The Cambria Daily Leader

MAY BE 20,000 Prisoners Taken by the r; Italians.  ?EMY EXAGGERATION.! 1: .1 GENERAL SHOOTS HIMSELF. I Om both sides of the Brenta river the mountain battle has been, returned. The Italians have attacked on a io-nnhj front fpoiu, east oi Asiago to west ot the Piave. Although. the Austrians have fought stubbornly advances have been made. The fiercest fighting has taken place in the'Mount Grappa sector, which has 'J1 the Ecene of many Austrian at- te.olpts, to reach the plains. Here tho t Italians have taken 1,326 prisoners. In clearing the weet bank of the river of the last remnants of the Austrian army a further '1,607 prisoners were taken, making a total of 3,000 reported on -Tue,-xlay. ALYS HUGE HAUL. V PRESS BUREAU, Wednesday Afternoon. The; portion on the, Italian, front this .looming -46 unchanged, ?.ni there are signs thart the conflict has temporarily lost its momentum. In the Valbella sector the Italians havo decid&d to push that subsidiary operation no farther. • Th-e Piave is still in' flood,' arid it has not yet been possible for the Italians to establish new bridges. The total number of Austrian prisoners taken since the offensive starte,is, now 18,000, and will. probably reach 20,000. The Austrian claim to 50,000 Italian pris- oners and 150,000 -Italian casualties is ,'cl';({ribeù as immensely exaggerated.— Joint Message. 950 MORE PRISONERS. ,Rom-e, Tu-ooclay:- 8.5 p m. (received Wed- nesday).—A semi-oiffcial Nute issued this evening says• C)pesations on the night of the 24th-25th and- of the morning of the 25th, were as follows:—Local attacks were made against pJie enf-ray lines on the mountain front and the Piave. Our patrolfi Improved our lines 'of occupation end we oaptured over -350 prisoners. The enemy made, a strong and prolonged rear giition with mac-bine-guns and artillery, "to which our artillery immediately re- gjlied. Un the Lower Piave tho enemy was poshed back from the Narrows at Mufile. ClAd the bidgeheud at Capo Sile was reeon- cjnered. Not Only do our new positions follow completely our old lines of defence the' right back, but our occupation been widened to the north in, th, eector Cavazuecherina—Cortelazo. Six hundred enemy prisoners were captured. In the upper part of the valley of the GSlio and the Adige our patrols made strong attacks against tho. enemy lines, capturing S()(> prisoners. Successive waves of bombing squadrons dropped 12 tone of bombs on military Ji- jectiv^s on the left hank of the Piave. and our chasing machines and those of our Allies kept off enemy aircraft, which were very active on the mountain front.—Press Association War Special. 1. -1 DIAZ USES CAUTION. Washington. Tuesday. -Cables from Rollie indicate that the Italians are preparing to rençw their drive against the Austrians in the Trentino, and that General Diaz is cautiously pur- suing his advauct on the Piave, realising that a too rapid advance <ill expose his left. GENERAL SHOOTS HIMSELF-I Writing of the Austrian disaster, Mr. s- 4' Tlio p-i l ?es of (j, Ward Price says:—"Tho piles of corpses on the Piave show what losses the Austrians* had. yesterday (Sunday) morning in trying to get across the river by boats r.nd footbridges under shell and machine-gun ifre. When boats had been loaded with, artillery horses, panic- stricken men pushed them overboard to be drowned in the swift river to that they -ives might cross the quicker. The 31st and 32nd Rifle Regiments of I' the Austrian Army fought gallantly as a rearguard on the Upper Piave from Saturday evening until yesterday after- noon. They then had only 80 men un- bounded, and when these surrendered the general commanding this brigade, Ton C'ronstadt, shot. himself. I The whole of the .Italian Army is at th» zenith of its lighting enthusiasm. Man for man it is worth twice what it •whs a. week ago."

