The Cambria Daily Leader

IN THE NAVY 11 YOUNG RECRUIT'S IMPRESSION. I THAT LIFE ON A BRITISH WARSHIP IS I LIKE. i I JOLLY GOOD COMPANY i i I (Passed by Censor). Much has been written of the roecruite' first, experiences in the army, while a lad's .impressions of his introduction into the sister service have been somewhat neglected. It is interesting, therefore,, to have from the pen of a Swansea boy some reflections of hio first trip at 6ca. lie is serving as a telegraphist on ODO of ships for the duration of the war. It was on a recent Friday (h", writes) "hat i was sent, along with about so ither volunteers, to the parent: ship of a •. -.ex-tain flotilla then in harbour. whence, •i;'i:er medical examination we were do- patched to our respective homes/ his was done by getting aboard a steam ..iniiaee which made the rounds of all .he warships in the harbour, putting one r, sometimes two aboard. In three cases i >niy, however, were two volunteers placed m the samv fehip, aud I was included a one of these fortunate exceptions. We were bundled aboard, bag and \iggage, with very little ceremony. In- lantly a medley of supposed music mailed us from somewhere, and everx- ;1tdly we located it in the fore part of he boat, or, as 1 have since learned to all it, the foc'sl. Here a score or so of nen in different dress—stokers in their ver-ails, seamen, some in their duck uits, some in the Navy Blue, cooks in heir all-whites, etc;—were sitting or j ■ tar. ding round a gramophone, one of the GlêIl chipping in now and again with a aandoline. First Impressions. Then someone shouted, New hands, all in aft," and we doubled aft," where he coxswain and sub-lieutenant were tanding. The former took our names and iiher particulars. Both Mess 4 buzz ■S" was the next inj unction. Two hands" took our kit, bade us follow, aid led the way to No. 4 Mess, in the ,re part of the ship. No. 4 Mess was a little room just below the ^o'c'sl, ap- proad1L,d by means of a round hatchway and all iron ladder. On one side v-ts a rack arrangement stowed with ham- mocks; opposite were a few food cupboards and a little stove. A series of lockers were so ananged on the other sides so as to form rather broad seats, and just in front of the starboad one was a little table, with raised edges—a neces- sary precaution, especially in a gale. In the centre of the floor was a covered hatchway, marked u inch shell room," with another hatchway, one each side market "fresh water tank." On the lockers some six or seven men were sit- ting, some at the table, some reading, and one busy at a sew ing machine. They were all of the higher ratings, leading signal- men, petty officer, telegraphist, quarter- masters. etc., and as jolly looking a lot as could be found anywhere. Come on, mateys," said one, make yourselves at home, and the better we'll like you." I Musical Teas." We were shown our lockers, and while we unpacked our bags and "gear," one I of the men brought us supper of cold meat and bread and butter. After supper we wer«* taken around the ship, finishing up in the fo'c'sl, from which still j amanated the classic music- The gramaphone was rattling off When we've wound up the watch on the Rhine," the mandoline was giving out Uncle Joe," one fellow with a.mouth organ was playing the Marseillaise," and about half-a-dozen more were singing at the top ot their voices—each different songs. At about 9 p.m., stand by for rounds was piped, and everybody went up on deck while an officer inspected the ship. We turned in about 10.20 p.m., slinging our hammocks in the mess-room, space being limited in a warship, especially in war time. I lay awake for a little while in a reflective mood. But it was not for long. I soon fell asleep, it being so 6.y, I and I found the gentlerolling of the ves- sel to be a good sleep produced. j Cleaning the 11 OLals.11 Next morning, somewhere about 6.30, I was awakened by cries of Show a leg, ehow a leg Nah then, what about it," interspersed with ithers, such as Nah then .Nobby, what's up wi' yearP Ain't yer feelin' well p" Come on, Copper- nob if yer ain't aht in two two's, yer gits a shower bath." So out we get, hammocks are lashed up, a couple of tubs of cold water are procured, and we cleans our dials." They've got no such phrase as I wash our faces in the Navy. After a breakfast of bacon and eggs, we move to our different quarters