South Wales Weekly Post

SWANSEA IMBECILE CLASSED C3. I An imbecile it Swansea Guardians Visit- Stg Committee on Thursday told k." com- I wittee t,hat when he last- had leave he went to the recraUimr and got passed C7.

FRA NCE. DUNKIRK SHELLED. ———— ————. BRITISH REPEL GER- MAN ATTACKS. ENEMY ADMISSION OF LOSS OF TRENCH. I BRITISH GENERAL HEADQUARTERS. FRANCE, Thursday. .10 p.m. During the night the enemy artillery heav- iiy bombarded our positions in the neigh- bourhood of Ft)iitain,Ie;s-Croiselles. Hos- tile attacks against our advanced posts south of the Cojeui River were successfully re- pulsed. A German raiding party entered our trenches last night east of Vermeiles, but were at once ejected. One of our men is missing. ON THE FRENCH FRONT. (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, Thursday Afternuoit.? u ,,er partic6liii,lv active iii the i-egi? of Hurtebise Monument a.nd Cor- mllet. German attempts on the Mdipnt of Watwaller, north-east of Thann, failed. The enemy left several dead and one ofifcer was captured. Patrol engagements in front of Fliery aud Heza-nvaux enabled us to capture scl'xle prisoners.. It is confirmed that during- the day time of the 21st German aeroplanes were brought1 down east of Gralreuil and south-east of Maronyiller.5. BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- QUARTERS. FRANCE) Wednesday, 9.4 p.m. A hostile raiding party was repulsed early this morning north of Roeux after sharp fighting, in which the eI.(,my I suffered considerable losses. (Press Association War Special.) i PARIS, Wednesday, 11 p.m. Tire artillery on both Rides showed activity in the region of Hurteinse, Craonne, on the heights south L Moron • villers, and in the sector ot Avocourt. There was no infantry action. j GERMAN 8HELLINC OF DUNKIRK. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) BpRLIN, Wednesday evoning. I On all fronts the day generally iias quieter. TtM port of Dunkirk has been suc- I cessfully shelled by our artillery. I BERLIN. Wednesday afternoon. Front of Crown Prince Rupprccht.— During bad sighting conditions the activity of the opposing a-rtilleries on the front was less than on yreceding da,'v, Only in isolated sectors did the fire teni- porarily increase. During the morning hours English forces attacking the Lens salient were re- pulsed under heavy losses. nie enemy occupied a forefield trench V"vwui or tne" Arras-Jvens road. -Near tontame advances made by enemy detachments remained without success. Attacks by reoonnoiiring detachments at various places on the Arras front failed. TWELVE-MILE RANGE. I OUR NEW GUN WORRIES THE HUNS. II Mr. Beach Thomas, the eminent, war cor- respondent, after describing the operations near Lens, sav. "Simultaneously with the attack we were raiding the enemy south of Armentieres; we were occupying new bits of enemy trench by Warneton and pushing patrols forward, and we were organising a new piece of line at Lombartzyde, on the aea just south of Ostend. At no spot along the 120 miles was the enemy left alone by artillery and trench I far inded. by infantry patrols. One fine great gun, with wonderful mobility, was' to be seen methodically worrying the enemy twelve miles behind his lines."

CHEAPER LOAF? I ( QUESTION IN BALANCE AT I I SWANSEA. f lere is every prospect of a ehea.per loaf in I the near future. Wheat to-day is 7& per a.n d f l i(? ),, i re qu?r. ,nd the pri? of the M17 crop ha been fixed at 60?. per quarter But there are mixtures with the wheat in the loaf to-day—barley, Wa;3e. or rice--and f ib or -ati d tne priet- t) these has to be taken into ac- count. To inak-i barley brefid to-day for instant?, the ex&ra cost compared with wheat is about 17f!. a sack. Lord Rhoudda is tackling the bread pmb. lem, the first of our food necessities, and he k, credited with the intention of reducing the price of the loaf at a very early date. Mr. W. Burridge, president of the Swan- sea Master Bakers' Association, told the "Post" on Thursday that, a.t the preaent prices there was no lik lihOOd of bread being ¡ Mdnred. "W? are waiÜng," he said, for Lord Rhondda's statement. avid nothing ran be done until an ofHc?a! announcement M made. Qti?tioDed M to whether bakers <?uld not cheapen the loaf now/ Mr. Burridge said that would be impossible, much as they would likp to do so. To say that the. 41b. loaf could be retailed at 10 £ d. was an impDt"- j sibility, having regard to the p«.nt coat of wheat, labour and general J.ges.

BASS'S BOTTLED ALE. I In the Sheriff Court of Fife a.nd Kinross at Kirkcaldy 011 the 27th inst. Andrew Stein, of the Railway Tavern, Buckhaven, licensed victualler, was charged, at the instance of Bas^, Rate lift and Groiton, Ltd., with soil- iug on the 13th and 18th April last certain bottles of beer to which the trade mark of Bass, Rate lift and Gretton, Ltd., was falsely applied, contrary to the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Aot, 1887. The defen- dant was fined and ordered to pay ex- penses."

PIT PROP THEFT. I frank Brown (.33), repairer, and John ( onner (28). repairer, were charged at the Swansea Comity Police Court 011 Wednesday with stealing two pit props, value 2", De- Nveie firmed 40s. and coata.

