Evening Express

I BIaH WATER TO-DAY. I Morning-. Evenimj. Height. Swansea 1.17 1,42 ?4. 0 Cardiff 2.11 3. 4 26. 4 Newport. 2,15 3. 4 25.10

WEATHER FORECAST. ISSUSO (UK MKTE0R#L08ICAI. OFFTCI—8.30 I".X. The forecast af the weatlior throughout the West of Knsrland and South Wnles for to.dalr (Friday) isas follows:-Wi,,d, shifting to S. and varying much eoiaer; thuliderin places; rainy. SATURDAT S F»R*OA*T. I F ATURBIT'S WKATHEP. N. mid N.W. winds, light Variable winds clear or moderate fine gene- f.iiv. rally. 1 Aberystwith, Saturday Even i ng.—Barometer, 30.094 steadymaximum thermometer in shade. 67.4; wind. W. Amount of -inrhite registered bv Jordan s recorder for the 21 hours preceding six p.m.. 8h. 30niin. Weather bright and fine, I with cloudless sky; pleasant westerly breezes; sea, quiet.

YESTERDAY'S TEMPER ATURE. Temperature as registered at Cwrt-y-Yil, Penarth, for Th" twe'va hours ending nine o'clock last night: — Max. Min. Mean. Similar 76 55 65.5

WEEK'S TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. The following table gives the temperature and rainfall at Cwrt-y-Vii. I'enarth. for 24 hours, as I read at 9.0 a.m.. and entered to the virecsdine TEMPI KATURK. DATE. ;—— RAINFALL Mai. 3Iin. Mean Mond:i v lo I 77 55 I 6". 0 -00 Tu.-s.lat- 14: 91 63 77*0 -CO Vkedn-sday 15 72 55 63"o -CO Thursday 16 7.5 37 65"0 -po Friday 17! 73 55 64"5 -o:) Thursday 16 7,3 57 69-0 -po Friday i 17! 73 I 55 64.5 Saturday 1B 76 75 1 65'5 j 0 ¡ Siliidav 19 gg 65 65*3 *00

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. MR. CLAY'S OTTER HOUNDS. Tuesday, Aug. 21, Ferry Castle. IVeJ.'i,. 8 a.m. Thursday. August 23, The Flights, Bal- tonsboro 8.30 a.m. 'Saturday, A«suat^25, :n the district 8.39a.ir

ilsrnage^, & BIRTH. SPU,LER.-On Sunday, the 19th inst.. at Loudoun House. Crwys-rond, Cardiif, the wife of William J. Spiller, of a son.

By the Way. The surface area of the Chinese Empire is eighteen times greater than that of Great Britain. The oldest living vicar in the United Kingdom is the Rev. G. D. Grundy, Vicar of Hey. who was presented in 1838, and is now 94. A pistol taken from a Russian officer during the Balaclava charge by Trooper Bruce, 13th Light Dragoons, will be sold at Steven's Auction-rooms next week. A petition of many members of the Bal- timore Chamber of Commerce for the privilege of appearing on 'Change in their shirt sleeves was denied by the board of directors. Another morganatic marriage is announced. Princes Claire of Bavaria is betrothed to Baron Kramer Klethero, a wealthy nobleman whose father made a fortune as an ironmaster. Pity the poor book publishers! They were nearly ruined by the Transvaal War, and now it is stated that missionaries in China have cancelled orders for 100,000 books since the trouble began there. Plants, like animals, are continually wandering to fresh fields and pastures new. Professor Kelltrman finds that- of the present flora of Ohio no less than 480 are immigrants. Almost all are from Europe. A physician declares that a person in robust health walks with his toes pointed to the front, while one with his health on the wane gradually turns his toes to the and a bend is perceptible in his knees. The C hinese began to write books before they migrated from the region south of the Caspian Sea. Two of their greatest lite- rary productions are a dictionary in 5,020 volumes and an encyclopedia in 22,937 volumes. The Belfast magistrates on Saturday ordered Dr. Fulton, a local dispensary medical officer, to pay 20s. and costs to the parents of a child whom he vaccinated contrary to their wishes. While roach-fishing with wheat bait-, L near Dunburgh HilL, Suffolk, on Thurs- day, Mr. E. G. Smith, a visitor from Lon- don, had occasion to draw up his line, and the bait was immediately seizpd by a swallow, which, gorging the hook, was easily captured. A Portugal paper gives details of an in- vention for facilitating fox and badger hunting. It consists of a small electric lamp fixed to the collar of the dog which is to cntera burrow. The effect of this light is to frighten the animal and cause him to come out of his burrow. There are 400 miles of icebergs, floating ice. plains of ice, and all other sorts of arctic obstructions to traverse between the nearest discovery to the Pole and the Pole itself. Perhaps some means of overcoming these difficulties may present themselves within the next century as science goes on in its progressive way. The following paragraph is culled from the 'Church Notes" of the Aberdeen "Evening Express" :—A cyclist some weeks ago went to view a church in Cheshire. Above one door he read the inscription, "This is the gate of heaven." and just below was the notice, "This door will be closed during the winter months." An inventor has hit upon a method of putting stone soles on boots and shoes. He mixes a waterproof glue with a suitable quantity of clean quartz sand and spreads it over the leather sole used as a founda- tion. These quartz soles are said to be very flexible, and to give the foot a firm hold, even on the moat slippery surface. Needless to say, this is a. Yankee yarn. Some idea of the dimensions of the pos- tal business of the country may be gained by a consideration of the number of dis- missals. This last year they numbered 915, an increase of 166 on the previous year, yet "the conduct of the staff gene- rally has been good." There were-to show the nleasaut side cf the shield—fewer cases of mtnishment by the withdrawal of good-conduct stripes. It appears from a. re-print of the "Gentleman's Magazine" that Lord Rose- bery's seat at Epsom had a strange his- toric genesis. According to the old autho- The Durdans had its beginnings in the unfinished Nonesuch Palace of Henry » HI. Nonesuch was demolished, or partly so, by the wish of "that rapacious woman," Barbara Countess of Castle- mame. But the history of Nonesuch "alace Is now almost forgotten. The "Daily Mail" publishes a message from its New York correspondent, that when Mr. C. P. Huntington, thecailway king, was buried at Woodlawn Ceme- tery it had been arranged that the ehtire system of the Southern Pacific Railroad should come to a standstill while the body was beirg borne from the hear;e to the grave. Signals were given by tele- graph, and during those few moments net a wheel moved on the railroad system which the dead magnate had so long con- trolled. A Scottish correspondent of the "Lon- doner" says that the following misprint appeared in the announcement of deaths in a leading daily paper —On the 18th inst., at South Ealing, ——, } aged 75 vears. f iends please accept this intima- tion." Apropos, "C. L. G.' says that he saw with his own eyes, in the deaths column of a London daily, quite as extra- ordinary an announcement. After several entries there occurred the sub-heading, "Good deaths," and then followed the remainder. Probably the entries were classified in the proof according as they were "good"—i.e., paid for or not (or out of date or not), and the sub-editor omitted to strike out the heading. l