and commence scrubbing and polishing. Woe betide the unsuspecting "newey" who steps on a cleaned part! He can reckon himself lucky if he gets nothing worse than a wet cloth on the back of his neck, or a lump of oily waste in his fice." I my- self was so negligent as to tread upon a newly polished piece of brass-work, but at that moment had to duck under a wire cable, with the result that it was the cook coming out of the "galley" with a tray of meat who got the full benefit of the lump of waste intended for me. It was not long before I was out of sight. The cleaning was finished by about 11.30. by which time I was suffering from a ravirhing hunger, and pitched into my dinner of roast beef, peas and "spuds," followed by stewed rhubarb and cream. After dinner, there being no "official" work to be done, most of the crew busied I themselves with washing clothes, 'dickies' (collars), towels, etc., to the accompani- ment of various tunes on the graina- phope, while half-a-dozen or so had a nap in te sun on the upper, deck. A Hive of Industry. I Just after tea, the' ship became like a hive of bees, an order being received to! put to sea with all despatch. There was some important work to be done. It was' a rush, to. The ship pushed her nose into the big waves, cutting through, the; water like a hot knife through butter,' never rising to any "sea," but dipping' straight into ir» tons of water washing down her decks almost continuously. The whole ship's company, especially the; gunners, were growing excited in expec-, tation of having a shot at the "rats." Some of the men even offered to go down and help the stokers, thinking we should get there sooner. Up ammunition is piped, and everybody "pitches in," oven the cook and the two new H sparkers (wireless operator) volk-,iitt-ring to bear a hiind, and handling tho shells and cases1 as if they had been in the business all their lives. Now everything is tzady. i What Might Have Been. Suddenly, just ahead of us a conple of big, blads patches loom out of the dark- ness, and instantly all guns are trained VI)at way. The guuners, with their hands on the triggers^ are awaiting the order to lire, and everybody• is oager for the first crash of guns, which signifies that the I aetioIl has begun. A light appears out of [ feke darkness, and flashes fitfully for a few econds, the signalman on the bridge takes the message, de-codes it and lianas it to the captain. The latter, a real bit of the old ball-dog, looks over it, lets out an oath followed by, Hard -luck,n aud passes it on to the other officers. It is to the effect that the black patches i ahead are British warships, and it tells us that they have just done all that j was necessary and are returning. It ends with Last one sunk 15 minutes ago, have survivors." Congratulations are exchanged between commanders, etc. I never saw a more disap- pointed crowd in my life as our ship's companywhen they heard that we were just too late. They go about the ship like so many beara with sore heads. muttering and grumbling at their bad luck in being done out of a bit of sport." Why didn't they let us out lialf-an-houi- earlier?" says" Tubby," a big, fat, jolly-looking gun-layer, with a seo-wl. Says another, The M-'s crowd could have been sports anyhow, and left one for us, if only as a consolation prize." I wish they'd take us to Heligoland for another go' (This ship has been twice inside the Bight), says Seaman C-. Still they console each other with the after-thought: It may be our turn next." I "Two Sparks in Aoonv." are now returning, and the ship rolls heavily. Sea-sickness comes upon us, but the company is very sympathetic. You'll get over it some day." We are told. A young officer calls from the bridge: "Hello, what's that?" and the reply is sent, Two sparks in agony, sir:' He has a fine sense of humour, and is too much of a sport to remember that he has not been answered in the regulation manner. Later, coming along the deck, he spotted me, and said, Hello, still in agony P Come aft with me, its better than lying there. There," he says, pointing to a nice little corner amidships, lie down there, tuck that mat around you, and you'll soon be alright." I fetch, my pal, and we nestle down., make ourselves as happy as possible, and we are soon alright again, though we dare not move from ohr little neet until we are in harbour again. I