I NAVAL j FEWER SHIPS i I 1 I ATTACKED OR SUNK. LAST WEEK'S PIRACY I RETURNS. I The Admiralty on Wednesday evening issued the usual weekly return relating to losses dtie to Germany's unrestricted use of submarines against Allied and neutral shipping. The figures given below are for the,! week ended June 24, 3 p.iin., and they show the proportion of British losses as compared with the number of vessels of; all nationalities entering and leaving British pdi-ts during that period: I Arrivals and Sailings. Merchant vessels of all natioilalitle-, I (over 100 tons net) arriving at ilid sail- ing from United Kingdom ports (exclu- sivc of fishing and local craft) (a) Arrivals 2,876 Iii) Sailing. 2.923 Losses. British merchant vessels sunk by mine or submarine: (a) 1,600 tons (gross) or over 2.1* (b) Under 1,600 tons (gross) 7f (c) Fishing vessels sunk o Unsuccessful Attacks. British merchant vessels \U1- successfully attacked by sub- marines 22tt Including one sunk during the week ending June 17. t Including one sunk during the week ending June 17. ft Including two attacked during the week ending June 10 and five attacked during the week ending Juno 17. Last Week's Figures. Arrivals 2,i$. Sailings, 2,993 Losses: 1,600 tons gross or over. 21:1 under 1,600 tons gross, 5; fishing vessels j sunk, 0. Unsuccessful attacks, 31. THE RETURN REVIEWED. This week's return (says the limes naval correspondent) is in one respect unusual, because, as compared with those for the two last weeks issued, it shows fewer ships moving in the danger area, fewer ships attacked, fewer sunk, and fewer which escaped after attack. The differences are not indeed large afteir the necessary K<J.fu»tmettts fire made: but they are satisfactory inasmuch as. they indicate that the enemy have not been able to touch the "record" of April, which means that they have failed to reaJise their expectations. It. would be most unwise to permit this apparent Ürt- provement to delude us into the belief that there is warra-nt for any relaxation of individual effort. P. AND 0. LINER j SUNK OFF BOMBAY: MAILS LOST.  (Reuters War Service.) BOMBAY, Monday (delayed). It is announced that the P. and 0 liner Mongolia, carrying mails from Len-I don posted up to May 31st (London), i sank off Bombay at noon on the 23rd ihst. as the result of having struck a mine. Full details have not yet been received. Boats containing the passengers and i orew have arrived here and in the vicini tv The mails are reported to ha.ve been lost. I THIRTY-FOUR U TH I RTY.FOUR H U" i BOATS I ESTIMATED SUNK IN FOUR MONTHS. ROME. Wednesday. The Idea Xazion&le" is informed from Berlin that according to an official German statement the losses of sub- marine crews from January 1st to -Api-il 30th, amounted to 280 dead and 400 miss- INS. On the basis of 20 for each tnbmai-ine, the report amounts to an admission that the Germans lost 34 submarines 111 four I months.

THE MES,OPOTAMIA TRAGEDY. QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tn the House of Commons on Wednesday, Sir J. jaxdlne asked if a day would be given for the discussion of the Mesopotamia Report? Mr. Bonar Law said he would be glad if the question were put down next week. by which time the House would have had time to study the report. Mr. Devlin: Is it proposed to continue Lord Ha.rdinge in the position he now occu- pie8? Mr. Bonar Law: The answer which I bu-ve j given applies to that. I should rather not make a.ny statement or. this matter till the House has had time to consider the report, Mr. Knig: Is Lord Hardings e-till in a position of great authority and eminence at the Foreign Ofike? Mr. Bcinar law These questions assume that Lord Hardinge?haa been guilty. I don't wish to make any such asaumptioij at pre- sent.

SWANSEA LADS THEFT. II For stealing growing trees, to the value of 10s., two boys were at Swansea County Police Court on Wednesday bound over for twelve months.

.u PONTARDULAIS FAIR. The Pontard'iIain monthly fair was held I at the Black Horse Square on Tuesday. Tbf day was beautifully fine; there was a large stock aud a plentiful demand. The prices were as follows Cow and calf. £26 to £ 36; store cattle, £ 16 to LZO; beef, 25s. per score; r)lgR (10 weeks old). 45t to 55s.; pork. 256. per score,

AERIAL. THREE SURVIVORS ,———— FROM, BURNING ZEPP. MORE BRITISH AIR SUCCESSES. It is now known in East Anglia says the "Times") that there were three survivors from the Zeppelin brought down in flames in the air raid on the night of June 16th. air raid k,i t- l ie 11 How they 1eaclied the earth without either being burned to death or dashed to pieces i? stiU a mystery, yet, M' the th?e when an onlooker would, naturally have heaved that no human being could possibly have stir- vived. Three men managed to to oarth, none of them fatally wcuuded. j An eye-witness of the capture of the chief of these survivors by all Army oiffcer de- scribed the incident of the surrender as fob j lows sj It was almost daybreak, and we were the first to reach the scene. When within 15 yards or yu of (he wreckage, which was still alight, we saw a. figure standing by a dikh, Hullo,' cried the stranger, as a car wit4 an officer approached. 'Who are you?' j cried the officer. The stranger answered in perfect English. I am the commander of that German airship,- pointing to the wreck. How he escaped was not at the time ex- 'lie e,-c-alled i%?as liot-a-t tl-te tii-ne ex-i "The other survivors found later N%, ere taken tc hospital in an apparently dying condition. Thfy have, however, recovered." EICHT MORE HUN 'PL-AN-Es- Downi BRITISH G^NSP-AL KpADi^l; A RTERS, i I' H ANOI- Wednesday Evening. I Much successful work was accomplished j b\ our aeroplanes again yesterday. j In air fighting, five German machines were brought down and two others were driven down out of control. In addition, one hos- tile machine ■ was shot dowin by fire from Xone of our aeroplanes are missing. J IN MESOPOTAMIA. DARING FEATS BY OUR j AIRMJSN. PREiiS'Bt'RKAUv Thursday. The General Officer Comnftmding''thirj Mesopotamia. Expeditionary Force reports that on the 22nd inst. our aeroplanes • bombarded one of the remaining Turkish: river steamers, obtaining at least one direct hit with a 531b. bomb. On June 25th hostile aeroplanes bom-; barded our camps withoxit7 doing any!! damage. On the following day we retaliated by dropping 24 bombs on the enemy's camp at Teknt. Several direct hits were oh- served on tents which were destroyed, and other bombs exploded close among the enemy's tents', inflicting damage.

