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

ANOTHER BORDERER V.C. Col. D. J. Johnson's Splendid Leadership. The Victoria Cross has been awarded I to Captain (acting Lieut.-Colonel) Dudley Graham Johnson. D.S.O., M.C., South I Wales Borderers, attached 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regt., for a splendid piece of work in the closing days of the war which is officially described as follows For most conspicuous bravery and leadership during the forcing of the Sambre Canal on November 4th, 1918. The 2nd Infantry Brigade, of which the 2nd Batt. Royal Sussex Regt. formed part, was ordered to cross by the lock south of Catillon. The position was strong, and before the bridge could be thrown a steep bank leading up to the lock and a waterway about 100 yards short of the canal had to be crossed. The I assaulting platoons and bridging parties, R.E., on their arrival at the waterway were thrown into confusion by a heavy barrage and machine-gun fire, and heavy casualties were caused. At this moment. Lieut-Col. Johnson arrived, and, realising the situation, at once collected men to man the bridges and assist the R.E., and personally led the assault. In spite of his efforts heavy enemy fire again broke up the assaulting and bridging parties. Without any hesitation, he again re- organised the platoons and bridging parties and led them at the lock, this time succeeding in effecting a crossing, after which all went well. During all this time Lieut-Col. Johnson was under a very heavy fire, which, though it nearly decimated the assaulting oolumns, left him untouched. His conduet was a fine example of great valour, coolness, and intrepidity, which, added to his splendid leadership and the offensive spirit that he had inspired in his battalion, were entirely responsible for the successful crossing." Col. Johnson, who is only 34 years of age, began his Army career in the Wiltshire Militia, serving with them for about 18 months. He was then trans- ferred to the 2nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, as a second-lieutenant, in South Africa in July, 1903, and with that battalion he served continuously until a comparatively recent date. For his services in the South African War he received the Queen's campaign medal. Guarding prisoners at St. Helena for a term was part of his experiences in those early days of his military career. He was promoted first-lieutenant in March, 1907, and captain in March, 1914. From February, 1909, to February, 1912, he was adjutant of the 2nd Batt. S.W.B As a captain he went with this battalion to China, and took part, in'the capture of Tsing Tau from the Germans, Col. Casson being then the commanding officer and Col. J. Going, D.S.O., now at Brecon as the commandant of the 24th Regimental Area, being the senior major. It was in this smart campaign, one of the earliest successes of the war, that he won the D.S.O. The M.C. was gained for later service nearer home. After the fall of Tsing Tau, the 2nd S.W. Borderers were sent to Gallipoli, and there Captain Johnson was badly wounded in the shoulder at the landing. He was sent home and served on the staff for a time. When fully recovered he joined the 1st Battalion in France. In December, 1917, he was made major, and in April, 1918, was given the com- mand of the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regt. He is one of the most popular officers of his old regiment, and the news of his V.C. award has given the greatest satisfaction to Col. Going and the other officers at the Depot at Brecon, who know his worth. He belongs to a well- known Gloucestershire family. A brother, who was also an officer in. the South Wales Borderers, WILjJ. killed early in the war. j

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GARTH. Other newa on page 3. i Ring Out, Ring In.—The bells of LlanlleonM Church rang out the Old, and ring is the New Year. Mr Bvans, Station Honafc, who is church warden, and a party of friends went to the church at 10-36 pan. and were busy ringing until 1 p.m. How the Huns behaved to a Garth man.—Sgt. §yd. Jarman, son of Mr Jarman „ Bryacerdd, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany, was one of the Brecknock Territorials at the com- mencement of the war and was afterwards transferred to the 2nd Mons. He went to France in January, 1918, and was taken prisoner in April, in the Armen- tierres push at Pontieppe. There he was wounded in trying to bring a wound- ed comrade in, this heroic action costing him his chance of escaping himself. Sgt. Jarman had on several occasions a revolver levelled against him by. his captors and was called "swine of England? for no cause whatever. The Germans bandaged the wounded with paper bandages, which were more a hindrance than help, as they came undone very quickly. The German nurses also shewed their hatred in the rough haadlki £ of the wounded. Jarman states definitely that all would have been starved but for the prcels suit tóea nIB England. The food they received of which he feas a sample, was made of 40 per cent rotten potatoes, 46 per cent wood-pttlp, aad 89 per cent rjre and dirt. He was in two hospitals IMItJ" the Russian frontier, one being at Lhatzic and the other Laagend- alzic. The. prisoners were marched into Berlin as a pyoof to the populace of the German success. Some of our men, in order to escape greater hardships,

