The Cambria Daily Leader

-1it, y | CASTLk* CINEMA. flt Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. M jjt WILLIAM FARNUM in M S "GOD'S CHilDREN." § J CHARUECHAPUNin ■ I THE ADVENTURER." 1 ? VIVIAN MARTIN in M ?"THESTRONGER?LOVE." ?

 »nOU OF ARTilLERY UAR DOES IT INDICATE NEW OFFENSIVE? Is the long-heralded, much overdue German offensive on the point of materialising? The news from the Western Front to-day is omin- ous, the tremendous artillery duel, born of a plqntitude of great guns and the ideal weather, reaching a voluuie hitherto unattained. Up to date, however, no infantry attack has been attempted by the, enemy, and low visibility renders the work of our air scouts very difficult. For the present, therefore, the German plans are still secret -but the guns are again booming. Raids into the enemy's lines upon the Western Front- have been frequent in the past three days. Portuguese troops near eU\re Cha- ,\)e11e have paid the Germans back in kind by penetrating to their Second line. To-day's British official records another raiding success, £ his time near St. Quentin. (From the Press Association Special Correspondent). War Correspondents' Headquarters, 'France, Monday. Considerable artillery activity along the whole front from La Basee' to Broodsinde has been the principle feature of the past twenty-four hours. The sectors of Neuve Chapelle, Fauquissart, Armentieres, Houplmes, and Fleurbaix, were subjected t) very heavy outbursts of fire during Yesterday, gas shells being freely employed. At 5.15 this morning a heavy bombardment broke out upon Wez Macquart, but although this looked like a preliminary to an attack no infantry activity followed. The fact that the enemy has got nick-e guns and shells than ever before, coupled with the ideal wea- ther conditions for employing them, may explain his hea-vy shooting. Our own batteries are kept very busy retaliating, and the uproar along the front con- stantly swells into a terrific volume. Our reconnaissance airmen are watching closely for any signs of concentration behind the" enemy lines, but the silvery haze renders visibility very low,; JfFO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. < France, Monday, 9 a. m. A successful raid, in which several of the enemy were killed or taken prisoners, and two machine guns f captured, was carried out last night by us south of St. Quentin. A party of the enemy which ap- proached our line north-west of La Bassee, was driven off by ar- tillery and machine-gun fire. There has been considerable art-il- lery fire on both sides, early this morning, south-east of Armen- eres. — ———< .————. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. General Headquarters, France, Monday. 3 p.m. To the north of the Aisne we carried out two surprise attacks in the region of Fresnes and the north of Courkan. In Champagne the enemy attemp- ted to reach our lines in the neighbourhood of St. Helier-SD. Sauplet road. He was driven back by our counter-attacks, and left prisoners in our hands. After a violent bombardment and double attack in which special storming troops participated against our positions at Bruce Hill and the Dead Man, the as- '1 sailants were everywhere re- pulsed. #0n the right bank there was a lively artillery action. In the Courriers Wood to the north of St. Mihiel, we dispersed a strong enemy troop; which from Seuzey sought to reach our trenches. The American troops in Lorraine carried out a daring raid into the enemy lines. THE TWO FAILURES. A Wretchd Futile Business." The two German attacks in Flanders ,were disastrous failures. The purpose of botli attacks was to remove local salients and give better observation. Our capture of the Passchendaele Ridge created a great" bulge" in our northern front, bounded roughly by the Houthulst Forest and the Heiiin road, and the Ger- man army command sought a better grip at these points, where his infantry has- had a very hard time under the domi- nance of our new positions. Both attacks were meant, of course, <o surprise us, but the promptness with which our guns and men countered them was the reaj surprise, and at both places the enemy's troops were discon- certed, if not ibadly shaken: beforr they went forward with their barrage. BOTCHED." The net l'esul t for the enemy has been complete failure to hold a yard of ground, most severe losses in dead and wounded, and (according to Mr. Philip Gibbs), a revelation of incompetent command. Both attacks seem to have been botched by the commanders, who I I ordered. their mm forward into death- tiaps.  As far as the Polderhoek attack is con- cerned, it seems that the German officers in that sector got the impression that their plans had been revealed to us, be- muse they paraded their men and told them that the attack had been postponed owing to information having reached us from deserters. It was not very altering news for men about to come into the open against us, ami they must have started with a moral handicap. SPIRIT OF CONFIDENCE NEVER HIGHER. Hard fighting marked both attacks. It showed sigtis again most clearly that our men do not fear these elaborate "drives," which are being rehearsed with such thoroughness behind the German lines, and that they are capable of withstand- ing the pressure of the reinforced Ger- man armies. The spirit of confidence was never higher than it is to-day in the recaptured trenches beyond Ypres. THE WEATHER. The weather continues very fine, with slight frosts at night, and bright, sunny I days, though it is too hazy for perfect visi- bility. It more resembles perfect autumn weather than normal March. Franco -began summer -time at mid- night on Saturday. A BRITISH GUESS. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe says that the attacks were arranged originally for the end of l February. They were to be on a large scale. We guessed what his intentions were, and by intense shelling put a stop to them.