1 l l PROSECUTING SOLICITOR. Law Society and Council Post. A special meeting of the SwaiKea and NT eath Incorporated Society was held on Wednesday a-fternoon for thl3 purpose of oousidering the position arising out, of the decision of the Swansea C«r}»n-ratipji to make the. appointment of prosecntiug solicitor a temporary one pendens the return of Mr. Harold King, the Corporation assistant soli- citor, from the colours. It will be recalled that at the Council meeting the town clerk (Mr. Tailg Coath) stated that if the appointment was only tem- porary there would not. be a single applicant. I The C ouncil, however, decided to make it temporary. ¡ The meeting of the Law Society after cuseion decided to accept the Corporation terms, reserving the right to roview the posi- j tion at the end oi the w?.r. Appli-(-atioi-is hax-e to be in by Saturday- next, and at least three of the candidates are Messrs. Rupert Lewis, David Seline, and W. A. Thomas. The salary is £ 150 a year, can- didates to be allowed to do private practice as well at the duties of the prosecuting soli- citor.

NOT ENOUGH RAIN. No Increased Water Supply for Swansea. I The "Post" man, haJf drenched with Wednesday's downpour, asked Lieut. Col- I iinson. the Swansea borough whe. I ther it was now necessary to shut off the water supply in the town at night" "Yes." was the unexpected repl.y. "But Mir el y this downpour is rapidly fill- ing the reservoirs?" "No. You ']1 be astonished when I tell I you that up till now the rainfall has only added 20 million gallons of water, or suffi- cient for only three days' consumption. The reason for tha,, is that the laild IS so dry. For the month of June there has not been the averag3 e rainfall this j year "What counting the recent heavy thun-Ii derstorms?" "Yt"; .tl\1t surprises you." V —. ?..

I THE MAYOR OF SWANSEA. I The condition of Aid. D. Davies (Mayor of Swan sea) was much the samo on-Thursday; I if anything, a slight, improvement being I shown. 1,

'EXEMPLARY ABERAVON | SENTENCE. I At Aberavon on Wednesday, A t-L-Iiibald Fiates (28), collier, of Green Park-street, was sentenoed to three months' imprisonment I with hard labour for committing an assa-ult, upon a seven-year-old girl named Margaret May Morgan, daughter of Johii Morgan, [ Green Park-street.

KNOTTY LLANELLY POINT. t I Charles P. Davies, an ex-bank cashier- was charged at LlaneUy with being an aljsentee under the Military Service Act, and declared that he was not liable, being: 44 years of age although he said he was under 40 when he a,ttested. -The Bench reserved their de- vision.

I RUSSIA. "ON TWENTY MILE FRONT." j  ROME REPORT OF  OM?ENSIVE. j t.. i ?l: i ARTILLERY BUSY iN ¡ I | GALICIA. j G:JCIA. f I j (Admiralty, pfer Wireless Press.) ROME, Wednesday. According t. news received from Germany, the RUBSMM have assumed a local offensiv* over a front of about twenty milac. f PARiS, Wednesday. M. Marcel Ifutiu, Writing in the Echo de Paris" to-day o,n the genera, OffflIF;VP- SAYS As l'eg..trd Brff men. you will 110c ha\e to wait long befcre Waving good news of them." tilelli." CERMAN REPORT. Admiralty, per,- Wireless Press.) BERLIN, Wednesday. Kastern Wai\—South of the and on the Navajovka the artillery aid misi-e- thrower fire remaiped lively, (hi the Zlota dbipa we brought ia several Russian prison- ers as the result oi. a "successful recoamoit- l'ing advance. (Note.—Since Jv lat,h enemy commim-i- quea have made frequent meience to the Russian artillery activity j'll Galicia.) -I

DISTINGUISHED SWAN- SEA AfiTIST. NOTABLE PAINTING FOR YIYIAN GALLERY. Sir Alfred Mend, 14.IT., ii»a presfcrited an iin?:ortant p^intmj^ bjr*»^r Alb?.?*> Bfelletoche to the Glynn Vlvia* Art Callerr. It repre- sents two young- ladies at tea, and ir 9 feet by 7; feet, <-nd a; welcome addition to the collection as the work of a townsman vijo iias acquired a wirle Continental reputation. He was born at Switnsea and a pupil of ( srolus Duran. Exliibited at the Paris Salon, gaining there: Mention Honorable 1900, Medaille 3me ("lasse 19GS, Hors Concours Medaille 2me Olasse 1908. He also gained a grolrt medal at A mien s in 1909, and a silver medal at Brussells in 1911. Worfcs by him have been bought for the Luxemburg, the British Museum, the Vic- toria and Albert Museum, and for galleries, at Melbourne. Bordeaux. Berlin, Dresden and Brussels. .Exhibitions of his works have been held j'at Vienna. 1903; the Goupil Gallery. Lon- don. 1903; the Ofaves Gallery, London, 1906: Paris, 1906; Brussels, 1910; Dowdeswel! Gal- leries, 1913; and New York, 1914. ¡