MARKETS. I-- Brecon, Poultry, &c., Friday. A better snvpiy and a rather -easier tone. Quotations ;•—Butter, controlled price eggs, 5f £ eticfe fewls, 2/2 t» 2f§ per H*; ducks, pe £ lb.; cheese, skim, 114. per lb., fu"- 11 per lb. AL titMe pig- meat o* offfer, but not enough to met a price. Brecon, Cattle, Tuesday.-For the time of fear very good supply of beef and mutton, for grading at controlled prices. Not very much doing in the store cattle trade. One hears again of farmers ife this district selling store atock away from market all experience teaches that they are bad judges. Builth Wells, Monday.—Trade was brisk and 11 beasts and about 590 sheep went through the grading station. Fair supply of cart pigs met with ready buyers at from 30J- to 38/ Supply of store cattle above the average, two-year-old bullocks £20 to 122 yearling bullocks £ 14 to £ 45' Cows with oalves MI to, £ 36, awl wetffc in great demand. Fimr supply of farta and dairy produce add at controlled prions. Hay Auction Mart.—At the Auction Mart on MfJDday 360 sheep and If cattle, including 8i bull weighing 231 etrt., were gradodi and afterwards sold by Mr F. G. Pricef. I pretended to be insane. A German threatened to shoot one of these, and he retorted "with "If you do I will have the bullet taken out on my return to England to prove your cruelty". Another, on seeing an aeroplane overhead, began to throw stones at it. Sgt Jarman is getting over his imprisonment. He had a great reception on his arrival at Garth.

SENNYBRIDGE. Sennybridge Branch of the Brecon and Radnor Farmers' Union (200 members).—Annual Meeting, Wednesday, January 15th, 1919, at 2-30 p.m., at the Market Hall. Let no farmer be so in- different as to absent himself, as we do not want any non-Union farmers in this district. Carol-Singing.—A party volunteered to go out on New Year's Eve carol- singing to raise funds for giving the Boys" a welcome home after doing their bit" in France and dther coun- tries. Mr Prosser kindly lent a horse ( and Mr Thomas, the Usk and Railway Hotel, a brake to take the older mem- bers as far as Penpont. Everywhere the party was well received and the sum of 96 10s. was realised. The money will be deposited in the bank until such time as the 10.)0 retain aud suitable arrange- menfo are made.

LLANWRTYD WELLS. Military Notes.-Privates Albert Mack, Holm Lea; Edgar Williams, Carlton, and Fred Morgan, Dolgoy, are home on leave. Sunday School Bank.The flourishing position of the St. James' Sunday School Bank claims attention. The sum deposited last year was Y,140 15s. Id. and the bonus added was 92 2s. 7d. Mr Harry Mack, the school superintendent, is to be complimented on the success attained. Church Items.—The sum of 14 17s. 7d. was given towards the King's fund, as the result of collections at the Victory thanksgiving services held at the Church of St. James', Llanwrtyd Wells. Rainfall.—Respecting the rainfall for the month of December, Mr Rhya D. Jones, Brynooen, reports :—Total depth 10'12 inches, greatest fall '83 inch on the 15th, rainless days 1. For the cor- responding month in 1917-Total depth 2'12 inches, greatest fall '51 inch, rain- less days 16. For the year 1918—Total depth 59'31 inches, greatest fall 10'8 inches in September and 1'46 inches in May, rainless days 128. For, the year 1917—Total depth 53'27 inches, greatest fall 12'44 inches in August, 1.4 inches on August 13th, rainless days 142. Free Library.—At a recent meeting of the old Reading Room Committee, the matter of the re-opening of the institu- tion was discussed, and it was decided to consult the ratepayers by way of petition. This has accordingly been done, and the inhabitants have shewn their approval of the venture by presenting a petition to the Urban District Council containing 90 per cent. of signatures. The Council at their meeting, on Friday last were unanimous in their approval, which means a penny in the Z new rate and the adoption of the Free Libraries Act. Thanks are dne. to the Misses Richards, of "Lisburne" and Wellington respeo tively, and Mr T. E., C. Davies for their work in connection with the matter.