LOCAL MILITARY WE DDI NG J The marriage was solemnised at St. "Mark's Church. Swansea, on Tuesday, be- tween Pte. Fred Wales, of the R.A.M.C., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wales, Man- eelton, and Mies Fanny May Gear, young- est daughter of Mr. aifd Nir,. ;Iolin Gear, of Wheatfield-terrace. Swansea. Til- bride was dressed in white, and had the bridegroom's regimefitaj crest. worked on her..Veil. ■ She was attended Inihe Misses Amelia Wales;, Lizzip Gear, Phyllis Griffiths and Marjorie Holbrook, Pontar- dawe. The bride, was given away hy her father, whilst Mr. Fred Thomas acted as best man. The officiating clergy were the Rev. J. W. Jones (vicar-of Cockett"). is, sisted-. by the Rev. J. W. E. Jones (vicar of St. Mark's). Mr. Fre<l Drew presided at the organ.

I -I., W—J Muii Lc? COONCIL. ¡ t • I The monthly meeting of the Oyster- Mouth Urban DistVot, Council was held on l\iesday. Counci VirjJohn Harris pre- l siding. Tlie Mumbles branch of the Dis- charged a no Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers Federation were given permis- -ion to erect a war shrine in the park near the bowling green. Permission was also granted to Miss, I]. M. Morris ("daughter of Sir Lewis Morris) to erect a marque on a portion of the pro- menade .garden for the use of ahout 100 'munition girls during a week in August; also a request from the Swans-en Board of Guardians to hold the -annual outing it bracelet Bay for the inmates of the Union and Orphan Homes was granted. 111 Council had ree-pirt-d a request from the War Savings Committee to so pociate themselves with a special week. which takes place in July. Mumbles is •sked to contribute £ J5.<>00 towards the I urchasv of aeroplane, which will be narti^d Mumble, Coui?cilh'rs J. J. Jono* and C P. BfU. together with Mr. A. Davies Schoolmaster) were appoiated to undertow the work.

AUSTRIAN CRISIS DR. SIEDLER REFUSES TO RETURN FOOD SITUATION SERIOUS Zurich, Tuesday (received Wednesday). — Yesterday a Crown Council was held in Vienna. The Emperor proposed that Dr. Yon Siedler should constitute a new Cal)inc,t. »declined, proposing Bahmhams as the man able to rely on the majority during the transition. The Emperor invited Bahinhams to begin negotiations with the parties oil the boeis oi the convocation of the ChYmber with a minimum programme. The Food Mintittcr reviewed, the situa- tion, which was unanimously recognised to he very critical. j

BULGAR ATROCITIES. I a Women and Childi-en Hanged in Siberia. Amsterdam, Tuesday (fpcc-ivod Wednes- day). -The Serbian Press Bureau, state there is fresh evidence of atrocities com- mitted by Bulgarians, Austrians and Turks in. occupied Serbia. The-Bulgar- ians, during a revolt in Serbia, destroyed ( many villages, and hanged women and children.—Reuter.

INTO GERMANY, I Destructive Raids by Our I Airmen. The following official communique, dated June 25. 5.20 ;p.m.. was received from, the Air Ministry, London, on Wed- nesday:— On the morning of the. 2.5th inst. attacks were successfully carried out againit the railway sidings and factories at Saar- brucken, the engine sheds and barracks at Offenberg, and the explosives factory works and railway station at Carlsruhe. Many direct hits were observed on the engine sheds at Offenberg, and also on the barracks. At Carlsruhe two direct hits were ob- served on the engine sheds and on the metallurgique works, causing a large ex- plosion. This was confirmed by photo- graphs. The factories and station at Saarbruckcn were damaged. In the course of many attacks by hostile aeror planes on our machines two of the enemy were shot down, and two others driven down. Three of our inicliiiies are missing, one of which is known to have been forced to land in the enemy lines with engine trouble.

