The Cambria Daily Leader

NOTES AND G0M^EHTS| Wo wrato the other day of the yiossi- hlities oi Lhe Swansea Technical CoUege were uts marrdgenient enthusiastically «uppo:to-d rmd its sphere enlarged by the efforts cd our industrial magnates, and I ako of the. necessity for the more vigorous prosecution of plans for its future work if Swansea <;md South Wales) is to play its proper part in the commercial struggle for supremacy which will follow* the military war. Since then we have noticed, with a sense of envy, and of regret because the past hig so unproductive, an account of tho work done by the Northern  UnivNsH.ies. They ?re, compared with our unaffiliated college, old foundations, but their accomplishments may be in- stanced as pointing- the direction iu which technical education ou;,4il to be developed in Swansea. Taking the University of ftlieffickl, we tind that valuable and confi- dential work has been done there in I relation to the science of steel, and that the Scientific Advisory Committee of the I University has given local manufacturers expert guidance in fllieir efforts to replace I exports from Germany. Thus, advice has been given on the processes Gl hardening steel, on the preparation cf synthetic German-made goods, on methods of tinning steel goads, on materials for polishing razors, on the co n-tact process of procuring sulphuric acid, on torfion test- ing, and so forth. Stops have been taken also to encourage tho revival of tho old glass indufstry of South Yorkshire. In the Chemistry Department there have been pr!?misin? experiment.in the production of dyc??tuffs, in res.pir?tors, and in the manufacture of a certain important drug. Do net th's details regardm? <hc accom- piishinenis of the Ur.iver ?y of Shet'Md -th advice it hasten able to iH: loc?  manufacturers on processes of hardening ¡ steel and methods of tinning etcoi goods particularly—do not these things fire the ambition of our Swansea manufacturers, ;>nd tempt them to take the lead in making the College the centre of South Wales research work? I Or ijv they content to continue in the old Trays, relying upon the old methods? Two years ago it was written, by an authority on fho. tinplate trade, that an important I problem, especially in vier of the short- ness of thei working day, is to create in- terest in other questions which will enable the young men to utilise their leisure in an interesting and profitablo manner. And local authorities in tinplate centres do not seem to have devoted the -same atten- tion to this problem as has been given to ¡ it by the corresponding authorities in the mining districts of South Wales." That, of course, is the lower grade of the problem: we are more concerned with the other—with the icstiiution of a college at Swansea which will ?, in relation bo local manufacturers, that which iiio University of Sheffield is to the great works of that city. The. tinplate .industry is said to be still comparatively simple" in its tech- nological aspect; but if that view is urged, if it is said that University research and training do not promise great practical results to manufacturers, we point to the Sheffield statement in reply. I Since writing this week on the topic, we ¡ have had ample evidence showing that the hopes of many far-seeing Swansea citizens are centered in tho College as the brain of our varied industries: <hat they see in the possibilities of the College the great hope of keeping our proud pre-eminence as the metallurgical capital of the world, and even of vastly improving our position. If we search through local annals during the last sixty years, one I fact will be impressed upon. us: we have frequently been just too late." "VShy wo in Used the location of the i University it is futile to enter upon now, but we have heard it argued, by gentle- men who were in the public life of the time, that one rcaton was that the town did not develop that passionate, over- whelming desire which alone ensures j success. We hope that the Swansea of sixty years hence will not look back re- gretfully, pondering over the lost chances of t91?. Up to the present net much has been generated in the town on tho College question, although the Education Authority is moving with slow and cautious eceps. Here is the } occasion! Let us seize the opportunity j with both hands, knocking iiiiporlu- 11atdy at the Government door and in- Gisting that we have an. irresistible case for the assistance that has already beer; promised to technological institutions. Professor John Ambrose Fleming, read- ing a paper, on the organisation of 8cien- tine research in this country, before the Royal Society of Arts this week, dis- cussed the reforms necessary in our sys- torn of education and training our youth, with whom it would lie to undertake the vast task of re"toring the wastage of this war, and, above all, to meet the chief thing we had still to fear—Germany's militant chemistry and engineering, or that combination of commercialised science which is relentlessly applied to undermine and take away the sources of power of other nations. If we concentrate upon the local aspect of this all-important problem, a good day's work will he done for Swansea; and not only Swansea, but the Empire. T'ie chairman of the Cuaiard Company the other day said that, at the rate we were conserving our resources, the problem would toon come whether we wero to prefer our beer to bread! It has not COllle to that stage yet, but already wc arc faced by the question whether we are to stop tho fruit of the poor—the banana, the apple and the orange—before we touch the sacred iugrcdiclltö of beer which come to 113 overseas, and whether the supply of eugar, probably among the cheapest and bast cf foods for