The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

IWII NEUVE CHAPELLE BATTLE. OUR CHEERY WOUNDH). Bye-Witness," in a despatch dated March describes the engagement on Wednes- Nenve Chapelle -was, it seems. taken The enemy, shaken by a terrible ardment and surprised by the vigour in the assault, made very little effect- resistance. Their success produced a re- -abl effect on' the British troops. the wounded in the hospitals, in the am- ^fcnees, and limping to the rear were de- monstratively delighted. After mon-the in the ^s&ebes the men advanced with the utmost ^*sh. Obviously the long, dreary wait had Jot damped their spirit. No task was too hard them. |

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. I AIRMEN BLOW UP RAILWAY. A. report from the Commander-in-Chief 1 *A%d Saturday says: A little further progress was made to-day by :■* 7Ch Division towards Aubers. The fi ^8 has been: very severe, a-s the enemy was y reinforced1 opposite my right by at -4W two divisions (24,000 men). We captained 812 priooiller-sl however, and I hear there are no oome in. Ow aircraft have been very active, and the 118 at Don and Douai were destroyed. GERMANS LOSE 10,000. T!be War Offioe made the following u- ent on Sunday night: A beavy counter-attack delivered by the y on Saturday afternoon, and several counter-attacks earlier in the day, were clæd. Judging by observation of nap- parbsdof the field of battle and by tile N.ftbmients of prisoners, of whom the- are M8#, the en«my*« losses must have been r«rf ^avy and cannot have fallen far short af men in the three days. A train at Don jStiom was blown up by our aircraft on Sua- s morning.

AIRMEN BOMBARD WESTENDE. FURTHER FRENCH PROGRESS. fcmruckiy night's Paris official communique sole-. .4 British air squadron effectively bom- Sd*d Westende. The success gained by the &tish armies at Neuve Chapelle prove* to ^e been absolutely complete. They ad- w*1ced on a front of about two miles, with a ;«pth of from 1,200 to 1,500 yards, capturing "ooessively three lines of trenches and a 'ortified work to the Bouth of Neuve Chapelle. The counter-attacks delivered bv the Ger- ft&ns with great violence were all repulsed, The enemy suffered great losses and left ia th hands of our Allies a number of prisonera considerably greater than first announced. The British heavy and field artillery very •jJectively prepared the way for and supported vigorous action of the infantry. In Champagne we liave consolidated our ftew front by advances at different point*, JjQd have assured our establishment on the of create captured from the enemy. In the Argonne, between the Four de Paris "td Bolante, we have made ourseivee masters 300 yards of trenches and have takes priao- 4%ft, including several officers. The euetfly Vde two c on nter-attacks during the day, fiat completely repulsed. |On the heights of the Meuse at Lea Paiges the Germans attempted an attack, yjiich was immediately stopped by our fire. same thing happened at La Chamois, Orth of B?1 nviller.

DARDANELLES OPERATIONS. BULAIR DEFENCES SHELLED. The French Ministry of Marine issued on ^turday the following statement: On the 10th instant during the day, m Unfavourable weather, two British warships lird on the defences at Bulair, while two British battleships bombarded the light bat- teries commanding Morto Bay. On the 11th instant a French drrmott OOD4,inned the operations begun the day before against the defences a-t. Bulair and Against the light batteries placed above Morto Bay. A-nother telegraphed version of the Fssnch .P-It states that a French squadron—not divi- Iton-.oontinued the operations on March 11th. INTERIOR FORTS ATTACKED. Three British battleships bombarded the r forts of the Dardanelles at KiM kkhr And TsEmenlik, 6ays an Athens message. .The Allied fteet has still eight or ten forts reduce, together with a certain number of *0%4 batteries. The general opinion is that fleet, according to a Paris message, wiH r* able to penetrate into the Sea of Marmora 10 fifteen days. MILITARY BRIDGE DESTROYED. The Allied squadron did not enter the Nar- on Thursday, says an Athens eorreepon- t, but rather endeavoured by their are to £ *event the Turks repairing certain forts. A •ridge situated 400 ^jlometres distant from town of Dardanelles, over which, trans- ?ta and particularly artillery destined for t4e forts were passing, was destroyed. ft is confirmed that the fire of the Turks il*8 now greatly improved, probably owing to presence of German gunners. Their am- Munition, however, leaves much to be desired, numbers of their shellB do not explode. SIX MORE SHIPS AT WORK. The Athens correspondent of the Paris ^fatin states that the British battleship 9«een Elizabeth, stationed in the Gulf of ^&ros, destrovod by the indirect fire of its Cillery military buildings and several shore k^tteries. The allied squadrons were strengthened on Friday bj- t1}^ addition of six more ?hich bombarded the forts of Smyrna. The Iatter replied, hitting the Triumph, but doing C,rll Y slight damage. The shelling of the forts lwm continued ou Saturday. A Tenedos telegram to the Giomah d'ltoho sWtes that ou the first day of the bombard- ^nt of the Dardanelles the Turks had 20 officers and 300 soldiers killed, while on the s^ond day thove v»*ere 4,000 killed, these in grading von Kioke, the German commander ltl the Dardanelles. Eight German officers ""re buried under the ruins of one fort. DARDANELLES NAVAL CASUALTIES. Casualties reported as the result of opera- jlons in the Eastern Mediterranean were ,?sued by the Admiralty on Sunday night. On "•M.S. Euryalus four men were severely j^unded and two slightly wounded, and on /•M.S. Swiftsure one officer, Sub-Lieutenant vl"ehie Alastair Stewart Murray. R.N., is .angerously wounded, and two men slightly iJ^nded. In the ca?e of the men all <0^ belong to Chatham,

