The Cambria Daily Leader

I CASTLE CINEMA. 1 M (Adjoining leader Office). ■ I Thursday, Friday, Saturday. m I TWO LITTLE IMPS, C j A Five Part Comedy, featuring U m the Fox Kiddies, m I The MARRIAGE AUCTION, I a A Five Part Play, Full of Power- J m ful Situations. m

BRITISH LINE INTACT. ——.———-—. Enemy Attacks Near Kimmel Fail. v — —- ■ -I. I.I > GERMAN LOSSES ACCUMULATING. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. General Headquarters, France, Thursday, 10.7 a.m. '■> There Has been no change in the British front during the night. Hostile artillery ha-, shown great activity on the southern portion of the Lys battle-front. from Givenchy to Robecq. r A heavy bombardment of our positions between Lccon and Ro- becq was still continuing at dawn. Local attacks were repulsed by our troops yesterday evening ;n the Morris sector. j More detailed account of the nghting yesterday on the Foret-de- ['' Nieppe-Wytschaete front establish the severity of the enemy's losses. South-east of Kimmel Hill the German infantry attacked n three waves, and at the point pressed back our line slightly in this locality. The situation was restored by a counter-attack, and shortly t after mid-day the attack had been repulsed at all points. In the Bailleul sector the enemy attacked three times before mid- day, and in each ease suffered complete repulse. Our line yesterday morning was reported intact on the whole front. TO-DAY'S UNOFFICIAL STORY. (From the Press Association.) France, Thursday. In all the battle area, yesterday was a day of satisfactory records /—a day in which the balance was heavily in our favour. German waveo were dashing themselves against our lines in half-a dozen places but only at one spot, namely, Beaver's Hill, did t' ey force us to giye ground, but even here their triumph was short-lived, for we counter- attacked very shortly afterwards and drove the enemy back to his start- ing point. The heaviest onslaught, in addition to that mentioned, was on Monte Kimmell and Merris, and two attempts north-west of Wulver- r ghèn. The Germamp grand object undoubtedly is to try to dominate the ridge system, which, beginning at Cassel Hill, taking in Monts Des- ehats, Kercell, Nodr, Rouge, Scherterberg, Kimmell, and Wytschaete. Whilst the enemy have no definite gains to rerd, their losses must have been appalling. It was naturally to be expected that the enemy would hasten to occupy the ground we had evacuated in the Passchendaele salient, and because of this our gunnens had made every preparation to giver the Germans a warm reception. So that, when, during yesterday morn- ing, large bodies of grey infantry were seen approaching over the dreary waste, our batteries began to bark vigorously, and the great cemetery in the cockpit revelled in another ghastly toll. Th. German attack nearer the coast is especially noteworthy. Ap- parently the enemy employed four divisions. Seven battalions of qqt, 1' at the divisions of marine infantry suffered very heavily. The Bel- giane put up a. splendid fight, drove the Germans back in confusion, and took more than 700 prisoners. This was between Kippe and Langemarke. HALF-A MILLION GERMAN CASUALTIES. According to an Exchange message received on Thursday from Paaps, the first part of the Kaiser's battle cost the enemy 300,000 men, and it is no exaggeration to say that the British, since the beginning of the battle in Flanders, have put another 200,000 hors de combat. BELGIANS ATTACKED On Wednesday morning the Germans ilaoide a strong attack on the Belgian front ,Ibetwe.en the Blankaert Pond. a point '•bout three miles south of Dixmude, and Fthe railway from Thoure-ut to Ypres. They ;g-ot into our Allies' trenches, but were idriven twit by a- prompt counter-attack, jand lost 000 prisoners in addition to their kjilled and-wounded, the number of which jiaaust have been considerable. >. PASSCHENDAELE CLAIMED. | Wey"s (German mcial contained fee following:—On the blood-soaked bat- t?n?lde of last year's FJanders battle the army (? General Sixt von Armin has oocu- L4:'Passehendael and advanced its lines ?aMM-BfM}ela?eajMi Gholuvelt. I On the field of last year's Flanders t -P*Ole&PPOIle and Langexnarck have taken. j THE FINAL PHASE. JEnetny Paying Big Price for Gains. gFram Press Association Correspondent.) Wednesday Evening. i I find the opinion general among our Jtroop6 that the Pa6t 24 hours has been Ilyytt ng but a good time for the enemy. r0 can claim Bailleul, the RavelBberg. knd access upon the Messines Ridg ?hioit "wa6 subsequently largely neutral- ised. Our -withclrawal over the drenry shell- itorn area of clay and aand was acoom- plished with masterly skill, and appa- rently unhampered by the Germans, who Way not even have known it, and the net lt of it is that our power of resistance He greatly stiffened, whilst we are forcing jthe Germans to lepgthen their communi- ,cations across ground which there can be .little doubt they would infinitely sooner be without. The enemy is not likely to lot the pace relax for long. An offensive which is per- mitted to lose its momentum is difficult 'to work up again in the face of an enemy who has taken the full measure of what he is against. The main purpose of the enemy in this inorthem battle is perfectly dear, and so long as be considers it possible of accom- plishment, eo long will he continue to deal his hammer blows. WING OF SACRIFICE. Parallel of Waterloo Recalled To-day The following review of the situation, written by a well-informed military authority" appears in the Daily News": The withdrawal east and in front of iYpres gives us a better line. Our Army !'1ø enduring a very severe strain. The Retrain is not confined to the Army. It being felt here in England. There are Critical moments, and the military posi- on is still extremely anxious. But we must ramember that we have plumped for the united front. We have placed all our Armies on the Western r'front ur:der the supreme control of j- General Foch. It is neoessary to regard jfthis great battle from the point of view L A I' of the united front, bringing all our sufferings and all our losses into re- lation to it. The British Army is being hammered by the German masses, while, as at Waterloo, Blucher is marching to the sound of the guns. THE OPPOSING FORCES. We can gauge the extent of our losses, and we can also appreciate the enermous task which the British Army has per- formed and is performing. Towards Armentieres and Hazebrouck the Germans have so far employed 28 divisions. On the whole front since March 21 they have employed 126 divisions. Of these the British Army alone has engaged 79 divisions, and the French Army alone 24 divisions. The British and French combined have engaged 23 divisions. It is estimated that the British have had 102 fights alone with German divi- sions. and the French 47 fights. Of the German divisions which have been engaged by the British Army alone,, there are 28 divisions which have been engaged twice, and one three timos. The British here have had 138 fights with German divisions without any assistance from the French. The French, on the other hand, have had 32 fights without any. assistance from the British. Our role, a« the French say, it that of the wing of sacrifice." We must put our trust in General Foch, the Com- mander-irtrChief of the. Allied Armies, li. this battle he is Blucher, and we must count upon his intervention at the psychological mpment. KAISEF t'S CONSCI ENCE. Amsterdam, Wednesday (received Thurs- (L-i.v).-Visitiiig the Western battlefield of Armentieres and the principal field hos- pital, the Kaiser, according to Ine Lokalanzeiger," said Why did I not try to keep the world from these iitrociti,s? "-Ezoha,uge. Another version gives the Kaiser's statement thus: What have I not done to preserve the world from these atroci-