supplying warmth to the body, is to be shortened before that of the brewer. The Govern- ment is straining every nerve but one in order to release shipping for essential war purposes. Paper is going, fruit is going, timber is going, tobacco is going, and even whisky is threatened (although there are three years' stocks of whisky in British vats)—beer remains. Aud beer demands sea carriage of 1,500,000 tois a year, tonnage which no one can say is profitably exercised in war time, what- ever may be said for it at other periods. There are otner factors also. The home- grown barley, which is used by the breweries, is balanced by the foreign barley, which tho farmer has to buy for feeding purposes; so that in effect it is seaborne and uses up our shipping tonnage. Moreover last year, as the I Daily Chronicle points out in a strong protest, against the strange privilege of bc-er, tho acreage of the country devoted to barley was diminished, which means I thaii PN I., will be involved unless the brewers' consumption of barley is curtailed. Note, too, that the restriction in. the consumption of sugar, and the rise in its price, will oblige brewers to use more imported cereals than ever, since sugar had been largely used in recent years as an element in c he a pen- lEg the manufacture cf beer. I The attitude of the brewers is very significant. They must feel that the sense of the country is against them, for although no definite proposal has yet been made by the Government to prohibit the importation of barley used in the manu- facture of beer, in order to relievo the ships for other purposes, the Brewers' Society is alarmed, and is to -end a depu- tation to the President of the Board of Trade on the matter. It will be interest- ing to hear the views of the deputation. No one will wish the trade to be dee. It with unjustly—there is a possibility that the difficulty of serious loss can be met. with as equitably as the whisky manu- I facturers have been dealt with—but wo do not believe there is a man in tho country, however valiant in dtrfenco of the citizen's right, to his glass of boor, who would stand iu the way were the Govern- i ment to say Lhat it cannot affowi to allow r the enormous eea-borne traffic; which is necessary for the trade to continue to its present extent. j The restriction in tho consumption of sugar will riicau no hardship to adults, who take too much of it in one shape or another. But the problem of the child is difficult. Sugar is an important article cf diet for the little ones. A medical correspondent of the Times points out that sugar is valuable- chiefly because it is a good and J pleasant source of body energy. We may measure this energy in heat, and we iind that a pound of sugar yields about 1,860 heat, units, or calories." A pound of sugar costs approximately 4d., and so the cost per 1,000 heat units when the energy is derived from sugar is 21--A. But there is an excellent substitute. If we take oatmeal instead of sugar we c-ball find that lib. by weight will yield 1,860 "c::dorj¡¿s "-tht same number as sugar yields—at a cost per 1,000 heat unjtc; of Piii, li-t). of oatmeal yields in addition 2loz. of protein, or flesh-forming substance. So that for 3d.-the price of a, pound of oatmeal—we get not only as much energy as is obtained in a pound of sugar at id., but also as much flesh-forui- ing material as is contained in a pound of beef sirloin at Is. 2d. Oatmeal may well be regarded as "at once one of tbo cheapest and most valuable of foodstuffs." It ought to figure more than it docs on the Swansea breakfast tabic. One of the books we will be looking forward to at the close of the war will ■tell us all about the singing Welsh soldier. Such a book is inevitable, and already there is much material ready for its writer—the tale of the Welshmen who sang hymns at Suvia Bay during tha hottest attack, that of the flinging of "Hen Wlad ty on the Western front after many a terrible engagement—but we must stop before the subject grows too attractive! In that book place must be found for the sketch contributed by Mr. JeFery E. Jeff cry- to the Cornhill -Afa,azitio number full of rich things. Mr. Jeffery is with a battery of Welshmen- he has under him four Joneses, five Davieses, and no less than eight Evanses, and in moments of excitement or of anger they resort to j heir own language and encourage or abuse each other in voluble Welsh." At the end of 1915 the Battery had dinner and entertainment. At its close: We were enjoying supper and a welcome driak whilst the long queue of men waited for their tea at the cook-house door out- side, when suddenly in a dark corner of the yard a chorus started. But it was not an ordinary chorus, raucous and none too tuneful. Neither was it music-hall senti- ment. It was grand opera, sung by a dozeu picked men, and sang beautifully. We j threw open the window to listen. The effect was extraordinarily striking. It was j a gorgeous star-lit night, and against the sisy the farm buildings opposite looked like J silhouettes of blade velvet. The voices of those unseen artists (for they were artists) came to us softly out of the dark- ness, rising and falling in perfect cadence. perfect harmony. They sang two selections from II Trovatore,' and then the Soldiers' Chorus from f Faust.' Mean- while the Battery sipped its hot tea and rum and listened critically. Then there followed a solo, He like a soldier fell," frotii Maritana.' As a finale, most won- derful of all, they sang Land of My Fathers' in Welsh. The occasion, the setting, made me catch my breath as I sat on the window-sill and listened, and I went to bed feeling that there is yet a thread of romance running through all I the sordid horror which vexes our un- happy world."