TIZ for Aching, I Sore, Tired Feet 1  tender, TIZ is grand for puned-up, tender, perspiring feet and burning corns. If A h! Boys, TtZ is the thing I" People who are forced to stand on their feet all day know what sore, tender, per- spiring, burning feet mean. They use TIZ, and TJ.Z cures their feet right o? It keeps feet in perfect condition. T17 is the only remedy in the world that draws out all the poisonous exudations1 which puff up the feet and cause tender sore, tired, aching feet. It instantly stops the, 18ain in corns, hard skin, and bunions. It's simply glorious. Ah! how comfortable your feet feel after using TIZ. You'll never limp or draw up your face in pain Your shoes won't tighten and hurt your feet. Get a 1 ill box of TIZ now from any chemist's or stores. Just think J a wholt year's foot comfort for only lilt, Kitx^hener's Army eats MACK"[N-TOMIS TOFFEE HE IiUXE.

I 8,000,003 MEN Census Returns of Britain's Male Population. An analysis of the lateet oensue return I shows that there are about 8,100,000 men I in the United Kingdom between the agee I of eighteen and forty. This total is made up as follows: ( England and Wales. Age. IS 332,615 19 322,W4 20 808,328 21 .i. 304,.131 22 296,288 ?.297,NS 24 29ft,84O 25 293,303 26 296,846 27 283,389 28 297,058 29 286,187 30 310, U'Ja 31 6. 269,993 32 280,370 33 258,479 34 267,007 35 266,475 36 262,107 37 235,420 )62913 38 262,913 39 234,517 40 262,690 Total .tM13,938 Scotland. 18 .— 47,056 19 44,803 20-24 .4. 201,771 25-29 182,02'2 30-31. 170,200 35-89 157,582 Total. 803,434 I Ireland. 18 43,825 19 Iz 12,731 20-2,t 19118 25-23 16»,5»05 30-34 152,188 35-39 145,740 Total 735,707 j 73b,7(}7 The figures rala ting, to men of forty in Scotland and Ireland are not given scpa4 rately, but reach about 100,000. Of the 6,513,938 men of military age in j England and Wales, 2,834,776 are unmar- ried. it is extremely difficult to-egtimate-hoa many men would be available for service in the field, for many deductions must bt rtlllde, indnding:- Tiiose medically unfit. Thooe maldng miinitions. Tiiose engaged in transport, food, and other services. Mr. Lloyd George stated last week that 2,000,000 men of all ages were engaged in making munitions. In one year the G^r iaan army rejected one man of twenty ir. thirteen on medical grounds, and ameni- older men the proportion of unfit would ba inuch larger.

It is now stated with certainty that Dr. Addison, M.P., will be Under Secretary of Munitions Department*

1 "HANDS OFF." i I ANGRY GERMAN C ANCEUOR'S VAIN I THREAT, I bdmba:tic TALK AMSTERDAM, Friday. May 28. A Berlin telegram tiays- In the Reichstag to-day the Imperial Chancellor, Dr. yon Bettuuann liollweg, dealt with the eutry of Italy into the war. He said:— Italy has now inscribed in the book of the world's history in letters of blood which will never fade her violation <>f faith. I believe Macchiareli once said that a war which is necessary is also juat. 1 rom this sober, practical, political standpoint, which leaves out of account all moral considerations, has this war been necessary ? Is it not. indeed, directly mad? Nobody threatened Italy-neither Aus- tria-Hungary nor Germany. Whether ,the Triple Entente was content with blandishments alone, history, will show later. Without a drop of blood Bowing, and j j -iihout the life of a single Italian being i-iiuangered, Italy could have secured the ioxig list of concessions which I recently ixau to the House—territory in the Tyrol -Ind on the isonzo as far as the Italian speech is heard, satisfaction' of the •lational aspirations in Trieste, a free naud in Albania, and the valuable port iif Yalona. Why have they not taken it? Do they perhaps, wish to conquer the German j-'yrolf Hands off! Why did liome refuse so light- heartediy the proposals of Vienna? The Italian manifesto of war, which conceals an uneasy conscience behind vain phrases does not give us any explanation. No Occasion for Distrust. Germany by her word guaranteed >.hat the concessions would be carried throug-h. There was no occasion for dis- J trust. On May 4th the Trentino was the same territory as it was in Fworuary, and a whole series of concessions had keen added to the Trentino, of which nobody had thought in the winter. The statesmen ocf Ronie have played against their own people the same game as they have played against us. It is true that the Italian-speaking territory on the northern frontier has always been the dream and the desire of every Italian, but the great majority of the Italian people, as well as the majority in Parlia. ment, did not want to know anything of war. U Under the kindly disposed toleration tnd with the assistance of the leading statesmen of a Cabinet fed with the gold of the Triple Entente, the mob, under ■ he guidance of unscrupulous war insti- I gators, was roused to a frenzy of blood which threatened the King with revolu- lion and all moderate men with murder1 i if they did not join in the war delirium, "In the frenzy of war, honest poli- ticians grew dumb, but when, as the result of military events, as we hope and desire, the Italian people become Bober I again, it will reoognise how frivolously it was instigated to take part in this world war. The Utmost Limit. I "That Aurtria-Hungary went to the utmost li^pxit possible is known. Prince Bulow, who again entered into the active service of the empire, tried by every means to come to an understanding. From month to month we grew more intimate with our ally. From the Pilicia to the Bukovina we tenaciously withstood with onr Austro-Hungarian comrades for months the gigantic superiority of the enemy. Then we victoriously advanced So our new enemies will perish through the spirit, loyalty, friendship, and tjrarery ]j if the Central Powers. U In this war Turkey is celebrating a brilliant regeneration. The whole Ger- man people follows with enthusiasm the different phases of the obstinate, vic- torious resistance with which the loyal, Turkish army and fleet repulse the at-; tacks of their enmies with heavy blows. Against the living wall of our war- riors in the west our cnertuea; up till now: have vainly stormed. If in some places; fighting fluctuates; if here- or there a trench or a village is lost Or won, the great attempt of our adversaries to break through, which they announced five months ago. did not succeed, and will not succeed. They will perish through the bravery of our soldiers."

