The Cambria Daily Leader

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Events at the front are as- suming au interesting phase. Heavy righting is reported from every. where. The points of special in- terest are the efforts Russia is mak- ing to gain Kovel, and the attack by the French on Peronne. Com- paratively speaking, the two places are of equal importance. We say comparatively" because, although the Russian attack is on the larger scale, it is just as important to the French and British that Peronne should be in their hands as it is im- portant to the Russians that they should gain possession of Kovel. Each place is a key, and, must be taken before further advances can be made. It is quite possible that before the day is o4, Peronne will be in French hands. But at the moment of writing that possibility cannot be re- garded as a probability. The Ger- mans know what it would mean to lose it, and they are, consequently, putting up the strongest defence they can muster. They are being hammered mercilessly by the Allies' artillery, and the loss of life on each side must be severe. But the cir- cumstantial evidence available just now is that the final issue is not m doubt—the French are gaining, al- though somewhat slowly. With regard to Verdun, the Ger- man outburst may be regarded as evidence of either of several things. It may have been organised in the belief that the French had weakened the position in gathering troops for the Somme attack. On the other hand, the Germans may have thought that a bold onslaught would conceal the fact that they are using on the Somme at least one division which was recently identified be- hind Verdun. Or they may hope to induce the French to develop an offensive in a field which cannot bring a clear decision. All these as- sumptions .are possible. lyhatever the idea behind the German attack, it has cost them troops they can ill spare. Six regiments were launched against the French positions, and these were badly cut up in gaining a very little ground. The offensive at Verdun, in short, is eating up troops which Germany requires on every one of the fronts upon which there is fighting. The Russians are sending short reports of their operations, but ap- pear to have definitely secured the crossing on the Stokhod and to be fighting fiercely on the left bank. We should next hear of them very much nearer to Kovel soon, which they are approaching from two directions, and from which all efforts of the Germans have not been able to turn them. An inter- esting feature of the situation is that Von Bothmer still stands with his army near Tarnopol, though the two horns of the Russian advance are forty miles beyond that place. It is clear that either of his two flanks may be turned at any moment. After standing at 5 per cent, since August, 1914, the Bank Rate is now raised to 6 per cent. This change was expected in the market, and is the outcome of the altered money conditions in New York. The fresh official minimum is the rate which prevailed immediately before Aug. 8, 1914, the date on which the 5 per cent. level was instituted. While stiffer rates in this country will have the effect of attracting or retaining foreign balances, there is the risk of our exports being restricted. There will be more need than ever, there- fore, to see to it that our imports are kept down to the lowest level and our exports encouraged in every possible way. It may be atrded that in order to assist in the adjustment of the exchange, the Treasury is publishing further lists of American dollar securities which may be placed at the disposal of the Gov- ernment. The scene on 'Change when an alteration in the Bank Rate is ex- pected is always interesting, and not without a certain amount of excite- ment. Crowds of members gather to await the news, which usually comes in about ten minutes before noon. By 12 o'clock, if there has been no announcement, the Stock Exchange gets fidgety, assumin"l that a lengthy meeting of the Bank directors argues a probable variance of opinion. Only when a change is made is the announcement pro- claimed by the Government broker. No chanoe is signalled by the bells in the electric indicators set high above the heads of the various markets; the two words standing out in brightly illuminated lamps. Few things are more dangerous than an over-estimate of the diffi- culties of the enemy. In some quarters there is a disposition to yield to this temptation. This talk about Germany being in a starv- ing condition should be dis- couraged. Before the war the Ger- man habitually over-ate himself, and he is now, perhaps, eating a little less than an ideal dietary would prescribe. But that is all. He may be uncomfortable—we hope he is—but he is certainly not yet face to face with such privation as compel the surrender of a besieged city. His real trouble is the lack of raw material for his manufactures and the difficulty which will in con- sequence confront him after the war when he is trying to reconquer his commercial and industrial position. but neither by this nor by any scarcity of food which seems likely to occur will be driven to yield. De- feat in the field is the one and only means of compelling him to ask for peace on our terms, and the more steadily we lseep that fact in mind the better for ourselves. Once he becomes convinced that he is losing the war, and that invasion is immi- nent, he will very quickly hoist the white flag. Hitherto county court judges have appeared on the bench in ordinary wig and gown, and in this way sug- gested the appearance of a K.C. It has been felt that the dignity of the office warranted dress of a more dis- tinctive character, and accordingly it has been decided that they may w, ar robes similar to those of High Court judges. At Westminster County Court yesterday Judge Woodfall appeared for the first time in his new and striking robes. The hood of academic style and the cuffs are of a light mauve shade. On Sunday next will be inaugu- rated what is to be called a War Savings Week." The scheme has two objects—one to raise money to carry on the war, and the other to bring home to all the fact that it is for them to show that they will take their