WELSH ADMIR:AL'S HIGH HONOUR. HIS CHIEF'S SWORD FOR | KNIGHTING. A naval correspondent writes segardang the recent investiture at sea :Achnirad Sir David Beatty ha-ving been first invested with the insignia, of the G, C. B., the Commander- in-Chief s,te, ped to-ilif-right of the King, and in connection with the knighting of Rear-Admiral Evazi Thomas a tribute was paid to that gallant officer which but lew were aware oi at the time, but which will appeal to eN,ej- trvan in the British Navy. After Admiral Jov¡m Thomas had knelt to receive the knighthood from his Sovereign, the King took the Commander-in-Ohief's :sword and lightly touched each shouldor of the new knight; it became kftown sMbse- | quently that Admiral Beatty's sword was iii?ed at that officer s request in token of his appreciation of Admiral Sir Evaai Thomas's distinguished services in the battle of Jut- land. A Remarkable Story. Arict-lier special' comspondent 3 descrip- tion of. the investiture includes the follow- ing striking story ;—A curious event oc- cwiTed in Sir Hugh Evan Thomas's flagship at the Battle of Jutland. A large model cif liorself in the officers' quarters was struck by five splinters from thex first <reiman she]] I thai h:t the alili). It is an almost incredible coincidence, bnt it, is true, that subsequently every single one of the five wounds on the i mode; v.as reproduced m the same position in the ship by the- enemv's fire. | •

i SWANSEA MILITARY MEDALLIST. I Sergt. D. C.*Williams, Military Medallist, I whose wife lives -with her mother. Mrt;, Mor-j ley, at 8. Gordon-ter^oe, Swansea, was wounded in the leg in the Balkans, and has b?en in ho?pitat uMalta since October laet. [ He waa cohung home with 600 other patients in the hospital ship Dover Castle when it i was torpedoed. All lives were saved by a British destroyer and landed at an Allied port. and subsequently at Gibraltar, where 'II' h '1 he is still iiin hospital.

THE MARQUIS OF MILFORD HAVEN. On behalf of Milford Haven Distiict Council, the Chairman has telegraphed to the new Marquis of Milford Haven (Prince Louis of Battenberg) tendering: respectful congratulations: "In view of your grettt work for the naval forces of the Crown, and of the prominent part the far-famed Haven has played in the naval defence of this; Empire, and of its ciose identification with the memory of Lord Nelson, the cherished idol of all Seafarers' hearts, no more fitting title, we humbly submit, could have been by your fjord ship." j

——————— j The wounded soldiers uuder treatment at the Quarr Auxiliary Wa-i- HospiW. Clydach. if Swansea Valley, ifere entertained hJ. the Mend Siokel Workt Silver Band to an enjoy- able concert on the lawn. A capital' pro- gramme was provided.

STEELWORKS IDLE. TROUBLE OVER WAGES. I LOCAL INDUSTRIES j DIS-LOCATED.. I I In consequence of trouble among the en- gineers, who seek higher rates e? wa^es, j stot'lPg ha.e occurred H several South Wales I'Itelwork, The Port Talbot 8toel. ¡ works, where 67 engineers and fitters are j employed, are idle, 1,600 men being affected.. At :h- Briton Ferry Steelworks and the j Albion Steelworks there are 45 engineers and fitters employed, and The works are j still -;oing on, but they will not be able to continue more thah a week, it is stated, unless the difficulties are settled. The Aber Ttnplate Works, LlansrurJet still work- | ing, although a. similar difficulty exists among the engineers employed therL At the ? pper Forest and WoTceeter Tin- plate Works, Morriston. only 150 men are working oiit, of neariy 1:200, in conseueuce of the same diflic-ulties amcns 50 engineers. At Messrs. Baldwin's Works, Ci umlyn Bur- j rows, the night shift of 600 men could not resume work on Tuesday because no steel Position at Lianelly. i POSITION AT LLAXELLY. Following upon the action ot the fitters and blacksmiths in the tinplate and steel- works of Llaneliy in coming out 011 strike lion Monday, the trouble has now extended to other works, including some of the local foundries. The primary cause of the troubl? is, it is understood, on an unsettled point affecting back pay in connection with the recent bonus award to the fitters and black- smiths in the rleel and tinplate depart- j ments. Arbitrators to Sit in London To-day. The Committee on Production—Sir George j Atskwith. Sir George Gilrb. and Sir David Harelip-will sit in London to-day (Thurs- day) to arbitrate upon the demand of the engineers for increases in rates of payment, and evidence for the Steel and Tinplate Associations, and on behalf of the men will be heard. OutlOOk Hopeful: Unauthorised Strike. .Although .considerable dislocation in cer-j tain South Wales industries is being caused by the refusal of the engineers to continue j the outlook is hopeful, iiui it is probable that, the diiffculties wiil soon be adjusted and the men return to work. The difficul- ties nave arisen over the alleged disparity j in the advances granted to the eneiiiec-i-e and staff ir- the. tinplate and steel -work-, and the trouble has no connection wilh the demand for a general advance in the en- j gingering trade, which 4s quite another ■ matter. The demands were referred to arbit.ration on June 6th. but some ox the 1 mon elected to take an arbitrary conn: in' depend eat! y of fheSr Trade Unions. In 1 o -woms cht- present ",r5!teE -at jgz&e of the works are absoluteiy uuauthorieed by t-hfc men's Unions.