-== 3,000 GERMAN TROOPS Landed on the Black Sea Coast. Moscow, J.une 19 (received Wednesday). —A Bolshevik '?Hicial communique an nounces that the Germans hanJ landed 3,000 infantry and cavalry, together with artillery, at Port Ponti. on the Black I Sea Coast, msL north of Ba?um. PREPARING TO ATTACK. Moscow, 'June 18 (received Wednesday); —The "■ Novnya Jiru" learns .from the Tsaritzin that detachments of Cossacks have joined the C zee ho Slovaks tome versus from Povorinm, in the government, of Voronesh, where they ar("preparing to make a decisive attack against the Povo- rino-Ekatei inburg line.—Reuter. CZECHO-SLAVS ENGAGED. Amsterdam, Tuesday (received Wed-j ne,s(la%"). -A Moscow telegram via Be,!in says Czecho-Slovak troops 'nave entered j Ekaterinburg and heavy fighting is tak- ing I LENIWS DECREE. Moscow, June 18th (received Wednes- day).—Lenin and Trotsky have issued a decree calling to the colours all workmen born in 1896 and 1897 and permanently or temporarily residing in Moscow or the vicinity. The commission formed to combat the counter-revolution has re- solved upon the formation of a special corps for the defence of the Soviet authorities." BID FOR RUSSIAN FLEET. MOSCOW, June 8 (received I June 26)., The LTkraine Government put forward a demand that the Black Sea Navy I should participate iil operations against the Allies. The Russian Press expresses indignation at this, which, if acceded to, would result in placing the Russian Fleet in the hands of the Ger- mans. As a consequence of the present risings martial law h:ts been declared through- out the Ukraine. An explosion of artillery store* caused the destruction of over 200 houses and I 1.000 victims

DEATH BEFORE CAPTIVITY. Rome, T.uesday (received Wednesday).— The newpapers t'?-day announce that 'the body of Major Baracca, the famous Ital- ian airman, who was brought clown in the recent fighting, has been reoovered by Italians on the Montello by the side of his machine. A bullet wouncl was found in his right temple, and it is supposed that Major Baracca committed suicide so as not to fall into the enemy's hands. In support of this theory, his right hand was found clenched near his temple and a revolver was discovered a few paces from the body. The latter was immediately, removed to a neigh bouring nrintion camp.

AMMANFORD TRADESMEN. -1 The quarterly meeting of the Amman- ford Chamber of Trade was held on Mon- day night, Mr. W. Walters presiding. The secretary (Mr. W. L. Smith), read a communication from the KationaJ Cham- her invoking ,the aid of all affiliated Cbam?i-s to ind-um tTadnien to take up the selling of war 6avings certificates. The rletail of the scheme were explained by Mr. J. Lewis, J.P., Bryn Rhug, and it was arranged to further consider the matter at a special meeting. A com- mittee was formed to deal with the ques- tion of recognition of Mr. Joe Parry, one the members, who had been severely wounded in the war. Discussion took place over the working of the early clos- ing voluntary arrangement, which is being given a three months trial, and pen- di ng the expiration of that period no definite decision was come to, but. several vnemlwrs expressed themselves agreeable to a oontinuance of the arrangement.

