The Cardiff Times

S r TRY IT.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. THE WORLD OF COAL. By MABON, M.P. tufk 50t;h general meeting of the Insti- jj- '1011 °f Mining Engineers, the President, in of a<*dress, dealt with the world production fP C°a'" He said that the history of coai dated the beginning of the last century, when ^°al production of the world was probably than 15,000,000 tons—a figure which had greased to 1,080 million tons in the year 1907. 15 (W? yCar I80G' out of the total Production °f Sft 'r^00 tons got Britain was re- f°r two-thirds of the same, jj. the annual production of coal v United Kingdom to 50,000,000 tons an *n which year the United States had 0litput of 3,500,000 tons, the total output of 75 nn^01'^ being at that date somewhat under ^>000 tons. Up to the year 1870 Great to Was the only country which showed a Paratively rapid increase in coal produc- but since that year other countries, y Germany and the United States, had rapid rates of increase. jjjc e Production in this country had steadily Feased, until in 1907 it was no less than bic' tons. In the' United States the vet^aSe 'n tlic rate of production had been adftvapifi c^ur'n- recent years, and by annual fea' lr,ns of 25,000.000 tons the output had °f th 428,000,000 tons, or 40 per cent. Ho-\y 6 Pr°duction, the United States being a*w far the greatest coal producer. It appclared to be certain that in future years proePlCa would contribute an even larger Pi,od°rti°n Gl t°tal production. The combined ^ction of coal and lignite in Germany, of q 'n 1S07 was 65,000.000 tons less than that Feat Britain, was increasing at a rapid rale, rapidly overtaking that of tnis ungary, with a combined output c I and ii 'oJ' ari(i lignite of over 45,000,000 tons, now 0f P* fourth place on the list. The output i^Cr from the British Colonies was steadily easingi the total in 1907, including India, Itons. °f c was by far the largest exporter all(j0a having exported 85,000,000 tons in 1907, 8^ these large coal exports were & great to the consumer against prices being Coai Raised. The "increasing consumption of exha faiSe<^ the question as to the possible CatAUS^0n °f supplies, but this was compli- teSer_ the difficulties of estimating the tbserves existing. The figures put forward by QUa Commission assumed an assured Stiij11 the year 1901 of 101,000 million tons le in this country, which would be that tv °Ut in less than 300 years,but Soqj e could be but little doubt felt that e means of doing without coal would have discovered before supplies wore ex- isted. The Laboor Market. -^rter the prolonged period of trade depres- 11 through which the country has passed it Only natural to expect that the smallest, even the most insignificant, signs of re- ?*ery will be watched with the greatest an^ mos^ ansi°us solicitude. A Pj^Penty would mean employment encourajr^°'8an^3 mea aru^ women, the PPoducti060^ caP*tal to spend money in &ationaIVR and Payment into the effects f of enlarged receipts. The c^mulat" ^ra^e, as well as bad trade, are different ^8' arx<^ the interaction between ,ndustries help to improve one and to £ °asibl7 °ther- although it is not aiQoo«sf to trace cause and effect sy*texn t tlle oomPlexities of our industrial depfesg'-1 W as cert«hi as anything can be that l0Q °r ProsPerity in one branch of trade 0CcUrg ^t °nly the precise locality in which it ut extends in ever-widening circles qtiarteT given centre t° the most remote ate rna^' even to f°reign countries. There tottri ally Ways in which the prosperity of a neY Can be gauged. And by prosperity fop a c ans the general well-ceing of a people, &lt°gethlntry may amass wealth without being prosperous, parodoxical as it may the best siSns of good and bad Wm ,labour market. And to speak of the ^°ditv Tw and to regard labour as a com- pered may be bought and sold is con- ?trident m n50™6 quarters in these days of iangUaffp coHectivism an irreverent abuse of «ixds it ,,ut one must take the world as one pernor.'and nothing is more easily capable of tical r»i? n than the fact that for all prac- gT,POSes labour is a thing that is bartered Prepai. • According to a memorandum i?°ard nf t j the Labour Department of the lh6wh^.r J-rade, employment in May was on tetUrn<T Somewhat better than in April. The ^ul;,rUPQn which the Department bases its T and c°nclusions are fairly compre- Statistf' ut aro bY no means exhaustive, for of employment, particularly in the e branches of industry, whose ^ailahf are le^ion' are in many casesv not 4Pplv But at the same time the returns ?°1ntrv to the staple industries of the Jhe such as coal and iron mining, the v° M°,n' woollen, and worsted trades, trad UUdmg trades, the engineering th'ffu so on' and ifc is quite safe to tries t. e general condition of these indus- ^p°speHfa more or less accurate index to the erhan °r otherwise of the country at large. one could leave out of account what ^Prov Season of Tpade declines or i ^°Uld as the case may be, for they \fss evia^e themselves obvious to a greater or fhere ^n m an-* state of trade and thus ^hino. f J1 3eas°nal decline in the coal ^lent i a e> and a seasonal improve- ?l°thin„ ,the building, wood-working, and trades last month. In the engineer- Pereent shiPbuildins trades, however, the phe sarvfge of unemployment remained about J11 the •whlle there was some imprqvement g ]Ion' iron and stpe1'and the tinplate es and with the exception of tho cotton textile t ich continued only moderate, the «he t^des showed improvement also. On Mvan reductions in wages exceeded the £ ] the net result being a total decrease *8 still Per week. On the whole, there stillaarge. percentage of unemploy- JSed tp arSer may be in May among the organ- e iU(VC ma^,n^ roturns than in April. Still ^turn 1(;ations all round point plainly to a sure °f better trade, if it is slow. So The Man and the Job. ettlIle Of r Winston Churchill's critics have Vot^^ging that his Labour Exchange Bill ^plovf^ nothing to increase the amount of ?r'tic<, nt in the country. In one sense these tha^Eaay he right. But what is lost sight of 'Ustife Unemployment is not all caused by an ?^ettinienCy °^. wor^ hi the aggregate. No, the U u °yrnent is also caused by dislocations in ?fthe ^°Ul* mar'liet' and it is this second aspect Mr nvTase the Bill is meant to deal with or, as j?U^°hill himself puts it. the object in ]°h8." to find jobs for men and men for e Wh i y niachinery the labour market of :t:t).ad ole country will, a? far as possible, be I)a one, so that men wanting work in some ^ith be country may be brought into touch all J^k-wanting them. This Bill is recognised deal 9 as a genuine and hopeful attempt *eCojjr) W)th an urgent social problem, and the Mthr, fading thereof was, this week carried t a division. a Labour and Education. II th ther grand feature oil Mr Churchill's Bill %6rat. the Labour Exchanges are to co- ttiin ;^th the Educational Authorities. evjl & m my mind will do more to check the ^hildp Unemployment than to watch the for it jo* carefully when they leave school. is conclusively proved that in the years the lately following the leaving of school >ei*y Manufacture of the unemployed S°es on, and without a doubt the ^°Uid °f the times is that liie school age *ge of v> raised- Moreover, even were the °ya raised before they can be employed, the1>ef0^r°u'd even then be a gap to be filled, *>e the labour exchanges cannot co- ^too closely with educational authorities, trahjyj other authorities that aim at r-aPah,5 our boys and young men to be ^{q ty, artisans, and not allow them to drift e Pauper's ranks.

