The Cambria Daily Leader

NOTES AND COMMENTS. I Mr. Lloyd George, in his speech at Conway (which was reported fully in our Saturday evening issue) made clear his position at a time when he is surrounded by a host of adversaries. Unfortunately, one of the penalties of public life is liability to attack. No man in British political history has been! free from that. To go no farther back than our own times, we have as examples Gladstone, Disraeli, Salisbury, Baliour, and others. Public men in England are open to criticism. That is inevitable in a free country. But they have a right to expect that their critics should be fair, honest, and free from poisonous intentions. No man fears criticism less than Mr. Lloyd George. He has been unsparing and fearless in his own examinations of the opposition. But no man can be expected to put up with malignant mendacity. For some time past, the present Mini- ster for Munitions has been the ob- ject of insidious rumours, slimy in- nuendoes, and unworthy sugges- tions. His traducers now have their answer. Presently, when the proper time comes for his more formal and detailed account of his stewardship, thexe will be more direct evidence of the extent to which he has served his country ir- respective of all influences except the paramount call of what he be- lieves to be his duty. From no man can more be expected. There is one point upon which a further comment may be made. He has come under the penalty of opposition on the ground that he has acted with a considerable amount of "will power." What is a man entrusted with a high and all-important office to do? If he listens to everyone, he will do nothing. If he prefers the course least likely to arouse trouble, he 'may find himself—'as another statesman has done recently—con- demned for seeking peace. If he prefers to force his way through all manner of unnecessary and ridicu- lous obstacles, he is told that he is intolerant and overbearing. A famous American once re- marked that 64 The best way to do a thing is to do it!" That seems to be the foundation of the principles upon which Mr. Lloyd George has acted. It is quite evident now that he saw more quickly than most other people, even in the Cabinet, what the real needs of the time were. When the full history of the last two years is written, he. will find a complete vindication. In coming to his own people in Wales with his first open reply to his fresh cohort of critics, he showed his faith in those whom he has a right to regard as his friends. That confidence is mutual. He takes back to Parliament witE him a fresh vote of confidence from patriotic Welshmen in- all parts of the Principality, who realise his difficulties and applaud the methods he adopts to meet them. The Conway meeting was note- worthy also for two other speeches. One was the rousing call by Mr. W. M. Hughes, who placed in a glaring light the dangers of inaction and neglect to meet the demands of the time. Mr. Hughes is not alone amongst leaders of Colonial thought in realising that at these days of stress the very safety of the British Empire and its people is at stake. That is enough to arouse him to energetic action. It ought to be enough for everyone else. The other speech was by the brilliant member for Anglesey, who has, of late, shown an aptitude for true statesmanship exceeding the high standard that his friends had al- ready recognised in him. It is a pity that another states- man, of a different political school, found the necessity to utter a simultaneous reply to adverse critics. For some months past Lord Derby has carried through duties of an extremely important character. He worked hard and well, and attained a measure of success that few anticipated. The chief of his troubles, however, has been that his subordinates have i failed, and the noble Earl has had ¡ to bear the brunt of criticism for mistakes in administration that he would, we are sure, be the first to condemn. Wre could cite cases in which em- ployers and workmen have had to put up with serious financial loss, apart from the trouble and disloca- tion of interests due to the uncer- tainty that has arisen in the pro- cess of carrying out what is known as the Derby scheme. Some of the loss has been unavoidable; but a lot of it might have been pre- vented. It all brings us back to one proposition, i.e., that half- measures, however well-inten- tioned, are not always the best method of meeting a great enter- prise. I In Canada, as in the United Kingdom, the shortage of labour on the land is causing great incon- venience and serious concern. There, as in England, women are coming forward to assist; but their services will not nearly suffice, and' comprehensive arrangAnents are being made to cope with the dnSi- cutty. In many parts of Canada are to be met with men of middle