share in the great push. This they can do as civilians by lending their savings to the country for the purchase of munitions. On Sunday sermons and addresses on national thrift and our duty to our gallant fighters on land and sea will be delivered in practically every church, chapel, and meeting-house in England and Whales, and on many a village green and open space in the big cities the same gospel will be expounded. During the week meet- ings will be held in many towns and villages throughout the country. Almost a rival in length of years and working activity to Titian, Mr. James Sant, whose death is re- corded, definitely represented the artistic ideals of a large section of the public. Of his pictures, The Infant Samuel and The Soul's Awakening," it would be difficult to estimate even with approximate accuracy the extent of their popu- larity with people who like their art with a devotional flavour. As prin- cipal Painter-in-Ordinary to the late Queen, Mr. Sant succeeded Sir George Hayter forty-five years ago, and showed in the Academy of last year.. The announcement of Mrs Joseph Chamberlain's engagement to Canon Carnegie, of Westminster, has come as a surprise to most people. She was a daughter of a Secretary for I War of the United States, and her first wooing was not without its touch of romance. Mr. Chamber- lain, when on a visit to the United States, on what was known as the Fishing Commission, met Miss Endicott at a girl's party. She was only 22. A little note was sent to Mr. Chamberlain asking him to at- tend if he wouldn't be too nervous at being the only man there." He went, and there he met Miss Endi- cott, and fell in love with her at once. Two years afterwards they were married in the old church at Washington. During a pointed and appealing speec h in the House of Lords on Wednesday, on the supreme need of a wider and more alluring national system of education, Lord Haldane, the chairman of the Royal Com- mission on University Education, who spoke as an agitator in a good cause, dwelt upon. his recent visit to Swansea, described his tour of local works, where his Lordship gained a striking insight into the industrial enterprises of the district, and characterised them as a really beautiful illustration of what they could do by applying high scientific knowledge to industry. He added that if the country had more people of the enterprise of Brunner-Mond and other great firms, it would not be in the peril of competition after the war from neutral countries. As Swansea and district hold the position of being undoubtedly the greatest metallurgical centre in the world, the question naturally arises as to what it is doing to meet' the present needs, and the future neces- sities of the nation. Frequent com- ment has been made of the absolute I laxity in the recognition of the im- portance of technical education hitherto shown by local manufac- turers, but the position has changed. Largely through the European con- flict a renaissance of interest has taken place, and manufacturers in all grades of business, especially from a metallurgical point of view, have at last realised how dependent they had been in the past on other countries for commodities so es- sential to their own industry. During a conversation a few weeks ago between Mr. William Hughes, the Australian Prime Mini- ster, and Councillor Ivor Gwynne, J.P. chairman of the Swansea Edu- cation Committee, Mr. Hughes re- ferred to the great dependency of Britain upon Germany for spelter prior to the war, a position he at- tributed largely to the lack of in- terest 'taken by British manufac- turers, and to v the indifference in technical instruction and scientific research. Australian ores bad no market for years, and the Govern- ment of that country made an un- successful appeal to the manufac- turers of Britain to treat the ores. Germany intervened, bought them up at exceptionally low prices, and huge profits were reaped. It was by such trade that she made her wealth, and it is by similar trade that she will seek to re-establish it. It is an interesting feature that at least one firm from the Swansea district—the Swansea Vale Spelter Works—have risen to the occasion, and are now treating the Australian ores with marked success. In- stances of this kind emphasise that if Great Britain is to hold her own, it is imperative that there should be sufficient enthusiasm to place local technical colleges, such as the Swansea institution, in a position to provide the necessary scientists to solve the great industrial problems that will inevitably arise after the war. It is impossible to over-estimate the advantages of a centre of higher scientific training and research—like the Swansea College-to those in- dustries which form the mainstay of the town and its neighbourhood— the extraction of almost all the nonferrous metals from their ores, and the utilisation of these metals in making alloys, and in preserving iron and steel. Here, perhaps more keenly than in any other district in Great Britain, the problems for fighting foreign competition, and d securing for this country monopolies previously held by enemy countries call for incessant care and attention. We have dealt with Lord Hal- dane's speech exclusively from Swansea's industrial position, and with reference to the increased in- terest which has been aroused in education from a technical stand- point in the district. The war on such a branch of education has al. ready begun here, and the move- ment opens up infinite possibilities. The training of the nation for the pending economic war is one of the great duties of the day. It would have been to the everlasting dis- grace of Swansea, the metallurgical metropolis of the Empire, had no steps been taken to aid in national duty. Fortunately the hour of need has brought with it the men to act, and with such enthusiasm as that displayed by Coun. Gwynne, Dr. Varley, and some of our great industrial chiefs, the stigma has been saved us of slumbering while the furnaces became cold. We are awake. It is now a duty little less than sacred to see that enthusiasm is maintained at boiling point- coupled, of course, with discretion, and both controlled by knowledge.