i-rco. MECHANICS. I I SKI LLEDMECHANICS. I I Much interest is being taken in the Swansea Technical College classes in which 33 disabled men are being trained as skilled motor mechanics. Their pro- gress was referred to in our recent article when, owing to a literal error, the stu- dents were described as men training as motor minders." u.-

I MR. SAUNDERS JONES. I i f Death of Well-known Swansea I Methodist. I We regret to announce the death of Mr. Saunderc Jones, of Norfolk-street, Swansea. Mr. Jones, who had worked for many years past as a joiner in Messrs. Vivian's works, was one of the beat known Methodisbs in Swansea. Originally a member of Trinity, Park- street, he was among the founders of Alexandra-road Chapel of which he was for years a deacon. He was a man of strong character, a great theologian, and he will be greatly missed. .&L, .»■ ■■

FRENCH RESERVES IN ACTION. I CERMAN PLANS FOILED COMPLETE ENEMY DEFEAT IN I YPHES SECTOR PARIS, Thursday. Reuter's Expert Commentator writes: The Germans are continuing their offensive in Flanders with fierce obstin- acy, but they have made no appreciable progress. Since Wednesday the British troops straightened their front which, east of Ypres, had formed a dangerous salient since the enemy's occupation of the Wytschaete-Armentieres line., The operation was carried out under excellent conditions and in perfect order withuut our Allies being pressed by the enemy. The front. in this sector is now marked out by th4 places Passchendaele- Becelaere-Gheluvelt, all of which are in German hands. I POSITION AT BAILLEUL. I The enemy hoped with Bailleul in his possession to extend his positions by re- peated assaults in dense formation, but his battalions were mown down by our Altyes, and were not able to make any progress. The line in this sector passes fifteen hundred metres north of Bailleul, in front of the Cupelynde Height. On both sides of Bailleul the Allies re- acted vigorously and with success, succeed- ing in gaining a footing in Meteren to the west and Wytschaete to the east, but the Germans, in a desperate counter-offensive, managed to re-enter the places yesterday. I AIMED AT BETHUNE. Lastly, south of the Lys, the British artillery completely stopped a strong enemy attack, the objective of which was the village of Robecq on the Clarence, eight kilometres north-west of Bethune, which the Germans are therefore making every effort, struggling, but in vain, to outflank. Yesterday the Germans attempted an- other powerful effort, and after a violent artillery preparation delivered a general assault in the direction of Ypres on a wide front of over twenty kilometres, ex- tending from the northern corner of the Forest of Nieppe to Wystchaete. Ne- where could the enemy's repeated massed infantry attacks bend back the positions magnificently defended by our Allies, and the enemy sustained bloody losses. This is a complete defeat for the Im- perial Staff. 1- FRENCH RESERVES ARRIVE. The British communique announces, without yet giving any details as to the part they are playing, the co-operation of French troops in this sector, where the two armies, equally animated with the resolve to win, will make certain of stop- ping the invaders' advance. In this way the calculations of the enemy command have once again been toiled. ,JJhA.QBi*aji--hoped to endow the struggle with a character of such'desperation' that the British forces would not be able to holrl I-W-. NO DECISION YET. But now French reinforcements have come up to supoort the resistance of their Allies. Half of the German divisions available on the western front have 8.1- ready been engaged in the battle. Our co- operation with the British is nowhere in- terrupted, and no decision been obtained. It is thus a battle of endurance that is now being fought. When one thinks of the desperate battles the Germans must fight with enormous masses to obtain purely tactical advantages, one is justi- fied in asking if the result. is not out of all proportion to the efforts made, and whether they have the means to continue it to the decisive denouement which they expect from it.