PAHTYGWYDR CONCERT Successful Effort for Red Cross Funds. A very successful concert was given in aid of the British Red Cross Society and the Pantygwydr Soldiery Fund at the Pantygwydr Chapel on Thursday evening. Despite the iu,(!Ieme;it iiii the seats in the chapel were fijicd, and the j programme which was submitted was highly appreciated. The Rr?t fITt. w as of a miscellaneous character, and it opened with the National Anthem, which was very effectively rendered hy a. large choir, accompanied by an excellent orchestra. The principals in II. E.' Nichols' sacred can"ata, Day ?.nd Xi?ht" which occu- pied the second part of the programme, were Mrs 1, 1 i (t Davios, L.R.A.M, (soprano), Miss liettie DavÏf-s (contralto), Mr. W. J. Cckbrook (tenor), and Mr. A. Pring (.baritone). Miss iiettie Davies gave a beautiful rendering of God Shall Wipe Away AH Tears," and Mrs. Leslia Davies, who was in lino voice, sang with veiling effect Beyond the Dawn." Mr. W. J. Colebrook was loudly applauded for his song The Toiler: and Mr. A. Pring was equally fcuccessful with his contribu- lion" The Ix)rd is my Light." A valu- able addition to tho programme was made by Mr. W. H. Jones, who recited In Hoc Signo Vinces" and The Story of the First Settler; The cantata which fol- lowed ieceived excellent treatment, OIQ beauty of tho story being vividiy revealed in solo and chorus. Tho choir did admirably under tho direction of Mr. W. F. Powell, and Itiss Muriel Radford led the orchestra. The accompanists were Miss Gladys Davies, R.A.M. (A.G.), Miss Ireno Godfrey, and Miss E. !>oris Roes (sold and bronze medallist). Mr. E. C. Trew was the hon. secretary and treasurer.

SWANSEA POLICE COURT. I ———— Messrs. G\rii\~m Morgan, Jcaeph PevonaJd, E. G. Prctheroe, and Dr. Neleon Jones. H. B. Balfour, traveller, was fined 5s. for Alajin Marie Gelgon. and YCKNS Attain, master marinei- a-td second mate, had been found lying on the railway at, the South Dock, drunk. They were fined 5s. Josiah Johns, absentee from the 3rd Welsh Regiment at Cardiff, wa.s remanded to await an eecort. Michael Kenny, labourer, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Plymouth-otrcet, and with assaulting Mr. Harry Rogers, who had grone to the assif)- tanco of P.O. Summers. Evidence was given by P.C. Summers and Mr. Rogers as to the assault, and the difficulty of getting prisoner to the station. Defendant said he had been drunk and did not remember any- thing else.Ho was fined 10s. for drunken- ness and 20". for tho assault*

— ■— I I — 11 1 i ■ w fill THE SWISEi BATTALION. Visit to Their Trenches. A WARM GREETING. (By Mr. IVOR H. GWYNNE.) (PASSED BY CENSOR.) Somewhere in France. Having reached the headquarters, we were met by the General, who, in his usual genial manner, received us with open arms. We were invited to lunch—in fact, everything cn the premises seemed at our disposal. While we were at the tabic, two German prisoners wore brought up from the tre-itches, the iiist. two taken by the Welsh Division. We were natuarily interested, seemed very intelligent, and appeared to be very well clothed and well shod. One of them was of very line physique, but botii had very sallow faces, and tiioy looked rather frightened. The </enera! ordered them to be taken down to the. headquarters in a motor. Imagine their surprise, instead of being paraded .through tbe towns and villages they were treated as the usual Britisher treats his enemies. There was the same old type of sportsman. It there is one thing that the Britisher does take pride in it is that all the game should be good and above board—cricket. I Welsh Ail Through. The Division is Welsh from top to bottom. All the carriages and cars bear the Welsh Dragon, and it was very in- teresting to a Welshman to hear the good old Cymraeg being spoken on foreign soil. We were informed that Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Bonar La\ were expected that afternoon to inspect a number of the Welsh battalions. There were great pre- parations and much excitcment. It was arranged for some of the party to visit the trenches which the Swansea Battalion wero holding. I went in an- other direction in order to meet some of tho other sections, more especially the Engineers, w?th which my son is con- ncch'd. 1 found them all in the bcpt )f health and ?piri?. I met a few from Swansea who made enqniric? about the old town and their friends. It was re- markable how jolly and happy they ap- j peared, notwithstanding their dismal surroundings and their many dangers. The Swansea Battalion. I afterwards went along to see tire Swansea Hattaliun trenches. The first man I met was Majoi" Dyson Williams, who looked the picture of health. He wished me to visit