South Wales Weekly Post

VALUE OF AMBULANCE DOGS. Out ot about 30,000 beds in the military hospitals of Berlin, 24,000 are occupied. This does not take into account the numbeis of convalescent soldiers in their own homes or private houses. In connection with German Red Cross work, there are now 1,800 specially-trained ambulance dogs employed, each being in charge of an ambulance man who understands the management of do?s. Altogether £ 50,000 has been spent In train- è "t} d ing and breeding these dogs, and the Ger- man military authorities say they could do with thousands more, for one dog will some- times ?d as many as eight wounded in a td?hi. J

I ELEVEN Y.C. 8 MEN WHO SAVED THE DAY, SECOND HONOUR FOR r V.C. MAN. I That coveted honour, the Victoria Cross, has been awarded the follow.ng eleven gal- lant men whose brave acts a..e brietiv re- corded hereunder: — I Lieut.-Col. E. W. Alexander, 119th Batt. R.F.A. At Elouges, on August 24, when the flank guard waf atlacxed by a German corps, he handled his battery against over- whelming uJds with such success that all his guns were saved, notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself and three other men. This enabled the retirement of the 5th Divi- sion L" be cavried out without serious loss. Subsequently Lieut.-Col. Alexander (then Major) rescued a wounded man under a heavy fire. I I 6535 Drummer W. Kenny, 2nd Cordon H. I for rescuing wounded men on live occa-- sionc under very heavy fire in the most fearless manner, and for twice previously saving machine-guns by carrying them out of action, near Y prt's, on October 23. On numerous occasions Drummer Kenny 'I conveyed urgent messages under very dangerous circumstances over fire-swept ground. Lieut. J. A. 0. Brooke, 2nd Cordon H. I .Near Gheluvelt, on October he led two attacks on the German trenches under heavy fire and machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment. He was killed that day. By his coolness and promptitude Lieut. Brooke prevented the enemy from break- ing through the British line at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been organised. Capt. J. F. Vallentin, 1st Batt., South I I Staffs. v\ hen leading the attack against the Germans under a very heavy fire at ZiHe- beke on November 7, he was struck down, .md on rising U, continue the attack was I imri-tediate?v killed. The capture of the I enemy's trenches which foUowfd .was in a great measure due to the confidence which I the men ha.d in their captain, because of I his many previous acts of bravery. I Lieut. F. A. De Pass, 34th Prinoe Albert i Victor's Poona Horse. j rie entered a Carman sap near Festa- bcrt on November 24, dstroyed a traverse in th,, face of the enemy's bombs, and rescued, under heavy ifre, a wounded man I exposed in the open. Lieut, de l'ass lost his life the same day in a secolld I attempt to capture the sap. re-occupied by the enemy. 11340 Private H. H. Robson, 2nd Batt. I Royal Scots (Lothians). During an attack on the German posi- tion, near Kemmel, on December 14, he left his trench under a very heavy fire and rescued a wounded non-commissioned I officer, afterwards making an attempt to bring another wounded man into cover, whilst exposed to a severe fire. In this attempt he was wounded, but persevered until rendered helpless by a second sho. I 8185 Pte. J. Mackenzie, 2nd Scots Cuards. At Rouges Banes on December 19 he rescued a severely wounded man from in front of the German trenches, under a very heavy fire and after a stretcher- bearer party had been compelled to a ban- don the attempt. He was kIlled the same day whilst performing a similar act. ) Lieut. P. Neame, R.E. In face of very heavy rifle fire and bomb-throwing by the eneiaj" near Neuve I Chapelle on December 19 he succeeded in holding them back and rescuing many wounded men. 10694 Pte. A. Acton, 2nd Border Regt. His acts are not recorded. 8423 Pte. d. Smith, 3rd Border Regt. Went voluntarily from trench at Rouges Banes on December 21 and rescued a. wounded man who had been exposed against the enemy's trenches tor 75 hours. On the same day, again leaving the trench, he went out under heavy fire to briiig in j another wounded man. 35M Lance-Corpi. M. O'Leary, 1st Irish1 Cuards. Details will he found elsewhere. Lieut. A. M. Leake, il.A.M.C.. I who was awarded the Victoria Cross in I 1902, is jr anted a Clp.sp for bravery in I the present campaign. Between October 29 and November 8, near Zonnebeke, he rescued, whilst ex- posed to constant fire, a large number of wounded who were lying close to the enemy's trenches. (The V.C. was conferred on Lieut. Leake during the Boer war. While tending the wounded under heavy fire from 40 Boers at 100 yards' range at Vlakfontein, he was shot three times. He refused water to relieve his own thirst until eight of his comrade's had had some. ) Lieutenant Arthur Martin Leake, R.A.M.C., is the first man to be granted a clasp to his Victoria Cross, since this order was instituted in February, 1856. HEROISM OF THE MINE SWEEPERS. The puclic hears too little of the dan- gerous work of the mine sweepers (in which a number of Swansea trawlers and trawler- men are engaged) but the story of the fod- lowing deeds, for which dfcrations have been awarded, will bring home to it the perilsm by their townsi-nen:- Lieut. H. Boothby, R.N.R., H.M.S. Pekin (to be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order). When Trawler No. 99 (Orianda), jn which he was serving, was blown up by a mine on December 19, Lieut. Boothby successfully got all his crew (except one who was kilied) into safety. Lieut. Boothby was again blown up on January 6, in Trawler No. 450 (The Banyers). Lieut. C. V. Crossl-ey, R.N.R., II.M.S. Pekin (Distinguished Service Cross). Whilst sweeping on December 19 three violent explosions occurred close under the stem of h:s ship, Trawler No. 465 (Star of Britain). He controlled the crew, and himself crawled into a confined space near the screw shaft, discovered the damage, and temporarily stopped the I leak sufficiently to enable the pumps to keep the water down and save the ship. Lieut. Godfrey Craik Parsons, R.N., H.M.S. Pekm. Displayed great skill and devotion to duty in continuing to command his group of trawlers after ha ring been mined in Trawler No. 58 on December 19. On this day his group exploded eight mines and brought to the surface six more, Trawler No 93 being blown up and Ncs. 58 and 465 damaged, all in the space of about ten minutes .———— —————