I NEW FOOD CARDS. Advice to Those Who Have Not Received Theirs. In all parts of Swansea and its environs, including Mumbles and the rural drstrict, the new food scheme comes into operation from the beginning of next week. The first thing the public have to do is to make sure of securing their cards. Those .in the borough and rural district who have not received their food or meat cards should make application for them to the Food Office, Free Library, it in the borough, and to the Rural Council Food Office, Gloucester Buildings, if in the rural district area. The Mumbles cards are being-prepared, and there is every prospect that they will lie out in time. The po&ition there would j be greatly helped if those patriotic ladies with some spare time would volunteer their services to assist in the work.

PRIZES FOR PLOTS. I .1— Exhibition to Encourage Smallholders. _I A meeting representative I of several Swansea allotment and small cultivators met at the Guildhall on Wednesday even- ing to consider the matter of a proposed i ;¡:eat exhibition of produce to be held in the Albert Hall in October or November. i Councillor J. H. Tjee, who presided, said they proposed a gigantic exhibition of pro- duce from allotments, gardens, fields. They wanted to reward those who were doing their best. Mr. Drummond said they had asked the co-operation of the secretaries the various allotment societies. He thought the exhibition most desirable, and told of exhibitions at Leicester and Cardiff. They wanted to make it a utility show, and it should be under the patronage of the Mayor. There should, he thought, be about 16 classes with three prizes each. Mr. Saunders, secretary of the Mumbles Society, urged that exhibits of apparatus should be those that any cottager could buy. He had a steriliser, and in his house was over a cwt. of preserved goods. They were getting up a show at Mumbles and had secured £ 30 for prizes. Small shows would help the big one. Mr. Holder (Hendrefoilan) favoured a collection of dishes. He thought there should be a prize for the best collection of different allotment societies. Mr. J. Lake (Pare Wern) moved that an exhibition M hel4, a'nd favoured small shows taking place before the big one.- The resolution was adopted. It was left to the Allotment Committee to fi l¡1 a secretary and appoint a sub-com- milrt'o to arrange for the show.

 MORE SHIPS G?E I MORE SHlpS CaN,E U-BOATS SINK ELEVEN BIG VESSELS I The Admiralty shipping return shows eleven big ships were sunk last week, as compered with four in the previous week. Over Under Fishing Week ended- 1,600 tons. 1,600 tons. Vessels April 13 11 4 1 -4,.pril 6. 4 2 2 The weekly average in round figures of ships sunk in preceding months ae:- 1 7 2 Mar. (h weeks) 12 7 2 Feb. (4 weeks) 12 4 3 Jam (4 weeks) 9 3 2 The arrivals and sailings of merchant ships of all nationalities (over 100 tons net) for the wec-k ending April 13 were 2,211 and 2.456, a total of 4,667. Twelve ships were unsuccessfully at- tacked.

I PEERS & MAN-POWER. I Now Bill Becomes Law of Land. In moving the second readineg of the Man-Power Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday night, Vieeount Peel said it was first of all proposed to call up men who had reached the age of 46. They would be medioally examined, and if not exempted would be drafted into the Army. After the "46s" had been dealt with would oome the turn of the still older men. No undertaking has been given, or oon be given," he added, that these older men will be employed merely in home defence." Referring to the clean cut" in respect of exemptions, Lord Peel admitted that the powers were wid-e. but gave an assur- ance that these would only be used in a case of great emergency. The present intention ie that the Bill receive the Royal Assent to-day, and be* ooane the law of the land forthwith.