NATIONAL SERVICE. ) Miners for Shipbuilding and Other Trades. i (By Our Mining Corresponlent.) f I The Rt. Hon. T. Richards, M.P., general eeoretary of the South Wales Miners, has received from the Director-General of Na- tional Labour Supply a letter embodying the proposals of the Ministry with a view to the possible transfer of South Wales miners who were unemployed or »vorking short time. The letter states that the ordinary per- iod of enrolment of a War-work volunteer ts either (a) for the approximate period of the job to which the man is to be sent, with a minimum limit of three months fn the case of men going to shipyards; or (b) during the war for so lorfg as required by the Minister, not exceeding 12 month's in all. Oall miners who transfer from the mines to shipyard labour will come under any scheme which may be in force for coal miners, whether they are taken for military service or not, will depend upon 'their age, marital state, and medical category- Particulars as to the "make-up" of wages, subsistence allowances, etc., are given. ll. It is incidentally pointed out that be- ( eddes the oll for shipyard men and tim- loor fellers, there is a large demand for men for gasworbs.

CANNED MEATS. I Ottawa, Sunday (received Monday).— » The Government in regulations dealing I wth meat packng industries 3Jrranges to I take half profits and seven to 10 per cent. ef theprcute &boTe 15 per cent. j ??t??jt??.?.??A,,?;. '?

HOOLIGANS IN TRAMS. A Complaint From Morriston. A correspondent sends us a strong com- plaint regarding the conduct of a certain element travelling on the Morriston tram- ways late at night. He points out that a large number of female assistants in Swansea business establishments travel home by this route, and occasionally are detained in town till a late hour, and he glares that they are subject to disgrace- ful behaviour by gangs of young men who get beyond the control of the conductor,, disregard the no smoking" notice, and generally make themselves a nuisance to respectable people. He quotes in particular the conduct of a group of five young men on Saturday evening. The conductor did his- best, but without avail, and the young hooli- gans made themselves particularly objec- tionable to a number of young ladies travelling home. He-ciills for drastic steps to put a stop to this sort of thing. I

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES 1.  dLaILIr, of no p(,i-- Alfred Harding?horae dealer, of no per- manent address, V -as again before the Neath magistrates on Monday on a e-harge of obtaining £ 38 by alleged false pretences from David Thomas, farmer, Trevadog, St. David's. Mr. A. Jestyn Jeffries, for the prosecu- tion, applied for a further remand, add- ing that a further charge agarnst Hard- ing was pending, in conjunction, with a man named Bernard Turiner. JI! Edward Powell raisl an objection. and ,rX'cused was remanded on bail for •  o  a.?-? ..?. ?