LLANWRTYD WELLS. Omission.—From the report in last week's issue of the competitive meeting and concert held at the Victoria Hall on Boxing night the- names of Master G. T. Williams (one of the accompanists), Master H. Williams. Mr Emrys Jones and Mr D. R. Rowlands were inadvert- ently omitted.

WASTE PAPER. To Our Customers. WASTE PAPER. To Our Customers. All Sacks MUST BE RETURNED THIS WEEK without fail. -1

BUILTH WELLS. Dramatic Performance.- On Friday evening there was an overflowing audi- ence at the Kino, when the "Private Secretary" was acted by the Brecon Amateur Dramatic Society, which visited Builth Wells some twelve months ago, and made a great reputation. Friday's peformance was in aid of S. Mary's repairs fund. Mr T. R. Worthington gave the use of the Kiuo, and helped to arrange it for the play. Mrs Wenham, assisted by Miss Penton, also worked very hard in preparing the hall. The caste of the play, which was admirably acted, was as follows :—Mr Marsland, M.F.H., Mr A. J. Corbett; Harry Marsland, Mr W. E. Jones Mr Catter- mole, Mr A: Jolly Douglas Cattermole, Mr A. Leonard Rev. Robert Spalding, Mr T. J. Parry Mr Sydney Gibson, Mr C. Fenner John, Mr J. Davies Knox, Mr J. S. Davies Edith Mars- land, Miss Elsie Tyler; Eva Webster. Mrs Jolly Mrs Stead, Mra Parry Miss Ashford, Miss L. Lewis. Ploughing and Hedging Conipetition. —A meeting of the Builth Ploughing and Hedging Committee was held on Monday evening, at the Swan Hotel. Mr Thomas Jones (Alltmawr), presided over a good attendance. It was decided to hold competitions in February, and the membership fee was fixed at 5s. Mr T. Jones (Alltmawr) was elected president of the committee, Mr H. T. Price vice- president, Mr John A. Evans secretary, and Mr T. S. Hamer treasurer. Waifs and Strays.-As a result of a concert given by the Infants of the Builth Wells Council School in the Church Hall, Builth, on Dec. 18th, a sum of 112 has beeh sent to the Rev. D. Maldwyn Davies, Llandrindod Wells, District Secretary for the Waifs and Strays, in aid of the South Wales Homes funds. New Nurse.—Builth Wells and Dis- trict Nursing Association is now com- pletely organised, and the new nurse. Miss Nesta Williams, of Swansea, took up duties on the 1st inst. It is antici-' pated that the services of the district nurse will be in great demand in the rural parishes around as well as in the town. Welcome Home.—The inhabitants of Builth Road have decided not to throw in their lot with Builth Wells in wel- coming home the boys from the Front, and at a properly convened parish meet- ing a committee with power to add has been appointed. Demobilisation.—Corporal G. Lloyd, the Rectory, Aberedw, and Private M. Jones, Dan y Coed, Aberedw, were demobilised last week. The former has seen many months of hard fighting in France and is at present suffering from the effects of gas. Great Success.—The Fancy Dress Dance Committee met last Friday and was presided over by the chairman, Mr W. W. Lennard. The accounts were presented and the amount realised was £ 22. Private Secretary.—The stage furnish- ings for the Private Secretary were kindly lent to the Vicar of Builth by Messrs Ashton and Son, Ltd., and this greatly assisted to carry out the arrange- ments for theSperformance. Chamber of Trade.—Mr John Duggan (chairman) presided over the monthly committee meeting of the Builth Wells Chamber of Trade held at the Church Hall on Tuesday evening, and others present were Messrs J. Ward, G. E. Sayce, T. Hammond, T. Handley, J. T. Catley, P. B. Abery and W. W. Lennard (secretary). The balance sheet for the past year was submitted and ordered to be audited. The question of compulsory closing of business establish- ments will be discussed at the next meeting of the Chamber. Week of Prayer.—The Free Churches are holding prayer meetings every night this week. On Monday evening the meeting was at Wesley Church and was conducted by the Rev. W. Bell on Tuesday at Horeb and conducted by the Rev. Lewis Beynon. Builth Carol League Choir. -The Builth Carol League Choir, under the leadership of Mr Frank DavieS:, gaye a • I carol service at S. Mary's Parish Church, on Wednesday in last week. There was a large attendance. The service was conducted by the Vicar. The anthem. Sing ye Heavens," in which Miss Gwen Evans took the solo, chorus r" Then round about Starry Throne," were noticeable items of the programme, and Mr James Prothero sang" He shall Feed His Flock" in good style. Mr Sydney R. Phillips pre- sided at the organ, and the collection was for S. Dunatan's Hostel for Blind Soldiers.