Inner City Being Bombarded. Tho Admiralty has received th following dispatch from Rear-admiral Bruce, dated Ckefoo, nave been informed on the authority of Japanese that street fighting still con- tinues in Peking, part of which is on Are. Yung-Su prevented the Empress from leaving, and a last stand is now being made in the inner city, which is sur- rounded by the allies and being bom- barded.

Position at Shanghai. From the "Daily Telegraphw Special Correspondent. By Special Arrangement for Simultaneous Publication* SHANGHAI, Friday (10.35 p.m.). Terrible stories coma from Hankow. Mis- sionaries are arriving: here from Shan-Si after awful sufferings, half naked, penniless, and foodless, during their long travel in the burn- ing sun. Many died of illtreatmcnfc by the natives en route. The recent outbreak at Ta-Tungr reveals the existence of a vigorous revolutionary move- ment in the Yangtszo Valley, but it is dis- tinctly not anti-foreign in its character. A genoral outbreak at an early date along the Yangtsze River is not improbable. Foreigners are not menaced. Sunday (Ave p.m.). The French Consul, having asserted himself, succeeded yesterday in landing 100 marines. The British Indian troops are now encamp- ing here. Everything is perfectly quiet. Ten p.m. The Chinese report heavy losses in the fight- ing between Tientsin and Peking. Ono general, Li Ping Heng, who was wounded at Peitsan, died next day, and General May was dange- rously wounded before Tung-Chow, where Generals Chcntzelin and Changchenfa, com- manding the vanguard of army, were both killed before the force of 15,000 troops were rJ ispcrscc1. Before leaving the capital Tuan persuaded the Empress-Dowager to execute twelve more of her Imperial clansmen who were accused of helping the Legations and refusing to leave Peking. The Chinese have also spread a report con- cerning the last defence of the Legations before the allies arrived. The guards, their stock of cartridges failing, resorted to silver bullets, which they fired. Yuh-Sien, the Governor of Shan-Si, has gone to Kalgan to meet the Empress-Dowager and escort her through the province. Note.—The Rev. Griffith John was stationed at Hankow. THE FINAL SETTLEMENT. IMPORTANT DECLARATION BY M. DELCASSE. Paris, Sunday Evening.—M. Delcasse, Minister for Foreign Affairs, made an important i speech to-day at Foix with referance to the situation brought about in China. He declared that the presence of the international troops at Peking would serve to obtain reparation for the past, and guarantees for the future from the Celestial Empire. He hoped, and believed, that the Powers would limit their demands to the resources of China, and that no Power would take separate action, which would destroy international union, awaken distrust, and, possibly, lead to grave misunderstandings. M. Delcasse concluded by stating that France was still in perfect accord with Rus?ia.—Central News. St. Petersburg. Sunday.— Discussing the pro. bable results of the capture of Peking, the principal newspapers, notably the "Novoe Vremya'' and the "Pieterburgskia Viedomosti," express the opinion that Russia should not go further in her participation in common armed intervention, but should limit her military action to the protection of her frontier and the Mnnchurian Railway. In expressing this view the papers faithfully reflect the opinion of the immense majority of the Russians.—Renter. VICEROYS' APPEAL TO THE POWERS. "SAVE THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS." Shanghai, Sunday ^N'oon).—The Yangtsze Viceroys have warned the Consuls that it is to the common interest that no harm shall befall the Emperor and the Empress-Dowager, and they appeal to the consular body to urge upon the Powers the paramount r.acessity for saving their Majesties from insult or injury.— Central News FLIGHT OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. JAPANESE CAVALRY IN PURSUIT. Shanghai, Sunday (8.40 p.m.)—(received through Chinese sources).—Japanese cavalry have -¡¡.een sent in pursuit of the flying Empress-Dowager and her Court. Her Majesty and those accompanying her are, however, said to be protected by 30,000 well- armed troops The Imperial party has arrived at Wu-Tai. San, in Shan-Si Province, where there is a detached Imperial palace. Yus-Sien, the Governor of Shen-Si, brought all his troops to meet them, and joined her Maissty at Shan- Wah-Sien. Before the Empress-Dowager left Pekimg she caused over a score of high officials to be beheaded. L:-Ping-Heng. the Dowager- Empress's anti-foreign adviser, and Generals Chang-Yu-Lin and Cheng were killed in the fighting before Peking, and General May was wounded.—Dalziel. RUSSIAN OPERATIONS, St. Petersburg, Saturday.—Dispatches from Admiral Alexeieff to the Ministry of War, dated Port Arthur, August 13, report that on the previous day General Fleischer, with a force of all arms, captured Haicheng. The movement began on August 10. the troops advancing in three columns from Daochyao. The enemy took up a position seven ver3ts' to the north of that place, but retired, after a short fight, with a loss of 100 to 150 men. The attack was resumed on the 11th with two columns. The enemy lost 300 to 400 men, four guns, and a flag, and retreated to Haicheng. "Ti guns and flag were taken by the force of local guards and the Trans-Baikal Battery. An attempt on the part of the Chinese to re- capture these trophies was defeated after a hand-to-hand fight. The Russian losses were seven wounded, and one gun was dismounted. At daybreak on the 12th the positions on the Haicheng heights and the tower were evacuated by the Chinese, who lo.st two guns. The enemy was pursued, and five Russian soldiers were seized with sunstroke. The Chinese had about 4,000 troops and 1,000 "Boxers," with eight guns. They retreated to Aisaandsitao.—Press Association Foreign Special.