life who, having made a compe- tency, have retired from work and sold their farms or handed them over to their ,families. Many of these are going back to the plough and the reaper. In Brantford, Ontario, an organisation is being formed to regularly enlist this class of labour. Those no longer fit for the hard active work of the farms II will be able to supervise the labour of women, boys and inexperienced workers. Moreover, the Canadian military authorities have, as in the Old* Country, arranged to tempo- rarily release as large a number of men as possible. For the sake of the Empire and the Allies, it is re- cognised as absolutely essential that there be no falling off this year of the acreage under crop in the Dominion. A word of thanks is due to the committee concerned in the Swan- sea Technical College for their de- termination to take advantage of an opportunity that has just arisen. Swansea, as the headquarters of the greatest metallurgical district in the United Kingdom, has cer- tain duties to perform. The Edu- cation Authorities have imposed upon them the task of providing such means as may be necessary for giving the rising generation in- struction suited to the require- ments and conditions of the dis- trict. That work cannot be done without proper facilities, and if the facilities have been or can be pro- vided, the town deserves as well as demands that it should be placed by the Government upon a proper status. Notwithstanding the decrease in cattle fodder by reason of the rapid I growth of grass crops, farmers, it appears, are demanding a higher price for milk, and local vendors naturally intimate to their cus-' tomers that there will be an almost immediate increase in price per! quart of the liquid that adds to II the charm of the cup that cheers and the invigorating Arabian coffee berry. Maybe, there is ample justification for this in- crease, taking into view the up- ward tendehcy of the price of all commodities just now, and with the higher wages paid there will, per- haps, be a minimum of complaint; but, at the same time, it must not be forgotten that there is a great duty due to the public, and that is they should receive value for their money. The records of the police courts show that there is still need for vigilance on behalf of the authorities in our municipal health departments. Private letters that we have re- ceived from Dublin corroborate the official statements that the rioting over there has been quelled. Sir John Maxwell has done his work well, and national thanks are due to him for his prompt response to the call at a time of great domestic anxiety-Lady Maxwell was seri- ously ill when he was asked to take the task in hand. Sir John, who is known in the Army as one of Kitchener's men, acted with care as well as energy in stamping out the revolt. One of his difficulties was street warfare, so he brought into use some of the trench mortars that have done such good work elsewhere. These machines have a short range and a high trajectory, and the chief Sinn Fein position was destroyed ten minutes after the mortars had been turned on it. Already the order paper of the j House of Commons carries many amendments to the Military Ser- vice Bill. Some betray a passion for compulsion and demand compul- sion for compulsion's sake, with- out regard to military or other necessities. Such is the proposal of Captain Amery to raise the mili- tary age to 50. It might be that in extreme circumstances it would be necessary to do something of the kind, but nothing is more likely to give strength to opposi- tion than the evidence that de- mands are being made which go far beyond what any responsible military authority has asked. Sir Frederick Banbury would limit conscientious objection to those who are members of a recognised denomination which opposes war. Others of the propositions are mere tinkering with a straight-forwrard I issue. A correspondent asks us to sug- gest to the Swansea Police the pos- sibility of suppresing football m the streets on Sunday afternoons. Boys may find some amusement in kicking hard substances about, but ratepayers feel warranted in object- ing to the cost of having broken windows replaced. Many of our readers will turn with pleasure and amusement for the article appearing in another column. In it Mr. W. F. Williams, who was known as Ajax when he was on the staff of the Cam- bria Daily Leader," gives an ac- count of the performances of a pantomime for which he and some other South Wales boys were re- sponsible. The incident described shows one of the best features of the British armies at the front, i.e., the manner in which all ranks maintain their good humour in spite of the trying circumstances under which they are working. Their motto seems to be Are we downhearted? No-o-o!" all the way through.