SON OF BAVARIAN SOLDIER. i i DIES FOR ENGLAND AT THE I FRONT. Private Philip Nicklae. of the 2nd South I Lancashire Regiment, who hILa died of wounds received in action, was the son cf in old Bavarian soldier who fought with he Prussians in 1870. and was one of the rietorions army that marched into Paris. After the war the father came to Eng. land. where he merried an English wife and started in business as a barber. He has lived for twenty-six years at Golborne, Lancashire, ?nd his son has latterly been his partner. AF soon as the war broke out the son en- Listed, and the father registered himself as an ahen enemy. He is. in fact. an admirer of Great Britain, but he never took tho rouble to be naturalised. If he were not ill in bed he would be interned

"HO FALTERING.' "NO FAL TERING.' S??ttStaSSBBa?t FRENCH PREMIER S TRIBUTE, "BOND OF A SACRED I ALLIANCE." PARIS, Thursday. In the Chamber of Deputies to-day thel question was raised as to the reported pre- sence of a French Minister at tile Socialist Conference in London, but M. Viviani, who replied on behalf of the Government, dis- pelled all misunderstandings. He deciat-ect tilat since tho outbreak oi hostilities the I views of the members 01 the Government, had been in complete harmony. He thanked his colleagues lor their devotion and the courage with which they had carried out their.tasks. the i'j emier then paid a glowing tribute to the Allies and their great project. "The Inple Entente," he declared, "followed, but tlid not commenoe. Uie increase 01 arma- ments and effectives. If one examines the more recent past one will see that even up to the very commencement of the present war the Triple Entente renewed and multi- plied all their pacific efforts. The Govern- ment ha!3 said—and he repeated it—that it will continue Without faltering and without slacken- ing its efforts to co-operate with its Allies imtil the end—until the rnoralliberation of Europe, until the matt-rial and political restoration oi Belgium, and until the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine. For forty-four years in a constant man- ner and more eagerly—I was going to say more tenderly-since the outbreak of hos- tilities Alsace and Lorraine have manifested in every way an attachment to the French hearth. By their heroic fidelity they have themselves prepared for the return to their native country. Need I add that by the treaty of September 4, 1914, the Govern- men.tof the Republic can only consider the <1 nest ion of a peacetul solution with the agreement of her noble Allies, 0 Creat Britain and Russia, whose fidelity, a proof of which is to be found in the energy and courage which has everywhere been shown on the field of battle, knits closer together, if that is possible, the bond of a sacred alliance. It is this alliance, together with the entente, which binds us with intrepid Serbia, that will save the cause of civilisation and of right. It is it that will save Europe and perhaps the worid from tyranny which would be imposed on them by the triumph of Prussian militarism,"