TASK OF LABOUR I Reconstruction Plans. | INDUSTRY AND POLITICS (SI)ecial to the 11 ) (Special to the Leader.") LONDON, Wednesday. TBe first annual conference of the i Lnbour Paity under the new constitution was opened at Westminster, to-day, Mr. I YV. F. Puidie, chairman of the National i Executive, presiding, and there being prtl, sent about a thousand delegates, as well as several aliierl and neutral Socialists. .Mr.' Branting, leader of the Swedish Society Democratic Party was cordially Kveeted. J'n his opening address the chairman caid that the conference marked a very dennitp 'tcp in thf development and pro- gress of the Labour Party. The broaden- m6 of-the constitution to include the! worker by hand or brain would brim; into the party aii. those who were willing to give of their best to Thp social service of the community. Critics of the new ron-I' ",Utution had been very busy, but the most significant phase underlying these criti- cisms -was the attempt not to consolidate the great Trade Union and Labour Move- ment, but to disrupt it. (Hear, hear.) If the constitution was not what was desired 1" some then let them alter it in a consti- tutional way within the Party. GREAT AND GRAVE RESPONSI- BILITY. But those who sought, to divide the i movement at a time when the Party's strength sihould he exerted in the direc- tion of dealing with great problems, in- curr.ed a 'great and grave responsibilit, I Th> way to oonrolidat th?ir movement W, not by forming a New Party— (cheers) -but by the loyal co-operation of all sections within the Party. Labour differences Oil the 1 war existed. Why deny them? But those differ- ence^ however bitter, were temporary. Let extremes on both sites endeavour to come together in true, comradeship. (Cheers). Any attempt to disrupt the movement would be exploited by others for tLJr own benefit. Never had the re- presentatives of the trade union and labour niovemeht, had 60 great a task i before them. I REBUILDING THE RUINS. In rebuilding on the ruins caue-'d by the war they nced+ct the industrial wing to be allied to the political wi-ng of the movement. The resolution to be dis- cussed embraced the whole field of social r-piconstriietion. National interests, and the- ititerests of the people must be placed before the private interests, and if the so-called rights of private indi- viduals etood in the way, those rights mast go (Cheers). There must be no patched up Ctheiie of reconstruction. 'I"ho present system of promotion for" profit must give way to a system of pro- motion for use, and the whole nation ehould be placed in the position of realising a co-operative Commonwealth* (Chepre). Education was a most important ques- tion in social reconstruction, b t all their-plans depended on winning the war. We could not accept such terms as those imposed on Russia nnd Rumania. (Cheers), No inconclusive peace wpt., wanted. The war aims of; the movement represented what we are fighting for, not negotiating for. (Cheers). The priiir-iple which labour laid down -admitted of compromise. (Cheere). 300 LABOUR CANDIDATES; Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., in mov- ) ing a paragraph in the executive report dealing with party organ- isation, said that both with re-j ga'rd to organisation' and candidates the. position of the Party'was most en- couraging. Already constituencies' had been fixed, or were in process of being fixed, with 301 candidates—(cheers)—which included four candidates for University seats, and they made no apology, for that. (Laughter and, cheers.).In. addition to these 301 candidates, they had inquiries tor something likf another hundred con- stituencies. The executive placed no limit on the number of candidates for which it would be responsible at the pext General Election. Wherever there wii.,4 A prospect of securing sufficient votes, and local poo- pie selected their candidate, the Executive approval and necessary deposit money would be forthcoming. Probably we should have an eUetion before the end of the present year, and on the question of finance he mentioned that the committee were already committed to a sum of M■5,000 for the expenses, of the 301 candi- dates. Another hundred candidates would mean an expenditure altogether ot .< £ 20,000. Then they must take into account the probability of a. second election in less than twfrlve months from the first one. What might the movement wish to do at the second election if they ran 400 can- didate-? at the first r Therefore the pro- paganda between the two1 elections would be very important, inii is, the question of fihahce would have to lyt met, the Execu- tive bad sar.ct* ftTI appeal to the gene- ral public as weil as to the Trade Union 2nd Socialist movement. A CANDIDATE'S PROTEST. I Mr. J. Sexton (Liverpool* asked why the names of the candidates were not gicven. 1-je wag careful, of .the company he kept (Laughter.). It was reported Lord Ilal- dt»ne> was a -yijpii)l-.er of the As to appealing for funds, it would be motundignified to ta-ke the hot round, i HENDERSON AND THE TRUCE. Speaking to a resolution that the, poli- tical truce ehould be no longer recognised, Mr. Henderson &aid the written truce that should have been ended in 1914i wa* ¡ not actually in force now. He said the executive was of opinion that their representatives should not.. withdraw from the Government. Mist* Pankhurst was several times I called to order for irrelevancy in moving <m amendment.