I UNIQUE FUNCTRIN-f I 14 Munition Workers Awarded the O. B. E. At Camarthen on Wednesday, the Lord-Lieutenant of the County (Mr. John Hinds, M.P.) as representative of the King, invested fourteen munition workers in the county with the medal of the Order of the British Empire, awarded for bravery at a West Wales munition factory. The Mayor (Aid. Wm. Evans) presided, and the investiture took place in Guildhall-square. Supporting the Mayor were the Lord Lieutenant (Mr. John Hinds, M.P.) and Miss Hinds, the Mayoress (Mrs. Evans), the High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire (Mr. Thos. Lewis, .T.P.. Nantgaredig), Col. J. V. Rameden, D.S.O. (Ministry of Munitions), and members of the Corporation and Bench. The recipients were.: Alexander Cor- nelin, 19. Pemberfaa i';j!J¿.}fÆ port; Ben Davies, 19[ Ku&apl-ptreet, Llanelly; Violet Annie Davies (fifteen years old), 2, Glanmor, Llanelly; James Duffy, Dyagwylfa House, Pembrey, May Evans, 69, Pencoed-road Burryport; Jane Fisher, 55, Water-street. Kidwelly; Michael Fitzpatrick, 13, Charles-street, Llanelly; D. G. Morgan, 22 Silver-ter- race, Burryport; W. H. Price, 42, Gate- terrace, Pwll-road, Llanelly; Ivor Pugh, Llanelly; Robert Roberts, 16, Mansel- street, Burryport; Lawrence Skinner, 67, Coldstream-street, Llanelly; J. Stewart. 60, Jersey-road, Llanelly; and E. Vaes, 40, New-street, Burryport.

I SUPERVISOR'S BROOCH. Louie Jenkins, 95, Carmarthen-road, Swansea, was proceeded against at the Llanelly Police Court on Wednesday for stealing a brooch value 5s., the property Eliz. Fisher Thomas, a welfare super- visor at a factory. 'The Bench dismissed the case on payment of 5s. towards the costs* j

I JOINING UP. Colliers Rush to the Colours, A large batch of recruits from the local works and collieries presented themselves for medical examination again on Thurs- j <1aY Fully 50 per cent. of tjiese were enlisting voluntarily, and all s?med in the best of spirits and eager to be classi- fied. _n_

AUSTRALIAN AMAZONS. | Sydney, Sunday (receive(I T-hiirsda-v).j The serious news from the front has g?oat?y <gtinmlntcd KMniitiim?. Ei?ht hundred female voluntary a.?ds Zn Sa?tir- day unanimom:ly declared their willing- ness to go to the trench &s to fight alon- side of their brothers if the Authorities permit. j ~———————

BIGAMY IN WAR TIME. ] Mr. Macpherson replying to Mr. Ren- dell 'in the House of Commons on Weil- ne-aday, said it was an exaggeration to say that hundreds of bigamous niarrifigeS had taken place betw een oversea 'so'die. >. | and British women. Bigamous marriages j J¡; understood, were void ab initio, and, therefore, nullity suits were unnecessary,

THE CURFEW ORDER. Undpr the new Curfew" Order, Mr. j LAwc,on Evans applied at Swansea on I Thursday for an extension until mid-J ight for a whist drive, and dance at the Hotel Metropole on Thursday night in j aid of the Prisoners of War and Mayor's Comforts Funds. Mr. Evans put in a document from the Board of Trade which I authorised the extension to be given under Paragraph 13 of the new Lighting, Hous- ing, and Power Order.-Tlie Bench agreed I to the application, which was granted. j

THE CONVENTION. ] I Public interest in the Evangelioa] Conven- ¡ tion in Swansea intensifies. On Wednesday evening addresses were given by Mr. X. G. Govan, leader writer for. The Life of Faith," who urged the absolute failure of the carnal life, and the power for victory over' evil gained by those who live the life of the ^Christian. Tbfe Rev. Charles Inv.ood was eloquent and effective in his address on the words, "Truly God is good to these who are of a olean heart." The address received an added sferiousnass because of personal con- fessions. Last August Mr. Inwood lost a eon in the war. The afternoon Bible read- ing; also conducted by Mr. Inwood, treated I of "Prayer and Praiset" An interesting special feature to-day (Thursday) is a meet- ing of women in Argyle Church. I