AT THE PRISON GATE.! HELPING HAND FOR THE FALLEN. WORK OF THE D.P.A.S." j The forty-fourth annua:1report of the West1 Glamorgan Discharged Prisoners' Aid G l amor g a,ii D Pr i Society, which does such an admirable work amon.gst this class of community, is now issued, and it once again gives evidence of, the untii-irg efforts of the chairman (Mr. Joseph Hall) and committee, and particu-' larly the earnest and hard-working secre- tarv. Key. J. H. Watkins Jones, M.A. (tne j cliapiain of H.M. Prison at Swansea), lady visitors (Mrs. Jorris. and Sisters Mary and eronica) and others. i PATRIOTIC ORDUN ALS. I he following observations of the general committee will be read with satisfaction :— Crime is decreasing partly owing to the war. Some think this is due to restric- tion,3 on drink. but why should we not he- lieve that it is due to the patriotism rf our recidivists? Why should they not love their country enough to abstain from (giving trouble to the police who have their hands full of the alien? in -?d we know many locaJ cases where men tave managed to get into the Army and are making a good shew. Crime is often due to round men in square holes. Put a man into his true environment and he becomes a re- spectable citizen. Three great causes will account for the reduction of prison popa- lation. First, a growing desire to obey law and observe order throughout- the country. Secondly, a growing di=inclina- tion to send folk to prison. Thirdly, im- t)rove,d methods of dealing with nrism-ers. It is computed that, excluding 60,000 im- prisoned for non-payment of fines, real crime in the country is confined to 40,000 people, many of whom are physically and mentally affected. The committee record their warm- est thanks to Mr. Joseph Hall and the sub- committee, and note with "deep regret" the sad loss the Swansea Prison sustained by the death of-the Rev. Canon R. B. Gwydir, who perished at sea whilst acting as chaplain to the Navy. DRINK AND IRRELIGION. The report of the sub-committee states that during- the year "1,168 men and 294 women were discharged, and of these 360 of the former and 62 of the latter came before us. Any application for work is especially examined, and many men have been assisted with railway fares to piaces where work is obtainable, to enable them to make a fresh start. Other applicants are in need of cloth- ing. This is a large item in our expendi- ture. but it is considered to be money well spent. When men and women are dis- charged in decent clean clothing, it makes them take a greater interest, in life. It is fotin d that 4-1 '!j. k is s t found that drink is still a great stumbling block, and every persuasion is used to get the applicant to renounce intoxicants. One more point we note is, the lamentable lack of I religion. It is really surprising to learn I what a large number of men and woman attend no place of worship, and are utterly; indifferent to all matters appertaining to I religion." j:e l i, A number of interesting and encouraging cases that have passed through the hande of the sub-committee are given m doai;, )?it, of course, without names. Th? natm' of the assistance given includesReturned iA) former employment, 27; placed in new employment. 42; sent to relatives or friends, "0; sent to labour or other homes, 41; pro- vided with clothing, 301; provided with owis. 7; provided with stock or materials. 6: provided with food. 11; provided with .edgings, 6: provided with railway tare. L,,); provided with money, 26; assisted in other vays, 9. The Borstal Committee's report states hat during the year 12 males and 10 females with sentences of over one month, and 26 males and IS females with sentences if one month or If' were treated under nodified Borstal rules. Altogether, the reports give evidence of nuch good work attempted and much done. I The annual meeting is fixed for Friday atternoon next at 3 p.m. at the Swansea guildhall.

CHAIRMAN VACATES CHAIR. SCENE AT PONTARDAWE I COUNCIL MEETING. There was an angry scene at Pontardawe Council meeting on Thursday, following a report by the clerk (Mr. Wyndham Lewis) I on the recent inquiry at Swansea in regard to the borough extensions. Mr. H. j. Powell moved that a committee be appointed to consider whether the Council should take into the Pontardawe administra- tive area a portion of Glais, Caemawr, and buildings, It was stated that from a financial point of view this would be no gain to the district. Mr. Richard Thomas moved that as Clyd- ach was such a valuaoie asset to the Pontar- dawe district all the Clydach members snor.ld lie on the committee. j Mr. F. R. Phiiiips said he failed to see why they should be dictated to in that way by the Clydach members. It seemed they wanted everything at the point of the pistol, Mr. R. Thomas said they had not had the fairness they expected from the chairman. The remark caused an uproar, and the Chairman (Mr. Morgan Da vies) rising, said unless Mr. Thomas withdrew he would va- cate the chair. Mr. Thomas declined to do so, and Mr. Davies accordingly vacated the chair and declared the meeting adjourned.