Jt • —~ y that 12,000 applications for enclo- -ets for Ascot were received by Lord Of these about 9,000 were refused.

Princess for Spain. ROYAL FAMILY'S WISH GRATIFIED. La Granji, Tuesday.—The Queen gave birth to a daughter at 6.25 this morning.-Reuter. La Granja, Tuesday, 10.15 a.m.—The Queen was present at dinner as usual last night, and later withdrew to her apartments without feel- ing in any way indisposed. Towards 11 o'clock, however, her Majesty began to feel slight symptoms, and the King gave orders for Dr. Gutierrez, physician-accoucheur, to be sum- Howards 3 a.m. theQueenMother and Prince^ Henry of Battenburg were informed that the birth of a-child was imminent, and immediately went to the Queen's bedside, where they re- mained until the happy event was an accomplished fact. The King also summoned Senor Maura (Premier) and the Marquis de Figueroa (Minister of Justice), who were in Madrid, and, an hour later, all the members of the Royal Family, the high dignitaries of the Court and the authorities of Segovia and of La Granja, who were to witness the presenta- tion of the child. The announcement of the birth was received with a salute of 19 guns. Twenty minutes after the happy event Senor Maura arrived in a motor-car. King Alfonso, who was dressed in the uniform of a captam- general, presented the infant upon a basket decorated with rich lace to the Ministers and other dignitaries in an ante-chamber, and re- ceived their hearty congratulations. In honour of the occasion the King has signed an order cancelling or reducing sentences on a number of prisoners. The new Princess is fair, and a trifle smaller than her two brothers were at their birth. There was a general desire in the Royal Family that the Queen, on this occasion, should present the nation with a Princess.-R,euter. La Granga, Tuesday, 5 p.m.—The first con- gratulatory telegram received by King Alfonso on the birth of a Princess was from King Edward and Queen Alexandra.—Reuter. A telegram received at the Spanish Embassy in London states that both her Majesty and the infant Princess are making excellent progress.

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr Frank W. Morse, the late vice-president and general manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific, sailed on Monday on the steamer Celtic, of the White Star line, for New York, after an extended trip throughout Europe. Mr Morse, who is still keenly interested in the work of building Canada's new Trans- continental line, in the carrying out of which he played so prominent a part, stated in the course of an interview :— I am still more strongly convinced than ever that this line will be of great success, and I feel that the people who have charge of this work will achieve all I ever hoped for—and more. At least, that is my sincerest wish. The Grand Trunk shareholders should be alive to the fact that they virtually own a Trans- continental road, which will be of the greatest service to the original system. I have the best of authority for stating that the parts of the line now in operation are securing traffic far in excess of expectations. The people have been settled along the line in advance of the road, and new developments of the Lake Superior branch in the way of mining interest is empha- sised bv the number of trains carrying pros- pectors into these districts." What about the Grand Trunk securities ?" The Grand Trunk securities, to my mind, will enhance in value, and be equal to those of the established Transcontinental lines of the American Continent, after the opening of the Grand Trunk Pacific, in much less time than it has taken the present lines to reach their value."