GERMAN REVERSES IN POLAND. FIGHTING IN THE SNOW. "COLOSSAL LOSSES." A despatch from the Headquarters Staff oi the Russian Commander-in Chief, reported from Petrograd on Sunday evening, says: Between the Niemon and the Vistula fight- ing is only processing in the valleys of the OmulefT and the Orjitz and in the directioai of Przasnysz on a froixt of altogether fifty versts (about thirty-two mile-s). The enemy's at- tempt's to make progress have (Torywliere been repuLse-d. Our troops opened a counter-attack on Saturday and captured several villages. In the other regions, on the right banks of the Bohr and Narew and the left bank of the Vistula, there has only been artillery and rifle firing. PRISONERS TAKEN IN CARPATHIANS. In the Carpathians & violent snowstorm is raging. In the region of the Lupkow Pass we advanced amd captured more than 600 prisoners, including fourteen officers and six machine guns. On the front, Rabbe- Rostzeieff-Studenne. the Austriaius continue their attempts to pierce our fronit, but a<re suffering heavy losses. ENEMY'S COLOSSAL LOSSES. In the Koziouwka and Rozanka regions the Germans renewed violent and uninterrupted attacks on our positions, but were everywhere repulsed, colossal losses being inflicted on the enemy. By a counter-attack we captnred several hundred prisoners. AUSTRIAN BATTALION CAPTURED. In Eastern Galicia we easily repulsed re- peated attacks near the village of Nezwiska, on the Dniester. During this affa-ir an Aus- trian battalion was completely dispersed by our counter-attack. A sudiden assault made us masters of the enemy's positions near the village of Malko- wice, in the Przemysl region. An Austrian battalion which occupied thOfWe positions was captured.

ZEPPELIN WRECKED BY AIRMEN. TWENTY OF CREW KILLED. The Zeppelin which was .supposed to have been destroyed in a storm at Tirlcinont was actually, according to the Matin, the victim of an even worse fate. It was attacked by two British and two French aeroplanes, and after a thrilling fight, at a great altitude the dirigible was brought to the ground. The Zeppelin carried Germans, of whom nine were killed in the airship's fall. Of the others twenty-nine were so seriously injured at the same time that twelve of them died on the following day.

ENEMY'S LOST AIRSHIPS. 8TRASBURG COAL DEPOT ON FIRE. The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Chrenith, writing on Sunday, says: A despatch from Friedrielisliaven states that a nin.th Zeppelin has been constructed. Since the war at least five have been destroyed. The new airship hahegun its trials on a lake preparatory to joining the fleet at Cux- haven. It carries more powerful bombs than its predecessors, but hxs a smaller crew, skilled mechanics for the purpose being un- obtainable i. Germany owing to the recent disasters. Count. Zeppelin himself is super- vising the trials. The largest coal depAt on the Rhine, at Strasburg, which was set oti fiiv fifteen days ago by bombs dropped by French aviators, is still burning. Some 4,000 tons of coal have been destroyed, white 20,000 tons lie in smouldering piles, the water thrown upon them by troops forming only a seething crust. If a strong wind arises the riverside portion of Straeburg will be endangered.