I" IN GODS llANOS." ) ( I GERMAN VIEW OF ISSUE. t A MUCH MORE. CHAS- I TENED SPIRIT. J I I'Greater Fatherland.' j (Press Association War Special.) I AMSTERDAM, Thursday. Already members of the Reichstag at mass meetings are expatiating upon the aims of the war and the final results, and all are of opinion tnat a greater Germany will emerge from this war. NpotJOnal Liberal Deputies, for instance, Herr Stresemann, and recently Herr de ente, indulge in particularly fantastic ideas. The "Berliner Tageblatt," com- menting on a speech by Herr de Wente, says: •"ihe present war, if it ends victor-, :ously, will not remain without coinpensa- -ion, is the general conviction; but it is more difficult to decide how a greater Ger- many will appear. The most important Oib-1 ject of the war is the transformation of the i political situation, and therewith a lasting assurauce of peace." "A PEOPLE THREATENED WITH STARVATION." The "Lokalanzeiger" says February 18 is the beginning of the defensive fight of a peopL threatened with starvation, a people which must fight for its existence, and which in the fight for life must and will push aside all considerations for third parties. Towards as all consideration has already been pushed aside. The fight into which we enter to-day must be fougnt either with all recklessness or not at all, and we Germans are resolved to fight wiuh?ut regard to consequences. The paper then says "Germany did not con- jure up the war, though she was well pre- pared in every way, as she could not be de- ceived regarding the real aims of her enemies." Defending the methods of German war- fare, the "Lokalanzeiger" remarks that towns, villages, and manuments were de- stroyed in justified self-defence, or when they served the enemy as a protection for his offensive weapons. Our troops, far from attacking private property, have. EVERYWHERE PAID IN CASH. I (Sic.) They have not only refrained from sacking, but in numerous cases saved suf- ferers in the enemy's country from starva- tion. But all this (the journal continues) will in times to come be judged by history. Turning to the future, the "Lokalanzei- ger" saYb :-Nothing has been heard from our official circles of what will happen in the event of our victory. Deeply rooted in our people is the humble conviction that vic- tory lies in God's hands, and that we have to await the decision of Providence. Difficult will he the fight, perhaps long also, for the enemy will not shrink from any ineans in oider to frustrate our efforts. With thfir ally starvation, we contest in the firm con- sciousness we shall pull through even if not a single grain of wheat should reach us, while Great Britain, through our blockade system, must experience most severe damage. I ANOTHER ZEPPELIN GONE. I I MORE GERMAN AIR I DISASTERS, (Press Association War Service). ( AMSH?DAM, Thursday. A tehgram from BeKln states the airship L3 while on a reconj?oitring voyage descend- ed during a storm owing to a defect of its motor on the west coast of Jutland. The airship has been lost, bat the crew were saved. The above message from Berlin would ap- pea.r to refer to the airship seen yesterday i over Amc.:terd.am. DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. I ("Tim-s" 'ieiegram, per Press Association). I COPENHAGEN, Thursday. I Yesterday evening the German Navy lost Zpppelin L3, which was of 27 tons weight, and was launched last year. It will be re-" mem bored that of her predecessors the LI was blown down into the sea near Heligo- land, and L2 caught fire aind was destroyed at Johannisthal. There wa.s no loss of life on the present occasion. The aiship left Hamburg at four o'clock in the morning and cruised during the day off the north-west coast of Den- mark. Her motors failed one after another, and about six o'clock in the evening the ship landed with a crash on the be&oh at Fanoe isdind, snapping in two. The crew, consisting of, two officers and 14 petty officers and men jumped out and escaped uninj ured. Immediately after- wards the ship burst into flames. The captain declares that he set fire pur- posely to the ship in order to prevent her blown, further ashore and imperilling lives and adj oent buildings. The crew had just time to land their ammunition and bombs. They were interned for the night in a, local hotel. Much airship activity has been reported during the last two days along the west coast- and at the bottom of the Great Belt.

SOLDIER AND SWEET- i HEART.. DISTRESSING AFFAIR AT I TENBY. Mri H. J. E. Price held an inquest at Tenby on Friday into the death of Private Frederick Oliver Evans, of the 4th (Territorial) Battalion Welsh Regiment, who was kilied upon the railway near Penally during the storm on Wednesday, evening. Private W. S. Purser, of the 4th Welsh, stationed at Tenby, stated that. E\ans and himself, with another soldier, went to Penally on Wednesday evening to I meet three young ladies. As it came on to rain they took refuge in a shelter on Penalij7 Burrows. At 8.25 Purser said it was time to move if they were to catch the train to Tenby. He left, Evans say- ing that he would follow close behind I him. < I Driver George Brew, in charge of the train which left Tonby at 8.43 p.m., said that as he was bringing the train under control to stop at Penally Station he' noticed an unusual sound, and also felt a j slight jar on the engine. He went back along the line with the stationmaster and Police Constable Nash, and found I the body of a soldier about eighteen yards from the station. The jury round that deceased died trom injuries accidentally received. j At the conclusion of the Tenby inquiry the coroner proceeded to Penalty, where an inquest was held upon the second victim of the accident, Ada Evans, a servant in tho employment of Captain Hughes-Morgan at Penally House. Marv Morris, who was in the company of Private Purser, stated that when they got back to the station she heard that a soldier had been kilied, and, looking at the body, she saw it was that of the soldier who had been in the company of her friend Ada. She walked along the line to look for her friend, and found her body lying in the middle of the line about eighteen yards on tha Tenby side of the crossing. A verdict of Accidental death was returned in this case also.