Comrades of the Great War. DON'T MISS THE GREAT MEETING THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING AT THE BRECON TOWN HALL AT 7-30. Presentations to Pte. JOHN WILLIAMS, Y.C., AND TO BRECON BOYS WHO HAVE WON DISTINCTIONS IN THE WAR Also to Returned Prisoners of War., JOIN THE BRECON a POST." SECURE YOUR "COUNTY TIMES" BY ORDERING IT- 209th Year of the tj fSf OFFICE. rOUHDED 1710. The Oldest Insurance Office In the World. amm am PGUU d"od an Insurances effected on the following risks:- FIRE DAMAGE. Resultant Loss of Rent and Proiita. Employers' Liability and Worbaon's Compensation including Accidents to Domestic Servants. Personal Accident, Burglary, Plata •lass Fidelity Guarantee, Sickness and Diseasg. LOCAL AGBW*: BRECOW MR. DAVID POWMM.

P————■— p. f THE POISON OF THE SNAKE. The deadly power of snake poison has been shown in some curious ways. Of these per- haps none is more extraordinary than thai of the Chinaman who, while gathering grqgee ftl the meyard of' Califonftan, was bittfen %rj 0 rattler. The unfortunate man was mmmw diately given the usual remedy—whisky—and, as an additional measure, hie injured arm was placed in a bath filled with strong n-ativo brandy; the expectation being that the spirii would in dissolving the poiwn from the wojmd. Jfevertheieas, in. a short time the man died. The paint of the (incident lies in fcbe fact that the employer, wishing to make mure tnafc the Chinaman kejpt his arm well soabed in the liquid, heW it down in the brandy wifrb I his, own hand. He was not awace that theee was any scratch upon his skin, yet he was poisoned, and for long time was dreadfully ill. He finally recovered, £ >ut only after muen Buffering. Only a tiny part of the peiMD I could have become dissolved by the four gal- lon*; of brandy, yet it was e^parently enough to inoculate the owner to a 3ungerous extent. One authority on snakes has declared thai the venom of the rattler will affect even vege- tablesHaving inoculated various varieties with a point of a lancet, he found them nedt da.y withered an.0, ctead, looking as if (bey lutf been struck by lightning. <«»

CONCERNING COFFEE. The custom of cofifoe drinking is MfatoeQt recent among the peoples of Europe and the" descendants in America. Mr. Harry W. Va. Dyke, in. "Through South America," sayft that for a long time after it made its way west from Arabia and Turkey coffee was under the ban of the Church. It was not until 1660 that the first house that made a speciality of serving coffee was opened ia London, a j little later it was- introduced into Franee. Thence the practice has spread, until thf amount now consumed the world over if simply enormons. At firnt* coffee came from Northern Africa, Arabia, and Turiiej; then. the Dutch bog an experimenting, and 8118- ceeded in cullivatiug it in Java, and the French in the West Indies. For a while tfcew were the principal sources of supply. The- story goes that in 1760 a Portugtnee, Joao Alberto Castetto Braaco, planted a bwh de Janeiro. Thanks to the peoulittalT favourable soil and climate, Brazil soon oat1 stripped all other lands in the production of coffee. The uplands of the State of Sao Panto prodnoe more thift half of 0-M -nrmnMO 1 MnOOfafc t*' eeffee tfeat i% consumed"the worid to-day. No more beautiful sigh* eocdd be imagined than one of these ptantattaiM in full Uoom. The flowers are white, and grow clusters, and the air is fragrant witli tbeir perfrune.

