The Cambria Daily Leader

WEST WALES SENSATION. A sensational incident occurred at Llanybyt-her. Two police officers, Poli const abl es Evans and James, proceeded to a farm called Tanyrallt to arrest an al- leged Army absentee, named Daniel Thomas, who is the, male hand on the farm. As Thomas had not finished feed- ing the stock the constables assisted him, and later allowed him to go upstairs to change his clothing. After Thomas had entered his bedroom he locked the door, and a few minutes later the constables heard the report of a gun. On entering the room they found Thomas suffering (rom a gunshot. He lies in a precarious state. t

THE ONLY SURVIVOR. I Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood pre- sented the D.C.M. to Sergeant Lister, Cheshire Regiment, at Mrs. Calverley's convalescent home for wounded soldiers, Down Hall, Harlow. Sergeant Lister is the only survivor of nine men who held an enemy trench for several hours, and when forced to retire he brought away the dead body of hie captain. ii

TELL-TALE LETTER. I Salonika, Tuesday.—A letter, dated ¡ Oct. 5, found on a Genuan prisoner taken by the Serbians, and addressed to his betrothed in Germany, says: We are completely besieged <no Bulgarians on our right and left having retired. We are thus entirely surrounded. No food supplies can now reach us, as the enemy artillery dominates everything. We have to resist to the last man. We received a mail to-day, and this will probably be the last one."—Renter's Special.

I THE PEACE BABBLERS. I Opening a branch of the Overseas Club ) in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Lord Rose- bery said that the war had compacted and united the British Empire. He de- nounced the irresponsible babble of pre- mature peace, and declared that if there was a Minister so short-sighted, cowardly and imbecile as to conclude such a peace —which, thank Heaven, there was not- Britons overseas might say that a country so governed was not a country to adhere to. We were fighting for small nations and neutrals, including the United States, for if we were defeated the United States would be the next to suffer from Prussia's unscrupulous ag- gression. d_

DUMB FOWI-S NEXT? Poultry-keeping, even in war time, has its responsibilities. At Birmingham on Wednesday a man was fined C2 and two guineas. costs for keeping fowls which were a nuisance to the residents. Neighbours stated that they were un- able to sleep owing to the noise (tf the crowing cockerels, and several had to change their sleeping apartments. One .witness told the Bench that he had to close his bedroom windows and put cotton wool in hiseare. A witness for the defence, who was unable to attend, wrote to the court say- ing there was no nuisance. He found the immature crowing of the cockerels at least as useful as the average alarm clock. Defendant: It is of natiol161 importance to have cockerels. The Clerk: Not for crowing. Defendant: I cannot stop their mouths.

BRITISH GUNS AT WORK. I The U Daily Express" Paris Correspon- dent, writing on Wednesday, eays:— I learn from Northern France that the guns late last night were thundering furi- ously. What is particularly interesting is that our activity has spread round the La Rassee Canal sector. The French are very active also with their gun's around Sailiy, and the ground is rocking from the fury of the bombard- ment. At Verdun, too, the artillery never ceases firing night or day, but the La Baswe sector is the most interesting. Very bitter fighting has already taken place here, but interest in this sector has not variwhed, and great news may oome at any clllrat.