PICTURESQUE VISITORS TO SWAN- SEA. Swansea this week has been interested in American black and white visitors—or, as t.hey are better known, coloured gentle- men." Thev are attired in various pictur- esque modes peculiar to their country. Some of them are "?w punchers," or ranch bOY3. They come from two large ste=ei:s which have arrived at Swansea.

IFIRST RESULTS OF IT NEUTRAL STEAMER TORPEDOED. f PRESS BUREAU, 11.40 p.m. THE REAR-ADMIRAli AT DOVER REPORTS THE NORWEGIAN TANK STEAMER BELRIDGE WAS STRUCK BY A TORPEDO FROM A GERMAN SUBMARINE OFF FOLKESTONE. PIECES OF THE TORPEDO WERE FOUND CN BOARD THE SHIP. THE BELRIDGE WAS A NEUTRAL SHIP PROCEEDING FROM NEW ORLEANS TO AMSTERDAM. Lloyd's Dover correspondent reported yesterday:— I Norwegian tank steamer Belridgo, New Orleans for Amsterdam, arrived off here this morning, and is reported to have been struck by a mine. The forepeak and forehold are full of water and the foredeck awash. The pilot and 18 men left the vessel. The steamer is now reported being beach- ed at NN almer. The Press Association Dover corres- pondent telegraphs that the oil tank I steamer Belndge was struck by a mine near her foredeck when the vessel was near the Varne on Thursday night. Sho passed Dover iater, and proceeding up channel anchored in the Downs. The' crew are all safe, and the pilot and 18 men have left the vessel. FRENCH STEAMER HIT: BUT I REACHES PORT. PARIS, February 19. A telegram from Dieppe of yesterday's date to the "Echo de Paris says:—"A German submarine about three o'clock this morning repeated the exploit of the day be- fore yesterday by torpedoing, 16 miles off Dieppe, the French steamer DMiora.h, -.vhich was proceeding from Havre to Dunkirk. The ship had a plate stove in near the middle on the post side and b-elow the water-line, but was able to keep afloat. Several fishing vessels which had come to warn the port we re sent to assist in pumping her out, and the hole was plugged. This afternoon the ship entered the dock at Dieppe, where she I wll! discharge her c-irgo." The ship was torpedced without warning. -Reut,ar).

I "SMALLER BY DEGREES." GERMANY'S ZEPPELIN SLUMP. (Press Associat:on War Special.) AMSTERDAM, Saturday. Referring to the Berlin telegram con- firming the destruction of dirigibles L3 and L4, the "Nieuws Van Der Dag," Bays that the German Admiralty must now be de- prived of all its dirigibles. Ll, 2 and 3 were of the Zeppelin, and L4 of the Schtuette Lanz type. LI met with complete destiuction in the North Sea in 1913. L2 was completely burned at a height of 600 feet at Johannisthal. At the beginning of the war the Germans had, as far as is known, fifteen dirigibles at her disposal.

TRICK THAT FAILED. GERMAN COPPER WORKS OF 11 ART COPENHAGEN, Friday. A Danish metal factory in Jutland recently received an order from a German manufacturer to make a million copper plates with the Kaiser's portrait engrav- ed on each. The Germans hoped that these woud be allowed to be exported as works of art," but tho Danish authorities have stepped in and forbidden this attempt to obtain copper by a trick. All the stores of copper, brass, aiu- minium, and other metals which were warehoused in the Hamburg free port have been confiscated by the Government. —(" Daily Mail.") ———-—— < —————