PIRATES' VICTIMS. —— SEVEN BRITISH SHIPS ATTACKED IN i THREE DAYS. The Seoretary of the Admiralty announced on Stuiday that since March 10th the follow- ing British merchant ships fcad been atf"cked by enemy submarines: SUNK. Indian City, 4,645 tons, owned by the lust-ow Steamship Compauy, Limited (Messrs. W. R. Smith and Sons), Cardiff, was tor- peaoc,d on March 12th off the Scillies. Crew reported saved. Iavergvle, 1,794 tons, owned by Messrs. Stewart and Gray. Glasgow, was torpedoed on March 13th, at 9.25 a.m., off Cresswell. The orew-have aU been saved. NOT SUNK. Headlands, 2.988 tons, owned by the Sefton Steamship Company, Limited (Messrs. H. E. Moos and Co.), Liverpool, was torpedoed on March 12th off the Scillies. Crew reported saved. Adenwcn, 3,798 tons. owned b™ Messrs. W. and, C. T. Jones Steamship Company, Limited. Cardiff, \'fa' torpedoed on March 11th at 7 a.m. in the English Channel, and has since been towed into Chcfbourg. The crew have been landed at Brixham. Hartdale, 3.839 tons, owned by Messrs. Tri clunann Brothers, W. Hartlepool, wa-s tor- pedoed at 6 a.m., March 13th. off South Rock, Irish Channel. Twenty-nine of the erew of thirty-one were picked up by the Swedish ss. Heindal and landed at Bangor; the re- maining two lives are lost. SINKING NOT CONFIRMED. Andalusian, 2,35t tons, owned by the Eller- man Lines, Limited. Liverpool, was attacked on March 12th off the Scillies. Crew reported saved. Florazan, 4,658 tons, owned by the Liver- pool Shipping Company, Limited (Messrs. H. Vernie and Sons). Liverpool, was torpedoed on March 11th at 9.20 a.m. at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. Tlae crew have been landed at Milford Haven witk the exception of one fireman. NEW ADMIRALTY STATEMENT. On Monday the Admiralty made the follow- ing annoanoement: The steamships Floraxan, Headlands, and Hartdale, attacked by submarines on the 11th, 12th, and 13th March respectively, whose sinking had not been previously con- firmed, are now reported to have been sunk. WORK OF THE U 29. U 29 was the enemy engaged off the Scillies. She is the latest, biggeat, and fastest sub- marine known to have joined in the "block- ade or any other warlike operation. Her speed may be judged from the ease with which she is said to have escaped when patrol vessels chased her. She overtook her victims without difficulty. Her commander seems to have given the cpews warning to leave the threatened qhips and to have treated them with consideration. He commanded the sub- marine which sank the Cressy, Aboukir, and Hogue. I FRENCH SHIP SUNK. I CLOCKS AND WATCHES TAKEN. ¡ The French steamer Auguste Conseil, of Bordeaux (3,000 tons), botind from Cardiff to Havre with 4,000 tons of coal, wa.s sunk twenty miles off the Start on Thursday after- noon by the Germ a it submarine U29. Her crew of twenty-nine hands were landed at Fal- mouth on Sunday from the Danish steamer Excellence Pliske, of Copenhagen. Some of the members of the crew stated that when the Germans boarded the French steamer they took the vessel's bread, some tins of preserved meat and other food, and also carried off some alarm clocks and watches belonging to the French officers. The latter were kindly treated on board the submarine, each receiving a glass of wine and a cigar. The captain of the Augoste Conseil WM per- mitted to have bis chronometer.

ARMED LIliKR SUNK. NEARLY 200 OF CREW MISSING. TORPEDOED BY SUBMARINE. The Secretary of the Admiralty reports the 188 of H.M. auxiliary cruiser Bayano white engaged on patrol duty. On Thursday the wreckage of the vessel and bodies were discovered, and circum- Btanoes point to her having been sunk by an enemy's torpedo. RESCUED BY PATROL VESSEL. The following officers and men have been rescued and landed by the auxiliary patrol vessel Tara: Lieutenant Commander Kenneth A. F. Guy. Surgeon Kenneth H. Hole. Probationary Surgeon Richard Bateoon (?). Midshipman Henry A. Wright. Chief Petty Officer R. A. G. Wood. Petty Officer, first class, G. A. Glover; car- penter's crew, S. V. Brailsford; able seaman. J. Hayes. The following other ratings were taken on board the ss. Bnlmerino and landed: E. S. Luck. A.B. Abner Whitcombe, painter. Board of Trade, Bristol; D. Taylor, A.B., R.N.R.; Thomas George Rolfe, R.N.R. John McSporran, carpenter's mate (?Glasgow); B. J. Cummings. P.O. R. Baker, A.B.; A. W. Lucas, A.B., R.F.R.; C. V. Please, signalman; A. S. Gales, R.F.R.; S. Keates, A.B.; J. Caulfield; Wil- liam Ryan; J. McDermott, A.B. H. James, A.B. P. Courtney, A.B. F. Chiddee, A.B.; A. Battrick, telegraphist. RESCUERS CHASED BY SUBMARINE. Captain McGarriek, of the ss. Castlereagh, of Belfast, states that his ship passed on Thursday morning through a quantity of wreckage a.nd dead bodies floating in lifebelts. He attempted) to search the spot in the hope of saving any men who might be alive, but was prevented1 by the appearance of an enemy submarine, which gave elim.-e for about twenty minutes. A Gla-sgow correspondent- says the Bayano was torpedoed off the Ayrshire coast. Nearly 200 lives were lost. The Bavano was all Elders and Fyffee Mner, belonging to Glasgow. Built in. 1913, she was of 5,948 tons burden, was 416ft. long, with four decks, and she was fitt-ed with wir low apparatus and eJectric light. OFFICERS MISSING. The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce that the following officers of fr-iw Majesty's ship Bayano are missing, and most be presumed- to-have lost their lives: Commander—Heiwy Cecil Carr. Lieutenant, R.N.R.—Bernard Dunphy. Lieut., R.N.R.—Arthur Croasfield BratttfL Lieutenant, R.N.R.—John Huddy. Lieutenant, R.N.R.-Erneeb Arthur Brown. Sub.-Lieut., R.N.R.-Chas. Edmonds Sin*. Sub.-Lieut., R.N.R.-Alex. Clyne Davison. Chief Eng., R.N.R.-Harold Rich. Williams. Senior Engineer, R.N.R.-Chorles Jones. Engineer, R.N.R.—Ed. Wm. Geo. Humble. Assist. Paymaster, R.N.R.-Dudley Cecil Chorley. Gunner-Richard Harrison. Midshipman, R.N.R. Harold Brantnall Gough. Midshipman, R.N.B.-Lealie Frank Bailey. It is probable that all others on board the Bayano are lost.