LORD DUNSANY'S ESCAPE. I Lord Duneany, the author of some ¡ curious books and -serious p<x^nas, and the collaborator with Mr. Sime in producing several weird plays, was wounded in the streets of Dublin whilst the riot was fjoing on. and has only now heen able to he re- moved from the hospital to his house in X the outskirts.

NEW PANTOMIME I DIVERTIONS OF OUR BOYS I ABROAD By Private W. F. WILLIAMS | (Late U Ajax of the Leader Staff), Fortunately the British Tommy in France does not spend the whole of his time dodging coal-boxes and various other annoying things so carelessly flung about by the gentle Fritz. It is often- times equally as important to dodge the Sergeant-Major—when fatigue parties are being Gei-ected-and they usually are selected when poor privates have settled down to a (more or 1005) well-earned re- j pose. Two of us, who really ought to have known better, conceived during a period of (illegal) idleness the idea of producing a panto, hoping thereby to amuse the several hundred soldiers billeted in the j vicinity of our village while resting (r) j from the trenches. To have heard us sket.ching out scenes and situations one would have imagined that we had at our disposal the whole of the resources of Drury Lane and Clarkfon's. After we had babbled on for an hour or two the cold, hard fact came homo to us that we were barely a mile from the firing line- cr in other words, unable to obtain the grease-paint, costumes, wigs, scenery, etc., which were absolutely essential. With an impudent optimism born of Army training and experience, we decided to leave that obstacle for the time being. and to proceed with the libretto and music. The completed work—a splendid example of the extent of our mental de- terioration since wo have been in khaki— wa.s ultimately shown 10 a.diozen or so more j or les.<; innocent comrades who, before they could recover from the shock, were sworn in as accomplices. So far, so good, but I am afraid my rambling narrative would have ended here but for the kindness of our C.O. (Captain R. E. Burrell), Lieut. R. B. Parry and the other officers. Op- portunities were afforded us for rehear- sals, and Lieut. Parry made tho produc- tion possible by presenting us with a really admirable set of wigs, oostuinos, paints, etc. From this point our path to success was fairly easy. True, the rehearsing period r was stormy, seriously depleting everyone's stock of patience and tact and adding in alarming fashion to our somewhat exten- sive vocagulary. We were fortu- nate in obtaining the uee of a large Church Army hut equipped with a stage and a. piano, and this was transformed into a first-class theatre by our stage manager, Sergt. Gourley, a Swansea Scot, and Pte. Ben Toombs (" Props "), a handy man from the village of London. The rest of the panto company regarded the I uncanny genius of this pair with, great awe and mystification. The night before our debut we left them wandering about the place armed with odd bits of canvas, a mouthful of nails, and a hammer apiece, and when we turned up next morning we found a mag- nificent drop curtain, footlights, dressing- rooms and a roomy stage equipped with all sorts of props. We are now open to take bets that with a piece of sheet iron and a few tin-tacks they could rig up a siege howitzer within an hour! Stage Manager Gourley ruled us with a rod of iron when we were on the boards." It was queer how terrible his threats sounded when uttered in braw Scotch," and I still retain vivid reoollec- tions of the awful doom he prophesied (in whispers) would overtake one of our chief ballet dancers if he (the latter) made the slightest mistake during his complicated turn. The night of the first show saw us all on the verge of nervous prostration. The final rehearsal was such a wretched affair that we oould only see miserable failure and endless rkticule ahead, but Dame Fortune, who had smiled on us from the very beginning, did not desert us in our hour of need, and to our indescribable de- light the piece" went with a bang from the rise of the curtain until tho conclusion. An hour before we com- menced there was standing room only, and when the overture was played there was a terrific crush. Up to date we have given seven performances in different places—each moeting with a similar measure of success, and all of us who took part are more than compensated for the trouble we took in producing the panto, by the knowledge that we have brightened in acme degree the lot of our comrades, who have to spend so many dreary days in the trenches. You may be interested to learn some- thing about the panto itself, and the artistes. With the exception of a few new and very popular numbers, the whole H pbece," musical and otherwise, was en- tirely original. Tho music, which really made the panto the great success it was, was composed by Pte. H. M. Rowlands, Mus.Bac., a brilliant young Welshman of whom we are immensely proud. His songs and choruses were a great hit "—they are still being sung in that particular dis- trict. The writer contributed the libretto and the rest of the company accepted re- sponsibility for the gags they introduced. The plot of the panto, 'which was en- titled The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe," concerned the experiences of the Welsh Divisional Cyclist Company at Conway, Winchester, and in France. The play opened in The Old Shoe Inn," Con- way, from whence the audience were con- vesed to the" Estaminet Periwinkle," France, the final scene being again in Conway. The cast was as follows:— The Old Woman, Pte. W. F. Williams (Swansea); the Old Man, Pte. G. Lewis (Caerau); Kids: Rolev, Pte. H. M. Row- lands (Cardiff); Polov, Q.M.S. E. J. Hams (London); Pudden. Pte. E. Poole (London); Pie, Pte. W. A. Tucker (Lon- don); Taffy, Sergt. D. A. Thomas (Bridg- end); Tonee, Pte. Dai Rees (Briton- ferry) Jerry, Pte. Billy White (Briton- ferry); Jinks, Pte. E. Dyke (Briton- ferry) Nobby, Sergt Cecil H. Newman (Iiadlett); Wally, vSergt. W. F. Charters (London); Recruiting Sergeant and Mario Periwinkle, Pte. E. Lacey (Swansea); Stage Manager, Sergt. J. Gourley (Swan- sea); Property Manager, Pte. B. Toombs (London.)