i MICHAEL O'LEARY. j IRISH GUARDSMAN WHO IS FAMOUS. MAN FROM COUNTY CORK. Michael O'Leary, t'ie Irish Guardsman whose V.C. feat has made the country ring- I he killed eight Germans, captured t'-vr., and practically carried a position by himself-is not yet 25. He was born in Macroon. In County Cork. He was promoted on the field from lance-corporal to sergeant. "O'Leary's regimental record," says Ili officer of the regiment, "has always been an exceUent on?. Sergeant O'Leary enlisted early in Hfe. and (n the conclusion of bis ) term of service with the colours passed mto j the rfiscrvc*' But pottering about at hom n time-ex- pired man, was not exciting enough for the plucky O'Leary. The Irish blood in him called for a more strenuous life. So he nailed for Canada, and there enlisted as a private in the Royal North West Mounted Police, one of the beet organised and most efficient bodies of men in the Empire. Their long and exciting history of fights with cattle raiders and border thieves, their endless wars with 'he marauding Indians, i attracted the young Irishman. On tho Creat Prairies. Their business is she -Voliving and patroll- ing of the great prairie lands of the north- west. From the American boundary to the Arctic Circle they will be found, and from Yukon in the west to Manitoba in the east. In the Arctic region some cf the police posts are hundreds of miles distant from each other. They are a picturesque body of men, as hard as nail". Although the majority of them, like Sergeant O'Leary, are old soJdiere, there are also in the force a number of well- educated men, gentlemen adventurers, .Hd men to whom the hard life is attractive. With this fine body O'Leary lived and worked, rough-riding the prairie, camping in the open until, with the outbreak of war, the Irish Guards Reserves were mobilised. He at once sailed for England, and was attached as lance-corpora] to the 1st Bat- talion of his old regiment, one of the first to go to the front. Thus, in his lees than Z5 years Michael O'Leary has served iiis country at home, in the Canadian wilds, and again in France, earning the highest honour any soldier can attain. It cannot be said in O'Leary's case that i(-I d ,i. Ae- he won his V.C. on 1he "playing fields." Ac- cording to a friend he is not a cricketer or footballer, ar.d has done nothing in athlet- ics. Nor has he even won a billiard handi- cap. But he has been recognised as a "pretty good shot," and this is a claim that even the Germans are not likely to dispute. Recruiting headquarters at Whitehall have been quick to see in the exploits of Lance- corporal O'Leary the means of adding to the rank of the new armies I The story of the hrilling encounter will be- read from recruit- ing platforms. Air Arthur Conan Dcyle saysNo writer in fiction would dare to fasten such an achievement on any of his characters, but the Irish have always had the reputation of being wonderful fighters, and Lance-corporal j Michael O'Leary i"- clearly one of then.

SWANSEA MAN'S WILL. Probate has been granted of the will of Mr. Thomae Anthonv,. of 37, The Grove, tTni!an<^ Swansea, who died on December 13th last. leaving estate valued at L2,048 gross with net oersohalty of £ 1,878.