"WHOLE OR NOTHING. LLANSAMLET AND BOROUGH EXTENSION. PARISH COUNCIL'S DETER- MINED ATTITUDE. At the LlansB-miet par:sl« meeting oil Wednesday evening on the question of the inclusion of the whole of the parish in the borough, County Councillor Richards said that thiee years ago the parish was divided with regard to the ,propoi<«cl ..xtension. Since then the Borough Coun-l and District O-nnc-' had made an agreement whicl1 had been igned and sealed. Inel-Jding the whole of the parish in the extension. He moved that j the meeting favourably entertainthe inclusion, of Liansaenlei into the borough, but empiiasised that no part was to be left out. In distrid in which there were three,, schools if it were left out it meant a rate of 18s. 4-d. MI the £ HP was convinced that, if the borough required the best part, of Llansamlet they must also take the worst. He repeated, emphatically, the whole or nothing. ;Loud applause.) Councillor James Morns seconded, and j endorsed the remark s ot Mr. Richards. Hr j would take Glais, for instance it was izlv- ing them (the Lia-nsamlet Pari&h; fro.y, £ 400 to JB500 per annum. 0:: its own it was rot sufficient to pay for the se etC., but being attach ed tr +v T,IR.Psanilet works ti.-r.<l rail-my had kept them eoong. The I borough wcre not to be allowed to take their pick-if thev took the works and railway they '>,tf\ + -ke n, ;p"w t¡" County Counoil's Opposition. Councillor D. It Ev&ns sa.d. referring to the opposition of tbJ? County Council, that the witter haA erinc-(,d their intention of fighting to the bitter end. If that opoosi- 1 tion was insisted uipon SDnl¡> of the outliving h^.miet-8 vowW he left, of t-be sch eme. He hoped the meeting's decisicm would therefore be an tmairmo-os one. and that the Connty Coo.nct! would withdraw their opposition. The resolution was carried una,i>imou«!y Councillor T). R Evsna said he had for- gotten to add that Di'^trietP~- liamentarv Committee laet Tliwraday ht1 resolved to s;t tiqht and there were going to be no compromises. Thev wer" insist that the whole of Llan&anilft shortM be taken into the b<.»rv»ugh or nothing. Afterwards. Mr. Walter Williams, i\> of the Board of Agriculture Mr. Watson XMrl of file County Council; and Mr. Wolfe, of the Glamorgan Wi- AsrricuitTr"' Committee, delivered short addresses on f'W production which were much appreciated.

FFORESTFAOH A,B. «« RECOM- MENDED." A.B. Tdris one of those "presenteù" at Fioreptfacli on Wednesday night, haa been recommended for K particu- larly fiH3 exploit with a Lewis gnn during an attack by the Germans on the Arras front. Xeedless to say the Bodies suffered heavily, and the gUll salved as well.

OLD SWANSEA BOY S DEATH IN SOUTH AFRICA. The death has occurred at King William I Town, South Africa, of Mr. Geo. liandell an old Swansea Boy," at the age of 73 yeai-s? younger son of the late Mr. John Ra,ndeU? for many years of the Duke of WeHingtoti St Mary-etreet, Swangea. The Odd?How? Lod?e fnd the Sons of England (of wMch he wa.s a P.G.P.) turned out in force, and there was a very large attendance of the general publio. many beautiful wreaths being sent. The chief mOllnIer were two eons, Messrs" .George and Ronald Randell: grandson, Master Randell; brother-in-law, Mr. M. Da>, nephew, Mr. V. Daly. Deceased had earned on a carriaee-building business ill tile town for a great number of years.

READY, AYE READY. BRITAIN'S INCOMPAR- ABLE FLEET. WHAT THE tING'S VISiT DEMONSTRATED. (From Our Nav*l Representative.) A NAVAL BASE. I Last week w¡¡;< sp.\n; by thH, o. Majesties in visits to the industrial centres ot the Olth, where a vory great proportion of the teeming popu- lations are engaged in the building of ships, the manufacture of munition?, or in other ways a.-e comribntlnf ib far as in them lies their sharo to brintf leaivr the i evitabie victory upon which all eyes are set. Before the "CohoeR of the ebetrs of the Tynesioe folk had (lied away, a &ro{.TaT.in:e had I)ecli arianttd for another Nisy week—strenuous, nc doubt, because of many-sided life of the King, :mt on" must have ap- pealed irresistibly tc bill Majesty. The object was to Enable our Sailor King to once mor? inspect- tte vegseb co^fcprising' the Grand Fleet, iift-er* an interval 01' abom twelve months: and in conformity with his Majesty's wis-h the A-dfejiralty arranged to afford representit-,ive-I of the prii'cipal Lon- don and Provincial newspapers facilities for recording the 111 '>st interesting- incidents in connection the y'iit. The war is also iiaTinj- the elfict of stimu- lating the study of FOograpity, for since the hostilities have demonstrated the para- mount importance to the Fieet of certain P3i-ts of the .Nc"iii-Sa't ('oast of Scotland thousands of Britishers have becoivc fumi- liar wit,b distric.tfl no I'^mote from the grea' indust.'i.ii cei'res of £ iig-land that their 'names were hardly known In this way the charms of some of the tnost fascinating and romantic localities in the British Isles have been the results, WDen peace aud normal conditions are once mote restored, should be }.t¡ ftvery way beneficial. For obvious reasons, the fact that his Majesty was to visit- the Fleet was known to very, few, even in the Fleet itself, until shortly before the ¡tc<4al arrival of the King, so that there M18 No forrnal r-eception either ashore cr afloat The King was ac- companied by Lord Crotapr and Commander Sir Charles Oust, and the arrival of the train there were aw^i^ng liis Majesty the flag- officer, in whose Command 'he base is situated.' as well as Lieut. Prince Albert, the young sou of the ting, Travelling to the harbour by motor-^ar, bis Majesty em- barked in aUght cruikr, and, escortcd by Sve destroyers, at 61rt. went out to the flagship. A cold VI ind was bloving, and the scorn; oi the previous night h\id left the water so rough that certain Zeroises provisionally arranged tor the forenoon bad to be aban- doned. Happily, the Conditions improved f;iiormou?ly during the mornisg, and when the fcky cleared and tl,, sun shone bril- liantly. the 6eeiie was rto;:derfully beautiful, riltr:c,hÜí8 land the jceat expantf of vft'trtf ,&1i: Fleet were at the tftJe anchored is almost trei-lexs, As an ancho^.1 re. big it is ideai.. iuu jtu val^e ^p-obaoiy T?as ;ie> jr adequately a?prHci&t? before the present war begir). Ofhig fhr.oured ships there! were line after Jine^^ips so CSgantie aN paworfi;! theiv .collective eo: represents a total j n.iu)oat str.pando-.a even in these 'invs. while | l their capacity for destruction it is hardly I possible to re-aiise. Of such a Fleet the Sovereign even of an Elnpire that is world- wide has every reason to be I)roiid--as King George uno-acationabb" 19--aud those who now saw for the first time this remarkable aggregation of oft'eneiTC and defensive power j must have been struck with the awful re- spongioility which rest5 11.On the officer who commands such a Flelt. and the limitless confidence which thos* re»ponRible to the ovraers repose in hini. It is to be hoped ■ j thct when the v-a, iF ended the scheme inaugurated some years ago with the oh- ieel of enabling the British publkor, at any rate-, t,hcse living tiear the coast—to pay occasional visi to warships will be ) extended and developed- The King m.(ie z: cotnplete tour of the ship, and the inspection was, of course, of the mo-it practical ch-facter. Accompanied' J by Sir David Beatty, I'i!! Mabsfy spent coo- j siderable time on the tnin dc;k, and nmong 1 other jiarte which re^piv.;>r] attention war, t he artistically appointed little chapel. All the gunt through oat the ship were manned, and of the :)it¡, weapons, of which the vessel s secondary arul"ieilt is c-inprised, several were worked. j j From the Fleet Flagship his Majesty j Proceeded board one of the flagnhips, a!ù iu the Incantitiie every vessel of her sQU^firon and here there I was witnessed an animated and pleagiiig spectacle, brilliant sunshine now adding to j the beauty of the scent. His Majesty was received by the Admiral and their respective staffs, a6 well as ^eut. Prince Albert, j There were also present the captains of the ships forming the SQUELlrLii, as well as 20 4per cent, of the officers and ship's coinpany of each vesBel. ? After making a tour of the ship, bis j j Majesty proceeded on ?oard other bat'cle- ships. As his Majesty left the side of the j vessels T^e crews cheered enthusiastically. 