the outposts which had not: been covered. Near at hand there were a number of men, and im- mediately I turned from the Major there was a general acclamation: "Good old Swansea," which reminded me of foot- ball days. Atier the usual shake oi the hand an exchange of greetings followed which was far more sincere than it can ever be in Swansea. Imagine what it meant, meeting your townsmen in a dis- tant land, the men who had gone forth to maintain the prestige of the good old town—ar.cl meeting them in the firing line. From their faces, and their general bearing it was evident that they would give a good account of themselves before they returned to their homes. Let me have your addresses, boys," I said, "and I will let your people know how you arc. and how I met you." There w&s a general clamour for paper. One of them turned to me and asked me if I would carry home to his wife and children three rin? which had been made from parts of German shelly and nothing gave 1110 greater pleasure. I The First Outpost. I inspected the trenches, and they were far superior to anything I had previously seen. 1 visited the first outpost, and there again was the same joy and delight. I was taken from tent to tent, and hut to hut. A number of men were preparing their tea, each with his mess tin either boiling water, cooking bacon or cheese—a fair representation of the Welsh rare-bit. Immediately they saw me it was down tools and a volley of questions: How is the good old town doingr" We hope to he back soon, but this job must be seen through," etc. I visited other outposts, and met, a number of men on iuy way. All wero over-delighted to see a Swansea man, but ) not more delighted than J'\la" to seo them. I inquired, and found that there w.s practically no sickness amongst them. In I fact, there is no sickness amongst any of I the. sections of the Division. 1 My regret was that I could not make my stay a little longer, but the day was drawing to a close, and I had to return to headquarters. I Keep Smiiing! I Let there be no mistake. The Swansea I boys are all be.aring. their tasks with I fortitude and courage, and when I left the ¡ last saction there v.as a general OULl?lSt, I Ilell thorn ail at home to keep smiling. We shall soon be amongst them again." Thev appreciated very much the pres- ents sent out .by tho Swansea Battalion Committee through tha Mayor. Many of them asked me How is Tom? "^noaning the Mayor (Alderman T. Merreil.-). "Give our kindest regards to him and all the other boys." A Grumble. Let me here mention that I met several Sw-ansea boys who were serving with other sections of the division, and who come in contact with the men of the Swansea Battalion. They felt that t.hey were negk-cted, and, as one of them put it to nw, Wc are Swansea boys, and serv- ing our town and conntry in the same manner as they are. Why should they be continually receiving presents and we re- ceive nothing: I refer to the private soldier. All commissioned officers are well provided for, and need no such assistance. It may be that the funds have, been collected in the name of -the Swansea Battalion, but there is not a single con- tributor that would not readily consent to the funds being used in providing for tho Swansea boys in whatever section or battalion they may be serving. This war should raise us above sections, and to look at things from a. broader view. This, I am certain, would meet with the views of the men themselves at the front. If we want a true indication cf the brother- hood of man you will find it in Jho trenches of France and Flanders to-day. What does exist i6 common to all, and the general disposition is to assist each other fer the sake of each other, realising that their interests are identical, aud for the common good of all concerned. The Officers. I Ther?? wa one marked feature about the whole atmosphere of the Army: the close relationship and Mndrpdjfpling b: tween the officers and their men. T?e men expressed tho hi^iiest opinion possible of their ofifcers, and, as one put it They are gems. They enter into our troubles and worries like true Britons." Th? offh(r¡:. on the other ],anr1. prai'ff: tll'ir I men to the skies and d?fply ap?rp?iatcd the sGrviec—thG ungrudging nice- I they rendered, notwithstanding all the i hardships and suffering. A Young Hero. When I returned to t he H°adquarter<? of the Division, I was informed that Ljut. Hinds, son of Mr. J. Hinds, M.P. for West Carmarthen, had been severely wounded, and that there were but faint hopes that he would pull through (since then he has passed away). It was indeed very distressing—a young man. not yet twenty years of age, having to give up his life so early in the day. He was one of