JAPANESE ARMY TO INTERVENE I SIBERIAN MEASURES I 'I NEW tnuacii FORMED BY II I PRINCE LVyFf Paris, Monday.—The "Action irancaise says that President Wilson consents to the interven- tion of Japan, but wishes to be sure it is in accord with his prin- ciples and is devoid oi Imperial- istic aims. Tokio has given ample assurances, but Mr. Wilson does not want Russia to regard the intervention as ,an attack on her liberty. The latest news from Petrograd and other sources indicates the imminence of important developments in the Far East. Prince Lvoff, the first Russian Premier after the Revoiutiou, is reported by the I Daily News" Petrograd correspondent to be in Pekin, where he has constituted a new Russian Government, and is said to be waiting the arrival of a Japanese army at Viadivostoek. A telegram from Harbin reports that there has already been fighting between Red Guards and Cossack forces in East- ern Liberia, and that the artillery of the Bolsheviks is under the command of German officers. That there have been other unreported happenings is suggested by a message which the Foreign Consuls have sent to Petrograd, protesting against various measures taken by the Bolshevik Government constituting a serious menace tc the Far Eastern in- terests of the countries they represent. Lord Robert Cecil, in a statelit issued to the Press, clearly foreshadows the sending of Japanese troops to pre- vent the Germanisation of Siberia." The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs men- tions that some short time ago a small British military mission .sent to the Caucasus was stopped b.v the Bolsheviks, in collusion with German and Turkish agents, and is now cut off from com- munication. STRONG JAP FORCE To be Sent to Siberia and Manchuria. New York, Sunday.—Tlie Washington correspondent of the World asserts that it is now virtually accepted that Japan will send a stroiix force into Siberia and Northern Manchuria, which may he accompanied by a division of Russian troops. ■ These Russians are deserii>ed as sol- diers who have excelled themselves, chiefly in Northern Siberia, on account of the Bolshevik movement. They are said by tlie World'" correspondent to be loyal to the Allies' eau<?e. The cores- pondent adds: The participation of Russian troops would give the Japanese movement the appearance of Russian ac- quiescence in the invasion. Information obtained from Washington indicates that the organisation of the proposed Russian division has passied the contemplative stage. PRISONERS ARMING. Washington, Monday.—The War De- partments' weekly review -,ays:- In Russia the situation is changing with eruption rapidity, and the German invasion is in full swing. In, Siberia it is reported that ex-German prisoners of war have are drilling in the Vicinity of Irkutsk, while throughout Siberia German and Austrian prisoners are being assisted by certain Russian elements. Railway bridges east of Lake Barikal; in the vicinity of Chita, have been destroyed as a result of the rumour of Japanese intervention. NATURE OF OPPOSITION. Pokin, March 9th (received Monday).— A Tokio report says that an important pronouncement is expected early. The bnhç. of the opposition to Japan's jm- mediate action is entirely political.

U.S. TROOPS IN FRANCE. Units on Four Parts of the Front. Washington, Monday.—The War De- partment in its weekly review of the war says:— "I We now have troops in the trenches on four separate parts of the Western front. The enemy's total losses in aircraft dur- ing the pa-st month were 273 out of which 211 were on the Western front. The Allies losses were only 88 machines on all fronts.

REFUSED £ 1,000 A WEEK. Mr. George Robey has refused a salary equivalent to £ 1,000 a week. He has been guaranteed £ 500 a week, 5 per cent. of the gross takings, and 10 per cent. of the profits for W weeks ii year for five years. Mr, Robey hat replied that he is earn- ing quite enough money now, and that he sees no reason why he should try to can- cel his existing contracts.

WELSH CHOIR, Another splendid concert was given in London last week by the R.N.V.R. Crystal Palace Welsh Choir. The proceeds were devoted to the Teachers' Orphanage'Fund, Sydenham. Among those who contributed items were: O.S. A. Bodycombe (Pontar- dawe), P.O. H. H. Chappie (Swansea), and O.S. A. E. Bullock (Swansea). Two of the selections rendered by the choir were March of the Men of Harlech and the Welsh National Anthem.