I ifi B. AND SJ." I i8IP" THE ANNUAL llET- ING. CHAIRMAN AND WAR BONUS. IMPROVEMENTS ON THE LINE. The aifcual meeting of the proprietors of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Com- pany was held at the Hotel Metropole on Saturday. Mr. George Deer (chairman of the company) presided, and was supported by Messrs. W. H. P. Jenkins, Fred E. Jacob -nd Wm. Davies, J.P. (directors), Mr. E. Lewis Jones (secretary), Air. John David (general manager), Mr. Hugh Bcllingham (solicitor), and other official* of the company. T The. Chairman's Address. in proposing the 'adoption 01 the repoix, the Chairman referred to the absence of Col. W. Charles Wriyht and Mr. fil- bourne Williams, two of the directors, who had joined the colours. It was no doubt common knowledge, he went on, that the greater part of the railways in Great Britain had been taken over by the Govern- ment under the Regulation of the Forces Act, 1871, and it would appeal to them that thia had been necessarv in consequence of the serious war in which tho country la engaged. This Act provided that th<• owners of railwavs were to be compensated for any loss or injury that might have been sustained :n consequence of the control exercised by the Government. The terms agreed upon between the Government nnd the railway companies as a whole provided that the railway companies were to receive as payment a sum equal to the net receipts for the year 1913 but subject to the con- .-¡¡Van that in the event of tbo r.-oeipts .for the first half of the vesr 1914 being less than those for the first half of the year 1913 a deduction shall lie made equal to any such' differences. As far a:1, this companv was concerned the arrangement was not irnnortant as their minimum dividend of five per cent, per annum was secured, although, of course, it wa.s possible they might he a f- fected should titers bo a surplus above the five ner cent. per annum, but this was liardlv possible for the year 1914 owing to the dislocation of trade. Thev wotfd ob- serve from the report thst on the ficures for 1813 being got ont it transpired that there was a surplus of £ 3.479 8s. lid. over the amount necessary to pay the minimum divi. d'end of five per cent., but as there were deficiencies in the previous three years amounting together to £ 1,343 19s. lid., this sum had to be allowed to the Great Western Company under the average clause in the agreement, leaving A nett surplus of £ 2,135 9s., I which under the agreement was divisible in moieties between the Great Western Com- piny and the?nse?vos. Thev ,ver?? therefore I oredited with £ 1,037 14s. 6d., winch they | would ohsrve bad been brought into the nett revenue account, thus increasing the sum earned forw.wd to £1,658 12. The directors had decided to carry this cum for- ward seeing that it, was too small a figure to make an appreciable difference in the rate of the dividend. I daresay you will have noticed in the press," he went on, "t^* daimB have been put forward by certain classes of the railway servants of the country for special consideration in regard to wages owing to the increased cost of living. It was t-?-, the felt that there was a good deail to be sn-id on behalf of the men, and therefore at meet- ings of representatives of the compnies it was decided to meet their demands by mak- ing allowances of 2s. per week to the men receivin,g over 30s. per week, and 3s. per week to employes over 18 years of titge re- ceiving less than that rate. The arrangement is a temporary one, and is to remain in force during the con- tinuance of the pre or t agreement with the railway companies, but to be subject to re- view at the end of three months." The Chairman proceeded to explain that an ex- penditure of JE15,081 C! capital account was for increasing the accommodation at Treher- bert for the exchange of traffic with the Taff Vale Company, the provision of a new coal hoist at Swansea, and improvements in he line between Neath River Bridge and Court Sart for enabling the passage over that section of the railway of the G. W. R. Com- pany's through traffic. An amount of 1;560 had also been spent on improvements at Cwmavon Station, which were very much required. There would have to be further expenditure on capital account, but they might rely that no additional works wou'd he sanctioned unless they were fully justified. The new coal hoist at the King s Dock, Swansea, was working satisfactorily. One of the old hoists at the East Dock had been taken over by the Swansea Harbour Trust at a valuation which was the subject of nego- tiation. They would notice from the report that a Bill had been deposited by the Rhon-! dda Urban District Council for the extension I of their tramways in the vicinity of the company's railway at the upper end of the Rhondda Valley, and this was being watched on behalf of the company, so that their rail- way might not be injuriously affected. In conclusion, the Chairman referred with re- giret to the death of A valued colieague on the Board in the person of Mr. A. P. St:eds, and the fact that the directors had filled the vacancy by the appointment of Mr. Wm. Davies, J.P., of Plasfelin, Glyn Neath, who had been a large shareholder in the company for a considerable time, and was a director of the Bwllfa and Merthyr nitre Steam Coll"enes, Ltd., the Briton Ferry Ironworks, and other undertakings, and he (the Chairman) felt sure his presence on the Board would be a great acquisition. (Applause.) Mr. W. H. P. Jenkins seconded, and the report was adopted without discussion. Mr. Jacob proposed the payment of divi- dends of 2i per cent. on both the prefer- ence and ordinary shares for the six months ended December 31st last Mr. D. Davies seconded, and the resolu- tion waa agreed to. On the mot-on of Mr. Llewellin, seconded by Mr. Mordeca.i. Col. Wright and Mr. Wm. Davies were unanimously re-elected directors of the company. Mr. T. H. Taylor moved, and Mr. Crap per seconded, the re-election of Mr. D. R. Knoyle (auditor), and the motion was aarreed to. Thanks to the Staff. I Aid. John Jordan proposed a vote of thanks to the directors and staff for their services during the year, especially dur- ing a verv trying time. He also took the opportunity of congratulating the share- holders upon the appointment of Mr. Davies to the Board as he commanded con- siderable interest in the district through which the railway ran. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. Evans seconded, and the resolu- tion was carried with acclamation. Mr. Wm. Davies and the Chairman ack- nowledged, the latter stating that he could not sit down without telling them that the general manager and the excellent staff had been most assiduous in their duties in order to serve the company s interests. (Hear, hear.) This concluded the meet:ng. aggg= ■ ■ —g

I UNLUCKY 13. I I TORPEDOED BY THE I GERMANS. I (Reuter Foreign Special.) I PARIS, Thursday. The Temps says German submarines have so far only torpedoed thirteen nier- chant^'n witb the loss of 44 lives. German submarines might continue an- I other six months at that rate without ap- J preciably affecting the normal annual pro- portion of naval losses.