LIKE FEATHERS IN A WHIRLWIND I VIVID BATTLE STORY YOUNG SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCES IN RECENT FIGHTING I (SPECIAL TO THE LEADER. A very vivid description of the recent fighting in France is to hand in the fol- loving letter by one who took part in it. lie 'aye: I have been sorely buffeted by fate, ant indeed have often felt more like a feather in a whirlwind than a free agent in nil orderly universe. If I can succeed in. making you appreciate the suddenness with which ven moved, you will join ?.jM?-?p in. a prayer of gratitude for my deliverance ?nd preservation. As is 60 common, there was a calm be- fore, the storm. We were spending a not unenjoyable time pn the fringe of a riijned village. The; battalion went out tp the line o* working parties, and we I were on a kind 'of guard over the camp f-ach evening; so we were the right men I to notice the gradually increasing inten- tij of the artillery fire. Enemy aircraft h as also pretty active, but did no dam- d:t locallv. I A WONDERFUL DAY. On the 18th of March we had the official celebration of the battalion's arrival in France. It was a wonderful .day. and wwlv in the morning we had a short oom- memoration service. Special food was provided, and there was a good concert in the afternoon. Tuesday, the 19th, was a different type ,f day. It poured with rain from very -tiaily morning, and we received orders to proceed to the trenches. We took over a ised/on of the front line which we had never before visited, though it was near plough to several well known villages. I ,'shared a little cubby-hole with another fellow. It ixrured all night, so eac-h turn itf sentry duty made us wetter than bctore. I BATTLE'S OPENING STAGES. l r proceeding to describe the opening .Aag" of the battle the writer adds:—In 'he early hours of the morning of Thurs- e.a", the 21st, the storm broke upon us. At 4.45 the Germans commenced a furious aombardment. Predominant among the crashing and clangour rose the curious jrkining whistle of the gas shell. The trenches were soon foggy with gas,, hel- j ■ueta had hurriedly to be donned, and we prepared ourselves for the worst that •siight follow. For seven hours we sweated and stif- fened inside our gas masks. At length Vfie air cleared. The bombardment and our reply to it continued, how- i,Ter, with unabated vigour. Towards v i rsnir.g a welcomed lull came. and crept back to our shelters to snatch few hours' sleep. > Friday was a much more tranquil day, :od in the evening we moved into a deep .1g-o. Then we marched out. think- .?-4. ? w?e bo?Htd fo? h?te? ? Mt6  )?" 'INFANTRYMAN'S "HOME." Fond illusion! Try to realise what it Means to the infantryman, weary, half jrftssed, and coated with mud. to be on he way to some barn or cellar in a much shattered village. It is home to him. There he has comforts unknown in the 'Line. He sleeps in a blanket and with M boots off. This, however, was not for 1. i As we marched along great fires were jjjazing in different quarters, some with reverberations and explosions like the outpouring of a miniature volcano. We .merged from a cross country track on to k high road, along which we marched wrrily, all unspicious of the menace I',witi(th stalked ahead. Presently the head of the column ?Ited. A short consultation of omcere ,was held, and then quickly we were or- dered to dig ourselves in. The German6 -vere not far off up the road! The re- uaitider of the night and morning hours was spent in making ouT positions as safe as possibW. The Germans came across pur- Midd by machine-gun fire. Our companies were being hard prd, and i6 places tombed. We were sent to cover their withdrawal. We lay down in a thin line tci<?8 a bare, open field, loaded our rifles, *ed our bayonets and waited for the v He was not long in coming. A German ?rcplane heraMed his approach, and hied some unavailing shots at ue. The vf'iing miuer, with whom I had spent so siiany delightful hours over the chess hqnrd. lay next me. A bullet came from .•somewhere. He crawled back with a bole clean through the oentre of his I A HAPPY THOUGHT. I At this moment I remembered my ietters re-ceived that morning from home. Flat on my stomach in the field, with j Fritz gradually tightening hie net ulound us. I 'read them and drew ccur- i [ ag e from their affectionate messages. r Not long after +he battalion retired, ) and after a few shots at a swarm .of active blue-grey figures on both our lilhnks. we followed all the way up a long, j exposed hillside, under a hot sun. We ?<;re pursued by a hail of machine-gun ullet,s? Hardly any experience in war- ?f?r? is eo painful ae to retire under in- ':¡..  fi Uke this. Still, it was done, and <?! the crest of the bill we reformed, and OJ""e more faced our foe. s T',>wa»v.ls evening, weary beyond mea- «b* .-•■<. but not beaten, we stood in the last mnch across the avenue to safety. Again '•remy aeroplanes located us, dropped sig- Rill lights, and got their artilletf at -,rcrk. Soon after we retired once more, this time through a hell of cross fire. How we got through that belt of death I hardly know. After that he followed us with his heavy shells, but we were con- temptuous of theee.

CRIPPLED HERO. I One-Legged Soldier Saves Tenth Child. On Wednesday a little girl named Doris 1roderick. three years of age, of Car- lnte.r's-row,Pontardawe, had a narrow escape from being drowned in the canal near her home. Her pinafore, in which she was nursing a dolly, had been blown into the water, and in attempting to reach it she fell in. Upon hearing screams, a discharged soldier. William Bailey, jumped in, and was able to save the little girl as she was going under for the last time. Dr. Evans attended to the child, who is now quite well again. In the rescue, Bailey spoiled a suit of clothes and an artificial leg which he was wearing at the time. This is the tenth child that Bailey has rescued. He lost his leg at Festubert two and a half years ago. The girl's father is a soldier, too, at present in a ranatorium at Newport. A