AN OFFICIALS' UNION. I On Saturday night a meeting,.of officials in tho Urban Districts of itlyncorrwg, Maes teg, Bridgend, Margam, and the Borough of Aberavon was held at Aberavon to hear an address by Mr. Harpur, City Engineer, Cardiff, on the advantages of becoming members of the National Association of Local Government Officials. It was unanimously decided to form a branch in Mid-Glamorgan, and Mr. Fred E. Baker, borough accountant, Aberavon, wa.s appointed secretary pro. tem.

TEAMS ENTERTAINED. Welsh and African Players Dine Together. The South African and South Wales teams were entertained to dinner after the match on Saturday at the Royal Hotel. The Mayor (Alderman T. Merrells) pre- sided, and the large company included Mr. F. le Bars (French Consul), Alder- man D. Davics, Mr. D. James, Mr. G. If. Richardson, Mr. John Meredith (Morris- tun), Councillor R Buckiand, Council- lor W. W». Holmes, Major Harries, Mr. Jack Watson. Mr. R. L. Sails, Mr. H. A. Hield (Deputy Town Clerk), Mr. W. P. Roderick, Tir. Trevor Hanley, and Mr. Harrv Guy. After the loyal toast, the Mayor, in wel- coming the South Africans, said he be- lieved there was no tiling which had con- founded our elleibie,, as much as the loyalty of South Africa in this crisis. He believed Germany built up very big hopes in that direction, but they had been falsi- fied. The nlacliinaticlis and trickery of the enemy in Ireland had been overcome. and to-day we were a united Empire facing the common foe. Mr. T. D. Schofield, the referee, pro- posed The Teams," and Lieut. ITowel Lewis (South Wales) and Lieut. Scheêpenl (South Africa) responded. Alderman D. Davies proposed Overseas Brothers.- Captain Reid, of the South African Expe- ditionary Foree. rMponded in an interest- ing speech, aTid said South Africa had 40 000 men under arms. When the German East African campaign was finished, South Africa would be represented in the other theatres of war by three brigades iustead of one, with 100 per cent. rein- forcements. Sergeant Hoenetin (Anstra, lians) and Trooper Park (New Zea- landers) also responded. The health of the Mayor wae heartily drunk on the call of Mr. Sails. Songs were rendered by Mr. John Richards (Gowerton), Mr. Dennis, and Mr. Jones, and a duet was contributed by Messrs. Evans and Dennis.

MONErTHAT MELTED. A labourer named Thomas Crow was fined at the Llanelly Police Court on Thursday for drunkenness was again brought before the Court on Saturday on a similar charge. A constable having stated that he found defendant leaning against a railing, helplessly drunk, In- s]>ector Nicholas 6aid: "When Crow was fined 9s. for drunkenness on Thursday he had C10 in his ]>ossession. but now he only has Us."—Defendant was fined 12s.—Crow I have money in the house.—The magis- trates ordered the defendant to pay half the fine forthwith, and the balance within a week.