MONEY FOR THE WAR. THE GOVERNMENT WILL I j TAKE IT. I In the House of CoW-cuyug 011 Wednesday, I Mr. Pringle asked if, the statement of the member for West Derby (Mr. Watson Rutherford), at the Liverpool bye-election, that ten per cent, of the wealth of the conotry should be confis- cated was made with thft consent and autho- rity of he Government- Mr. Bonar Law: I am not aware of the statement, and the (fOernn 1ent havf uot made such a statement But I have myself stated, and so has the Prime Minister, that so long as there is mocey in the country, we will take it for the use of the war in one way or another.

DOCK AND HARBOUR DUES. A meeting was held in London- on Wednesday d the Committee of the Dock and Harbour Authorities of the United Kingdom, Mr. R. D. Holt, M.P., presiding.— On the question of the Admiralty paying, under the agreement recently arrived rt, the lowest rate for ships and goods on a. n for State servioe, it was decided that -vhex,, the dock authorities have full information a* to the destination of any requisitioned or other "bhs the charges should be levied in acocrdanoe v.itH the f'r?? sohed?te?. and where :Ef?rma,tion M to destination is not ava-HabIp that vessels ?ouod MT foreign parts should pay average rates for foreign ports, and that the same principle should kapp!y to the ooasting t.n\de,[t. fwa dec idea to place these views before the Admiraly.

LLANELLY FtCHTERS FUND. Lach week 217 cases are relieved by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund at Llanellv, and the oayments average ;t;43 8s. weekly. Up to June, 1917. £ 6.805 iia-- been paid out. and • the balance in hand now only amounts ro £ 235. V I

I THE GORSEDD. PROCLAIMING THE NEATH NATIONAL." I NOTABLE CEREMONY AT I VICTORIA GARDENS. The Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain assembled at Neath on Thursday for the purpose of procla/Lming the Welsh Na- tional Eisteddfod of 1918. It was a notable gathering, including Mr. Llewelyn Wil. iiams, K.C., M.P.. Six E. Vincent Evaais and Mr. John Hinds. M.P., respectively the chairman, szcretary snd treasurer of the National Eisteddfod Association; the Rev. E. Rees (Dyfed), the Archdruid, the Rev. -1. Cacifan Davies, t)1e Rev. Canon Edwards I (Gwvnedd). the Rev. John Jenkins (Gwili), the Rev. John Thomas (Eifionydd), and Dr. Rees (Ap Ovv-yddon). officials of the Gor- sedd Crwys, Penar, Talog, Arthon, Silvan, Ap Lleision, the Rpv. Robert Beviion and Dr. Mocair (Breton), bards: t.he Mayor of Neath (Aid. H. P. Charles), chairman of the locad Eisteddfod Committee; Aid. Hopkin l Morgan. J.P.. vice-chairman; Mr. C. E. Stuart Thompson, treasurer: and Mr. Philip Thomas, secretary the deputy-Mayor and I Town Clerk of Swansea Town Clerk of Neath (Mr. E. C. Curtis), a.nd the Mayor and Mayoress of Merthyr. Mr. W. B. Trick, J.P., chairman of the -N-catli Rural District Council Mr. Lemuel Jones, chairman of the Neath Board of Guardians, and many repre- sentatives of other public bodies through- the county. The Victoria- Gardens was selected as the Ae V i c-;  r?"rli venue for the historic ceremony, which at- tracted thousands of townsfolk and visitors. There in circle ilav The Csrsadd stones which had been given by the following gen- tlemen --Lord Jersey. Lord Dynevor, Messrs. J. E. Moore-Gwyri, J.P. iDyffryn;. E. Lyon.s Evans-Thomas. J.P. (The Gnoli), Coombe Tennant, J.P. (Cadoxton). E. Evans Bevan. J.P. (Cadoxton), J. Brooks Taylor \eat,h), John John. J.P. (Lonlas), Gordon Jones (Western Mocr). tile executors of the late Mr. Howel Cuthbertson, Dr. J. H. Davi>s, ifr. Windsor Williams, and Mrs. I Walter Rice Evans (Eaclesbush). I Opening the Ceremony. "Canu Corn Gwlad announced the open- ing of the csremony and this was followed by the Gorsedd prayer. "Give, God. Thy Protection," (impressively rtcited by the Vicar of Aberpergwm (the Rey, J. Llewellyn Thomas). Dyfed. the Archdruid, then read the prcela.niation, a proceeding which must be observed at least a year and a day before the succeeding eisteddfod, to which it refers. The presentation of The oup of welcome i and hospitality to the Archdruid preceded addresses by Gwili. Cadfan and o',Oer bards, and th? peuiHion of Eos y (?of?pdd. who was accompan?d on the harp by Megan Glantawe accomp.ti)ied oii the liai-D by -Iegaii C,' j Short but. impre?!Tp addresses in meniory 01 departed members of the Gorsedd, Lady Llewelyn. C'yaihaiarn. T. Matthew?. M.A.. Gwydderig and Dewi Medi, were given by Viusent, Gwynedd, Mr. 1). Rhys Phillips, ) Penar, Ay Gwyddon. Brynfab. and Sylfaui. The chief subjects of the Neath National Eisteddfod of 1918 were then announced and the Gorsedd was closed with the singing of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau and "God Save! the Kin sr." THE FORMAL OPEN INC. ) The formal opening of the • Gorsedd took place at the Victoria Gardens at noon. when the principal bards present were :-Dvfed (the art hdruid). Cadfan ( deputy-archdmid), Eifionyad (Recorder | of the Sorseddi, Gwynedd, Gwili. Penar. j Gwernogle. Tawe and others. The pro-1 ceeclings opened ith the sounding of the horn by Mr. Philip Dat ics (Skewen). The Archdruid then ascended the Logan stone and formally opened the nroceedings. stating vhat in the present disturbed sta-te of the uaiions. when so many were at each others throab and the sword was red with gee it would not be meet to disturb this peaceful glade by unsheathing the sword. iiychdniid then -frnafliy read the proclamation, and the R«v. T. Gwernog'c Evans, having i critea the Gorsedd: prayer, the proceedings closed. ) I.. —»