SEVERE DEFEAT OF THE CHINESE- St. Petersburg, Sunday.—A 'elegram from Gener: Grodekoff to the Minister, dated from Oh a baroo.sk, August 17, says: — General Reunenkampf sends me the following on the 16th from th-e Ching,un Pass: — "The prjss was carried after a bloody battle. The enemy suffered a heavy reverse owing to my having surrounded his flanks and rear by a night turning movement. Our losses are not to hand, but I have hoard of three officers killed. Our captures include not less than four 671b. Krupp guns. I am proceeding with cavalry in pursuit."—Reuter. GERMANY'S REPLY TO LI HUNG CHANG. "K' vlui, Saturday.—The German Govern- ment jf.sterday afternoon sent a reply through the Chinese Legation here to Li Chniis s request for peace negotiations. jt wa; tc. the effect that there could be no queu- ti';n cf ntM 'lationE of any kind until the members of the foreign Legations, as well as the other foreigners in Peking, had been placed under the protection of the contingents of the Powers.—Renter. SYMPATHYOFTHE EMPEROR OF KOREA. The Emperor of ICcrea has sent a message expressing his sympathy with the allied troop3, and has also presented them with 1,000 sacks of rice, 3,000 sacks of flour, and 2,000 boxes of cigars. The commanders of the allied squadron have replied thanking the Emperor both for his good wishes and his presents.— Reutes. j

Baden-Poweil Visited CALLED UPON TO SURRENDER. B.-P." Ms for Terms. A British Patrol Captured. [WAR OFFICE TELEGRAM.] The War Office on Sunday night issued the following dispatch from General Clery (for General Baller):- GItEYLINGSTAD, Friday. One patrol of five non-commissioned officers and men of the 5th Dragoon Guards sent out from Volksrnst on the 14th of August reported mieaing. Tho names of the men were Sergeant T. F. So Dixon. Private J. Barton, Private A. Chitty, Private W. Fielder, and Private II. Tait. Late on Sunday the War Office issued the following dispatch from General Clery (for General Buller): — OREYLINTG-STADT, August 18. Cvptain Reynolds and 22 non-com- missioned officers and men of the 5th Dragoon Guards taken completely by surprise by about 80 of the enemy's force. near to Dornkop, 14th of August. It is believed that the enemy's loss is considerable. Captain Reynolds slightly wounded. 4.63.3 Private H. Brerchley reported miss- ing. From Mr. BENNET BURLEIGH. By speoial arrangement with the I Dally Telegraph' for simultaneous publication* MIDDELBURG, Friday (6.45 p.m.). A young New Zealanùer named Peterson has exciting adventure. With fifteen other prisoners tunnelled hie way out on Sunday from Nooitgcdanht. Peterson took hiD own route, going north of thp. railway toward Machadcdorp, which he thought the British occupied. He found Boers 10 the num- ber of 2.000 in possession of the place. lie took a horse and blanket from a laager, from which he was fired upon. He escaped unharmed. re-crossed the railway, and reached our outposts at Wonderfontein on Thursday, When he came in ho tumbled in the dark- ness of the morning over a. wire entangle- ment. The picket fired, and the shot wounded him, but not dnngerously. Peterson thereupon called out, "I am an English escaped prisoner." The fire ccased, and Peterson was taken to the hospital at Middelburg. He says the prisoners are well, and hopeful for a speedy rescue. Peterson's escape is most adventurous. He frequently slipped the Boer patrols, and rode without a guide to French's headquarters near Wonderfontein. From the "Daily Telegraphw Special Correspondent. By Spftciai Arrangement for Simultaneous Publication. DURBAN, Saturday (3.30 p.m.). A score of men of the 5th Dragoons surprised 100 Boers at Dornkop, near Buffalo River, Natal, and' poured a heavy fire into them at short range. The appearance of the Boer laager made it evident that the enemy pro- jected an attack on the railway, but the sudden appearance of the Dragoons in the moonlight led to the postponement of the movement. Captain Reynolds commanded the Dragoons. General Lyttelton is delighted with the surprise. TO OPPOSE BULLER. TWYFELAAR, Saturday. There was some skirmishing yesterday near Carolina, to the north-east of which the Boers are reported to be in considerable force, while they hold the country between that point and Machadodorp with verious small commandos. --Beuter. DE WET'S LATEST. CALLS UPON BADEN-POWELL TO SURRENDER. PRETORIA, Saturday. General De Wet appeared yesterday to the north of Commando Nek, which is held bv General Baden-Powell. A messenger with a flag of truce was sent to th-e British com- mander asking him to surrender. General Baden-Powell replied, asking what terms De Wet was prepared to offer. The relief of Colonel Hore by Lord Kitchener has caused great satisfaction. Colonel Hore's casualties number about 50, and half of the men wounded have returned to duty. A later Router's message says:—De Wet, under the pretence of making a demand for the surrender of General Baden-Powell's force at Commando Nek, gained information that the Lrltish garrison there was very strong. He thereupon vesnmed his march northwards, shadowed by General Br.den-Powell. shadowed by General B:dn-Powel1. Coonel Paget hasied Waterval. RIGOROUS MEASURES BY LORD ROBERTS. A NEW PROCLAMATION. PRETORIA, Saturday. Lord Roberta is issuing a. new proclamation rescinding his previous proclamation, and pre- scribing most rigorous measures against all persons who have broken the oath of neu- trality. or who. residents in dislricts under British occupation, have not taken the oath.—Reuter. A later Reuter message says that Lord Roberts's dispatch enacts that in future all persons who have taken the oath and broken it will be punished with death, imprisonment. or fine. All burghers in districts occupied by British force*, except those who have sworn the oath. will be regarded as prisoners of war and transported, and all buildings, struc- tures. and farms where the enemy's scouts are harboured will be razed to the ground. All fines under the former proclamation will be rigorously exacted, and prisoners are warned to acquaint her Majesty's forces of the presence of the enemy upon their farms. otherwise they will be regarded as aiding and abetting the enemy. BOERS MURDER A WOUNDED PRISONER IvRL GERSDORP, Friday. A patrol of five, while scouting on Wednes- day. were upon from a supposed neutral farm, the inhabitants of which had taken the oath. One was wounded and captured by the Boers, who then murdered him. beating his brains out and riddling his body with bullets. A punitive force of 300 men, with one gun, under Colonel Carr. surprised the farm yester- day. took two nrisoners, and burned the house, bringing all the women and children here.