BENJAMIN GREENE LAKE. Chequered Career Closed by Death. The death at Woodfield Lodge, Streatham, of Benjamin Greene Lake was announced on Tuesday. A chequered career is thus closed. For many years Lake was one of the most eminent solicitors in England. He was presi- dent of the Incorporated Law Society and chairman of its Disciplinary Committee. In 1901 he was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to 12 years' penal servitude for misappropriating zE70,000 of trust funds. On account of ill-health he was recently released. He ascribed his failure'and losses to defalca- tions on the part of a partner, who was also his cousin-Mr George Edward Lake—and he said he did not discover them until after his part- ner's death. George Edward Lake was said to have died in Berlin, and his body was stated to have been brought to England and interred. There was a certificate that death had taken place from pleurisy and pericarditis, but no further proof was forthcoming as to the death, and it was then suggested that he was then alive. Benjamin Greene Lake strongly protested his innot;encc of the frauds alleged against him, but he was convicted. He has spent the in- terval since his release in August laat in bed.

WHITE STAR PROFITS. The White Star Line report for last year shows a profit of C299,941, which with the amount brought forward makes £ 625,690. After deducting Debenture and general interest and writing off depreciation there remains a balance oftlll,203, out of which a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum, absorbing EIS.000, was declared in March last leaving E36,203 to be carried forward. In common with other pamsenger lines in North Atlantic and Med- iterranean trades the company suffered con- siderable diminution in its earnings owing to the unsettled state of financial matters, and a consequent remarkable shrinkage in the westbound carrying during last year, but considerable improvement is anticipated in this feature of the company's business during the current year. Low rates of freights pre- vailed throughout the vear. To enable the company to be fully equipped to meet the de- mands of travellers the steamers Olympic and Titantic are building for the Southampton-New York mail service. They will be the largest vessels in the world, each being of about 45,000 tons gross.

SLUG IN KING'S SALAD. This sadly disloyal story found its way from quite exaltfed lips to rather humbler ears, and so to this extremely humble pen (writes the Manchester Guardian" London corres- pondent). At luncheon at Buckingham Palace the other day one of the young princes of Wales began, Oh grandpapa,' when the King interposed with some severity, Little boys should be seen and not heard. Go on with your luncheon, and don't talk." Collapse of small prince. To him presently the King, relenting Well, now you can say what you were going to say." Prince, with a world of meaning: Too late, grandpapa too late. The King Nonsense If it was worth saying five minutes" ago it is worth saying now. Prince, firmly: No, grandpapa. There was a great enormous slug in your salad, and you, eaten him.

GLASTONBURY ABBEY. The Prince and Princess of Wales after at- tending a millenary service at Wells Cathedral, on Tuesday proceeded to Glastonbury, where they were present at the ceremony of restor- ing the ancient Abbey to the Church of Eng- land. Their Royal Highnesses occupied Seats on the raised dais choir of the great church. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, on behalf of the Abbey trustees, asked the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Council to accept the power to direct the future use of the Abbey, and his Grace accepted the charge. After ser- vice a number of presentations were made to the Prince and Princess, who left for LoDgIeat shortly before 6 o'clock.

TURKISH MILITARY DISASTER Repulse in a Pass: Casualties, 364 Vienna, Tuesday.—Rumours, ostensibly from Uskub, are circulated here that General Djavid Pasha has been repulsed by Albanians in attempting to force a pass near Ipek, losing 14 officers and 350 men. Albanians in arms are 14,000, and demand complete autonomy and liberation of all prisoners. These rumours are unusually circumstantial, but unconfirmed.— Times," per Press Association.

SPANISH TERRORIST OUTRAGE Lisbon. Tuesday Telegrams to the Lisbon papers to-day state that whilst a religious procession was being formed inside the church at La Velas, in Spain, four terrorists, armed with rifles and revolvers, fired about 50 shots from the windows of a neighbouring house into the crowded church, with the result that five persons were killed and nine dangerously wounded, seventeen others receiving slighter injuries. A force of Civil Guards had to sur- round the terrorists to prevent the enraged crolgd from lynching them.—Central News.

CARDIFF MAN'S SUDDEN DEATH John Stirling (69), of King's-road, Cardiff, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday morning. He went to bed over night apparently in his usual health, but was taken suddenly ill in the early hours of the morning and died, it lis believed from heart failure, before a doctor could be procured.

Welsh Monuments. ■ i LLAWHADEN CASTLE. I The present edifice of Llawhaden Castle, or all that remains of a once striking pile of buildings, is supposed to have been founded by Bishop Beck, about the time of the final con- quest of Wales. He was appointed to the see in 128. Several prelates added to his work. Adam Houghton, 1361, and John Gilbert, 1389. Llawhaden (more correctly Llannaeddan, St. j Aeddan's Church), takes its name from one of St. David's companions who is credited with having introduced bees into Ireland. There is an absence of information as to the date when Llawhaden became church property. The place was one of the English outposts during t,he long war waged by them against the Welsh, and it is more than probable that there was in exis- tence there a castle before the present ruined stronghold. While Guv Mone sat on St. David's throne the revolt, headed by Owain Glyndwr, broke out, and the bishop received a sharp reminder from Henry IV. directing him to garrison his castle of Llawhaden and put it into a condition to resist the enemy on pain of forfeiting the said castle, and all manors, demesnes, and appurtenances thereto. The Bishop of St. David's, as lord of the Barony of Llawhaden, was charged with military service, a fact that Bishop Mone appears to have for- gotten." The Bishop of St. David's, it was said, lived as a prince of the church in Minevia, as a Baron of the realm at Llawhaden Castle, and as a plain gentleman at Lamphey Palace. The beau- tiful chapel at Llawhaden was built by Bishop Vaughan, and, with the exception of Gower, he was the greatest builder among the bishops of the West. The iconoclastic William Barlow came in 1536, and at Llawhaden he carried out his fury against the Pope and all his works," repeating the vandalisms which have caused ,3 his name to be execrated at St. David's. He is reported to have taken off the leaden roof and sold it, though he had another reason than gain for his conduct. He desired to remove the see to Carmarthen. In 1616 Bishop Milbourn re- ceived permission from the Archbishop to utterly demolish Llawhaden. The building proved too strong for the hands of the de- spoilers. The workmen of the 13th century who mixed the mortar did their work well, and the clerical Goths while they spoiled, could not destroy. The story of the ruins of Llawhaden are the same as those of many another noble ruin. From the time of Bishop Milbourn, the castle was regarded as a quarry for the whole dis- trict around. If a farmer or a cottager desired a load of stones for the building of a pig-stye the castle was laid under tribute and the materials carried away. It is due to the hard mortar and the solidity of construction fol- lowed by the builders of other days, that there is one stone left upon another to remind us of the past struggles. There is just sufficient left standing of Llawhaden Castle to recall the existence of the stronghold. The ruin is the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. LLAWHADEN CASITLE. —{ptjoio by H. Mortimer Alien).