NO MORE FROM THE I LAND. I DEFINITE STATEMENT BY J LORD MILNER. In the ,H-cnise of Lords 011 Wcdneiday. Lord Miiher ;.¡id that an absolute Order had now been issued that no more men engaged I)ei?,i that i-t,)m(,)re n-peii enga-ged with the cons nit of the Agricultural Com- mittee. Army men How on the land who would have been recalled to the colours on the 25t.h July "nlJ Id not he recalled unle«s t'" y were replaced by men of equal effi- c'ency. These men numbered 22,000. The Duke of Marlborough said the uum- ber of tractors now possessed by the Board of Agriculture was 626, of which, 156 N;ej-e Eiigiish and the lemamder American, and had already been allocate,d. to different coun- ties and handed over to the Executive Com- ivittees. Eight hundred and thirty motor- ploughs had been purchased, arid agricul- tural implements for use with tractors were being acquired. It was hoped several thou- sand tractors would be available, .but they had been somewhat disappointed in these hopes. j —————— )

I PRICES OF COAL. I I Mines Controller's Code of [ Diractions. I The Controller of Coal Mines lias issued a. code of directions as to the sale of coal with a view to dealing with fluctuations in colli- ery prices which have recently occurred in cartain districts owing to abnormal market conditions, and preserving regularly in the distribution of coal, -svliich is so necessary at I the present time. The directions uiainly affect, jprices of coul for export, and bunker purposes, for which a definite schedule or prices lias been drawn uP. but they also provide that the pit, prices of coal for home consumption shall remain at maxima prescribed by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act.

MORE POTATOES. j LONDON MARKET GREATLY EASED. i The definite easing of the potato situation was the principal feature of the food markets on Tuesday. New potatoes from English and Jersey growers came in fair quantity to the Borough. Spitalfields, aud Coveut Garden I markets, where they sold readily at 3Jd. to 4d. per pound. In addition. 35 tons of Spanish potatoes were offered at Coveut ¡ Garden and made 22s. per package of about 1081b. The?e Spanish potatoes are part ot a -4rgo of 1,0011 1.011s which have just arrived in the s.s. Cardiganshire, and they are to be sold I in lots daily in the Florad liall at Coveat Garden.

NOT ALL ON BEER! LlaneUy Workmen and Their I Money. The remarkable success of the Small Dwellings euuisition Act in Llaneliy has been more than once comments! upon, aud the Town CierI. at a rec.mt meeting said that borroniril were so anxious to pay up that st vbe present time he had received £ 1.141 1111 rt. than was actually du, Aid. Nathan 'iriflRtbiJ s-nid it v.as"e\ident til-it the 'vorking people of Llaneliy. did uot epaad ail their mouej' on beer.