SAVED BY COLLIER. MBN CLINGING TO RAFTS AND BOAT. The Belfast Telegraph states: But for the providential lnterventian of the Balmerinio, a colliier, it is poseibba that not a single member of the crew of the Bayano would have been, saved. The Baimerino was on a passage from Bel- fast to Ayr when she rescued a remnazit of the Bayano's crew who had got. clear from the wreckage and got on to rafts in their soaking garments. After landing the sur- vivors at Ayr and taking on her cargo the Ba Inner in o returned to Belfast. THOUGHT IT WAS A SUBMARINE. Captain- James Foster, of the Balmerino, said it was about 8.30 o'clock on Thursday, when his vessel was four miles from Black- head, that a low-lying object was sighted on the port bow some three or four miles off. Captain Foster's first impression was that it was a submarine, but he did not alter his course until he had a closer inspection. Gradually a cluster of men could be observed, and when it was noticed that they were mak- ing signals, and that there was apparently something wrong, the vessel's head was turned, in their direction. OAR AS SIGNAL. An oar with some garments attached to it was being waved as a signal of distress. The only other craft in sight at that time was a large steamer far away to the north, but she paid no attention, and gradually disap- peared. The Balmierino found two rafts and a. ship's boat upturned with twenty-four men on. them. Two of the men were clothed only in their shirts, and others in pyjamas. One had an ugly wound on the head. and was covered with blood, and nearly all of them had bruises and were bleeding". They were more dead than alive from the wet, cold, and exposure, but they cheered us as we came up to them," said the cap- tain. They were all fine fellows, and it would have touched you to see the condition they were in."

SWEDISH STEAMER SUNK OFF SCARBOROUGH. SIX LIVES LOST. The steamer Gyller arrived at Hull on Saturday with the survivors of the Swedish steamer Hanna, bound from the Tyne for Las Palmas, which was torpedoed early that morning off Scarborough. Six of the crew were drowned and fourteen saved, including the captain and the officers. The drowned in- cluded four of the firemen, the boatswain, and the messroom steward. Two of the crew were wounded in the head when the vessel was shattered. The second mate states that he was on the bridge at the time, and tho submarine gave no notice of her intention. He did not see the submarine, but caught aiglit of a torpedo com- ing through the water. The ship floated for over half an hour after she was struck. Those missing, it is supposed, were killed by the ex- plosion as the fore part of the deck fell in. The rest of the crew were picked up by the steamer Gyller. The vessel had the national coloure painted at both end. and also the steamer's name and nationality in letters rerc-hing from the bul- wark to the waterline.

FOR PRISONERS OF WAR. PAPERS AND LETTERS IN PARCELS BARRED IN GERMANY. The Press Bureatt itas issued the follow- ing: The War Office receive many inquiries as to wha.t articles may or may mot be sent to prisoners of war in Germany. As a guide to those sending parcels the War Office issues particulars obtained through the agency of the American Express Company. IAn inquiry was addressed to the various camps as to what articles were prohibited. The prohibitions differ at certain camp-s, but newspapers must on no account be sent and no Letters mué", be enclosed in parcels. At several of the camps no tobacco, cigars, and cigarette is are allowed to be forwarded; whilst at others books or military or political literature are. also prohibited.

MAROONED BRITBSH RESCUED. A telegram from Panama says that forty English and French crews of the British and French -barques Kidalton and Jean, sunk by the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, have arrived on the steamer Noirdic, which found the men on Easter Island, where they had been marooned by the German raider.