 ? GALLANT LITTLE ¡ ,I GAUAftT LITTLE.. Wl1LES LEADS THE WAY IN RECRUITING. HEROISM OF THE WELSH REGIMENT. Deeds Second to None The "London Magazine" for March states:, In comparison with the population, the percent-age of recruits in Wales is higLer than in any other part of the United King- dom. In the fust five months of the war L(J,UGO men in ale joined the colouis. Weish Record of Heroism. Ihe "iVioiiiiftg Post" of Friday, relating to the formation of the Welsh Guards, makes the following appreciative references to the soldiers of \veisn battalions: The formation of the Welsh Guards marks the heroism ofj the Welsh soldiers in the campaign against, Germany. Such a foundation means pnde of regiment, tradition, and the history oi Wales in arms all bound up into that title of the 1st Welsh Guards. The units of the three regiments of Wales have I. Creatiy distinguished themselves in the course of the present operations, and many gallant officers and men have gone down against fearful odds. In the Great Retreat the battalions of Wales behaved themselves like heroes, and whether it wa& the 20rd foot, in the 22nd Brigade, the 24th, ip General Landon's Brigade, or the 41st, the record was the same, liie 1st Ros iii Welsh fusiliers have been thanked in Orders for gallantry, and the genera! commanding tha ¿¿net Infantry Brigade has publicly ex- pressed the admiration which he feels for the, battalion. On one occasion, after weeks of continuous fighting in October and Novem- ber, the battalion took part in a brilliant. counter-stroke against the Germans in a cri- tical phase of the big assault m Flanders. Not only were the enemy's trenches taken, but also his machine guns. The Brigade at the close of the fighting before Y pres had only five officers and 700 men left in the ranks. It had fought itself to a standstill, and the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers continued fighting until it Practically ceased tc exist. ine 6m> VVelsii Regiment and loe bto A South Wales Boidercis .vent out together m the 3rd Infantry Brigade from Bordon, and. under General :-5ir Douglas Haig took part in those imperishable actions which were fuugbt. between Mons and Pans. They lost heavily, but the supreme test of a&sauit by over- whelming numbers found them steadfast and I filled with the highest courage. The foreign service battalions of the three regiments have also done w-iii, notably the 2nd South Wales Borderers, who fougnt under General Bar- l ai diston in the s uf Tsmg-tau. The regiments ol Wales hyve many Famous fields of tne past- to their credit which the creation of a Guards Lattalwu will commemorate, and among them are the exploits of the tamous 24th Foot, at Rorke's Drift, end the saving*of the regi- mental colours bj Lieutenants Melville and Coghill at Isandlwana. 1%.

I -I- UNPOPULAR WAR. GROWING DISCONTENT IN GERMANY. BUSINESS MEN AND DIPLOMATS' BLUNDERS. ZURICH, February 14. A Swiss business man who has just re- turned from a months visit to Germany, in the course of which he dealt with commercial firms in Merlin and Hamburg and several South German towns, and also came into contact with a large number of Germans with whom he has maintained trade relations tor many years, gives the following account of his experiences and impressions. Judging" from his acquaintances among the middle-class business men (yi I Germany, he ha.s come to the conclusion that the war is unpopular. It was not unpopular at the cutset, because the whole nation were confi- of a st)eedv v i e?- r dent of a speedy virory over all enemies, and also because there was a general iin- pression that fresh markets would be opened up afterwards, and that very substantial financial and commercial benefits would accrue to Germany as the result of the trium- phant campaign against her principal trade rivals in Europe. The slow progress of the war, combined with the conviction growing among the intelligent Germans that Victory Is no longer possible, has given rise to discontent wh.ch is smoul- dering beneath the surface. The dissatisfac- tion of the German middle classes is not directed against the army, which commands the admiration of everyone, nor as yet against the Emperor, hut primarily against the German diplomatic service. "Time after time," s ys this Swiss ob- server, "I heard from the lips of German business men the most bitter complaints against the utter inefficiency of the Cerman dlplomatlo service. The diplomatists are blamed for getting Germany into this trouble without under- standing the forces which would be arrayed against her. In particular I found that German busi- ness men resent the failure of German diplo- macy to realise and to warn Germans that England would certainly fight on the side of France and Russia. Again and again they declared that Germany would never have started the war if there had been any idea that England would intervene and throw the weight of her maritime power against the German Empire.—("Standard.")

ILL FOR TWO YEARS. Sketty Death from Lead Poisoning. An inquest was conducted at the Police Station, Sketty, on Thursday, before the Swansea Deputy County Coroner, on Wm. Frederickson (58), house painter, 4, Kimber- ley-ria.d, Sketty. The widow gave evidence of identification and said deceased had been ill for the past two years. Deceased went to Swansea Hos- pital suffering from lead poisoning about two years ago and was there for three months. Since he returned home he had got steadily worse and lost the use of his arms and legs. He died on Monday last. Dr. Perkins said death was due to lead poisoning, and a verdict of "Death Lorn ac- cidental causes" was returned.

EMPLOYERS' SANCTION NOT NEEDED. War Office Removes Important, Restriction. The following official communication wu Pent us from the Central Recruiting at Cardiff on Friday Tiight:- For some time past men who were in the employ of railway companies, food prortno- ing companies, Arma.,nerit firms, or makers of machinery required by armament firms for production of war material, wero not ellowed to enlist unless they brought cer- tificates from their employers that their services could be 5-pared. The War Office hfvs now ■"incelied tnat intsructfon, nnd men can enHef from of these companies without the permission of their eraplovets. except in the c»s« of firnio which are Heciftealty mentioned br the War Office. The only two firm3 at mentioned by the War Office arc Xobei's Explosive Cook pany aud the Xew Explosives VvmpaHiT.