OFFER BY JAPAN. I A Pacific Port, Tuesday (received Wednesday).—Prince Tokugawa, who has nrrivoo, in America at the head of a Japanese Red Cross miesion, declares that Japan is ready to send a large corps of Roe,; Cross men to France if needed.

CONTESTING THE SPOILS. I Amsterdam, Wednesday.—The Essen I "Allgemeine ZeÍtung" states that the Ukrainian Government has sent another Note to the Rumanian Government emphatically maintaining the Ukrainian claims on Bessarabia.—Reuter.

NAVY WHICH WINS! RUDE AWAKENING FOR VON TIBPITZ PARIS, Tuesday. I (Received Wednesday). M. Leygues, Minister ol Marine, speak- iug on the naval policy in the Chamber to-day, said that Von Tirpitz and the Ger- mans declared that tho American armies would never reach the shores of France, and that, the oending of supplies to France would be stopped. The Germans were on the point of realising their dream, but by an immense effort, and by utilising all OUT resources, we attained our present position. This Navy which is fighting now is a Navy which lives, fights and wins victories.. The Minister then proceeded to pay a warn, tribute to the admirals «'ho, in order to fight submarines, served fas sub-lieutenants and sailed on vessels of 50 tons. FRANCE'S N.AVAL POLICY. f Replying. to criticism levelled at France's naval policy, M. Leygues said: I" We are daily constructing small ships in response to the necessities of the pre- sent moment. We cir, not know wbat will be the naral policy ol France after r the war, in fact nobody knows, for this policy will have its birth in the peace treaty." (Loudchfers) PIRACY CONQUERED. Admiral Bienainie also paid a warm tJ ibu(:e to the entire Navy, which, he said, has done its duty nobly during the war, and, with the help of ftie Allies, has ran- quished the German submarine. Sub- marine warfare is dead. There will be a few accidents: nevertheless German piracy has been conquered.

"THE DAY," Swansea Volunteers Leaving This Week. The 3rd Giamoraan Volunteers have received a wire from the W«r Office say- ing that the offer of their first Special Service Company has been accepted, and the some are to be to leave Swansea on Saturday under Capt. Benjamin Bot. tomlev. In honour 01 the occasion, Col. J. Ropor Wright, V.D., Honorary Colonel, has kindly consented to preside at a great smoking" concert, to be held at the Drill Hall, on Thursday niglit, at 7.30, when a few interesting little functions will take place. The Colonel Wright Challenge Cup and certificates won in connection with same art- to be presented, and every present land past member, of the volunteers in Swansea and district is asked to be pre- sent in, uniform or brassard. Swansea Voliiiiteers have long looked forward to The Day," which has now arrived.

COAL AT PIT'S MOUTH. r — I 5New Board of Trade Order. The Board of Trade, to maintain and regulate the supply of coal, haVe made an Order substituting for the standard amount of 4s. fixed by section 1, subsec- tion 2. of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. 1915. in the case of mines in the South Wales and Monmouthshire and Forest of Dean districts, a standard amount of lis. 6d. and, in the case of mines situated elsewhere, a standard amount of 9s. The Order provides that the price at which coal may 1), gold or offered for sale at'the pit's mouth for use in the United Kingdom shall be the price at which coal of the same description was sold in simi- lar conditions affecting the sale at the -ii. the same coal' mine on the corresponding date (or as near there- to as may be practicable) in the 12 months ended June 30, 1914, increased by the AioQuhts nientioned. Such price shall be both tite maximum and, unless the Controller of COltl Mines in any particu- lar case otherwise orders, the minimum price. The price of all such coal dis- patched from the oplliery on or aftc Jun-c 24Amder any existing contract shall be increased accordingly. All contracts for the purchase and sale of coal shall remain in force subject to this modification.