DRESSMAKING AT HOME. BY SYLVIA. A Nice Useful Country Cloak. 80 many of the readers of this column live fat OOttatry places, when long d-v-oc tramps more likely nowadays—to the neaaeet town for shopping are necessary, that a cloak is a much more comfortable wrap than the latest coat. With this in my mind, as the echo of various hints I have received) from time to time, I have chosen, as one of my sketches this week a nice, easy, but very cosy pattern for the benefit of country readers and others who may require such a garment. The youthful' matron, for instance. would find, such a. wrap most useful for maternity wear; whilst the older matron, for whom such considerations no longer exist, will also find a cloak like that illustrated in No. 1.867 a very comfortable garment to wear when taking her walks abroad when March winds do blow." In the sketch it is shown slightly open, in order that you may see the arrangement for fastening—like that of the golf-capes which were so popular some years ago. In this cam the very wide straps not only serve the pur- pose of fasteners, but also give a little extra warmth, and are additions much to be com- tnendexL The cloak, however, closes right up Tf- PATT*RN NO. 1,867. m front, whem. required, by means of tbs buttons on the right side and a cord sewn to the left, in which spaces are left to corre- spond with the buttons, this being a much simpler arrangement for fastening than but- tonholes. For this cloak any kind of cloth of medium weight may be selected, as, owing to its foldis at the lower portion, a heavy-weight fabric is not advisable. It would, however, be very smart realised in black satin and! lined with prettily contrasting silk. This, of course, is but a suggestion, the realisation of which must be left to the choice of the maker oil wearer. To Cut Out and Make Up. As the pattern is cut on more or less circu- lar lines, the cutting out and' making up axe quite easy matters. The placing on this material will depend very much on the widti of the latter, audi if you can get it without a seam at the back so much the better, but do not have joiti- in the front if you can help it) unless they are quite small ones. When cut out, stitch up any seams and joins, always remembering to snip all sel- vedges, open and press, and neaten by bind- ing if unlined; if lined, then the seams of this should be placed to face, and so neaten the inside. The edg" are turned up, stitched, and neatened in the former, or turned in to face and felled together in the latter case. The collar is interlined, but not very stiffly, and faced with striped silk. The straps are stiched at the edgea and secured firmly to the shoulders. This cloak will take 21 yards of 44-inch goods. A Child's Useful Frock. In the next sketch—No. 1,868-1 have illustrated a very simpl-e and useful design for a child's frock, one that will enable the thrifty mother to use up odd lengths or pieces left over from another piece of dressmaking, or perhaps a frock of one of the grown-upa which, so far as fashion is concerned, is no longer possible, but in which there ie yet enough material for a child's frock like that sketched, which, I might add, is an excellent model for a frock for school or gymnasium purposes, when it would be carried out in navy serge, and should be worn with knickers to match. In the case of the frock sketched below the bodice and skirt are separate, the latter being cut on slHhtly circular lines, and ,vm 1. PATTERN No. 1,868. united to the former at the waist, the curved effect being newer and prettier than the con- ventional straight line. The bodice is made pinafore fashion, with wide arm-holes and neck-opening, in order to be slipped on over the head, and so require no other fastening. This arrangement also allows of the frock being used for wearing over blouses and guimpes" which may be in hand, or, if not, are easily laundered, and so give a freshening-up touch to the frock. The making therefore is of the simplest, the seams being stitched, neatened, opened, and pressed, the neck and armholes turned in., neatened with binding, and stitched, or corded, when the skirt is hemmed at the foot- part, pressed, then arranged and sewn to the waist, and neatened with the trimming, as seen in the sketch, care being taken not to stretch the edges and so spoil the curve. If you have to buy the material you will iteed about It yard of double-width material.

HOW TO OBTAIN PATTERNS. Oar paper patterns arc tpecl&lly cut for HE fron designs expressly prepared lor this column, and the cost of each complete pattern Is 6)d. post tree. Address all letters, enclosing stamps for pattarM, to "Sylvia," Whitefriars House, Carmelitw street, London, Z.C. Be sure and mention Ua8 somber of the pattern required when ordering. Patterns will be despatobed within tbffM au apyUotiiMi bsum netinL