RUMANIAN POSITION I NOT UitFAVOUgASLE DESPITE CEiiMAN CLAilt Though the Germans report a rubaan- I tial success with the capture of 10 guns, in1 the Predeal Pass, the liumauian position! as a wJioie is not unfavourable. To set against the enemy's claim there is good; news from the westerly valley of the Jiul, where bi4 more prisoners have been taken. The offensive aguinst the Bavar-j ians in this region, winch is on theii umaDian side of the Vulcan Pass, has! been consietenly successful, in spito of i the fact that General Dragaiina, who was! in command, was wountieti almost oil the eve of the operations. It has now been, going on for live days, in which time the, enemy, w ho are retreating each day, have lost over 1,600 prisoners. The ifussian report, which usually deals with earlier operations than the others, i speaks of the Rumanians being pressed back in the Aluta vaiiey. For the first time it specifies the actual positions, j which are only about 12 miles south oi | the frontier. That the Rumanians had! retired was already known, but previous; reports, which were lacking in precision, had given the impression that they had been driven somewnat further back. in the Torzburg Pass region there 16: again a slight gain, while in the Predeal i the exact locahty of the enemy?s success. which is attributed to the Austro-Hun- garians, is not mentioned. It is appaxeully about six miles within the frontier, ami: the Rumanian position is said to have been penetrated. EIGHT DAYS' CAPTURES. I Bucharest, November lst.-General bad weather is arresting operations. On the southern fi-oii-C the enemy advance has been arrested. The enemy's losses in the Carpathians have been enormous, and the advance realised has been negligible. In eight days we took 3,000 prisoners, eight heavy guns, six field guns, 40 machine guns, and large quantities of material. in the Carpathians and in Moldavia the situation is excellent, and there is the firm conviction that the Germans will not get through An episode in the two days* fighting at Oitoz was the arrest of the enemy attack- ing in the Oitoz defile by four Roshieri squadrons, of a total strength of 600 horsemen, fighting on foot. The enemy was about two regiments strong. A single brigadier of the Roshieri killed eight Germans with his lance. In this region th. Germans placed Bosnian troops at the head of the attack, secondly Austro-Hungarians, and laoUy Germans.—Wireless Press.

NEATH MAYOR-ELECT. I Aid. H. P. Charles Unani- mously Selected. A t a private meeting of the Neath Town Council on Thursday, Ald. H. P. Charles was unanimousiy selected as Mayor-elect. 4Q YEARS' SERYICE. I At a. meeting of the Neath Town Council I on Thursday, the Town Clerk (Mr. E. C. Curtis) announced that Ald. H. P. Charles was that day celebrating this fortieth anniversary as a member of the Town Council. (Cheers.) He congratu- lated him and the Council. Ald. Hopkin Morgan, in proposing a vote of congratulation, said Ald. Charles was a native of the town, and although it was said that a prophet found, no honour in his native country, an excep- tion had been proved, for Ald. Charles had had an the honour Neath could give him, and in return he kad served his town nobly and well. Both as a coun- cillor and aldermart, Mr. Charles had ren- dered great service, and he was pleased to see him looking so well. (Applause.) Mr. W. B. Trick seconded, and added that although they often crossed swords in the Council Chamber, he had the greatest admiration for Ald. Charles. Dr. D. LI. Davies, Mr. J. R. Jones, and Mr. Henry Thomas added words of con- gratulation, and the resolution was car- ried with acclamation. HONOURS APPRECIATED. Replying, Ald. Charles said he had al- ways tried to serve his native town, -and it was encouraging to know that his efforts were appreciated. True he said nasty things at times, but everybody: knew that his "bark was worse than his bite." (Laughter.) When he said nasty i things on the spur of the moment, he regretted it on reflection. He knew of no I man who had been honoured in his native town more than he had, and he felt in- debted to the town. So long as he lived and 'had health, he would find pleasure. in serving his native town. (Cheers.). I

BOY'S £2 16s. WAGE. I At the Glasgow Munitions Tribunal on Wednesday a diminutive boy, aged 16, employed as a puddler (stirring molten iron) at £ 2 16s. a week, asked for a clearance certificate as he had to walk through a wood at four o'clock in the morning and was frightened. Sheriff Fyfe: If I were a boy and earn- ing £2 10s. weekly I would walk through a dozen woods The application TO refused.

CARTWHEEL PUNISHMENT. I Mr. Ellis Davies is to ask the Secretary of State for War, whetlter a British soldier was recently sentenced to what is known as crucifixion; whether he was with five others tied by the neck, waist, hands, and feet to cartwheels for an hour and when released was dead; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the case with a view to preventing the possibility of such treatment of our soldiers and the dismissal of the officers concerned if such a sentence Wad inflicted.