ALIENS IN TROUBLE., I Sentences on Two Swedish Seamen at Swansea. Under the Aliens' Consolidation Order, 1916, Julius Benndtsson (27), and Ernest Hillmann (27), Swedish seamen, were charged at Swansea on Monday with fail- ing to comply with the requirements im- posed on them by fhe aliens officer when discharged from a certain vessel. Chief Aliens Officer Beard said the men were refused permission to go ashore. They cauie here from America, and were ordered to return. The consular permis- sion was obtained arid the men's tickets were procured. They were sent to Liver- pool to return by a certain vessel. This they did not do, but found their way to Barrow-in-Furness, where they 'ulti- mately shipped on another vessel, which brought them back to Swansea, where they were arrested. Defendants were each sent down ior four montl"- — r <

NAPLES BOMBED ——— ——. HOSPITAL HIT BY AUSTRIAN NAVAL AVIATOR A Reuter's Rome message on Monday says:— About 28 bombs werc- dropped on Naples this morning, all of them on the residential quarters. Tlierewere several victims among the civil population. A- bomb, which dropped on the hospi- tal of the Little Sisters claimed several victims amongst those sheltering there.

"SWANSEA I CRUISER WEEK." On behalf of the Mayor, the Chair- man (Mr. Roger Beck), and the mem- bers of the Swansea War Savings Committae, will you permit me through the medium of your paper to thank all the Swansea people for the magnificent manne1- in which they responded to our g.opeal on Saturday, which enabled as not only to pay for a Cruiser, but also t3 pro- vide the cost of a Submarine and 26 Aeroplanes. Swansea's real quota viras 9315,000, but was increased to £ 453,0(10 by the National Committee to bring it up to the price of a Cruiser. Swansea has never failed yet in any of its War enterprises, and we felt sure they would not on this occasion. < I desire also to thank the Press for tile spierziid way in which they have supported and enoryragad us, which has contributed in no small way to the final resutt.. I W. H. ASHMOLE, Hon. Secretary, Swansea War Savings Camraittae. I

GUNSHOT WOUNDS. I U-Boat Attack on Glenart I Beats. A Liverpool message says that the body of one of the junior offcers of the Glenart Castle has been picked up not far dis- tant from (tip spot where the vessel was sunk, and that on examination the body was found to have sustained gunshot wounds)01H' in the neck and the ?ther in wounds,/onc This discovery suggests that an attack was made on some of the boats.

j PORTUGUESE CABINET. I jResigftaiion Over farliamerr- iary Elections. I Lisbon. March 7 (r<&eivrd Monday).— Owing to tlio difficulty over the Presiden- tial and Parliamentary elections, the Government have resigned. A new Cabinet has been formed under Scnor yidcnio Paen, who liliiiself tikoti the Presidential office and the portfolios of War and Foreign Affair".

PLAYED FOR LL,NELLyl Death of Mr. D, W Nicholls. Mr. D. W. Nicholls, "tie old Inter- national forward, died under trag-ic cir- cumstances at the Llanelly General Hospi- tal to-day. Deceased was 4K years of age, and was chief cashier at the London City and Midland Bank, and had been in good, health until last week, when he was sud- denly taken ill, and was Mo noved to the ('tenIN, t?ik(,ii ',Il, and v?-as reiiloved to the Deceased hailed from Handovery. and was a brother of Mr. C. B. Xicholls, the famous Oxford and Welsh International forward. D. W." lead the forwards in the Llanelly team in its palmiest days. From Llandovery he came under Mr. W. Griffiths, at the time'manager of the Swansea Bank, which afterwards became the Metropolian Bank, and finally was merged into the London City and mi dland Bank. Deceased was a member of the Ashburnham Golf Club, and he married a daughter of the late Mr. Jeremiah Wil. liams, the Stepney estate agent, who died many years ago, and left one son.

SOLDIERS' FAMILY PAY. I Mr. J. M. Hogge at Hull on Saturday, speaking of soldiers' separation allow- ances, stated that the Treasury had at last given coUfcfcnt to .a new warrant governing soldiers' reparation allowances. It would be announced in a few days. Instead of an allowance of 23s. 6d. weekly for a wife and two children the allowance I would be at least 30s.