— Press Association War Special. FIGHTING AT GTTOSHOEK. The Time-s" correspondent mentions that there has been fighting at Ottohc^ek. The Boers were driven from their position by the Bushmen, who charged gallantly under a heavy fire. The British casualties were one officer and three men killed and ten men and one officer wounded. Six Boers were found dead, including Commandant Schwartz. and they had probably many wounded. The own to fifteen unaccounted for. SMUTS WOUNDED. The Boers admit that in the Carolina skir- mish Commander Smuts, who was second in command, was wounded in the abdomen. LORD ROBERTS OPENS A YEOMANRY HOSPITAL. PRETORIA. Sunday Afternoon. On Saturday afternoon Lord Roberts opened a branch Yeomanry hospital here, the cere- mony being a very brilliant one.—Central News. LOCAL CASUALTIES. The following casualties were reported on Saturday:— t At Krugeradorp Welsh Fusiliers— 7.547 Private N. Roberts died, cause unknown, August 16. At Klerksdorp:—Roj*al Welsh Fusiliers— 5,309 Corporal Davies taken prisoner Juiy 25. Information has been received by the General of Communications a.t Cape Town that Captain Doughty. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and non-commissioned o!Ilc0r" and men wounded at Stinkhentbooni on the 24th of July are all [ Vredefort. No teiesnu hie coimuuuicatioii. 1

TAFF VALE MEN OPEN THE BALL. SUSPEND WORK AT TWELVE O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT. AMALGAMATED SOCIETY SUPPORTS. Company Say They'll Work All Trains. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TO-DAY'S TRAFFIC. MASS MEETING AT PONTYPRIDD. The strange. decision of the Taff Vale Company's managers not to allow the men an expert adviser in the effort to bridge over the difficulty on Saturday has had a disastrous result. The whole of the Taff Vale railwayman are out on strike. This is in accordance with the decision arrived at on Sunday at a mass meeting held at Ponty- pridd. The position has, therefore, become more acute. In the first place, it was expected that if negotiations failed only those men whose fortnight's notices terminated on Sunday would leave the company's employ. Then the men's executive, after taking legal advice, came to the conclusion that only seven days' notice was necessary, and there was a fear that 800 out of the 2.000 employed, and consisting of signalmen, guards, brakes- men, and shunters, would cease work at the same time. The decision of the meet-I ing on Sunday, however, goes far beyond this. If carried into effect-and of that there can be little doubt-—we fail to see how the company can deal with the traffic to-day (Monday), inasmuch as the drivers, who had hitherto held aloof, have now thrown in their lot with the strikers. It does not follow, of course, that all the men will be bound by the Pontypridd reso- lution, but as it was computed that there were 1,200 present, and as the motion was carried almost unanimously, the defec- tions are not likely to be numerous. The percentages of the various grades who have given notice are as follow — Guards. 98 per cent. Signalmen, 93 per cent. Brakesmen. 100 per cent. Shunters, 99 ner cent. The determination of the men is shown in the fact that the vote was taken about an hour before the telegram from the executive agreeing to give them financial support was received. It is evident, however, that the executive is net Dleased with the independent action of the Ttiif Vale employes. In fact, they condemn the course the men have adopted, but, because they consider that the manage- ment acted arbitrarily in the case of Sig- nalman Ewington, will grant them sup- port. It is yet a moot point whether they will extend that assistance to those who have determined to cease work with- out even a day's notice. It WAS further decided at Sunday's meeting that entirely new demands should now èe formulated and submitted to the company. ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING ON THE TRAFFIC. Notice has been given by the company stating that the traffic mav sustain some interruption, but every effort will be made to avoid delay. At the same time, the published time table must, under the circumstances, be deemed to have been suspended- On Sunday all the chief officials of the company, from the general manager downwards, put in a considerable amount of time at the offices, and in the evening a small army of clerks was engaged in making preparations for carry- ing on the traffic to-day (Monday). Although the officials are, for obvious reasons, reticent about the arrangements which are being made, they still express a hope of being able to overcome the diffi- culty. POSSIBILITY OF THE DISPUTE SPREADING. There appears to be a feeling among some of the leaders of the men thot the disturbance may spread to the Rarry nd Rhvmney Railways. Much of the traffic now carried by the Taff could be diverted over the Great Western, Rhymney, and Barry systems, and no decision has yet been arrived at upon the question whether the employes on those lines will be allowed to handle such traffic. It may please the Amalgamated Society to see the manager downwards, put in a considerable portion of their traffic, or a general strike on the local lines may be organised with the object of getting better wages and conditions of labour. Mr. Holmes hinted on Saturday that the dispute may develop into a gigantic affair- APPLICATIONS FOR SERVICE Mr. Holmes discredits the report that the Taff Vale Railway Company can obtain a sufficient number of men to take the place of those now on strike. It is easy," he remarked, "to provide 400 beds, not such an easy matter to fill them." On the other hand, we are officially informed that during the last three days the oompany have received between 1,200 and 1,300 indi- vidual applications from qualified railway- men desirous of entering their service. They have also been offered from various quarters bodies of men numbering between 500 and 600. Of course, allowance must be made for considerable leakage, because it always happens that a large percentage of men who undertake to supply the places of those on strike get into the hands of the pickets and are persuaded to return to their homes. There is certainly plenty of confidence on both sides. The men think they never had a better opportunity of wringing better terms out of the Taff Vale Company, while the directors and their officials are equalij confident that they wiU come out of the dispute with flying colours. In these circumstances, and with the society's funds at the back of the men, the struggle is certain to be a very severe one. '• i