I TO-DAY'S FRENCH 0-FICIAL, France, Thursday, 4.0.—lit the region of Corbeny we caught, under our fire and dispersed strong enemy detachments which attempted to reach our lines after heavy artillery prepa- ration. The enemy launched .several sur- prise attacks in Champagnc and on the risht bank of the Mcu-e to the east, u1 Couriered Wood, and towards Damloupe in particular. All the attacks were repulsed, and some prieoners Temain-ed in our hands. On our side, to the north-west of ]Rlipiiuf; and in Lorraine, we made ippveral successful raids into the enemy's lines, and took a certain namber of prisoners. A CWMBWRLA MAN. Mr. and Mrs. Randell, of 64, Cae- bncks-road, Cwmbwrla, have received news that their only son. Pte. Sydney Randell, Welsh Regiment, has been detained in hospital in France suffer- ing from' injuries to the face, shoulder and leg, received in action. Prior to enlistment he was employed at Cwm- felin Works (oold roll department). ] THE DAY. BUTTER MARKET.  a.n4  I.t. no' T*sh W i J' 224a. METAL MARKET. London, Thursday—Copper. Me to 110i cash and three months. Tin. 330 cash ind three monthe. Foreign lead 29J—884. Spel- ter. 54-50. i' CATTLE MARKET. Bristol, Thursday.—Beef—Short supply. 75s. to 76s. cwt. live weigh. Sheep limited: best qualities, 14id. lb nlus skin. No pigs offered: prices, 21s. live weight. and 28s. a score dead weight. 500 store oat tie; trade slow owinit to bad weather, and all not sold; milch cows. £3(} to £ 40, exceptional animals making up to 65 each. Metropolitan Market. Thursday.-Ait. to- day's market only 39 beaets and 68 gheep were brought forward and allotted at the regulation live weight prices. »

 TO-DAY'S ALLOTMENT HINT.! Since the introduction of the varieties Cranston's, Excelsior and Ailsa Craig, the method of raising onions under glass and transplanting them, is becoming in- creasingly popular, and there is no doubt especially fine onions can be grown by this system, if a few simple cultural de- tails are carried out. In the first place the plants must be removed from the boxes or frames with the utmost care so as to break as little of the roots as pos- sible. The bed having been already pre- pared, the plants should be got in with- out delay. The proper way to plant these is to make a small hole with a trowel, and spread the roots out evenly, allowing the base of the small bulb to rest evenly on the surface of the ground. This is a much better plan than tising a dibber as then the roots are all crowded in one small space. Where the land is in good condition, the plants may be put ten inches apart and at least one foot be- tween the rows. A few birch or beech twigs stuck in along the rows will shelter the plants and prevent the wind break- ing them down. These twigs should be removed as soon as the plants become established. Grower.

CANCELLED EXEMPTIONS. Press Bureau, Wednesday.-The Home Secretary has withdrawn certificates of exemption on employment grounds to coal miners for:— (I)-Men married since November 2nd, 1915: and who on May let, 1918, are be- tweee 18 years and 8 months and 32 years of age; (2)—Men who on November 2nd, 1915, were unmarried, and who on January tst, 1918. were between 25 and 32 years of age; and (3)-Whc, become 18 years and 8 months before May let, 1918. The Order takes effect on May let, 1918, but does not affect certificates granted subsequently to November 22nd, 1917.

ABERAVON COUNCIL. I Substantial Increase for Corpora- tion Employee. Aberavon Town Council met on Wednes- day night, the Mayor (Ald. j M. Smith) pre- siding. The application of Mr. Rem IAew- ellyn, on behalf of the gas workers, and of Mr. T. Williams, on behalf of other Oor- poration employes, for an increase in waees was considered. It was decided to grant an increase of £1 per week over pre-war rates —all existing war bonuses to merge in the 41-tbe advanoe to apply to Corporation manual labour only, and to be retrospective from 13th March. The Town Clerk (Mr. Moses Thomas) read, a letter addressed to the Mayor by the Rev. O. Arnold Thomas, oil behalf of the clergy and ministers of the town, suggesting that as Mayor and Chief Magistrate he should, in conjunction with the chairman of Mar- gaa Couacil, convene a. meeting of the clergy aad ministers with a view to mak- ing arrangements for a public prayer meet- ing, as held in Swansea, Cardiff, and New. port, owing to the present crisis. The T.Iayor Mid he would do 006 and fixed the interview for Tuesday. v

I NEW SECRETARY FOR WAR I LORD MILNER SUCCEEDS LORD DERBY The Press Bureau announces that the King his been pleased to approve the fol- lowing appointments:—The Ea.rl of Derby to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on a special mission to the Government of the French Republic in succession to Lord Bertie. Viscount Milner to be Secretary of State for War in succeseion to Lord Derby. The Bight Hon. Austen Chamberlain, M.P to be a member of the War Cabinet.