SWANSEA SAILORS' HOME. At the annual meeting of the committee of the Swansea Sailors' Home, the chair- man (Mr. W. Law) .remarked that with the object of adding to the attractions of the Home as a temporary residence for sailors frequenting the port, a new bil- liard-room had been fitted up at the in-' stitution, together with a bagatelle table, and'appealed for aid in furnishing it suitably with lounge chairs, settees, etc., which he thought the many supporters of the Home in the town and district would, if the need were known, be very ready to provide to mark their appreciation of the efforts made at the present juncture by the seamen of our Mercantile Marine for the welfare of their country. Old maga- zines, and literature of a similar type are also appreciated by the men leaving for sea to provide reading matter during their spells of leisure, and the committee would. >. be grateful for any gifts of this kind.

ALLEGED BLACKMAIL. I Serious Charge Brought by Mr. G. Isaacs. At Boir-sfcreet, on Thursday, Thomas Absalom Jackson, commission, agent, of Adam-street, Adelphi, was charged on a warrant for having on various dates be- tween 8th October and 1st November this year offered to prevent the printing and publishing of divers matters and things concerning the Wireless Marconi Co., Ltd. and Mr. Godfrey Isaacs, with intent to, extract money fr nn Mr. Isaacs. Mr. R. D. Muu- and Mr. Travers Hum- phreys appeared for the prosecution. Mr. Muir said defendant, according to, his letter head in?, carried on business in the name of Ear) and Jackson, either with or without a partner, as manufacturing engineers and contractors, in lkdam- street. He was charged under the Lihel Act of 1843, under which he was liable, upon conviction, to- a magimum punish- ment of three years' imprisonment, and it would be for the magistrate to consider whether defendant had not also brought himself within the provisions of the Larceny Act, 1861, for demanding money with menaces. The offence alleged against defendant was, that in the course of both written and verbal statements to Mr. 18aac, he attributed to a number of other persons, whom he named, certain s 4at(,- ments and courses of conduct. This was! a prosecution against Jackson alone, and counsel was not concerned whether the statements Jackson made about those per-, sons were true or not; what was material to prove was that Jackson made those: statements and put them forward as be- in gtrue for the purpose of enabling him to extort money from the Marconi Com- i pany or Mr. Isaacs. NOT A PLEASANT COMMISSION. I Counsel mentioned that the connection between Mr. Isaacs and Jackson began on the 17t7h October, when the latter sent Mr. Isaacs a letter asking for an appoint- ment on a special private matter. This was arranged over the telephone, and in the course of a further letter Jackson said, Let me explain that I thought be- fore the war I had retired from busniess, but the present crisis brings me down to earth, and I am utilising my old con- nections as the best one may to make a living." On keeping the appointment Jackson told Mr. Isaacs that the commis- sion was not a pleasant one. (Proceeding).

MYSTERY DEEPENS. Drowned Captain's Widow Writes to Swansea Police. The Chief of the Swansea I-larbour Police. Inspector Samuel Parker, has re- ceived the following letter regarding the missing six < £ 1 Treasury notes mentioned at the inquest into the peculiar circum- stances attending the drowning of Captain Griffiths, whose body was recovered from the Swansea dcK ks:—■ "Dear Sir.—A t the Tequest of Mrs. Grif- fiths, of Appledore, whose husband was found drowned in the Sonth Dock on the 21st inst., -(ve 1"! ite to inform you that on Friday last. th 27th inst., six Treasury notes for £ eacii were found by her in her husband's cabir. These notes were placed in a drawer which Mrs. Griffiths and her, friend Mr. Jones had carefully searched on Thursday, the day previous, and they were both perfectly positive that the notes were not in the drawer on that day (Thurs- day), and on Friday there were other indi- cations in the cabin that someone other than Mrs. Griffiths had been meddling with the property of the deceased. We are writing you with regard to the notes, as we understand Mrs. Griffiths promised to let the police know if anything further was discovered, aDd to-day is the first oppor- tunity she has had of letting you know.— —Yours faithfully. Hole, Se1 don and Ward. Bideford, 30th October, 1916."