MEN'S EXECUTIVE MEET. DECISION t0 SUPPORT THE slili IKE A special meeting of the executive council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser- vants was held in London oil Sunday at ten o'clock. Mr. George Thaxton (Leeds) presided. and a full council of twelve members vias present, excepting the Birmingham member. The meeting was called specially to consider the Taff Vale dispute. Two delegates from the Taff Vale Railway men—Guard Beadon and Fireman Mareh-attoo.ded and laid the men's case before the council. They also produced the whole of the correajpondenee relating to the dispute. The discussion lasted the whole day, and it was nearly five o'clock before a decision was made, and the voting even then was almost equal—seven to five. The report, as announced at the close of the meeting, was as follows:—"The executive have just decicjed, after hearing the evidence of the deputation from the Taff Vale Railway men, and seeing the correspondence relating to the dispute, that they cannot but conclude—(1) that the conduct of the men in taking action prior to obtaining the connunt of the com- mittee was most condemnatory; (2) that by the removal of Signalman Ewington the management of the company have acted arbi- trarily, and have incited the men to their present act; (3) having regard to both sides of issue we, as the administrators of the society, decide that every effort be made by the general secretary and others we may appoint to bring the dispute to a speedy ter- mination; (4) we have, after careful considera- tion, hereby decided to support the men finan- cially." It was also stated that .r. Bell would at once leave for the district in order to con- duct the strike himself.

MASS MEETING AT PONTYPRIDD. DECISION OF ALL GRADES TO STRIKE. The momentous meeting of the employes of the Taff Vale Railway which was to decide the question of strike or no strike was held at the Clarence Theatre, Pontypridd, on Sun- day afternoon. The theatre had been very kindly lent by Mr. Bellian, the manager, on behalf of Mr. Milton Bode. The building proved admirably adapted for the purpose. The meeting was announced to commence at 1.30, but the proceedings did not actually start until about an hour after that time. Between one and two o'clock break-loads of Taff Vale men drove into Pontypridd singing hymns and occasionally cheering. There were also small processions from the outlying districts. By two o'clock the theatre was filled in every part, and the time of waiting was utilised by the gathering in singing hymns, Aberynt- with" being the favourite. About 1,500 were present. When Mr. Moses Jones, the signalmen's sec- retary. approached the front of the stage he was received with loud cheering. When silence had been restored, ho remarked: I take it by your singing that you have brought your hearts here with you and your heads, too. (Cries of We have" and applause.) Now, we will commence business. A chairman was then appointed, and, in opening the meeting, he said be was desirous of conducting the meeting fairy between men and men and men and master.?. (Hear, hear.) They had reached an acute crisis. They had thrown down the gauntlet, and they must ba prepared for any consequences that might follow. They should keep their heads screwed on right, their courage up, and their brains cool, and they would then have nothing to fear. REPORTS OF THE DELEGATES. The report- of the delegates were then given, the terms of which were published in the evening papers of Saturday. In answer to a question, Mr. Holmes said if there was a No. 1 shunter getting 27s. or 26s. he would get an advance of is., and it would take them the rest of the four years to get the 31s. They must not think they were going to get promoted to it now. (Ironical laughter.) Mr. Holmes was asked who was to be the judge of the qualifications of brakesmen, and replied that on the Barry it had been the guard, and the general manager reserved the right of adopting or rejecting the recommen- dation. dation. A Bnnk Rider said he had been in the service of the company for 22 years and had not had -in advance. ("Shame.") With reference to the report of the fire- men's representative, a workman remarked that the company left them in the same posi- tion as before. The Chairman Exactly, only the word super is to lie abolished. It is calling a, crocodile an alligator. (Laughter.) A Voice: I have suffered a long time for the company, and I think they ought to suffer a lutle for me. (Cheers.) COMPANY'S TERMS REJECTED. The Chairman said they now had the reports of the negotiations laid before them. and it wag for them to decide whether they would adopt them or otherwise. A Voice: I reject them. (Laughter.) The Chairman: You are only one. A Workman said that as the signalmen's arrangements were first put before the meet- ing he moved that they reject them. The Chairman thought it best to have a general resolution covering the whole srround. The Chairman thought it best to have a general resolution covering the whole srround. It was then proposed and seconded that the whole of the company's terms be rejected. A Rhondda Railwayman said he had made up hia humble mind on the matter. He felt- that the way in which their demands had been met by the company was insulting. (Cheers.) He heartily supported the resolution, nnd he considered that at six o'clock p.m. (Cheers.) He heartily supported the resolution, nnd he considered that at six o'clock p.m. that day he was free. (Loud cheers.) He readily admitted that it was a grava nnd responsible position in which they stood. L2t' them realise it. Let there be u-o jesting j in the matter. They had asked for certain concessions and the re-instatement of one of their numtm who had been badly treated by the company, and they had con- sidered the position before handing in their notices. It was quite evident that the direc- tors and managers of th-i company had made a very important mistake. (Cheers.) They had taken the men to be weaklings, and had tried to mislead the public about the privi- leges they were said to have. They were pri- vileged, it was true, to have their existence mortgaged week in and week out. (Cheers.) They had had their last privilege that day— the privilege of paying full fare to attend that meeting. (Hisses.) They should teach this autocracy