I APOLOGY FOR ALDEBMAH Generosity in Pembroke Libel I Action. Before Mr. Justice Lawrence, at the Pembrokeshire Aissizes on Friday, Mr. Marlay Samson (instructed by Mr. F. W. Merriman) mentioned a libel action in which the plaintiff was Alderman Charles Young, Pembroke Dock, and the de- fendant G. F. ltoblin, an employe of the Prudential Assurance Company. The libel complained of, said Mr. Sam- son, was that defendant had written a letter to the local newspapers stating that the plaintiff was building certain houses in Pembroke Dock on a smouldering cinder heap. The accusation was quite untrue, as the cinder heap wab sowe dis- tance away. The defendant had now agreed to make an ample apology, to be inserted in the newspapers in which the original letter appeared. This was all that Alderman, Y ouag. desired, and he had -also agreed not to claim more than ,.Cl,o costs. The Judge said that Alderman Young ad behaved very magnanimously. The terms of the libel were such 808 to expose the plaintiff to considerable obloquy and contempt. The apology published by the defendant in December was a very in- adequate one, but now that there had been this fuller apology he hoped the parties would forget their differences. and he hoped the defendant would learn not to write letters to the newspapers criticising people without being perfectly sure of his facts. The work of a oritic was sometimes very useful, but it was nnly useful when he takes Qare to ascer- tain the. truth of his facts before he makes his critieism.. I',

T -1 STHE GREAT BRITISH j RHEUMATIC REMEDY,  !#I%' ?OUT ? RH?UMAT?C PILLS.Ij i I The fMtQas remedr O&t t<-H?!y ratttwM I8 and cores LUMBAGO. CquT, RME U M AT iStIil. S" IÅ TICA. I Pu"ly V&eotAbie. Sur? and Safe. I PuCrheoly miaV tnnd St?roa. 1?- A ?< per box. ■ M, Otrand. LoridoiL AJI freè. 22?. 8tr»nd, London | I ■ ■ II P I I I II ■ I I im—mmm**i mm HRIVf FRS MOTOR CAR B M a W F ?? MOTOR LORRY i: JSTEAM LORRY; urgently required immediately for Mechanical Transport, A.S.C. PAY, 42 /• weekly and the usual separation allow- ances. ¡ Pals posted together A Mechanical Transport Officer will interview can- didates for enlistment at: SWANSEA .dvne 2 MERTHYRTYDF<LJuM3 ¡ RECRUITING CARDIFF .June 4 OFFICE. CARDIFF .JuHe4 NEWPORT ..Junes 10 a.m.-6 p.m. MONMOUTH June 7 HEREFORD June8 All should bring references. GOD SA VE THE KING. I ¡ „ F or the 6 th Welsh!  S — :o: -• ♦ ♦ | f Fort B at hinI   EQUEST FROM THE FRONTB II + f ;o:■ ■ I ?  ¡ Since the 6th (Service) Battalion of the 9 Welsh Regiment left Swansea for Imperial Service last October, many requests for "extras" have been ♦ rçeived by the men. • S f Thanks to the generous responses made to Cie ??' f appeals issued by the "6th Welsh Comforts Committee" 5 the requirements have been met up to the present. "W oollies" to wear, peppermints to keep the cold out, 2 and other things were sent during the winter; a good ♦ supply of "smokes" has gone out; musical instruments have reached men on monotonous duty; and even wristlet watches for hospritai orderlies have been grven £ in answer to the announcements that such things were S ? desired. #  Now the Committee has received an appeal statin9 | that a party of men of the 6th Welsh are at a station + where they can bathe. So they would be glad of about 40 or 50 bathing slips. 9 Gifts or subscriptions towards meeting this appeal « t will be received on behalf cf the Committee by • + ,a I G. S. HARRIES (Major), o Chairman of Committee. ? DAVID ROBERTS, ? f Hon. Treasurer ♦ A. P. HIGHAM, ¡ Hon. Secretary. 5 | Hon. Secretary. $ ? Omce and Bureau:-? J "Leader" Buildings, $ ? Swansea. A ? '? ?????@?????. ?????????-????@???$?@????????. I ■ V.- M ■- ■ THE.. SroRiiNe DEWS GIVES THE VERY LATEST WAR NEWS _u" :¡.- I' I"¡" Every Saturday Evening. Evening. ?  ?-??  ?''??'-? # ?- r. I: