure or by friction when on the top of the toee— usually friction is the cause. When under the foot—usually pressure is res- ponsible. To cure you must first remove the cause of the tumble. Then Rich's "Waukwell" will remove the corn. The price is Is. lid., large size 2«?. 9d. (post- age I-Id.), from Rich, The Chemist, 30, High-street, Swansea. Mr. Rich will ad- vise privately about your feet.. J

I MIDNIGHT MASS IN RHEIMS ] O I iMSStVE G?.lsi?AS CE?Em!Ai I •ThE CELLARS j Paris, Monday night.—Midnight msf was celebrated at Khcims on Chrisinil Eve, not. in its ruined cathedral, but i one of the vast underground cellars, i j which for three montiis tile Jjomrrrd* papulation of the city has lived a 'suffered. Cardinal Lucon, the heroi Archbishop of Rheims, who on his-- turn from tiie papal eic-etioik, learill ot the misfortune that had befallen It city, went there against, und almost defiance of, the warnings of the militai authorities, himself officiated. Diirl the daytime the Archbishop had, accor< ling to his custom, visited the poor « the city, going on foot among the Ge man shells 011 his mission of charity an consolation,

IT., L N PLOTTER CAUGHT. Rome, Dec. 28.—After stopping on t frontier various consignments of contra band, metals and flour, to Austria, Gel many, and France, the Italian Govern naent succeeded in checking a va^t plot, f the forwarding of huge consignments < cereals to Germany. Oommendatore Fior< a well-known physician in Rome, an< Signor CaMrignana, an ex-Custoui official, who were involved, have been at rested, tbR hjttpr while trying to brib with an offer of X*«,000 an oScia.l of i?b general office of the Customs to obf??t,in permit of exportation. The money w, handed to a police oPictaI, ?h? by pr vious :)rrangom?nt had' for a long tin pos(?d as an ool'pr of the Customs, an who negotiated with Signor Castrignan< the issue of the permit of exportat ion.

Though wars may rage and tradiol with the enemy may be punishable witl terrible penalties, the Almanach d Gotha" must still he issued in thi country as well as in Germany an France, and the English publisher ha therefore been granted by Mr. McKennl a special indqpinity to bring out th1 152nd annual edition of the Sovereign* Whitaker."

Appetite Keen Bowels Regular You can relish your meals without ft of upsetting your liver or stomach if you will put your .?S???!? faith in ?ar eerr?,s sLliitttt lee. J "s? Liver Pills. Foul ?ccumu?tions ?SHB??AnT?r't?'' that poison theblood .?tNtNt apRTE are expelled from IVTTTTELLIE the bowels and 'ILPPIVI ILLELLRS. headache, dizzines, and liallow skin go Small Pill-Small Dolt-Small Pries. GENUINE must bear signature |

murm BEDDOE.-Deoomoor 24th, at 14, ()h-atewoI- tlrt road. Hock ferry, to Mr. and Mrs. A. & i Beddoe, a daughter.