a lesson (Cheers.) Mr. Beasley had sent a circular to their houses, but he asked them not to be misled or influenced by it. (Applause.) The proposition rejecting the cempany's terms was then carried unanimously and amid cheering. CONFIDENCE IN THE DELEGATES. A resolution expressing satisfaction with the manner in which the delegates had con- ducted the negotiations on behalf of the men w<>s then carried The Chairman, acting upon a suggestion, asked the firemen present if they were pre- pared fo allow their notices to stand for the re-instateP1ent of Ewington as well as the other concessions, and received a reply in the affirmative. THE MOMENTOUS QUESTION. The next resolution submitted was the most momentous of the day. It ran as follows:- "After viewing the situation carefully, and seeing that the signalmen will not be at their posts to-morrow, we are of opinion that there is no course open to us but all to cease work as one body to-moirow." The seconder of the resolution said they had stnod Mr. Beasley's humhugging long enough, and would not stand it any longer. (Applause.) If they passed that resolution they would fhow that they had the same grit in them as they had in 1390. (Cheers.) They had not for- gotten Mr. Beasley's action in 1895. He (the speaker) hoped they would sitick to their guns and bombard the Taft' Vale Railway Company, as Lord Roberts oombarded old Cronje. and he fe'.t sure victory would be theirs. (Cheers ) A Voice: If we were as good fighters as the Boera we would soon win A Driver, in supportimg the resolution, said he had been a long time under the company, and did not want to throw away that service, but they would be less than men if they failed on this occasion. (Cheers.) Another Driver, amid some intarruption, advanced to the platform and proposed an amendment as follows: — That this meeting highly appreciates the efforts of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce in trying to bring about a peaceable settle- ment of the present dispute, and. in order to I avoid any interruption of trade or commerce in this district, we hereby agree to cancel all notices and give to our representatives full plenary powers to settle to the best advantage the questions in dispute, and, further, we recommend Signalman Ewington to accept the position offered by the company." The resolution was evidently very diataste- 1ul to the meeting, and it was only after repeated requests on the part of the Chairman to gire the mover every fairplay that he managed to make himself heard. The mover said his reason for submitting the resolution was this: If they could get by fair means concessions that would be satisfactory to the men they ought to do it. (A Voice: "We have waited long enough." and cheers.) There were thousands of people depending entirely upon their labour not concerned with the railways, and let them have some conside- ration for them. There could be no possible difficulty if they suspended notices. (Here there was much interruption, during which the speaker retired.) A Railwayman said he had been considering this matter, not only for fourteen days, but fourteen years, nnd he warned them not to base their hopes upon chambers of commerce or Boards of Trade. The Chairman said that he would rule the amendment out of order. The meeting had decided to stand loyally by their notices, and he conld not, and would not, allow them to be withdrawn. (Loud cheering.) A Driver said he was booked to run the mail early on the following morning, and he aekeri what was he to do, as his notice had still seven days to run. Mr. Holmes: If you pass the resolution before the meeting, that will answer your question. If you pass the resolution, the job must stop to-morrow morning, and the mail can't run. (Loud cheers.) The Driver said that, that being so, he would abide loyally by the resolution, and would not work on the morrow. (Renewed cheering and waving of hats.) A Fireman said he was also in a predicament. He was due to run the mail on the morrow, and before he decided to do anything he would like to hear something about the London com- mittee. He would ask them, a, firemen, were they prepared to be prosecuted? (A Voice: "Yes," and applause.) The executive com- mittee hall not given him any aSRuranCe that. he could rely upon their help if he Etoppzd work. If he had the sanction of the executive, he would not hesitate for a moment. Mr. Holmes himself had said that if he did not think he would have the sanction of the execu- tive committee he would not have called the men out. Mr. fose5 Jones was glad they were looking at things from all points. The company had had a sufficient opportunity to re-place Ewington, and they had not done eo. He liked honourable opponents, but if they were dishonourable, they need not expect any QlleeIisbsrry Rules from him (Laughter and applause.) The company had been advertising for men, and any man who 8[' irl he would not work with blaeklegs could not conscientiously go to work or the morrow With regard to the question of the support of the executive committee, there was other sup- port above that. If the drivers would only support him, as a. signalman, to get Ewington back, they, as signalmmi, would consider it their paramount duty to see that those drivers went back with them. (Cheers.) He hoped they would stand one by the other. He had had an opportunity on the previous day of seeing the people who told them last week they could do as they pleased. He heard the swiw manntret the words that ke was exceedingly sorry they were going to do it. (Laughter.) He saw on the previous day directors who had not been ?o ready to listen to their demands pale before the Bit-nation. (Applause.) They had seen the public notices issued by the Taff Vale Railway Company. They did not guarantee anything running on the morrow. (Applause.) This was oviienoe from the other side. If a man had to go to gaol (a .Voice: "Let us all go." and laughter) — they could do the same as the Coedcae hauliers did the other day—(cheers)—they would go down to the gaol to have their holidays there. (Laughter ) They would have an entertain- ment outside if they could not go in. CRe- newed laughter.) But nothing of the kind was going to happen. What they were doing was the best thing that could happen for South Wales, for if they stopped work on Monday they would be at work again on Tuesday. (Applause.) They had said they were men. Then let them act as men. SUPPORT OF THE RHYMNEY MEN. A Rhymney Railwayman then came for- ward, and said the following