100 in the Mine. I SERIOUS PITTSBURG EXPLOSION. 1 Pittsburg, Wednesday. -An expkmdon has oc- curred in thelackawirma Coal and Coke Com- pany's mine at Wehrum. Over a hundred persons were in the mine at the time, and it is feared that a number of them have been killed.-Peuter. Pittsburg, Wednesday, 11 a.m.—The super- intendent of the Lackawanna Company's mine reports that the explosion occurred at about 8 o'clock, and seems to have taken place in the worst portion of the mine, which was recently opened up. By 10.45 three bodies, terribly mutilated, and ten persons injured, some of them fatally, had been brought up. The Deadly Aftefdamp. Pittsburg (Later).-At 3 o'clock eight bodies had t,,2en taken from the mine and 10 located at the foot of the shaft ready to be brought to the surface. It is now thought that the dead will not number more than a score. Several in- jured men have been brought to the surface unconscious, and physicians are using oxygen in their efforts to restore them. Women and children have gathered at the mouth of the shaft, and their lamentations are pitiful. Little progress can yet be made with the rescue-work, owing to the deadly after daanp.-Reuter.

LAM PETER STREET ROW. At Lampeter Police. Court on Wednesday, before the Mayor, Alderman Timothy Richard, an exciting story was told of a street row on Saturday night. P.C. Abraham Oliver was taking a labourer named James Collins into custody, on a charge of drunkenness. Collins became violent and assaulted the constable. Collins was then handcuffed, and as he was being conducted through the streets a crowd assembled, and shouted Shame." Sergeant Thomas was also assaulted. Further down the street another labourer, named George Taylor, obstructed P.C. Oliver. Collins was fined 10s and costs for being drunk and disorderly, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment for assaulting the police officers. Taylor was fined 10s for obstructing P.C. Oliver.

ROSS TRAP FATALITY. A fatal trap accident is reported from Ross, the victim being Mrs Elizabeth Howells, a widow, aged 55 years, housekeeper to Mr Chas. Miles, farmer, PengetMy, near Ross. She waa being driven home by Mr Miles on Monday.1 Mr Miles called at a house at Peterston, and fastened the horse to a chain in the yard, leav- ing Mrs Howells seated in the trap. He heard a scream and upon rushing out found that the horse had broken loose and had struck against a wall, Mrs Howells being; thrown out of the trap. She was taken into the house, where she expired in a few minutes. At the inquest a verdict of Accidental death was returned.

A SECURED DYNASTY. Another happy event took place in the Spanish Royal family on Tuesday, when Queen Victoria Eugenic gave birth to a daughter. This is the third child to be born to the young couple. Her Majesty will not be 22 till October next, and King Alfonso is only 23. It will be obvious that the succession is now well secured, and there is no immediate danger of t Queen Victoria Eugenie. I such a critical state of affairs as c-usued when the present King's father died. and Spain was on the verge of anarchy. The best wishes of the English people will go out to the present Queen, well-known as Princess Ena, the charm- ing daughter of a charming mother, Princess Beatrice.

SWANSEA HOSPITAL FINANCES. Di-minishing Public Support. At a meeting of the Board of Management of the Swansea Hospital on Wednesday, Mr C. Tuckfield presiding, it was decided to increase the nursing staff by four, bringing the staff up to 47. In moving the adoption of the financial statement Mr H. Goldberg deplored the falling off in public support, though the donations from places of worship and. works had in- creased. There is now due to the treasurer zE2,456, including a deficit brought forward from last year of £ 1,732. The annual financial statement shows expenditure and investment to have been 115,039, while the receipts were; R13,390, including a donation of jE500 and zC2,000 for in- vestment.

cc I C h o ked, Her. -.0- YOUNG MAN'S AWfUL CONFtSSfON. At Hendon on Saturday Frederick Burgess, otherwise Westwood, of prospect-road, Child's Hill, whose age was stated to be 20, was re- ma.nded charged with the wilful murder of Annie Lydia Fletcher, age five, whose body was found on Friday the River Brent, at Edgeware. Detective-Inspector Pike stated that when he saw prisoner, the I choked her with a. piece of my muffler. Then I stabbed her. I laid my coat under her because the grass was wet. The blood on my coat was from her. During the recital of the evidence the accused stood to attention, and when asked whether he had anything ta say dp&ecl Ni)-sir."