m MEIN KAISER'S IRON CROSS All I was walking 'long the shorn, A-going of my round- The journ-ey I do every day- • An envelope I found. I picked it up; it was addxeraed Der Kaiser," and I said, IH see what's in it; opened it, Ajnd this 18 what I read: I sank tlire.- -sailing barques last weef A neutral ship or two, And, dis vill please your Msjesfcy, I never saved a orew. In every case I let them drown, And never felt remorse, My one conoem was how toM.r8 Your prize—de Iron Cno*. .I 'Twas to the Kaise" I We spied dose sailing ships a< dawg, And I vas gliad to see Dey vasa't steamshipr., or dey might Have rammed me easily. Of course, I knew dat sailing s Could not put up a fight, So, knowing I vas safe, I just Torpedoed dem at sight. "Dere vas soone VOIIJIeID on der ahips, Amd, sire, I also 8e8 some littte ohiMtnMt; and I rabbsti My hands in1 ecstasy. Did mem heart soften at der sigWJf Did I not feel remorse At murd'ring babies? NeW, I viobed To earader Iron Cross "I never save the crew." And so I let dose babies da'owIt. But saw von skipper try To save his vife and leetle chdhij Dat vill not do, says I. Dat vas against der Kaiser's law, And so I simply got Mein pistol, and, tho' straggling then For life, I shot the lot! 44 A glorious deed? I tink it vas. 'Twill let the wide world know Dat Germany's at war, and dat We never mercy show. You, Kaiser, sent the ord.-r out, So it was no disgrace; But, all ze same, sometimes at night I see dat baby's face r, Earning the Iron Cross. A wireless message den I send To see if you'd endorse Mein action and I got your rirs, You've earned ze Iron Cross. Come home for it, 'tis men like you I'm always proud to see. How many babies did you say? Dat's vat's concerning me. I vas a proud, proud man dat d&y, And quickly changed my course For Wilhelmshaven, dere to get Mein Kaiser's Iron Cross, Ze highest honour given to A hero-dat vas me. Vere vill you find men of my kindt Yere, but in Germany I "I see dat baby's face I" t" Ze German Navy's shown ze vorld, And made ze nations feel Her power, her might; altho' our ships Prefer to stay at Kiel. Hoch Himmel! here's an Engleesh ship In sight, and giving chase MeinGott !we're rammed, anddrowning,and I see—dat—baby's face! There was some more, but it was blurredl The pirate had been sent, With one swift blow, down to his doom. And as I homeward went I wondered how I would have felt Had I been in his place, A murderer, drowning, haunted by A little baby's face t