1 THE fefEAT AGENT. Mr. Wm. Lawson (Food Inspector to the Swansea Food Control Committee) has been appointed meat sgent to the Ministry of Food. He yijlf >ye stationed at Swansat Swansea, and Ins district will embrace Swansea Valley, dower, and Mumbles, with Swansea as its centre. His duties primarily will be to ensure an equal distribution of th meat cup- plies I Mr. Lawson will still assist the Swan- sea Committee, although it will be ne- cessary to appoint a'succeseor- Mr. Law- fcon's new appointment carries with it a salary of X250 per annum. .———-————- s

COUNCIL AND GAS CO. r Llandovery Contract for Public I Lighting. At Llandovery Town Council on Satur- j day a letter was read from the directors of the Llandovery Gas Company inform- ing the Council that threy intended standing by their contract relative to the public lighting of the town, and applied for payment of £ K5. lieing the amount due for the half-year ended December 31st last, and unless this sum was paid by the JOth inst. interest at 51 per cent*, per annum would be charged. Councillor Esmond said he regretted thlt the Gas Company had not accepted the (flier of the Council to arbitrate upon the sum in dispute. Their terms meant the paring of 1:65 for nothing, as the public lad had no lighting during such period. He main- tained the company had faild to supply gas at various times and lad allowed abatement in conseouence. (hl tlw hlotion of Councillor J. Nicholas, it was re- solved to ask the. directors f) meet the Council to confer once again on the matter, and if they declined to do so that a public, meeting of Taxpayers be convener. I

SHEEP CASE • — MORRISTON MEN AT THE ASSIZES REMARKABLE CHARGE Considerable interest was evinced in the ease heard before Mr. Justice Shear- man at the Glamorgan Assizes at Cardiff OJ: Monday, when David James (41), des- cribed as a Baptist minister, and his 18- year-old son, George James, were charged on five indictments with sheep stealing and receiving. The elder defendant was, until his ar- rest early in December last, the pastor bf a Baptist Chapel at MorrMton, and also owned Meistr Mawr Farm, Velindre, where his son George resided. The total number of sheep alleged to have been stolen was nine, of the value of £2 10s. to M each. Mr. Vaughan Williams. K.C.. and -Mr. Clem. Edwards, M.P. (instructed by Mr. Henry Thompson, Swansea), prosecuted, and Sir Ellis J. Griffith, K.C., M.P., and 'Mr. Marlay Sam&on (instructed by Mr. Edward Harris, Swansea), defended. "ENTIRELY INNOCENT." Every f,at in the well of the court was crowded when the case came on. When charged the bider prisoner repliedI am entirely innocent." The younger prbxmer more quietly replied: Not guilty." 1i.r, Vaugha-n Williams opening, eaid the older prisoner was a man who com- bined several vocations. He was minister 0" a chapel at Morriston known as Zion Baptist Chapel. He had been so employed for the last eight years, and lie was also a farmer, and i ad taken a farm known as Meiotr Mawr, a farm ahout five or six miles from Mor- riston. He was first a tenant there. Sub- sequently he became a butcher, and opened a shop at Morriston. He lived at Vicarage-road, Morristtm. an. the younger prisoner lived at the farm. The situation was known as Mynydd y Grwair. The farmers in the farms adjoin- ing the mountain let sheep out to graze, and as a result there was a large number of sheep on the mountain side. MISSING SHEEP. About the end of November, Mr. Enoch Jones missed some sheep from his own private field. A. few days later, in search- ing f0r them, he happened to visit pri- soner^ farm. There was no one about. At this juncture Sir EHis Griffith asked that all witnesses should lie out of court. His Lordship granted the request, add- ing, They us v. ally a.re in these cases." Proceeding, the Judge said to the jury: H I do not know whether YQu come from this district in Morriston. Of course you Willi arrive at your verdict solely on the evidence given in court, and will 4tot ascribe anything to what yoa may hear outside." .SEEN THROUGH THE WINDOW. Proceeding, Mr. Vaughan Williams said Mr. Jones looked through the parlour win- dow into prisoner's farm-house, and saw. upon the floor two sheep skins, one of which he identified by markings on the body as the property of another farmer named John Harry. He visited Mr. Harry lutei, and his brother, William Harry, subsequently came with P.C. Joseph Mason. As a result the officer with Mr. Wm. Harry met them at the farm at 11 o'clock at night. P.C. Mason had a fiasb- light by the aid of which the men could see into the parlour, and Mr. Wm. Harry identified one of the sheep skins as his own, and the other as that of his brother. Between 11.30 and midnight, the younger prisoner came back to the farm. The officer asked him whether any sheep had been killed there that day. He re- plied No." and the officer pointed out the skins and asked permission to enter the James at first raised some ob- jections, n l asked if he had a search war- rant, but subsequently allowed the two men to enter. On examination the skins were found to be frc-sli. I In the dairy they found the carcases of two sheep, and one of these had part of an ear missing corresponding to one of the skins in the parlour, which had part of an ear missing. TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. I James was taken into custody and COD veyed to the Clydaeh Police Station. On 11 the way back they called at the farm and found in an outhouse carcases of sheep hanging, and underneath wal* skin iden- tified as tie property of another farmer, Mr. Roger Jones. Next morning the police called at Vicarage-road and found that David James had left for the farm. Later, in the bedroom, they found three more skins. Carcases were also found ir the loft in the farm, and they had been seen the night before. One of the ski-av was missing, but later it was found. The police officer said to James, -Can you show mo sheep with similar mark- ings on your farm?" Prisoner replied I Yes." SKINS FOUND. 11 They then went out to the fields and" examined about 60 sheep. but not one bore a similar mark. The elder prisoner was arrested. Mr. Vaughan Williams pointed out that prisoners, by the fact that they had a butchery shop, had every opportunity of disposing of the carcases, but it war, most difficult to clear away the skins. Whilst the carcases were mi&sing the skins had been found in the prisoner's house. He suggested that the evidence he would call would be sufficient to clearly prove the men to have been guilty of a serious crime. (Proceeding.)