ITALY'S GAINS. I Held Despite Strong Enemy I Efforts. Rome, Thursday.—The official commu- nique published to-day is as follows:— in the CamoJiiea Valley there has been persistent activity on the part of enemy artillery, particularly in the Tonale zone. In the Valley of the Adige, yesterday afternoon, after intense artillery prepara- tion, the enemy attacked the new posi- tions occupied by us north of Malazuqua. The prompt and efficacious concentration of our artillery and rifle fire (Irove them back in disorder with heavy losses. On the rest of the front as far as the Breta, our artillery continued its energetic bom- bardment of the enemy linee. At certain points our infantry aiso made bold attacks and gained some ground. On the Isonzo nothing of importance has occurred.

CORRESPONDENCE. (Letters to the Editor should be brief. to the point, and about something Cor- respondents shoul I send their names and addresses, not necessarily for pubiication.) WELSHMEN AT THE FRONT. To the Editor. Sir,—The artielo whicn appeared in one of your contemporaries maites every true V. eishman feel proud of his countrymen. The writer appears to be a graduate of the University ox Wales, proud that lie is do- in;j "• his oit, and more proud that, a bat- taiion of las countrymen in a most deter- mined fashion made their way through a picked, regiment of the Uerman Army—the Prussian uuards. flow different the spirit, of tnoso in the lighting line is to our young men at home. ihoeu in the fighting line have the tour age of ijieweiyii, uiyndwr, and others—the cream ot the natiou-brought up at the uni- ver&ities—healthy, clean, smart, and tnor- oughly equipped for any work. In the case referred to. the order was given the work 1 done, for they reached their objective; they paralysed the enemy, and (what is more) they Drought bacit with them trophies- helmets oi the i'ruseian Guard, forage caps of lierman officers, haversacks, and riltles. the most, amusing one carrying a iiun machine-gun. What a courage! What fine example! What of our men at home? At iatradgynlais the streets and corners are full, night after night, of young men dressed with white cuffs and collars, smok- t ing their cigarettes, enjoying themselves in the cafes, cinemas, and clubs. as if nothing wera happening. They think nothing of what, goes on in France, Egypt, Mesopota- mia, or Sa,lonica; they care not. Who is to be blamed. At some of the local tribunals shigle men of military age have been exempted for 6ix months and three months respectively, while married men on the opposite side of the atreet had only three months. Fathers tla,n3 appealed for their sons as being un- able to carry on the business without their assistance. What would become of their trade had the Germans come into our coun- try ?—Yours truly, LIjAIS O'B GYBLAIS. PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. To the Editor Sir,—It is very interesting to note that a step has been taken in the right direction towards the change which is so much d, sired in Swansea,by the leaders of religious organisations. So many utterances have been made upon this topic, and so little done. that it will oo of great interest to watch developments. We refer to the meet- ings which arc being conducted by the le", Percy Moss Weston at the entrance to VictoriiT, Park each Sunday evening during the past weeks. If one can judge by the appreciative audiences who have listened to the rev. gentleman, we think they will agree it is just the thing which is so much needed to bring about the Christian move- ment to the people. May the movement prove a blessing, and be very quickly copied by other rev. gentlemen. There has been too great a tendency on the part of religious leaders to preach above the thought of the d to preacli have failed to come down to common ground, the reault being that, the average person has wondered at its practicability. In view of the above remarks it will be of interest to note that the rev. gentleman's subject for next Sunday evening will be: "Is it possible to he a Christian in these days?" which we feel sure will provide food for thought Again wishing the movement I every success, wo remain, yours faithfully, W.F.F. and A.H.O. Swansea-, July 12. 1916. KITCHENER MEMORIAL. I To the Editor. Sir,—Since the irreparable loss of Lord Kitchener there have come from all »laseea of the nation and all parts of the kingdom expressions of deep desire to mark in a permanent form the nation's gratitude for his never-to-be-forgotten services in raising our great armies which arc now .fighting the battle of freedom in Europe. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra has gra- ciously consented to preside over a Council, a list of whose members I enclose. This Council has been fcrmed to organise a Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund, and I have been asked to open a Mansion House Fund for the purpose. I have agreed to t'o so. and desire to invite your powerful co- operation in making it a success worthy of the great soldier whose name and fame we desire to perpetuate. 