THE RAMMED CRUISER. H.M.S. Sappho, the protected cruiser which was rammed in a fog a mile-of Dungeness by a Wilson liner of the same name, is a twin-screw second-class protected cruiser, having dis- placement of 3,400 tons, engines of 7,000 indicated horse-power, and a speed of 16 to 18 knots. Built in 1891, she cost about 1200,000. She was commissioned on Captain Harold Christian. H.M.S. Sappho. August 4h last by Commander Harold Chris- tian. The Sappho was in command of Captain Christian, and had a nuclesus crew which had been brought up to full strength by the addition of naval reservists and volunteers, who behaved in the crisis with all the steadiness and discipline of veterans.

REMY MURDER TRIAL Jury's Verdict. Versailles, Wednesdoy.-To -day being the last day of the Remy.murder trial, the court was even more crowded than on the preceding days. Renard's counsel argued the improb- ability of the charges against his client which were solely based on the statement of Cour- tois. Loud cheers were provoked when he proceeded to criticise the partiality of the ex- amining magistrates, and there was a sensation in court on his announcing that he had been authorised by Dr. Hernette, who received the confessions of Courtois at the lie de Re. to tell the jury in his name that he knew that Renard was not guilty. After a short reply by the public prosecutor Renard affirmed his innocence on the head of his wife and his child. The jury then retired to consider their ver- dict, and on their reappearing the foreman announced that they found Renard guilty on all the counts, though they found the murder was not premeditated, and accorded him the benefit of extenuating circumstances.—Reuter. Renard was sentenced to bard labour for Iffe.-C-antral News.

DEATH SENTENCE CRUELTY. "Will Not Be Carried Out." At Cornwall Assizes on Wednesday Sarah Elizabeth Visick, aged 23, a domestic, was found guilty, of the murder of her illegitimate child by throwing it down a mine shaft near Redruth on April 8th. The case for the prose- cution was that accused in a desolate and for- saken condition took the child to the shaft and deliberately threw it down. Subsequently she told falsehoods as to where the child had gone, but on arrest admitted what she had done, and asked if the constable thought she would be hanged. Prisoner, in giving evidence, said she had a fit an hour or two before the child was thrown down the shaft, and must have suffocated it during that time, because when she recovered the child was cold and apparently lifeless. In her terror she threw the body down the shaft. She admitted telling falsehoods, but. she did not know what she was doing. Prisoner had three fits in court while "the'trial was pro- ceeding. The jury recommended prisoner to mercy. Sentence of death was passed, but the Judge intimated that it would not be carried out. <

Royaity in Somerset. BRAVE MfNERS HONOURED. Lovely weather favoured the Prince and Prmcess-of Wales for the second day of their I visit to Somerset. Leaving Longleat House at 10.30 the Royal visitors proceeded to i Laverton, where they inspected cheese making at Mr Bashes' farm, which is Duchy property. A short halt was made at Radatock on the way to Midsomer Norton, where the principal feature of the proceedings was the presentation by the Prince of Wales of three medals and 34- certificates to miners and others in commemoration of feats of gallantry per- formed on the occasion of an explosion at Norton Hill Colliery last year. I The medallists were Herbert Attwood, William Gould and John Simms. Amongst those to receive certificates were Drs. Bollard and Miall, and the former's services were especially commended bytlie Prioce In a speech in reply to an address of welcome presented by Midsomer Norton Urban Council. The Prince also presented Drs. Worger and Lloyd Harvey, of Radstock, with St. John Ambulance honours, and presented medals to four Terri- torials. The Prince was accompanied by the Princess, and attended by Lady Shaftes- bury, Sir Arthur Bigge, and Lord Bath, his host. The Royal visitors lunched with the Earl and Countess Waldegrave at Chewton Priory, and later visited West Harptree, Nine Elms, Chewton Mendip, and Stratton, and received their tenants. The day's round of visits concluded at Shep- ton Mallet, where the Prince planted a tree and opened Collett Park. The Duchy office in Shepton Mallet, which have the management of the estates in six counties, issued over 800 invitations, the comprehensive character of which caused great satisfaction.

SUBMARINE EXPLOSION. Three Men Injured. On Wednesday morning while some sub- marines were proceeding with H.M.S. Vulcan northwards to Dundee an explosion occurred on one of the vessels opposite Berwick, and three men were injured. How the explosion occurred has not been clearly ascertained, but it is suggested to have been caused by petrol or acetylene gas. The men were landed at Granton in the afternoon and conveyed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Their names are John Herd, Leonard Bury, and Patrick Lyon, of the Vul- can. They are suffering from burns on their faces and hands. Lyons had a fractured leg.

STEWART GRAY ARRESTED. A Birmingham Tussle. Renewal of trouble has arisen in Birmingham over the disputed right of meeting in Chamber- lain-square, which was the subject of collisions between the police and unemployed during the winter. On Wednesday Mr Stewart- Gray endeavoured to speak in the square in defiance of the police prohibition. A large crowd con- gregated and Mr Gray was arrested.