ACRES FOR SOLDIERS. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Clinton moved the second reading of the Small Holding Colonies Amendment Bill, which authorises the Board of Agriculture to acquire 60,000 acres in England and 20,000 acres in Scotland for the purpose of | small holding colonies for discharged eol- diers. The motion was agreed to.

AMMAN VALLEY TEACHERS. Mr. J. Harries Thomas, headmaster of the Parcyrliu-n Schools. Ammanford, as hon. secretary of the Head Teachers' As- sociation for the Amman Valley district, writes on behalf of the Association • to thank us for the way in which we re- cently justified, in a powerful way. the action taken up by the Carmarthenshire teachers in their dispute with the County Education Committee."

_4 BRITISH SHIPS, LOST. A Lloyd's rppcrt states that the owners', of the British barque' Inverness have're- ceived the following telegram from the Consul at Papeete:—" The barque Inver- ness was abandoned on fire on' April 24- 25. 50111 h ofH9 west. The crew were saved and .landed at Rapa Island." ''Die steiiTiter Slnatero, of London, with •cargo.-ha'« botii sunk'by collision with an unknown

MILITARYSM IN SCHOOLS. At a meeting of the Neath Education Committee on Tuesday, Ald. Hopkin J.P., presiding, the clerk (Mr. Arthur Evans) reported that he had re- ceived correspondence from Education^' Authorities wit1, reference to the new Ixlucation Bill. The chairman suggested that the question should be deferred, in- asmuch as the Bill waa now before Par- liament. Mr. J. R. Jones: I hope the Bill will mever be passed. I strongly object to I militarism being taught in our elemen- tary schools.. The Chairman: I was not aware that such a thing was included in the Bill. Do you object to physical training? Mr. j. R. Jones: No; but I do object to teaching children to cut each other6 throats. A resolution of prott, against the in- troduction milimrism in elementary schools was also read from the Neath Free Chinch-Council. The Chairman: They should have sub- mitted that resolution to Parliament, not to us. )\0 net-ion in the inatter.