1.1 a National Memorial to Lord Kitchener two considerations must be borne in mind; (1) that any such Memorial should be per- manent and perpetuate his name for all time and (2) lhgt it should be devoted to some object known to be near his heart. Those who knew Lord Kitchener best are in agreement that no subject was more constantly in his thoughts than the welfare of the officers and men of the King's forces throughout the Empire. The object now in view is the raising of a large fund to be hereafter known as the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund," the income of which will be devoted in per- petuity to providing for officers and men of the Royal Navy and Army (whether in en- dowed homes or ia their own homes) who have been disabled and whose pecuniary circumstances preclude them from obtain- ing such atteition and comforts as they need. A portion of the fund will be immediately applied to equipping a home for disabled officers for whose assistance it may be noted that nothing of a permanent nature ha3 yet been considered. In view of the fact that the officer of the future is likely to be. as a general rule, slenderly endowed, his welfare, especially in the evening of his life, must claim generous attention It must be remembered that many of the admirable institutions recently founded will cease with the war, or with the con- ditions following the war, or with the succeeding generation, whereas the present scheme is both restrospectivo and per- petual. Thus any officer or man who is dis- abled can look to the Lord Kitchener Memorial Fund for relief, and. this relief witl be extended lis long as the Navy cr Army exist. Donations should be sent to me at the Mam* >11 House, London, crossed "Bank of England. —I am, Sir. your obedient seT-- vant. C. C. WAKEFIELD, LordMayor of London.

DEBTS OF THE ENEMY. J The President of the Board of Trade has informed Mr. Needham that ae British traders are unable to obtain payment of amounts due to th-iii by enemies, he is disposed to think that it would be inex- pedient as a general rule to diminish the capital available for carrying on their businesses bv compelling them to pay to the Public Trustee the debts which they owe to enemies.

KILLED THE DOr, FIRST. After strangling his dog .John Brodriclc, a. blind man who lived at Lambeth, com- mrtted suicide by drowning himself in the Thameg. At the inquest, on Thursday Hose Bur- rowes said she had lived with Brodriclc for ten years, and for half that period he had been blind. On June 27 she left him in consequence of his behaviour and threats, and she left her little girl with him. Being told that it was not very credit- able to go away and leave a child with a blind man. Burrowes said that she in- tended returning for the ohiild when she got a home to take her to. The landlady of the house said the man was much upset when the woman left him, and took drink. Before disappearing he said, "I havo lost ray Rose, and I have lost everything. Life is not worth living."

Mr. Arthur Henderson presided at a dinner given by the Parliamentary Labour party on Tbursdav evening to the half-dozen Labour representatives who are now visiting this country as delegates from the Dominions in connection with the Inter-Parliamentary Union

WAR AFTER THE WAR THE PART OF SCIENCE IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION AN OPPORTUNE REPORT In view of Lord HaldaneJe strong appeal for the establishment of a scientific sys- tem of education, particular interest attaches to the interim report, just icbued, of the Consultative Committee on Scholar- ships for Higher Education. It should be pointed out that the refer- ence to the committee was made eo long ago as March 1913, before the war was dreamt of in this country, and, in draw. ing attention in tlucir introductory state- ment to the pre-war threats to British industry by ingenious and acute rivals. the committee make the pertinent addi-i tioll t- liat-- After the war we shall need not only] to make good our losses, but, also. to col ordinate and concentrate all elements of strength. For this purpose we must b4 prepared at every stage, and especially to scientific and technological education." COMMERCE TO TAKE PART. The Report considers chiefly the need of industry and commerce, and aU through its seventy odd pages runs the re-* cognition that the requirements of th4 nation must be kept constantly in vieif and correlated as far as possible to the capacity of the individual. In a wide and generous summary of their views, the committee t;ay:- It is not enough for the State to fourid institutions and provide scholarships; it is necessary that the managers of industry and commerce should corne to know the value of scientific training ir. their ad- vise re; it is necessary that scientific train- ing should be recognised as a highly inv portant qualification for directive posts; then by degrees it may come to be under- stood that scientific training is an effeci tive though not the only means of ad yancement. The needs of the nation a.rt1 in fact the needs of the individual; but it is necessary that the individual should understand them and feel