CAPTAIN OF SCIENCE. The Council of the Royal Society of Arts have awarded the Albert Medal of the Society for the current year to Sir Andrew Noble, in recognition of his long-continued and valuable researches into the nature and action of explo- sives, which have resulted in the great develop I Sir Andrew Noble. I ment and improvement of modern ordnance." Sir Andrew Noble is chairman of the firm of Armstrong, Whitworth and Company. Born at Greenock 77 years ago, the son of a naval officer and an American mother, Sir Andrew became a captain in the Royal Artillery, and an enthusiastic student of everything relating to big guns. In 1859 so rapidly had he come to the front that he was Assistant-Inspector of Artillery. It was in 1860 that he began his famous partnership with the late Lord Arm strong.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER Swansea Prisoner Again Remanded. At Swansea police court on Wednesday Ben- jamin Evans, labourer, was. again brought up on remand charged with attempting to marder Elizabeth Bevan in Sketty-lane under circum- stances already reported. Inspector Williams said the woman re- mained at the hospital, and was progressing favourably. The Public Prosecutor was now being communicated with. The prisoner was remanded for another week.

French Navy. SCANDALOUS MISMANAGEMENT Paris, Tuesday.—The report of the Navy Commission is a formidable indictment fully justifying the many criticisms passed in Par- iament and the Press, which were hitherto thought to be gross exaggerations. The situa- tion is pointedly summed up in a comparison of the naval programmes carried out in France and Germany respectively during the last 10 years. In that period France spent over 120 millions sterling, and Germany rather less, with this difference, however—that the two countries have exactly changed their places as naval Powers, France, which a decade ago held second position, having now sunk to fourth, while Germany, which was then fourth, is now second. The burthen of the report is the absence of organisation in the Navy Department. It is stated that ships are ordered before plans are completed, with the result that frequent modifications not only completely alter the type of vessel but entail delay and greatly en- hance the cost. Six battleships of the Danton type will cost 50 per cent. more than the original estimates submitted to Parliament. For the sum expended in France on building five battleships Germany obtained six, and Great Britain six and a half. Wit-h res'srd to submarines, though France icd the way in constructing these vessels, she is now surpassed for the simple reason that she has not enough men in her arsenals to execute V the orders given. Equally serious are the revelations con- .•c--rning guns, munitions, and stores. The six battleships of the Danton type are to be com- pleted in 1911, but their guns and ammunitions "will not be ready till 1914or 1925. The astounding statement is made that certain of these gunshave been ordered without the models ever being tested. Defects of existing guns have caused so many accidents that firing practice has had to be abandoned by the Mediterranean Squadron. Certain big guns would probably be worn out after firing 100 rounds, that is tosay, possibly before the termination of an important engage- ment. —c-& As to amiunimtion, it is shown that large stocks-of shells of a type which was condemned 3i years ago have since manufactured, and were still being manufactured last year. It appears that nothing whatever has been done to give effect to reforevs in this depart- ment ordered both by the Chamber and the Senate after the Jena disaster. Ships are short both of guns and of ammunition. Obsolete guns have not beenreplaced, while othersof the latest pattern could not fire a shot, having no shells. There is no adequate provision for repairing aind refitting ships in time of war, and is not a single graving dock which would talcG Ds-zitons now building. PsnrliAm ent. passwl a il' igb1- years-ago providing for the <»n«rtru.vI.K>n :1: new docks, with facilities for coaling and repairing, but the Commission has discovered thatall credits voted for the purpose have been spent in other directions, chiefly in the Colonies. The remedy suggested for the state of affairs revealed by the report is a complete reorganisa- tion of the Navy Department. The Navy Com- mission in its conclusion censures the negli- gence, disorder, and confusion which it has found to exist, and demands reduced contract prices, the suppression of premiums, and a re- course to private competition, especially in 1J.p. matter of boilers. Other urgent reforms are indicated in relation to shells, equipment of arsenals, organisation of dockyards, and a thorough reorganisation of the central autho- rity.—Reuter

H.M.S. SAPPHO'S MEN The missing members of the crew of H.M.S. Sappho, 26' in number, were landed safe and sound at Middlesbrough on Tuesday, and re- turned to Dover. They had, it appears, been picked up almost immediately by the steamer Montenegro, boumd from Las Pahnas to Middlesbrough, and were never in the slightest danger. Interviewed by a correspondent, Captain Hampson, of the Montenegro, said he sighted the Sappho in a disabled condition at 9.40 on Saturday night in densely foggy weather. The Sappho signalled for a tow, and after taking aboard 26 men from two whaie-boats which had put off from the Sappho, Captain Hampson attempted to manoeuvre the Montenegro into position to take a hawser aboard. Owing to the strong tide this was a difficult task, and during the manoeuvres the fog was so dense that he loet sight of the Sappho, and after cruising for two hours and finding no trace of her, the Montenegro proceeded to Middles- brough, signalling to Flamborough Head on Monday that the men were safe.- The men declare that they never were in danger, as the sea was quite calm, but that the Sappho filled with water almost immedi- ately she was struck, The men add that they were-treated royally by Captain Hampson.

tiAVAL SUPREMACY. M.P.'s & the Two-Power Standard. The Parliamentary Navy Committee met on Tuesday at the House of Commons, Mr Walter Long presiding, the main business being to consider the question of the two-Power stan- dard in the light of the recent debate in the House of Commons. After some discussion the Committee decided to reaffirm the two-Power standard as implying a 10 per cent. superiority on the two next strongest navies in the world, and to condemn the qualifications placed upon it by the Government. It was agreed that a resolution to this effect should be drawn up, and after confirmation by a further meeting of the Committee on Thursday week, should be forwarded to the Prime Minister. Discussion also took place as to the undesira- bility of continuing side by side the two rival leagues—the Navy League and the Imperial Maritime League—for the purpose of influen- cing public opinion. A strong feeling was ex- pressed that every effort should be made to bring about amalgamation between these two bodies, which have for their common object the promotion of naval supremacy and effi- ciency.