FRITZ HELD. UP. Epidemic in German II' I Army? j FOE S EFFORTS A FAILURE.! s __— Americans Take 150 I Prisoners. I. FRA-NCE, Wednesday. ¡ .tl.C ne ne£-uay. The Press Association special corres- pondent with the British Army says:— The speculation I advanced on Satur- day with, that the apparent delay in the Germans' preparation might lie caused bv some sort of epidemic, hits received a cer- tain amount of support. There seems to be a rather un-usiiai amount of sickness amongst German troops, but it is impossible yet to say if it has reached a proportion whichN might affect their plans. What undoubtedly inost be delaying them is the skill with which our airmen ¡ have struck at vital points on the lines cf communication. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. I FRANCE, Wednesday,'l0.40 a.m. I We captured a few prisoners and a machine-gun last night in raids and I patrol encounters in the neighbourhood of Sailley-le-Sac and west of Merville. Hostile artillery has been active in the neighbourhood of N'ille-etir-Anic-re. Gow.. I rnecourt and Bailleuil (south of Lens), and in the llazebrouck sector. I TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. We carried out a surprise attack in tha r?gtone of M.t)!!y.- H?incroi,, M?licoc<j, Vinaly. Coruillet, and jn Lorra?ne. Th?a opf?r?tions resulted in the capture of pri- soners and machine-guns. A fresh Ger- man attempt against one of our small pests to the north of leport vi-as repulsed. The American troops carried out in the evening a brilliant local operation near Belleau Wood. One hundred and fifty prisoners, including a captain, have al- ready been counted. I DRIVEN BACK. I I 'Failure of German Counter Attacks. PARIS, Tuesday. (Received Wednesday). Reuters Expert Commentator writing to-night stiys:-The only infantry action to be noted during the last 24 hours on file. French front occurred north of the Aisne in the region of the small village of Leport. This place is situated on Fon- ten »y—Vic-sur-Aisne rond immediately on the Mth hank, of the Aisne. The village forms a buttress dominated to the north and north-east by perpendicular cliffs, It was along these positions that our for- mer line ran at the end of 1914. The Germans succeeded in their last advance in capturing all these heights, and they had even advanced as far as Leport. I POSITIONS CONSOLIDATED. By following the course or the Aisne they would have pushl as far a, Vn j sur?-Ai?ne. That i? the reason why it Y.,i? necessary for us to consolidate our posi- j tions north-west of Leport, and that was the result which we obtained early yester- day by means of a perfectly successful local operation. Our objectives were a certain number of works held by the enemy on the heights. After a short artillery preparation our infantry ad- vanced and captured these works, tak- ing at the same time 170 prisoners. The Germans did not delay their counter- attacks. Towards 11 o'clock in the morn- ing they launched their first counter- attack against the flank, of the sector attacked by us. They were, however, driven back, leaving still more, prisoners in our hands. Yesterday afternoon was quiet, but last, night the enemy again attempted to win back the lost ground. He first of all violently bombarded our batteries established on the further bank of the Aic-ne, on the Plateau of Reasons Le Long, and then advanced against the positions which we were occupying. ) LIVELY BOMBING CONFLICT., A livelv bombing conflict ensued. We I succeeded, however, in maintaining our front in its entirety. In the other sec- tors held by our armies there was littlw I to report. The enemy artillery activity was fairly lively in the region of Estreos against, the railway line. The Germans have again been lifirrao;sing oiir line south of the Aisne, on the outskirts of the Forest of Villers- Cotterets, and in the direction of La Fer- telon, ? well as near FavroUfs-Corey and Silbv La Coterie. In Lorr?ne the artil- lery Activity was sustained )>etween the Vf,rnoop-River and the plain. Three raids were reported in thi6 afternoon's com- munique. These occurred in the direc- tion of Requeville. Gaincourt and.Moncel, and brought us respectively five, eleven, and four prisoners, as well as valuable iniArmation regarding the enemy forces opposed to us in this sector. BRITISH OFFICIAL. ) France, Tuesday, 7.44 p.m.—There is I nothting of special interest to report. A n»hon.-In spite of high wind on June 24, our aeroplanes did a great rlenI • of reconnaissance and other work during the earlier pirt-of the day, and a large number of hostile batteries and other tar.'r t4 '.e:è STjec?A-fnUy engage by our ?mM with tLe as!'i6tance of aerial ober- vation. I Labr in the day heavy rain made fly- ing i:?p3?';ihle. B?ntbin? bphind th^ enemy's lines wa& ?e.-irri,Dd on with great vigour whenever the weather permitted, fifteen tons of bombs being dropped by our niachines. The enemy did not give our airmen many opportunities for combat, but tw- German machines were destroyed. Thref., of .our aeroplanes are missing. I, In addition to the enemy machi-ne al- ready arn on need as destroy d on Jun"- 23, a second machine is now established to have been brought down on that date. FRENCH OFFICIAL.. j Paris, Tuesday, 11.0 p.m.-Between the Oise and the Aisne some raids resulted 1 in the capture of prisoners by us. Artillery activity was lively in different sections south of the Aisne, notably in the region of Silly la Poterie. On June 24 six enemy aeroplanes were brovht down or fell in a damaged con- dition. Or four tons of bombs were dropped on aviation grounds in the re-l of the Aisne.