WATERFORD VACANCY. Capt. Redmond to Contest Late Father's Seat. I It is understood that Capt. Redmond. M.P., has consented to stand for the repre- sentation of Waterford City in succession tv his rather. The Sinn Fein candidate will be Dr. White, a Waterford man.- Exchange. ;■ ■ 1 ——

CITIZENS' UNION MEETING. The Swansea Women I'atrol will come in for some recognition on Tuesday' even- ing, when. at the Central Hall, Stars of Honour will he presented to the members by the Swansea Union. Coun- cillor P. Molyneux will preside, and the liPeakprs wili include Miss Mabel Fill (Cardiff) and Sister Owen (Girls* National Club), the oloist being Madame Grace Daniel. The most important item of business will ho,a resolution condemn- 1UJ: imKf.rj] boiK-.Ci oi i:uUlf £

NOT RATIFIED, In the Commons to-day Mr. Sal. iour raid peocc had bcea, provision- ally completed with Rnmaaia> but not yet ratified. The Qorenimeiit were, informed of tie eaeany'e terms.* TO-DAY'S ITALIAN OFFICIAL. Eome, Monday.—During the day our bombard- tie aria. iion grounds and other camps vera bobbed, in llis night by five airsliips. In all fceren t:n. of bombs V'1-r, dropped, and all of our aircraft re- turned unscatli'd to thoir bases, tct. withstanding the violent lire of the en<yin+. On the left side of the Paí'o Britach araator^ brought domj two hoitilo machines. M. LE BARS DECORATED. M- 1A Bars, ofhas sra- ccrre.d a derojffoon from the French Government for sorvioes Tendered as GDH'¡nm¿nt fotsork$ r":?,nde.red. a.s a civilian during the war. j CZERNINIS NEXT SPEECH. A ipecial Cop^nhag^n telegram rai Meadjy states that a. report from Vienna iays that the. Lerwer House | will ia< vt about iho eruiof the month, hen Count Czerniu will deimr '3 a important spi-och on the ertnjation gom-raily. CHINESE IN SIBERIA. Mr. Balfotir, in Parliamont to-day said the Government had no informa- tion as b> the arrival of Cidne&o troops in Siberia. SHEEP STEALING CASE, tvi^'j^ce in stoop sttTaiing case at Awiafct was given by Enoch. Joac?. "din 1'") cross-as* a.mmoj ?'t?h T<'gHr? ? 4di4grISEMoufa between him  c', .r. 4 denied thr?a.? ? '?. ?4? .prl?n.e* out oi pastoral. I- 