POULTRY KEEPINGU A PROFITABLE HOBBY. BY M UTILITY." 908TBRKD BY NEGLECT. A .ty disease developed by overcrowd- ing in damp, ill-ventilated roosting-places, im- proper feeding, lack of green food, and. by sanitarv neglect is white comb. The disease is eonta.gious, and will ctuiokly spread through a whole flock if preventive measures are not adopted. The house should as a first step be well ventilated, and it is desirable to give the inside a spraying with creosote. The birolS should have the affected parte bathed in warm water and borax, after which remove any crust that will freely come away. Dry thoroughly, and then rub in some ointment, or pure glycerine and carbolic acid in the pro- portion of three drops of acid to a tablespoon- ful of glycerine, and this should be applied daily until a cure is effected. To the morn- ing iiieal of soft food add equal parts of flower of sulphur and bicarbonate of soda, and see that. a liberal supply of green food is given. As the birds improve a course of tonics will be needed, such as iron or cod-liver oil and quinine capsules. Finally, conscientious at- tention should be paid to management. It is positively inhumane, as well as extremely short-sighted from a business point of raw, to keep any living oreature in a state of filth. Beglecting the most elementary ruks of eleanliness. THE MOST SHOWY DUCK. By far the most ornamental of all water (owl is the little Mandarin duck or Chinese teal. Of couroe, there is no utility value in fee breed, and it is extremely unlikely that a dnck could be persuaded to lay more than three dozen eizes in a season. The bleed, however, is a favourite at shows, thou is rather surprising that even more fanciers do not keep and exhibit specimens. It is an .ily mana.goo bird, bearing close oonfine- ment well and breeding in captivity; but it M of an active and energetic disposition, and it is advisable to provide as much accommoda- tion as possible in order to breed the finest specimens. When these ducks are confined, it is best to wire over the space completely, « otherwise they will fly out. Unlike most other Stacks, they are perehere, and a perch as wen m a nest-box. raised above the ground, must Jberefore be provided. They may be given a email bouse; but some breeders only pro- vide some dead branches for them to roost on. 7%0ugh they appreciate a small pond, a Iwgs 8ab full of water is sufficient. The Mandarin drake is about 17in. long, aerv round in general shape, and short- legged. His "furnishing" is very abundant, more so than that of any other duck. He 118 a long crest, a ruff of hackles round the neck, and, most distinctive of all, the inner web of Ibe innermost quill of each wing is fereloped Into a fan shape. Tha crest is coloured espjpsr MAWS AKIN DJtÄD. green, the face shading from buff 60 white: the hackles we bright cinnamon, and the wing fan of the same colour, but bordered with white and black behind and steel-blue beiow; the flanks are pencilled with buff and the breast is maroon. The back and tail are brown with a green gloeB, a long splash of steel blue running down each side of the back; the wings are metallic brown, with a purple bar and silver grey edgings to the flights: the bill is roce-pink, and the feet yellow, with black webs. In the summer months the drake's plumage undergoes a re- markable change, and is then almost exactly Kke the duck's. She has no wing fans, <» hack 1 and only a small crest. Her colour is plain brown above, mottled with buff on the breast and white below. No birds are more devoted to one another than a pair of Mandarin ducks, and it is de- lightful to watch him raising his crest and wing fans, curving back his neck, and throw- ing out hie client like a pigeon. These ducks recall the pigeon, too, in the way they fondle one another, the duck appearing to find the greatest pleasure in caressing her mate's hackles. It is well, when possible, to let them choose their own mates, partly because it is by the female's freedom of choice through thousands of generations that the drake has attained his present beauty of plumage, and partly because he will sometimes altogether refuse a duck with which his owner proposes to mate him. WORMS IN POULTRY. Though these parasites are not very com- mon. the. give trouble in some yards where poultry have been kept for a great many year". There are two distinct kinds, and they aie found in different parts of the small intestine, often in considerable numbers. Sometimes they interfere with the passage of food by forming a plug and blocking up the alimentary canal. Birds infested with them are usually ravenous, and yet keep losing condition. Both worms are white or yellowish-white. One resembles a small pin without the head, the body thinning out at both ends. The other is a somewhat larger worm, and is not found straight, but with body twisted or eurled. It measures up to 4ki. It is in the bird's intestines that the worm's eggs are laid. The eggs are passed to the outside, and these or the young reach other fowls ogam is dirty water or from the ground. Any birds known to have the worms should be isolate The parasites can easily be expeBed by a dose of thymol; one grain made up in a dough pill may be administered morning and night. Similar good results have sometimes been obtained by the use of Jfaree grains of santoayin given in the same way. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. G. N. L.CuioRENs WITH CRAMP.— The best thing to do is to rub the legs with terpentine and then with vaseline, and after- wards bind them round witn cotton-wool. It is doubtful if they wiU ever make veiy good birds. The cause of the trouble is nearly always in rearing on boarded or brick floors through which damp rises. The joints be- come sore and swollen, and the toes are doubled under the feet. It can be prevented by littering the floor where the chickens are ■vroth fine chaff or peat moss litter, and bury- ing the gnain food, so that the chickens are constantly busy scratching. Suburbite." MANDARIN DUCK. You witf see I have dealt at length with this above. Mandarine are innjrined to be timid unless they frequently see thedr owners. They fre most lively towards evening, and it is then that the drake's courtship can bt. be watelied. Con- fining them in a wired-in enclosure or in a wire netting fence which curves inwards at the top is better than clipping one of the wings, for in their attempts to fly the absence of the flight feathers on one side may cause them to turn over and hurt themselves. It is usual to hatch the eges of thes-e birds under a amall hen or a Ki-'+nm. as if the duck- lings are reared by their own parents they are less likely to be- tame. "C."—MID-APRIL HATCHES.