MOTOR DRIVER AND BARMAID. I was going to wait on you, but still there is more than one chance," wrote Frederick Worley, a motor driver, 27, who was charged yesterday at the London Sessions with feloniously sending to a widow, named Florence McCombie, a barmaid, with whom he had walked out, a letter threatening to murder her. The letter went on And now God help you, for if I see you with another fellow I will shoot vou both dead. I must tell you that I am driven to distraction." Prisoner had a revolver, but when arrested said these were idle threats, and that he had no intention of carrying them out. Prosecutrix, however, was afraid that he would. Accused I am very sorry that this has hap- pened. I wrote this letter to frighten her. I did not intend to do her any bodily harm. I am sure Mrs McCrombie would forgive me. If you let me off it shall never happen agan. This is one of the most cowardly and dastardly offences," said the Judge," and you created a fear in the girl's mind, even if you had no intention of carrying out your threats. I have regard for the fact that the police have given you the highest character, and that you have never had a charge against you before. I shall bind you over under the Probation Act."

DISORDER AT STATION. Disgraceful Behaviour at Tredegar. At Tredegar on Tuesday Hy. Overton, collier, Sirbowy, was summoned at the instance of the L. and N.W. Railway* Company for being disorderly and using abusive language, to the annoyance of the public, at Sirhowy Station, on March 16th. Mr R. L. Mason, London, prosecuted, and said that the defendant was in the waiting room at the station threatening to fight another man. Dr. Rocyn Jones, the Monmouthshire medical officer of healtlv com- plained to the station master. Dr. Jones said the defendant's conduct was that of a filthy blackguard." Defendant was fined £2, or one month, half of the fine to be handed over to the Company.

FO'CASTLE R0UGH-&-TUMBLE. Walter Croker, fireman on board the s.s. Boovilston, was charged at Swansea on Tues- day with unlawfwny assaulting and wounding Georges Stever. Prosecutor said that early that morning, while asleep in his bunk, prisoner went in and struck him eight times on the head without any provocation. It appeared, however, that the floor of the bunk was covered with broken pieces of china, and the allegation was that the two men, who were under the in- fluence of drink, had had a rough and tumble on the floor, and that the injuries were inflicted by the prosecutor's head coming in contact with the broken china on the floor. The medical evidence bore out this suggestion, and the magistrates dismissed the case.