TO-DAY'S ALLOTMENT HINT. The weather over the week-end proved tc be of a most mild and genial .char-I actor and a great deal of preparation and seed sowing was accomplished on Satur- day. Tlio<se who failed to take advan- tage of the fine weather missed a golden j opportunity for the sowing of onions. leeks, peus, lettuce and man; kinds of greens. The onion i6 one of the most important vegetable crops grown, and the rood Production Department ha.s issued a special appeal for an increased area to be devoted #to this crop during the coming season. The main crop of onions is usu- ally sown out of doors about the middle of this month. The ground should -have been deeply dug and !il>erally manured. a& there is no crop that responds better h' Ii??Al treatment than the onion. Give tllP g-ronnd a good dressing of soot and also a dressing of superphosphate of lime and 'sulphate of ammonia, in the proportion of three of the former to one or the latter, used at the rate of three to four ounees per square yard. These should be pricked into the surface layer, and the. soil thoroughly pulverised and then trodden firmly, and afteawards raked smoothly and evenly in readiness for drawing the drills. Cultivator,

-KOPENSCK FRAUD ECHO, The Hague, Sunday.—A Berlin telegram announces the death of the once famous Kopenick captain, the shoemaker Voigt, 1 who in 1006 made the whole world laugh at the Germans and c-ame near killing German militarism by ridicule. Wilhelm Voigt, a criminal, hoaxed the officials ot Kopenick, near Berlin, by don- ning a captain's uniform and ordering a squad of soldiers to arrest the burgo- master and some of his colleagues. He then decamped with a large sum. He was captured and sentenced to four years' im- prisonment.

REFUSAL TO SUPPLY." I At Neath on Monday, Mr. Edward Powell, on behalf of the local Food Con- trol Committee, applied for summonses againtWmiall1 Williams, grocer, WiDd- sor-road, and his wife, for refusing to supply, except' under conditions, Caroline Jones with butter Mr. Powell said he made the application in open court be- cause he wanted it to act as a warning to other tradesmen in the town that they could not insist upon making conditions as to sales as was alleged in the present case. The summonses were granted.

A TONNA D.C.M. A-TONNA D.C.M. Gunner F, W. Bartlett. R.E., of Tonna, Neath, formerly of the East Surreys, 1Ub been awarded the D.C.M. for gallant con- duct and devotion to duty during the capture of 'Hiiepva!. Bartlett was one of the famous Surreys, who played foot hall "across No Man'.sT.and in the British offence of ??6. He t? ),*c?? two yœ,r on adive rvi('e. wounded twice, and ri&icd

TO-DAYS WAR RESUME II Leader Office, 4.50 p.m. The big guns are roaring on the Western Front, where an unprecedented artillery duel is in progress. Many raids into the enemy lines have been made by British, -French, and Por- tuguese troops with much 6ucccss. American troops are occupying trenches in four see-tors of the Western Front. America has consented to Japanese inter- vention in Siberia and Manchuria on condition no imperialistic aims are claimed.. British aviators have bombed Stuttgart. lutemburg and Mainz, all important German towns, and the R.N.A.S. ha; bom bed enemy aerodromes and dun-ipp in Belgium.