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uN WEST FRO?T i?N V I ENEMY DESCRIBED AS I SHEEP-LIKE I ) I HAND-TO-HAND FISBT DECLINED. I I I PRISONERS DESCRIBE CAPTURE I j AS "LUCK" I A special correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" tells an interesting story of j the battJe in Flanders, and says:—"Once! more the curtai nhas been raised far what exports believe to 11" the beginning J of another gigantic struggle in Flanders, and what is hoped will be the beginning oi the end—fight- for the way to Ostend. r describing how French dragoons j %cd Belgir.n. infantry are fighting almost shoulder to shoulder in the Nieuport and !.Lo'nbaertzydp St. G?ir?. ho contTnuos: Th o?icpr? nowadays are sen?ibia t noug?L not to r?n ahead of their men, as < used to be the case, but remain l>csid» theni. Not one shot has been fired in our company. The lire from the enemy weakens, dark shadows ahead become distinct, a head, a pair of arm, a i body t-how3 up, and then a pair of legs, running, running for dear ii.fc-. The i-ight of a bayonet fight has been spared rn. aud I do not know that I am sorry. Only when some of our men fire one alvo and then continue the pursuit. The pnemy has taken a stand in the next 1 trench, and is firing at us again. But it is wild and erratic, and cither flies away | over our head6 or some of the bullets splash into the mud abad of u?. Hand ta rland Fiaht Declined. They -would not give our men a hand- to-hand fight. The fight was out; the fright in them. On and on went this unstemmable black line of men, now and then stumbling over a helmet. The field rieemed strewn with rifles. Some men were overtaken: they were absolutely j t-eaponkas. Their faces were pale, sal- low with fear. their eyes large in their heads, their hands up in tho air. Some of them fell, feinted death, and were- but why any gruesome details: Our bat" talion took 65 prisoners further up the line near Lombaertsyde. I have been told 600 prisoner)! have been taken. It is 2.30 a.m. Four trenches arc our?, besides a number winter barracks. Every sign here sh.-)Ws that they had made preparations to stay the winter. The barracks are of the l o n t-?- p an ab- portable, corrugated iron typ", an ab- solute protection against rain, and very; warm inside- We tound bedding, clothes, uniform,s etc., there in great quanti- ties. The victory has not been stolen or given; it has been bought, but about the price I will not write now. Everything in this life costs, and the,price must be paid. Prisoner's !.uck." Let us look at the prisoners. Some of them are marines, hut most of them Bavarian infantry. One could hardly j believe one's eyes to loot at those men. Their uniforms looked as if they bad just come from church parade, and their helmets were as fresh as a uetr penny. They were most of them men of between 20 and 25. One of th" lieutenants spoke fluent French, and here is his story al- most vebatim: To-night's engagement was our fire- christening. Wo came out here on the 6th December. Most of the men are volunteers, and we engaged since the war began." And what about the confidence in the invincibility of the German army?" I asked him. Is that fable still being told in Germany?" Ali, monsieur, I must 110 loyal to my country. I believe you in England have a saying, Right or wrong--nif coiintry., .?.U the same, if I must teH thd tmth, this is luck (Vest la veine). The climate ard the conditions of this low conntry Pore forceful allies of yours." This man. about 26 to 28 years of age, was a reserve officer and a university mar., i Tie made a favourable impression as an enemy, I must admit, and seemed to speak 1 fhe truth. Liks a Herd of Sheep. As to the others, they seemed like 81 herd of sheep at the approch of a wolf. Never have I seen such an anxiolls. I frightened dot .of men. They needed no I grrawls. Their legs were cut off by sheer fright. They hardly dared look to left or right, from habit. instilled upon them by their "rgeant drillma?t?r: One Belgian vent nT? to one of th?m and asked for his l helmet, o?prio? an old cap in exchange. Ja. ]a? routed t.? German, only too ha'op? to place, and, while unfastening his belt, added, This, too." Others even oftcrend to giye up their coats. During the night the Germans were held prisoners in their own trenohes, and this morning found t lm all huddled to- gether, and still answering the compari- son of the sheep. T wondered what might j be passing in the minds oC these cap- tives. Fortunately tho men taken prisoner have not had a part in the German cam- paign of destruction, involving murder I and robbery. They were all new ones, and well may their lieutenant have re- marked, "C"e,,zt la veine." because, in- deed, they are lucky if only to have been soared the disgrace of assiting at any fur- ther German misdeeds. Ail during the day the battle has con- tinued, but the sceoe changed towards the Dunes. The Belgians have gamoo during the last twelve hours nearly one mile of territory, and the forces are well advancing towards Westende. The Bel- J span Engineers hare built the various bridges over the Y«r which have been used druing this fight. t German System Disorganised. With the prisoners captured were two I machine guns. Thepe. as may be imagined. wrought much damage. but, fortunately, under cover of night, our I men could rush up to them at compara- tively close distance before attacking, The genera 1 imprÆsion I have received during the la,-? thirty-six hours is that j the German system on this wing is dis- organised. Both the dpfence and th.?! counter-attack lacked unity. Their i trenches are splendid, very comfortably and strongly built. Every one of them has wooden supports every 20ft. or They have covered or underground tunnel connections with the trenches behind, while their mitrailleuses are in j small trenches over the infantry. In fact, these field fortifications look like one continual line of small forts. The remainder of the night those who are I not on guard spent very comfortably ni (these German trenches. I In the Morning. I The next morning, grey wwi without I any sunlight. what a sight! Belgians and Germans had fallen side by side, over each other, in a wild, general mix- up. Few men were shot or killed in the drenches, almost every rao of them 00- tween the lines. Almost every dead sol- dir, b?th Belgian .nd German, fell with j las rifle h??le 1'im. With many of them the dodor had to use force in breaking lopen their stiff fingers ai-ound. the barrel.

ANOTHER YORKSHIRE BYE-ELECTION. DEATH OF COl. HARRISON- BROADLEY, M.P. FOR HOWDEKSHIRE DIVISION. The Press Association regrets to an- nounce the death of Colonel. H. B. Harrison-Broadley, Unionist M.P. for the Howrlenshire Division of the East Ricg of Yorkshire, which occurred at Welton, near Hull, this morning from heart affec- tion. Deceased, who was 61 years of age, was first elected for Howdenshire in 1906. The figures at the last general election were: Harrison-Broadley (U.), 5,016; NOTTIS (L.), 3,885.