BMM -1) VSOBT4.BI.M, Only a few of. Mr oonanon fruits aN imitu, GrA- even fewer-none, indeed, except oertabr, varieties of berries are umful unimprovea- The peach, or Malum persicum, p •pple,. came originaMr from Persia; tbe yam from Cydonia, in Crete; the chesinai icawt- tane4 from Caetwrn, a town of PoTitwe; the plum from Syria and Damascus, an origin, efcitf indicated in the name of the damson, or dama- scene, variety. Th& filbert, an old chronicler records, war so named of Philibert, a Kins? of Fvaaee, who caused by arte sundry kinds to be brought forth." Pliny testifies that cherry-trees r-eve first planted in Britain, twenty-six yeare after their introduction into Italy by Luoullus, who, after the war with Mithriuates, brought them from the King of Pontus's city of Cerosue. j Their French name-ceriae-and their botani- [ cal ooo-cerasus-show thb origin more obviously than our word cherty, although the derivation is the same. During the Saxon period the cherry in England was allowed to run out, and it was net reintroduced until the II gardener of Henry VIII. brought it from Flanders and planted the first of the famous Kentish cherry orchards. The Romans rightly valued the- introduction of new fruits and flowers. The services cf the Roman captains were, however, merely inci- dental; none of them rivalled in horticultural rlovotion the act of the elder Trru!ef>cp.ni, gardener to Charles. I., who enlisted on bvl"d a privateer armed' against Morocco solalv v;jt f a view to finding an opportunity to cto&l apri- j cots into Britain. He succeeded, at what ccst J of battle, bloodshed,- diplomacy, or exchange I under a flag of truoe we do not know. There is often no possibility of tracittg the origin or introduction, of e-s- teemed and therefore less noted thaa fruits. We do know, however, that Sir Walter Raleigh introduoed- the potato into Eii^jand, i and that Sir Anthony Ashley, of Wimfcerne t Si.. Giles, Dorsetshire,, fi-refc plasted cabbages, [ which he got from HoilaikL It was a useful j innovation, and he deserved the largtf and { neatly-sculptured cabbage that is place# at his feet upon his tomb.

To MAKE A WEATHER GLASS, Take a coanr; on gla.se piekle-bottle, fill! it within about t::j.-c& inches of the top with water. Then take a Florence oft flaisk—re- To MAKE A WEATHER GLASS, Take a conur,on glass piekle-bottle, fi it within about t::j.-c& inches of the top with water. Then take a Florence oft fl"re- move the straw covering and clean watt from alL remains of the oil, and plunge the n<?ck of the flask into the piokte-bottle, and the barometer is complete.. In fine weather the j water wi!-i rise into t'he neck of the flask, | even about, the mouib. of the- pidde-boWe. In 1 wet and1 windy weather it wil'l* fail t» within J an inch or so of tne ii;w»k' £ > moi.ui. 1

THE BARBER'S POLE. 1 The familiar sign of the barber's shctp is a I survival of the- old days when the town If barber was alio a sturgeon. In the days when | our bodily ailiueufca were supp-j&e# to be due r to too nil'.eh blood or to had blood" it wee common to resort to' btood lettAis^ as a u.re, and it wc-i the barber su-rgoois wlllt per- formed thr necessary operation. The pole represented the staff which was held by those who were being bled. The red niid white stripes represented the bandages. The, white one stood for the- banda-go which wae pat on before the bkxxl waa tak-en out, and the red one the bnndwge which was iisoti foe bind- ing up the wound after the operation. The gilded ball. at. tite, top of the pole was the barber's sign, and was supposed to suggest, the brass basin then used in the shops. Printed and Published by THB fiaabotf COUNTY TIMES LIMITED at the Bulwark and Lion Street, Brecon, in the County of Brecknock, THURSDAY, JA2SUARY 9th, 1919, and registered at the General Post Office as a newspaper. and registered at the General Post Office as a newspaper.