them to be own. Public authorities may be expected to perceive public needs earlier than pd- vat individuals or private firms." Both from tho historical and practical points of view. the report is of engrossing interest, but its immediate importance lit* in the recommendations put forward fot the consideration of the Board of E due at tion and of those local education authorij ties which have power to grant scholar ships from secondary schools to universi ties anil (-)ther places of higher eduea* tion, and of other authorities, so far a they may be concerned: THE SCHOLARSHIP LADDER. The recommendations begin with < statement of general principles, of whiclf the first ie:— That, in framing hem for scholar ships, the following ends be kept in view the training of men and women accordinj to their capacity, that they may serve tlii needs of the nation in the manner fol which they are best fitted; the reward 01 merit and the encouragement of learning and the provision of equal educationa opportunity: the furtherance of industry agriculture, and commerce, being re garded as a principal need of the nation and higher education being regitrded-as < means to this end among others. For the furtherance of higher scientific and technological ed ucation, scholarship from secondary schools to univergitiee anJ the highest scientific and technical coll leges are still accepted ail the principal means. As supplementary and subsidiary mean; to the same end, scholarships fron secondary schools to senior technica schools to universities and other places o higher education, and from evenins classes and work-schools to technica- colleges and universities, are recommended to be granted on a suitable There are recommendations proposing more latitudinarian methods of university matriculation tests and scholarship e):1 aminations, and it is proposed that thd provision of university scholarships fot women should be immediately increased. GRANTS-IN-AID. In order to hasten the extension ol higher secondary education—especially fo! boys—the committee suggest that a sub stantial grant in aid should be made a fol strengthening the higher parts of selecte4 secondary schools," and for this purpos1 they suggest as a beginning the surf of CIOO,000 a year. It is alsq recommended that the Stat' provide maintenance grants to enabli selected scholars to continue their eecoif dary education from the age of 16 to thn: of 18 or 19, and for this purpoBe the con)' mittee consider that 6C90,000 would be rf quired in the third year. Another recommendation is for 250 State scholarships every year for students froill secondary schools who intend to pursu' scientific or technical subjects at tb" Universities. The estimated cost £b7,500 a year. A grant-in-aid of X25,000 is TLccii" mended to encourage local authorities ti develop these schemes of scholarships t1' the Universities and especially for if creased provision for scholarships fcf women. For scholarship? to the Universitie: from senior technical schools, &c., an at nual grant of X27,000 is recommended. An interesting recommendation is tb;l: the prolongation of scholarships should Ii met out of national funds, and it is sui* gested that the annual sum of £ 20,0$ would be sufficient at the inception." There are many other details dealing with examinations, &c., in this instructive rpport. In an introductory note, Sir Lewif Selby-Bigsre, Permanent Secretary to th Board of Education, states that the Boar agree with the committee's observation that no educational problem of any maf nil vide ran be isolated, but he repeats tW official view. always expressed, that ul Board cannot be committed to accept a nee of the specific opinions and recoiv mendations of the report.

PRICE OF PATRIOTISM, No one joins the Army with the objef of making money out of it, but it is astofi ishing to learn that a man may be con)1 pelled to 134ty for his patriotism and m) actually incur a debt to the Army by serV* ing his country. This istlie ntrange po. tion of Hospital Patient," who writes tf the Daily Express to plead the case (I( men in a similar plight. Before enlisting he paid tho usual contributions under t Insurance Act. He never m-edred an. benefit. Xow, a. soldier, he has iindei-goill an operation and has spent nine weeks il1 hospital. Before coming to hospital," he write* ? I made the interesting discovery fro)'? my pay office that whÙe in hospital j would have sevenpence per day (tei?tten from my pay. Being a married man ma?t ing the usual allotment to my wife, ir.1 pay in camp is sixpence per day. TbE'r fore, while in hospital I shall receive t) pay and be one penny in d?bt. If I g'; bak to camp immediately I slall bo j^jj debt to the amount of just over fiv sh?j hngs. This stoppage is not made in tb" case of Expeditionary Force men. J Perhaps mmc of YOUr readers wMj understand the workings of the InsurRD? Act could explain where our benefits co:? in. I will add that if one i« ?Tt ur'-patip? in hospital one has to do an oi-d(Nrlv wof' in the hospital wards, such as seruhbit^ lfoors, etc. Altogether, if is a funny w9-. L of showing the naiQnJil'aLitu.de/'