resolution had been passed by a meeting of the Rhymney men that morning:—"That this meeting of the Rhymney Railway Company's employes do hereby express our appreciation of the united stand made by the Taff Vale Railway Company's employes for the re-instatement of Ewington, better conditions of service, and rights of representation, and we hereby pledge ourselves to support them to the fullest extent possible." (Cheers.) He might tell them, and tell them authoritatively, that the Rhymney men's action had been guided by the a-ctioin of the Rhymney officials. Those officials had played an important part in this affair. Representatives of the other company had waited nron the Rhymney Company and asked them to take the traffic, and the Rhymney Com- pany had refused. (Cheers.) The Pest Office authorities, having beeu placed in a predicament, had also approached the Rhymney management to run the mails on the Merthyr and Aberdare systems, but they also had been blankly refused. The idea of the Taff Vale Company was to get an engine at the Plymouth Colliery to work the coal there, and divert it to the Rhvmney and Great Western systems. The Rhymney Com- pany again refused. (Cheers.) He thought the Rhymney Company deserved credit for the stand they had taken. (Renewed cheer- in.) In conclusion, he could assure them that, perhaps with the exception of some of the older drivers, the Rhymney men were at tlvir back to a man. (Cheers.) A Welsh Employe i.n the bcdy of the hall, who was not very well versed in English, said Mr. Beaaley reminded him of an old black- smith near his home. There was much laughter at this ?ud interruption, during which the sneaker failed several times to proceed. The speaker then gave it up as a bad job. but managed to get in this safly. amid increased merriment. "When a pip- is about to die the worse he kicks. Mr. Eeasley should take advantage of his last kick." DECISION TO CEASE WORK. A Signalman informed the meeting that arrangements had been made to work the Cowbridge branch to-day (Monday). A gocd. porter would be employed at Llantrisant Juiicti n and another man would work the Llantrisant box. He asked to be supplied with 100 pickets to induce them to stop working. Calls were then made in every part of the building for the resolution to be put to the meeting, and others insisted on Mr. Holme;, making a speech. There were rumours abroad as to what the executive committee had done in London, and there were some who believed that, aq no answer had l:een received, it was possible the committee had refused the men financial support. Mr. Holmes said he did not think tt was advisable for him to address them at that juncture, and suggested that a vote be taken before he did so. He seriously a'8ked them to weigh the matter well in their minds before they did so. To him it was an anxious time, and he would like to ask any man in the audience whether, with or without the con* sent of the executive—which they were then waiting—their position was worse than hi8 own. He would stand or fall with the men, and if the executive committee refused them financial support and threw them over, he (the speaker) would resign his position as organising secretary. (Cheers.) He had no doubt that something had transpired to pre- vent a telegram from the executive reaching him. and he believed that the raason why he had not up to then received a message was because the expcutive committee would have the Great Eastern Railway dispute under consideration first and the Taff Vale dispute afterwards. He was sure that the two men who had been sent up with Mr. Taylor to present their case to the executive would not fa.il in their attempt to get them (the committee) to grant the Taff Vale railwaymen financial support. If the executive committee refused them sup- port they could appeal to the annual general meeting. which would not lack in granting them financial assistance. (Cheers.) He had also prepared circulars to be sent to all the branches for support—in the event of the committee's refusal—applying for £1 from each branch per week. which, with the pro- mises he had, would be sufficient- to pay at ieast one week's wages. (Cheers.) He did not wish to say anything to influence their vote, but he would like to say that he had fought for them up to the present, and he assured them that Mr. Beasley was never in a tighter fix than he was just now. (Laughter and cheers.) If they stuck to their guns they were bound to win. (Cheers.) They started the movement, and gave in notices without the consent of the executive of tha Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and if they did not decide the one crucial and if they did not decide the one crucial point new, whether they received financial support or not, they ought not to have started the movement without getting consent. (Hear, hear.) The one thing they now had to con- sider was the best way to strike successfully and in the shortest time. In reply to a question, Mr. Holmes said he thought that Mr. Beasley's circular asked those men whose notices expired on Sun- day if they wished to withdraw notices, and not those men whose notices would not expire for another week. If those men whose notices did not expire that day did not work on the Monda- they, of course, jaid themselves open to prosecution, a fine, and, possibly, imprison- ment. They could not all be locked up. (Laughter.) There was a danger both ways. and he would like to ask which was the worse—to stop work on Monday or stop it when they were put to work with blacklegs? He asked them to use their intelligence and vote conscientiously, and, having voted, prove themselves to be what he honestly believed them to be—men. and not traitors. (Cheers). The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried by a great and overwhelming majority. Five voted against and eight remained neutral. NO ONE TO SUFFER. The meeting then adjourned until six o'clock, and upon the resumption of pro- ceedings Mr. Moses Jones proposed the following resolution: — The first condition of settlement shall be that there is no one to suffer for the part he has taken in this movement, and that every man shall return to the position he held previously." This wa3 seconded, and carried with unani- mity. A number of questions were again asked by drivers and platelayers who had not given in their notices as to whether they were to go to work the fol- lowing morning. and the reply given them wa: "Abide by the resolution," which meant that no man. whether he had given notice or