A TRAGIC DISCOVERY. Tycroes Y cung Man Found With Throat Cut. A young resident of Tycroes, William John Rees, of Tynlone (where he lived alone) having disappeared for some days, some oi the neighbours approached the house on Sur)(Ly morning, but found hoth the front and back doors locked They peeped through the window, and noticed the occupants legs on the floor, the rest of the body being hid by a tablr The local policeman, P.C. Jones, wg summoned, and access to the Lou6lwas obtained bv a ladder thro ugh, the oom window. On reaching the ground fi, r a ghastly eight was revealed. The dd was found lying in a pool of blood, "th his throat cut. Near by was a POCLC knife, with which it is presumed the dec was done. Dr. Price was at once sum mcned, and found the body oold and stiff, death having occurred about three days previously. Deceased had, eince his mother's death, had bouts of despondency. An inquest on the body will be held.

THE RIGHT SPIRIT. Tsrydasl Miners and Check- weigher's Post. The min-ers of the Tirydail Codliery, Am- manford, have decided to keep open the vacant poet of checkweigher until the end of the war. The re a/son wMch influenced them in adopting thie course was that eome of their comrades now on foreign active ser- vice may return home incapacitated eo far <)6 underground work is cÚl1l"1l.e.d. and that such men- shouid therefore have first claim on their consideration in selecting a In thie fine-spirited action the Tirydail colliers at least haare given the lie direct to the charge cf the lack of patriotism and of thong-ht'ee^nees for the welfare of their comrades in the trenches eo often levelled against the miners.

MISSING BLANKETS. 2,000 Stolen From Regiment in Pembrokeshire. Letiti a Cole, a married woman, and Fredk. Jones, a lad employed on a trawler, both of Neyland, were charged at Haver- fordwest on Saturday with being in pos- session of Army blankets. Two blanket3 were found at the woman's house by P.S. Morse, and the boy was found carrying the other home to his house. Lieut. Ware, of the Army Ordnance, Pembroke Dock, identified the bianknts as Government property, and Deputv-chicf Constable James mentioned that one regi- ment while in the county had 2,000 blankets stolen. The case against the female defendant was dismissed for want of evidence, and the case against the boy was adjourned for a fortnight to enable the police to luake further inquiries.

FOR NEATH HOSPITAL. Splendid Effort for War Sufferers. Saturday was Neath War Hospital Day, and the weather, the organisation, and the generosity of the general public on Saturday made Flag Day for the wounded at the new War Hospital, Penrhietwyc, a veritable triumph. Smiling helpers were everywhere, in the hamlets, vil- lages and towns which embrace the Neath Fnion, and the number of Hags, badges, and tri-colour ribbons which decorated the coat lapels nf the men and the hkm of the ladies was proof positive of tho trade done. The result will be a record. At Aberavon, Port Talbot and district the organisers wero th", Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. Percy Jacob), with Mr. E. Marchant Jenkins as hon. secretary. A purse of £:1, to be drawn for, was won by Mr. J. Wybron, handed back, won by Mr. Jack Evans, and finally given to the fund, the sovereign realising nearly t9. In Port Talbot Mr. Edward Lowther was the chairman, assisted by the Rev. D. J. Jones, M.A., and Mr. LI. Kent (hon. secretary). It is expected that 4f1 to £ 50 was raised here, bringing the Aber- avon, Port Talbot and district total to about £100. At Britonierry the result was the splendid total of alotit- ti;O, Mrs. W. R. Da vies (Court Sart) and Mr. W. S. Bevai being prominent in the organisation.

WOMEN FARM WORKERS. Sir Charles Philipps, Bart., presided at a conference at Haverfordwest, on Satur- day. to consider the question of organic ing women farm workers in Pembroke shire. The Chairman referred to the favour- able accounts he had he-ard of the efficiency of female work in local banks and public offices, and he appealed to the women of Haverfordwest to undertake suitable labour on the farms, such as dairy and poultry work. They could also be of assistance during the hay and corn harvest: even if they did a bit of gleaning like Ruth it would be of incalculable ser- vice.Afr. W. Davies also spoke, and several ladies intimated their readiness to undertake dairy work. A committee wns appointed to canvass the town for female farm ivurlxers.