I HUNGARIAN CRISIS. I The Cabinet Tenders Its Resignation. I Amsterdam, Wednesday ."A Budapest telegraan announces that the Hungarian Cabinet has tendered its resignation. 11.40 p.m.—A Budapest telegram says the Ministerial Council met this morning under the presidency of ths Premier. It was attended by all the metubers of the Cabinet except the Minister of Commerce, Count tzterenvi, and Count Aladar Zicky, who is absent from Budapest After a •hort sitting, the Ministry decided to re- sign, whereupon all the members present signed a document tendering their resigna- tion. a———

I THE NEW JUDGE. I Congratulations at Swansea Quarter Sessions. I When his Honour Judge Ivor Bowen. K.C., the Recorder, took his eeat at the General Quarter Sessions of the Borough of Swansea on Thursday, Mr. Griffitil Jones, on behalf of the member-, of the Bar, rose to congratulate his Honour upon his appointment as Judge of the Mid-Wales County Court Circuit. They would ell agree that the appointment was an excellent one, hating regard to the district he would have to traverse- The appointment would inspire all liti- gants with confidence. His Honour's knowledge of Welsh would be of great use to him. The Mayor (Aid. Ben Jones) Aid he would like to offer the congratulations of the town of Swansea to Judge Ivor Bowen on his appointment. He (the Mayor) felt sure it was an appointment that would give, satisfaction all round. Hie Honour, replying, said he was deeply touched by the kind and flattering things that had been said by the Mayor and Mr. Griffith Jones on behalf of his old colleagues. He would treasure them so long as he was permitted to do hie duty here or elsewhere. He would be oompelled to relinquish the position he now held in due time. but he would never forget that it was is Swanom ob ?? 1? or??d for the best part of hie life in these courts, and he had endeavoured to main- tain the reputation of the circuit and to follow in the example of thoee great men whd had been associated with the court, He had tried to be a loyal and faithful member of the circuit. He was eorry to part with his old friends, but he hoped there would be many further opportuni- ties of association with them, C-hangss iu these days were inevitable, and were contemplated with feelings of great anxiety. Many of them present were suffering the loss of their nearest and dearest. But bis conception of their duty was that they should do what lay in their power to submit to changes, and to stariti forth with determination and hope in the cause of freedom and liberty, maintaining the laws and trusting in the Great Power in whose hands they were now and always would be.

TINPLATE TRADE. The Labour Gazette for April 6hows that 73 tinplate works comprising 25? mills and 11 I5tl she?t ?orks with 61 mills were working at the end of March. The former shows an increase of one mill on a month ago and two mills on a year ago. The came number of sheet mills were working as shown in the re- turns for Februarp. but an increase of three on March 1917.

HEADMASTER TO SERVE. At Newtown (Montgomeryshire) Tri- banal on Wadnesday the National Ser- vice representative, applied to have r0- viewed the caqe Yaug-han J.ohnet*>!v, M.A. (M), Grade A, headmAstei of a Newtown boys' intermediate sc hool. It was stated that Mr. Johnston was the only male teacher in the scliooi, all the otherb having joined the army. The appeal was granted, and oonditional exemption withdrawn, the Man not to be called up for a month. Mr. Johnston holds a commission in the Montgomery- shire Volunteer forces. —T

FEAR OF AIR RAIOS. German Socialists Want Attacks Stopped. Amsterdam, Wednesday .In the Ger- man Parliament yesterday the Socialist deputy, Herr Geek, suggested that an agreement should be reached for the oee- sation of aerial attacks 011. opea towns outside the war zone. A member of the Government said that no-official request to that effect had yet been received from the eneJBy Powers. K suc-1,1 a request should be received, it would be examined by the solitary autho- rities .—Eeuter.

VALLEY C.O. School Teacher Who Loves the Germans. At the West Glamorgan Appeal Tribu- nal, which sat at Neath on Wednesday, a school teacher from Pontardawe declared himeelf a conscientious objector on re- ligious grounds. Love conquered all things, and punishment was wrong. Mr. Charles (N.S. WPreoexitative): Have you read of the German atrocities in Belgium?—Yes. Of the murder of Nurse Cavill and Capt. Fryatt, and the einking of the Lueitania? -Yes. And yon say you love the Germans?— rei, I do. "It is ver? nice of yon/' replied Mr. Charles, and I hope the C?rmane win fully appreciate it." Appellant, who refused to do non-oom- batant work and said he ooold recite half the Bible, wae ordered to join tha calgaro. .?. J ?.?.? ?. i  t &  