not or whether his notice would not expire to-da-, should not work nnc1er any circumstaI1ces. Several driV0P. however, felt reluctant to do so. as they feared prosecution. TELEGRAM FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. At 6 30 p.m. Mr. Holmes was called from the 1)1<11 form. and. gOÍJI outside the theat re. gladly received a message from the tele- graph office. He immediately rushed back to the stage, and tremendous enthusiasm pre- vailed when he announced that he had received a message from London. Before reading the telegram, he said he wished to compliment tha Taff Vale Railway men for the manly action they had taken without being sure of receiving financial support from the society. (Cheers.) It was the finest test of determination and unity to carry out their dcmands that had ever heen exhibited in or out of South Wales. Mr. Holmes then read the following telegram: — "Holmes. Clarence Theatre. Pontypridd. —Executive just decided that after hearing the evidence of the deputation from the Taff Vale Railway and the correspondence relating to the dispute, we cannot but conclude, first, that the move of the men by taking action prior to obtaining the. consent of this committee a3 most condemnatory; secondly, that by the removal of Signalman Ewington the manage- metit of the company has acted most arbitrary. inciting the men to the present act; thirdly. having regard to both sides of the issue, we. as administrators of th? society, decide that every effort be made by the general secretary and others we may appoint to bring the dispute to a speedy termination. We further, after careful consideration, hereby decide to support them financially. (Great cheering.) I will be down to-morrow.—Bell." SPEECH BY MR. HOLMES. When order was restored. Mr. HolmeS! con- tinued by saying that he had had at least ten hundredweight lifted off his mind by that telegram—(cheers and laughter)—and he was now going to answer his friends the drivers. (Hear, hear.) On behalf of Mr. Bell, who had been empowered with him to conduct that movement to a conclusion, he would say that they would now stand by every man who would stand by them the following day. (Cheers.) Come what may. he appealed to the drivers not to go to work on the mor- row. (Cheers.) He was satisfied that if the whole of the men remained loyal to the resolution passed, they would all he back at work in less than a week. The best way to terminate the dispute at an early day in the interests of trade and commerce wonld be by all refraining from work on the morrow. (Cheers.1 The executive committee had given Mr. Bell full powers to act with others the committee might appoint to bring about as speedy a termination as possible, and lie (the speaker) now willingly and readily stood aside for the general secretary. (Cries of "N 0, no," and cheers.) He (the speaker) was a man-(hear. hear)—and if he allowed any personal vanity to stand between him and the men that might be detrimental to them he would be a humbug and not a man. He wished to say there publicly that the rail- waymen's allegiancc to the society and their royalty to Mr. Bell largely depended cn the quick termination of the forthcoming strike. If they had had any differences of opinion he asked that they should leave them drop until they beat the Taff Vale Railway. He had worked hard and done as much as any- one could possibly have done for the mp. Having praised the veteran workers for their assistance, he asked what had forced them into the position the now took up. In all solemnity he would say tht there was no need of a strike, and no strike would hnve resulted if Mr. Beasley had treated them properly. When Mr. Beasley came to Cardiff to manage the Taff Vale Railway he made one of the greatest blunders of his life hy declaring that he wouid smah up their society. His (Mr. Beasley's) iron heel they had had upon their necks, and tyranny they had suffered, coupled with the excessive bourn they had to work and tho humbug they had to undergo was part and parcel of the serions matter which had brought them to that crisis. Mr. Holmen then complimented the press for tbe very fair reports of their meetings and negotiations which had been given, and referred to his refusal to bring the dispute within the scope of the Conciliation Act. Ho further referred to the amendment asking the men to withdraw noticcs. Ac., proposed, and said that it was a remarkable fact that the terms mentioned in the amendment were ■'he very ones submitted to him by the chamber of commerce- and which he rejected. If t}l,1t amendment, had been passed it wonld have 3pelt 8ofeat,and failure. They had offered th com1)al1Y to refer the rlis!ll1t.e to pn arhitratnr approved of hy both ides. and t,hat Mr. Beasley had refused. If the Taff Vale Railway Company were anrious to settle the dispute, and if. as they said in their official statement. that they naid better wage* and gave them better privileges than those enjoyed under other companies, he could not understand why they were afraid to refer the matter to arbi- tration. They were prep[1,red to submit thjr demands to an arbitrator and accent h,8 deci- sion. Mr. Holmes then gave instructions as to picket duty, and advised the men not to commit a breach of the law. He remarked that the Barry and Rhymney people had baen approached by the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany with a view to running certain traffic, and both compares had refused. (Cheers.) Mr. Beasley was not. likid t. the Stock Exchange. and he was no friend of the Cardiff Corpora- tion. (Cheers.) As that gentleman (Mr. Beasley) had refused to meet him (Mr. Holmes), he (the speaker) would now stand on his dignity and refuse to have any- thing more to do with Mr. Beasley. (Great choering.) Mr. Beasley had declined to meet him. because he knew very well that he (Mr. HOlme-o) could refute his statements by docu- mentary evidence. His advice to this com- mittee now was that they should formulate new terms—(cheers)—and demand, amongst other things, a 48 hours' week. (Renewed cheering.) They had been forced into the fight, and they had every reason to believe that they would win it. (Applause.) They were going to make the management recognise the railway- men's leaders, too-(eheer8)-in the sme way as the miners had mntle the coalowners recog- nise their agents when negotiating in all disputes. (Cheers.) RHYMNEY MEN'S SUPPORT. A communication was received from the Rhymney Railway men promising the Taff Vale Railway men every support, and pledging