the. most popular officers with both the men and his brother officers; liked by all, and hated by none. The fact that he bad been wounded cast a gloom on the faces of all in the district. He died a hero, fighting for the liberty and freedom of his country. In his case it may be said in the words of Kipling, Who dies if England lives?" I am certain the sym- pathy of Wales will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Hinds in their sad breavement at the loss of o noble a son. An Exciting Experience. I may here refer to all <xpenci:ce W'-4 had on the return journey after a prior visit to the trenches. We had scarcely left the front line trench when our atten- tion was drawn to a shell in the air known I as the "sausage." It had been thrown from a trench mortar, and lvp could ob- serve it going along. We watched it with deep interest, as wo did not know whether it would drop before it came to the trench, or go over the trench, or whether it might- fall in the trench. IN- were in- structed to lie down. The shell began to waggle and it dropped with fifteen to twenty yards of the place where we stoo 4 I shall never forget the bang. The re- port was terrible. The trench was s haken as if all earthquake had taken place, and ,it \n3 not until ther. I realised how nciir [ we had been to death. Frnm 1he report given when the shell burst it was evident that (lie consequen'-e would have been, serious had it fallen in Tic trench. A Souvenir. A few minutes later a similar shell was thrown, but this went much wider of ths laark, and then a third shfl) was seen travelling along. This again caiue within a few yards of the place where we stood, and burst with the same effect. A piece of shell about 21, inches long and about 11, inches wide fell at my feet, and when I picked it up it was too hot to hold in my hands. In fact. I burnt my hand in touching it. It was, however, too valuable a souvenir to leave behind, and I "till have it in my possession• W" were asked to clear away as soon as possible, but what of the poor Tommies who had to remain in the trenches day after day, night aftN night? They stood loyally at their posts. Not theirs to reason why, Tlieii-s biit to do ajid clic those Tommies in the trenches. The third had scarcely fallen to the ground before otit- opened fire, with good effect from what we in-ere to glean. However, we ISaw no morp of the German sausages." (To be Continued To-morrow.)

CORPORATION BILLS ITEMS IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE MONTH Among the bills passed by the- Financa Committee of the Swansea Council for pay- ment for the month are the following: — JC s. d. John C. Morris—coroner's fees, 1 year to 201 0 2 Chief C ashier, Bank of England year's charges for niariage- menr of Cor Deration Stocks to 31/12 Jo 563 9 0 Brecon and Radnor Asylum — year's maintenance of pauper lunatics, :J/l/1:1 1053 8 S Glamorgan County Asylum i year's maintenance of pauper lunatics, 31/12 15 923 6 0 Stafford County Asylum year's maintenance, of pauper lunatics, 1 Worcestershire Asylum—\ year's maintenance of pa uper lunatics, 3 i. 12/15 246 8 7 Guardian Piafo Glass in.ur- ance Co., Ltd.—settlement of claim lor glass re riot, W. J. r e, lk*Lltclt Committee, Miuute 16i 1, 10/2/15 9 2 0 I he Bank of England—Purchase ot 5 per cent. Exchequer Bonds, Minute 2022, Finance Committee. 1100 0 9 His Worship the Mayor (Aid. Thos. Merrells)—expenses to London attending Conference of Royal Patriotic Fund Asso- ciation, January 12th and 15th, 1916 5 5 ft Aid. W. H. Miles—expenses to Cheddleton Asylum visiting patients January 26 th and 28th, 15)16$10 Councillor J. Powlesland-—ex- penses to Cheddloton Asylum visiting- patients January 26th and ,"th, 1^16 J 1 0 Councillor J. Barclay Owen— expenses to Cardiit, meetim* T..rntonal rorcps Associat ion, January 27th, 1916 1 3 10 ]/>r. I hornas -'■>vans—expenses to Cardiff, attending Welsh National Memorial Associa- tion meeting, Jan. 10th, 1916 0 10 4 Councillor David Matthews— expenses to London, consultfc- tiou with Mr. Honoralus Lloyd, K.C. ft.wo days) 5 7 6 Welsh National Memorial Asso- dation-contrihutioll under agreement for treatment of tuberculosis patients 756 8 f Williams, Forster and Co., and Pascoe Grenlell and Sons, Ltd.—purchase money of land Xeath-road widening 204 1 7 Lin Mater, Addison and Brown — solicitors'oosts re above 26 5" J. M. Feeder and Son—sur- veyor's fees re a bo lv-"

At the Central (Minon HalI. Swansest, 4 Wednesday evening-, Mrs. Dorothy Gretlfc side, of ths Theosophical Society, gave an interesting lecture on .,iritt the Man Yirho Tuinks." There was a very fair audience, who 6CMDed to appreciate highly the lecturer's clear cxpositiaa of bfeT subject-