LEFT THEIR IMPLEMENTS. Early on Tuesday morning the offices of Mr T. Glasbrook, solicitor, in Oxford and Water- loo-streets, Swansea, were broken into, some roll-top desks were smashed open, and an un- successful attempt was made with chisel and crowbar to force the safe. The burglars were, however, apparently disturbed, and made off, 1pqnq their iTrmlpmon^ nroninrl.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. After reading the account of the suffragettes at the National Eisteddfod, their interruptions when Air Asquith and Mr Lloyd George spoke, and the Archdruid's englyn, Mr Aaron Morgan, Blaenffos, Pembrokeshire, penned this :— Ffraeo a George mae'r suffrag Asquith boena'r ferret; Nid oes un dawa y set, Eu difa ni all Dyfet. It has been decided to erect an institute in Glyn Ceiriog in memory of Ceiriog, Wales's most popular lyrist. The site is being given by Mr Alfred T. Davies, the permanent secretary of the Welsh Department of the Board of Education. The parishioners of Mold have decided to restore their old historic church at a cost of £5,000. It was built by the famous Countess of Richmond, mother of King Henry VII., and in the churchyard lie the remains of Richard Wilson, the famous landscape painter. The effort made in these days to collect Welsh airs, or folk-songs, recalls a competition at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1858, when a prize of £10 was awarded to an Aberdaian. Mr T. D. Llewelyn, for the most numerous collec- tion of unpublished airs. Mr Llewelyn had col- lected 125. Mr T. Gwynn Jones, this year's chaired hard, is of a somewhat retiring disposition. When he won the bardic blue riband in 1901 at the Bangor Eisteddfod he did not put in an appear" ance, and was represented by Mr Beriah G. Evans. It was rumoured earlier in the day that the winner was Mr Gwynn Jones, but tho latter preferred an outing in Me country to an Eisteddfod meeting at which he would be tàø prmcipal tigure. You may say what you like," saxl an enthusiastic Cymro at Newport this week," baft this jellyfish Welsh party of ours is responsible for so many young Welshmen going over to the Socialists. They are doing more for SocÎati81 than all the organisations of Socialism put to- gether. And that's because they haven't got the backbone of a duck." One of the most prominent suffragettes fia Monmouthshire has finished altogether" with the movement. After their desecration of our beautiful old Eisteddfod," she s&ys, I,' will have nothing more to do with them." Mr Trevor B. Davies, third son of Alderman E. H. Davies, J.P., Pentre, has just qualified as 1\1..£. B.S., University of London. Mr Daviea took the degree of B.Sc. with first class honours two years ago, being also awarded the Alfred Hughes' Gold Medal in anatomy, whilst last year he was successful in obtaining the diplomas oi M.RXLS. and L.R.C.P. (Lortd.). The Cambria Glee Society, consisting of 12 female and 14 male voices, will tour in the United States and Canada in the autumn. They will present Dr. Joseph Parry's opera, Blod- wen," in costume. The members of the society are well-known local vocalists. The Grail," the magazine of the Theologi- cal College, Aberystwyth, has very varied con- tents in its June number. The ground covered includes theology, Socialism, Christian union. athletics, poetry, and opinions upon the Welsh University and theological education. One of the most remarkable features of holi- day life at Llandrindod Wells in recent years has been the prayer meeting held in the Public Hall. It was some years ago attended by all classes of visitors, who sacrificed some part of the morning's pleasure to attend this unde- nominational service. Dr. T. Witton Davies, df Bangor, will attend next month the 350th anniversary 0. the Geneva University, and the 500th anniversary of the Leipzic University, in-i>oth cases as a delegate of the University College, Bangor. He will also be present at the Calvin celebra- tions in Geneva in the same month, as a dele- gate from the Welsh Baptist Union. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was in a jubilant mood when entertaining the successful choristers from his constituency at Downing- street on Wednesday. Among the speakers at the gathering was the treasurer of the choir, with a cheque for the JE150 prize money safe in his pocket-book. I, too, am a chancellor," said the treasurer, proudly tapping his breast pocket. Yes," was Mr Lloyd George's reply, but the difference is this you have a full purse, and I an empty one." Mr Mortimer Angus, the registrar of the University of Wales, having been for so many years professor of Latin and president of the Athletic Clubs at Aberystwyth College, has had closer and more varied relations, and those, too, with a greater number of students, than perhaps any other professor in Wales. The three present registrars of the Welsh Uni- versity Colleges, Mr Austin Jenkins, Professor Lloyd, and Mr J. II. Davies, not to mention a number of directors of education, were pupils of his at bery Mr G. F. Deacon, the eminent engineer, who died in his office at Westminster last week. was very well known at Merthyr Tydfil. He con- structed the Upper and Lower Neuadd Reser- voirs, and the high-level aqueduct from the Beacons to Treharris, and acted as consulting engineer in regard to the leak in the Pentwyn reservoir. His last service to the Corporation was to advise upon the proposal to construct a new reservoir at Pontsticyil, which from an engineering point of view he regarded as the most suitable of any site he had ever-seen. Mr John Ballinger, the National Welsh Librarian, at the celebration of the Aberyst- wyth printing centenary, made a reference to the travelling press of Charles I. said to have been set up at Montgomery. Mr Ballinger said that quite recently it had been found that it was all a joke and that there was no such travelling p The printed matter was said to have been printed at Pembroke and Mont- gomery and some people thought this meant a. travelling printing press. But it was really a skit on the Earl of Pembroke and Mont- gomery and was printed at Oxford. One of the last of the so-cafled rrdracdes-of the middle ages occurred at St. Donat's in 1559. During a great storm an ash trree in the park was rent in twain. On the wood inside a curious picture of a cross was seen, which attracted so much attention that Cecil Lord Burleigh came to hear of it, and he promptly had Sir Thomas Stradling, of St. Donat's, cast into the Tower of London. A Royal Commission was sent into Glamorgan to inquire into this mystery, but the only thing they were able to report was That certain maidens of the town of Cow- bridge about that time came into the said park to gaze upon the said picture." Poor Sir Thomas remained in prison for four years before he was able to convince Queen Elizabeth that he was neither a Paptist nor a traitor to the Queen. Mr John Mack Leeder and Mrs Leeder cele- brated their golden wedding on Friday. Mr Leeder was for many years the leading auctioneer of Swansea, retiring some ye ago. Amongst the sons of the happy couple, who were the recipients of most cordial congratula- tions on Friday, are Mr Ernest Leeder, who has succeeded to his father's practice, and Mr Viner Leeder, the Swansea borough coroner. Many Eisteddfod stories are being told. One of them has reference to Dr. McNaoght, the eminent musician, who acted as spokesman of the board of adjudicators during practically the whole of last week's proceedings. I only heard one word against the doctor all tha week," said the Rev. J. J. Williams, tht^ Rhondda chaired bard, in proposing Dr. McNaught's health at the Gaiety banquet. A lady friend of mine had been unsuccessful under Dr. McNaught's adjudication, whereupon she petulantly declared, I shall never more call him Dr. McNaught. but Dr. McNaughty.' The Welsh National Pageant was thoroughly well advertised last wk at the Albert Hall. Indeed, there was scarcely a gathering of any kind connected with the Eisteddfod, whether at the Queen's Hall, Chancery-lane, the Gaiety, or at the Albert Hall itself, in which the attractions of the forthcoming National Pageant at Cardiff were not blazoned forth. This was due to the energy of Mr A. W. Swash, who spent the whole week in London doing excellent work in this direction. Thousands of Pageant programmes were distributed, and Pageant postcards were to be seen on every hand. The national aspects of the Pageant were emphasised even among the Gorsedd stones Carmarthen people are jubilant over the result of their deputation's visit to the Gorsedd, and; everybody concerned ex- presses a determination to make the welcome of thi National Eisteddfod Asso- ciation a most! cordial one. Not only has the news been received by the county of Carmarthen with gladness, but all West Wales rejoiced that, after many years, it has been decided to have the great national festival in the ancient borough in 1911. It only remains for Carmarthen and her supporter^ to make such a preparation for the reception of the members of the association as will befit the occasion It is acknowledged that the time has come for ncert.ed action, and it is there- fore hoped that steps will be immediately t.aken towards raising a fund that will ensure the success of a by no means small under- taking, and that Carmarthen will justify her claims to the honour to be bestowed upon her tTV"> "0"11 h'11(>