—This depends on the breed. I presume you want, if pos- sible, to breed winter layers. Wyandottes hatched in the middle of April will oftem, if reared without a check on good fresh ground, be ready to lay early in November, but some- times miss the whole winter. In the circum- stances, I should recommr-nd White Leghorns or Black Minorcas for mid-April hatching. HI correspondence affecting this column ahoald bs addressed to "Utility, care of the Kdltor. EMBMU for special IN FORMAT 1OTI MUTT IMUMI by. | jrt&aftped addressed envelope I THE WEEK'S GARDENING. I Seeds of a good strain of fancy pansiee may. be sown now in shallow boxes of light soil and placed in slight warmth. They wiH soon germinate and yield a crop of young seedling* which, planted out in a rich, cool border or bed in May, will flower profusely during the summer. Among the seedlings there may be many lovely varieties, which in due oourae could be increased by outtings to make supe- rior plants to flower next year. They afford a splendid opportunity of filling bed and bor- ders, and ensuring an effective display of colour throughout the summer and early autumn months Ivies of various sorts may be planted now. Ivy is a climber that likes a deep, rich, generous soil, and as it has to occupy it permanently it is best to trench three spite deep, and mix oid mortar and well-rotted manure or leaf-mould freely with the soil. The green-Leaved kinds are suitable for any aspect; the variegated sorts prefer a west or north position. Established ivy, if not clipped in the autumn, may be so treated this month, which is really a much better time for the clipping, as at this time the bareness ra- snlfiiig will soon begin to be clothed with new young growth under the influence of spring showers. After the ivy has been clipped it will need to be well brushed down with a broom to remove trimmings, dead leaves, and dust. Peat is recoram-ended as the best mediuaa for rhododendrons, which can be planted at the pres-ent time; but it is often difficult t* procure, and a satisfactory substitute is a good supply of half-decayed leaves, which will prove a good and suitable base for the masses of fibrous roots formed by the plants. For present planting it is advisable to choose well-hardened rhododendron plants, and dig the holes sufficiently large and deep to take the. balls of root without cramping.. Animal manure should not be used for shrubs of the rhododendron character. Pampas grass is a very useful hardy peren- nial. which enjoys an open, sunny position, where its roots can find abundant moisture; but will also thrive in any fairly rich, well- dug soil. Now is the best time to plant, or to take up and divide established clumps. Trench the ground deeply, and work in plenty of well-decayed manure. Once established, it grows vigorously, and soon makes a fine clump. Hydrangeas that have been resting during the winter may now be started into growth. Prune back the weak and useless shoots, anA examine the roots. Those requiring potting may be moved into larger pots. and the re- mainder wil4 benefit with a top dressing. For both purposes 1 se two parts of good fibrous loam and one part leaf-soil, with the addition of a little silver sand, and a 6in. potfui of bone meal may be added to each bushel of the mixture. Pot firmly, making sure that the roots are in a moist condition beforehand, or it will be difficult to saturate them after- wards. Syringe the plants regularly tovinduce healthy growth, but give water at the soot sparingly until growth is active. A new rose species, known as Rosa sertata, should prove an interesting addition to our shrubberies, as well as .being suitable for xosa gardens where free-growing and single- flowered kinds are encouraged. Although of weaker growth, it ha.s much of the general ap- pearance of the Himalayan R. webbiana. It will grow 4ft. or 5ft. high, with a rather looes but graceful habit, the branches being clothed with leaves 3in. to 4in. long. made up of from seven to eleven oblong leaflets. The floweW are often borne singly, and are rather more than 2in. across, deep rose in colour, and suc- ceeded by bright red fruits. It is a native of China, and, like other roses, it gives excellent results when planted in good loamy soil. Seeing that the vegetable is so popular, there is no reason why every garden of sum- cient size should not contain an asparagus plan-tation, planted in bed form, or in rows across a quarter thirty inches asunder. The roots should' be procured and planted early in April. Asparagus be-dig cannot be prepared too quickly, because the roots when plan-ted like a somewhat firm base to rest upon, which is assured by giving the newly-worked ground time to settle down. Liberal and deep manur- ing is desirable, but the surface should be broken up quite fine and left eo. If there is any needful pruning, nailing it, or tying up of fruit trees on walls to do. it should be done at once; then to protect the early flowers from harm by sharp white frosfes, it is well to have ready to hang over the trees fish netting hung double, as that can remain until the bloom lias set, yet will not exclude light and air, whilst checking harm by froøie at night. A vegetable worth trying for the sake of variety is the Portugal cabbage, of which the fleshy ri'bs and stems of the leaves are the most desirable part. The green part, are cut away from these; they are then cut into short lengths, and tied "in bundles and cooked in tbom same way as seakaie. Seeds may be sown in the open in April. When the plants are large enough they are lifted and transplanted 28in. apart, in ground which was well dug and! manured during the winter or prevwaa autumn. Egg plants are also worth trying, as tIbO fruits are delicious when cooked. Sow the seeds now in 6in. pots filled with light soil, and place in a warm temperature to germi- nate. Prick off the seedlings separately when large enough in 3in. pots, and finally transfer them to the 6il1. size. A suitable compost con- sists of two parts loam, one part leaf-soil, and one part well-decayed manure. Grow the plants in a temperature of from 60deg. to 65deg. and guard against red spider. Feed with weak liquid manure when the fruit is set. Tomatoes for the open walls should be sown at once, to ensure the plants being strong and sturdy by the end of May. Too often tha plants are only 3in. high when put out, and the summer is nearly over before growth M sufficiently advanced to ensure a full crop e# fruit; whereas plants at least one foot high and sturdily grown will quickly lay a founda- tion for fruit. Sow in gentle heat, pot off when large enough to handle, and grow on in a cool house close to the glass. .Strawberries will now be benefited by a good dressing of stable man-, placing it well round the base of the plants but, not covering the leaves. This will supply them with food for several montlis to come, besides giving shelter to the crowns in the event of sevese weather. The manure will serve as a founda- tion on which to lay the straw mulch to keep the berries off the ground. So soon as gooseberry bushes throw leaves, a sharp look out should be kept for oater- pillars, which, will, if allowed, do very Bgea* mischief and spoil the yield of fruit. ^iey should be removed by hand. Once they have got the upper haiid, there is no other resource to save the bushes but to dust heavily witv hellebore powder, which will poison the nwects. 4^

THE WEEK'S WORK. Lift and div ide clumps of pampas grass. Plant border carnations. Prune roses. Take lobetia cuttings. Sow half-hardy annuals. Harden off peas raised under mass. Sow watercress in moist trench- Plant asparagus on prepared beds. Sow tomatoes for planting in open. Mulch strawberries. Watch for gooseberry caterpillars. Sow Alpine strawberry.