TO-DAY'S NEWS IN BRIEF —-<►— Peimission 11 the ease- of Two men were kiilad at the Tydraw Joinery, Iieherbext, uii Sunday morning as the result 0/ a ea<re accident. Dr. George R. Parker, senior physician of Lancaster, who was for 25 years medi- ca officer of the borough, died on Mon- day, agod 64. It is rumoured in political clubs that as a result of Lord Rhondda's success as Food Controller, he will be iiiiitc-cl to join the War Cabinet. In a flying accident on the East Coast a young naval pilot was severely injured. He was removed to hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate both legs. Upon inquiry at the Irish office, the Press Association was informed no state- ment could be made regarding the rumour that Mr. Duke intends retiring from the Chief -gecretarvrliip for Ireland. The management of the Castle Cinema evoked vloud applause from a crowded house on Saturday evening when it threw on the screen—"Swansea Never Fails," and "the amount srbE-cribed for the cruiser. The total amount subscribed through the tajiks and banks in London only, during the whole of last week, was 1"75,069,188. This amount does not, of course, include the sales through post offices. A link'with the Welsh pulpit giants of .the middle nineteenth eentury has just passed away in Mrs. Richard Davies, of Treborth. A daughter of the eeraph- prcuvher." Henry Rees, she attained the age of 82. Mr. H. E. Duke, Chief Secretary for Ireland has; it is understood, been offered the Mastership of the Rolls. Should he accept, it is thought in parliamentary circles that the new Irish Secretary will be Mr. Ian Macpherson, of the War Office. At Tabernacle Chapel, Llanelly, on Sunday night a performance of RhyfeJ- wyr y Grces was given by a choir con- f ducted by Mr. L. W. Adams. Mr. Robert Charles, jjLL.C.M., accompanied on the organ. The proceeds were for the chapel's S"oldiers' Fund.

ICEBREAKER MINED. German Vessel Lost in the Baltic. Stockholm, Sunday.—The newspaper Aftonbladet states that the German icebreaker Hindenburg, one of two ice- breakers that escorted the German ex- pedition to Aaland Island, struck a mine on Saturday evening at the head of the islands, and sank in seven minutes. Three men were killed and fiv £ injured.

OBSTACLES OVERCOME British Advances in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The news to-day from the Eastern anas cf war is of the The British forc.s in Palestine and Mesopotamia are steadily forging ahead, driving beicire them rb« Turks and occupying positions of the greatest value. In his advance north from Jerusalem •^neral Allenby has overcome two big obstacles on the way to Sheeheru. On tke light, north of Jericho. British troops haw forced the passage of the Wadi Auja In the centre a most difficult mountain barrier culminating in the beigjit of Tel Asur has bf-en -oN-pi-oonie. This gen-em! advance north, begun Cll March ith, has brought our forces to within 14 miles of Shechem. HIT OCCUPIED. in Mesopotamia Ueneral Marshall's uoops. advancing up to Euphrates from Ramadie, have taken the town of Hit. The Turks, offering no opposition, retired farthei up the Aleppo road. Hit is in the oil district of the Euphrates, and from it runs a post route across the desert to Damascus.

COUNTY COURT. Many Minor Cases. Dealt With at Swansea. Mr. David Seline represented complain- ant at the Swansea County Court on Monday in a case where wrongful seizure of stock in trade by the Imperial Veterin- ary Med'cine Co. (represented by Mr. Lkvldoes Nash) was alleged, on the ground that the goods belonged to complainant, 1 hprt Smith, whose wife conducted a fruit :'nd greengrocery business, which he himself was engaged as a market gar- dener at Overland Nursery, Mumbles. The case had not proceed etl far before it was stopped by the Judge, who gav judgment for defendant. Mi. David Seline represented Mr Astlev Samuel, auctioneer, who claimed from Eli Fernand Li 7s. for a settee sold to him at an auction on January 30.—Judg- ment for plaintiff.. A ca.se arising out of the liquidation of the Swansea Valley Money Society was that in which X13, advanoed to Thomas Lewis, jras claimed. Defendant eaid he had only received jUO and further, that he and his wife had signed a note in blank.—This plaintiff denied. .,S fl edthatmore'than Hi? Honour wa>s satisfied that more than -tio had been advanced, and gave judg- ment for plaintiff, bui without costs. An order was made for the payment of Is. per month. Mr. Astley Samuel claimed C3 5s. Od.- 5 per cent. coinm,i'ss»ion on the letting of ? 4.J;. S.t. Jlelen's-road, Swansea, for M r. On as. Henry Evans, photographer.