M. KERENSKY. Russia's Ex-Premier in London. 'Fighting Against Tyranny" London,. Wednesday. SI." Kerenskr -was introduced to the labemr Conference by Mr. A r-thur Hentterscn t-ijs affernon-p.. The Rus- sian .Statesman -was received .with. knid cheers. Spe-asics in Russian 31. Kewasky said: "I am very much impressed by the reception accorded to zie by you. I co r-ot tal-e it as an eipTeesion sympathy towards rce, but-.ae an expression of sympathy to- wards the Rtissian Democracy, wviia fitting for tho ideal eo dear fa \1t! STI. I -have just come ptraight from Moscow, and it is ray duty as -a f t statesman and at a Socialist, to tell yo-a apd the English people, that .tha p&splo of fee trholp vorM, that the R'pOOpl and the Rusfcitm De- mocracy are* ng-hhn{; against tyranny. E] says M. Kor«i>ky arrived in London last. wt«k. i ,r: A r r MET A L MARKET. London. Wednesday.—Copper, i 10 to jIOj owb and three riH»i!th&. Tin. 631 to 5P, and three mentis. Foreign lead. 29i—?P! Spelter, 54-50. IRON MARKET. Wolverhampton. WedneEday. There is no latk of orders in the iron and eteel trades lecently. 8<>me heavy contracts for bars were placed and local mills have nww business than they can edeaustelx de.d with for the moment. The steel trade is active, and a, good deal of gas etrio is on otfer. but little new business in thir,. u in soAc other sections, is movine.. Tie de- mand for ray, material is taxine severely smelters' resources, foundry iron beinsr eoe. oialLy short., The principal cause of the scarcity is due to the transfer of &o many furnaces to the production of basic mate- rial. Regarding: fuel supply, satisfaction is expressed at the Coal Controller's action in arresting the withdrawal ot men from the pits. Activity prevails in local hardware industtfes, many beins; engaged. direcftly or (indirefctly on war contracts. The Question of man power is engaging fN,nma.sters' at. tention and the Ministry of Munitions is to be approached on the subject.

•' NO RETURNS. 4 The Government Order with,- re- gard to unsold Newspapers is now, in force, and you cahnot be sure of your. "Leader" unless, sou } place a definite omder with your Newsagent. Place your order now afcid avoid disappointment.1

TO-DAY'S ALLOTMENT HINT. One of the surest ways of ensuring tjie destruction of wecris ajid the health atid vigour of the Various crops is the regu- lar and persistent use of the flat or. dutch hoe. The regular moving of the surfaea considerably conseiTes the moisture "as well as keeping the-soil in a fine and free, cofciition. During..the. operation many of the underground pests are brought to "the surfaW?.- and "fall a-eady prey to our many feathered friends. On plots the.t 'nre badly 'infestod 'with vim- worms, a sharp look-out should be kept for the long beetles, > which are the whic-? are the parents of the?? pests. There are three iH;, four varieti es of beetles, the larvae of which are known as wireworms, and of these the skip-jacks and click, beetleS are the most common, and may often be found at this season hiding in the various rows. They may be easily distinguished from tHe conimon beetle by their long, un- gainly bodies. They should all. be de- stroyed, as although. fti their mature state tfhey do no harm the amount of damage their brood can 40 is only too ■well-known' to everyone who cultivates a plot of ground. Grower."

LORD RHONDDAS HEALTH. A Press- Association message on Wed- nesday says: Lord Rhondda continues to gain strength.

4 C'WMTWRCH SUCCESSES. Lower Cwmtwrch has figured rather prominently in eisteddfodic circles last Saturday. At -Pon tarda we eisteddfod the chair was captured by the Per. W. T. Hugliesv pastor of Beulah (B.) Church, Cwmtwrch, pastoral poem by Mr. T. T. Mathias. whilst Mr. Horace Morgan halved the prize for the essay. Mr. T. Walter Rosser was also successful in tie chief essay competition at Caerphilly. He came out on top in an entry of exeep- tionally high literary merit. This young- essayist has achit-vea phenomenal success lately, and his future career will be watched with interest.

The King held an investiture in the quadronglo at Buckingham Palaoo on Wednesday when, in thee presence of a large number of spectators, he bestowed many naval and military and civil honours.