I"SERIOUS DAMAGE.' I LLANSAMLET AND LOCAL WORKS. j COMPLAINTS AND THREATS I AT PARISH MEETING. I There was a very large and keenly critical attendance at the public meeting of the par- ishioners of Llansamkt and district held at the Peniel Green Schoolroom on Wednes- day evening when important matters in 0011. nection with the works fumes nuisance, ths borough extension and food production were discussed. Councillor Aneuryn Rees (Glais) presidedv a-id was supported by the Clerk (Ad. John Jordan). Councillor Weaver and the Rev. J. D. Harris. At the outset the Chairman paid a tri- bute to the solicitude for the welfare of tha local worker* manifested by Parish Coun- cillor Weaver, who had worked unceasingly and who had been responsible to & large ex- tent in abating a similar nuisance that had threatened them some years ago. He had been for months past urging the Parish. Council to move strongly in the matter said they were doing their utmost at the present time. The Clerk sa.id that the question had beea causing the ;>arishioners trouble for a con- -q i dera, L siderable time. He referred to tlfe success- ful manner in which the Council had ad- justed and dealt with the Swansea Vale spelter nuisance, who, after legal proceed- ings had heen instituted, had remedied the difficulty bv the erection of sulphuric acid chambers. The smoke that proceeded from another works was infinitely worso than in the last instance. The company had been communicated with on the matter 011 April 18th last, at the instigation or Councillor Weaver, who had. at dte Parish Council meeting, referred to the seri- ous damage inflicted on vegetation and gar- den produce by the noxious fumes emanating from the works. The company then promised to toon remedy the discrepancy. Here the clerk read a great deal more cor. respondence on the subject; the last attitude the company having taken up was that of promising to make the necessary structural alterations to abate the fumes after the war. Here it was explained that whatever wait decided at the meeting should go to the Parish Council, who would be the authority to take action. The clerk added that any- thing the parishioners recommended was a.1. inost certain to be carried out by the Council. Parish Might be Ruined." District Councillor D. R. Evans thought that there should be a direct appeal to the Government. They all agreed that tha smoke and poisonous fumes that came from the works should be abated with. out delay. The only remedy ,Yiks the provision of chambers, the work of erecting wlikh the company had stated would not commence until after the war. In t,he meantime the parish might be ruined. Consequently it was absolutely necessary for them to take steps in the mat. ter. The Government had requested then* to produce as milch foodstuffs as possible, and that they were the essential of our eX04 istence. Accordingly the people of Llansam- let made spcjal efforts to fill their gardens with produce in order to carry them through next winter, and therefore it would be 4 crime against humanity to allow nuisances of thi. s kind to bring about the complete de., struct ion of all the garden produce in tll. diptiiel. corpses of Twe Horses. ihe speaker gave the result of an ;tiia-lytf., cat examination of the internal organs of tw,g horses belonging to Mr. Thomas Thomas, ot Llansamlet. who had died. The examina- tion had shown that the organs contained lead, arsemc. zinc, and nickel. In the aim maJ that died a month ago .60 grains of leata alone had been found, in addition to sub- starmal traces of ether mineral*. The meet. mg had but to take the rateable value*, coit4 tmued the speaker; the work, wag ruted at ?850 ?r aj?u?? tfl# ttt?t moabk ?!ue nf the hougM ? %hm p<M-?h. exduavp of 0her works, railfty4. Md sdiooj? w? £ 12.060. W?re tbev uoind to ?iow M works only rat?d at £ 860 ne* U Y. /vv^° ^/°y ?"? ™ted at ov? £ i9,WU. V* ??' ? '? were concerned* ?e stated, t??- would ii?n?tv prefer to M? an extra 2d. in the £ rather than aft the parisii being destroyed. (Loud applause.) in view of the works being a controlled one he saw no reason why they should not approach the Government, which was 8pend jng -even millions a day on the war, and get them to authorisA the expenditure of £ ^>0,000 th1 e cost of the proton of phurie acid chambers. He formally pro, posed a resolntw which ran to the effect that the inhabitants of Llansamlet thouchti that steps should be taken to r-top the fumes emanating from the works and recommend mg the sending of a petition, signed by everyone over 21 years of age. accompanied by a deputation to bp introduced by Mr Jno. Williams. M.P.. and Mr. T. J. 'William^ M.P., to the necessary Government depart* ment. Ir. (roodwin seconded. Another resolution. Earned bv Councillor Weaver and seconded by Councillor WaU kins, read "That the Parish Council an-a hereby authorised aud directed to take what. ever proceedings, legal or otherwise, the* may deem expedient.to prevent injury caused by the noxious fumes emanating from tha works in Llansamlet. of the British Metal Extraction ConiRaity. Councillor's Threat. Distinct Councillor Richards here said that if they could not stop it that way they could very soon do so mdustrially. (Loud applause. He related how one resident set 33s. worth of potato?s f nd bad found that ih-e crop had been completely destroyed by the smoke. Mr. L. Lewis here proposed a lonj amendment to Councillors Evans" and Weaver's resolutions, which caMed upon t] to Counoil to take proceedings against the com. pany under the Defence of the Realm Act, that they complain to the Board of Agrioul, ture and the Farmers' Association, that t-hej send the resolution to the Polluted Atmos- pher:c Society, and that a vigilance commit, tee be struck to work with t.h* Parsb Coun- cil until a final decision was arrived at. The Result. There ensued a oons derable amount din cussion from ir-hI ic-li nothing tangible resulted. To complicate matters a difficulty in the put. ting of resolutions cropped up and matter* for a t'ire became exceedingly confusing Eventually, Messrs. Weaver's and Evans' r* solutions were em bodied together and ihe resolution and amendment put to the vote, which resulted ii, the carrying of Mr. L. amendment by 69 votes to 54. The following were elected on the Vigilance Committee Messrs. L. Lewis, County Coua cillor Richards, Henry, James Morris, Thomas Thomas aaid Lewis Jenkins.

COWER CUAROLAN AND BOY EMPLOYE. Mr. Richard Bevan. of Hortou, Gowew and a member of the Gower Board of Gua. diaus, takes exception to a paragraph som< little time ago in our" Post Bag" colum. with respect to a lad on his farm, and igtat-ev th £ the suggestion that he demurred to making auy payment in the shape of wagei to this lad is incorrect, and was a sue gestiou calculated to do him injury. W. are assured by him that at the Guardians' meeting referred to in the paragraph thei-, wa-s no question of wag«:s i-ats--d, and that being the case we have to express our siiii cere regret that the statement should havi appeared, as the circumstances did not jU8 iify its publicatioi.

FARES TO HEALTH RESORTS. In consequent of the many letters he liat received from health resorts as to reported increase of railway fares, Mr. John Kinds, M.P., h.u seen Sir A. Stanley and Mi-. G. K Roberts, and they assure him there is ti4, iutention of raising fares, though they art anxious to prevent the taking of Ions raill way journeys as far as possible.