T IT- O-DARS NEWS IN BRIEF Swansea's subscription to National War j.j- ids last week was £ 10,917. The Rev. Evan Isaac of Troharris, Merthyr, has been elected chairman of I the South Wales Welsh Wesleyan District Synod. Lord de Mauley has been missing since Saturday, when he started to cycle fro-u Brympton, near Yeovil, to W atage. His bicycle has been found near Lambourae, Berks. The Landore Branch of the N. U .R. has passed a resolution urging the im- mediate carrying into effect of the Local Government Committee report advocat- ing the abolition of the Poo- Law. Belgian subjects who have been posted by the recruiting boards or appeal boards to Group V.-parried men bom after June 30, 1881. and before Julr 1, 1886—m ordered to enter active service on June 1. The loss of stores sustained by ths Y.M.C.A. in one area adone daring recent 4wnts in France amount to about £ 25,000. while, i tiding huts, etc., the total fina. eiaJ loss probably runs to about j £ 100.090. At Swansea on Thursday, Albert Be Potter, railway fireman, employed oa the G.W.R. at Swansea, was ordered » pay te. per week and costs as being the father of the child. of Margaret Ryan, also of Swansea. Rhoda Reynolds (22), single, a Mumbies servant girl, secured a paternity order of Ss. against T. Johns, traveller, at Swansea on Thursday. During the evidence it transpired that Johns was the father of six children. At the conclusion of an assault caee. which was settled out of court at Swan- sea by negotiations between Messrs. W. L R Francis and HÐnTy Thompson, Dr. J. 'A. Raw lings said to the advocates:—"If I we ooulci only settle the big war in the same way! Give and take a little." General Northey's column from Iake Nyasaa and General Edwards's cehuaA from Port Amelia, on the coast of Portu- guese East Africa, have been haaviJy en- gaged with the piain German forces ini the north-east of the colony. The Germans had severe) losses, and are in retreat to the south-west. Tokrio (received Thursday).—The Vledi- vofitock Soviet and the Municipal Council has graciously protested against the landing of Japanese troops. The Consul has replied that there is no intention t*- in terfere in Russian internal affaire. Maximalist Proclamation warns the pe- ple against hostile acts.—Exchange. In the Divorce Court on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Horridge granted the unde- fended petition of Mrs. Emily Mabel Schotield, formerly of Llanelly, askiq for the dissolution of her marriage be- cause of the alleged cruelty and miscon- duct of her husband, Francis Charles Schoneld. an officer in the Army, for- merly a chemist's assistant.

I QUARTER SESSIONS. 1 Youtfc Sent to Institution. At the Swansea Borough Quarter Sessions on Thursday, before the Re. oorder, Judge Ivor Bowen, K.C., Evan Thomas Williams (16), ship's steward; LdwTard Jamee Williams (16). labourer; and Richard John Bowden (17). labourer, were cherged with breaking and enter- ing lAe dwelling house of Edward Cbas. Williams, and stealing therein two watches, two chains, and other articles, hi6 property, and with stealing the sum of 10s.. the monev of the Uhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Co. All pleaded guilty. Mr. Marlay Sampson (instructed by ]& Rupert Lewis) prosecuted, and Mr. Griffith Jones tinetructed by Mr. W. A. Davies) appeared for Edward Jamee Williams and the defendant Bowden. There were several other charges against Williams. His Honour said he wanted to Rve him | from himself and he would go to a Bor- j stal Institution fr,r tw.- years The other two defendants were bound over each in the 6um of E5.

I A RUSSIAN'S AGE. Appeal Against a Swansea j Conviction. i- On January 26th of this year Alfred Jioses Shepherd, of Grove-place, Swansea, described as a Russian subject, was sen- tenced to six months' imprisonment at Swansea Police Court for making a false declaration in order to evade military ser- vice, Shepherd appealed against this sentence, and the appeal came on for hearing before the Recorder (Mr. Ivor Bowen, K.C.), at the Swansea Quarter Sessions on Thursday. Mr. Llewelyn Williams, K.C., M.P., and Mr. Roland Thomas (instructed by Mr. Edward Harris appeared for appel- lant, and Mr. Marlay Samson (for Capt. Trevor Hunter, on active service) ap- peared for respondent* (being instructed by Mr. Rupert Lewis). Mr. Marlay Samson opeoed at length and dvalt wih the various se-etiowof the Military Service Act. When war broke out Shepherd registered as an alien (Russian), and later it 1917, a Pr clama- tion war, made by the King calling upon all Russians of military age to join the Colours. These men could either return to Russia for that purpose or remain in this country and join the British Army. Shepherd, on registering in 1914, hed said he was born in January, 1879, but on his form of appeal for exemption oent to the Tribunal he said he wa6 44. In view of that fact Captain Harold Williams did not oppose the application, and the Tri nal decided that 806 he was 44 be was ineligible. Enquiries were insti- tuted and proceedings were taken as the f result of which Shepherd was convicted and sentenced. Evidence was then called.

A NEW COMPLAINT. In connection with the calling up.tu £ young miners, a complaint is made in some parts of the coalfield that sons and relatives of officials are being pitcjjh- forked" into new positions to ø. them from the effect of the c-OTab-out It is also pointed out. in a letter- we received, that among minor officials at coalfields are many eligible youn? men, whose indie?nsability shonM be & q'M? tion submitted to the ordinary tribunal*. Colliers,' adds the writer, are thoroughly democratic, and want all to be treated alike." Whether these a ^grievances are well-founded or net is l question which will doubtless loot iff MCeriaiDeL