AN M.P.'s LIBEL ACTIONI Alleged "Cruel and Wicked" Allegations Circulated. The hearing was resumed in the King's Bench on Thursday of an action for damages for libel brought by the Hon. William Gervase Rocket, M.P. for Whitby, against Mr. George John McDer- mott, for canvasser for advertisements on the Saturday Review," of which plain- tiff is part proprietor. Ur. Beckett complained that defendant had published a circular alleging he was unfit to sit in Parliament, and making other allegations. Defendant admitted publication, said the words used were true, and pleaded fair comment. Counsel for the plaintiff said the wicked awl cruel libel complained of was circulated among Mr. Beckett's constituents at Whitby, although as M.P. for Whitby 1:1e had absolutely no oonnection with the matter, de- fendant's grievance being against the « Saturday Review." In this statement complained of defendant said the mem- ber for Whitby gives a very poor display of manhood, especially in .times like these. Appealed to and trusted as an officer and a gentleman; he has kept lin the back- ground and failed in both. As an officer, Colonel Beckett never came to the front, as a gentleman the Hon. Gervase Backett, M.P., never manifested himself. Tho statement added that instead of running a newspaper. Colonel Beckett should be running a nurse," for men such he lower the standard of manhood. Counsel said defendant had actually g-sjie to the length of writing to Lord Kitch-aner attacking plaintiff. Captain Pickett, the plaintiff, said he was a military se to the general- officer-commanding his district. He had now taken up work in the War Trade De- partment. His attention was called to the libels by constituents. Witness had practically nothing to do with the man- agement of the Saturday Review," and he did not think he knew of defendant until he received these letters.

CROWN PRINCE IN TEARS. It is reported from Berlin, on good authority, that. the German Crown Prince is literally furious over the disas- trous set-back suffered by his troops be- fore Verdun last week, and that he has demanded of the General Staff the im- mediate return of the divisions which were taken from him in order to partici- pate in the offensive against Rumania and for tho defence of Monastir. It is stated that the "Crown Prince actually wept when ho heard the news of, the serious reverses at Verdun—he him- self was in Berlin at the time—and that he vowed a vow not only to reconquer all the lost ground, but also to ta-ke Verdun itself, or die in the ..H

CREEK INDIGNATION I ANOTHER VESSEL TGBPEBOED WITHOUT I WAfidiHO Otf AIWEiiS I CERMAN INSOLENCE I Athens, Tuesday.—Another Greek ves- sel. the Kiki Issaias (2,990 tons), was this mternoon torpedoed by a German sub- marine in the neighbourhood ol i'hleva (island near Athens), he point near whre the Angeliki was attacked. The crime was committed without warning, and the vessel sank immediately. There were no National Volunteers aboard. Of the crew of 15 four were drowned, 11 saving themselve^ by means of ^Rbelts and being afterwards picked up. Indignation, already intense, will be increased by this second wanton outrage, and the popular anger will undoubteuly find an expression to-morrow at the public funeral of victims of the Angeliki crime. GERMAN EFFRONTERY. The German Legation here endeavours to brazen out Saturday's attack on the Angeliki by issuing the following inso- lent and contradictory communique:— The German Legation, desiring to calm the inquietude of the Greek merchant marine, considers it its duty to issue an assurance that no attack by a German submarine can take place on Greok ves- sels which observe the well-known regu- lations concerning contraband of war, which neutral States must observe. Further, only vessels which are carry- ing Revolutionaries travelling to rein- force the armies of the Entente can rightly be attacked. As regards the mishap to the Greek vessel Angeliki, the German Legation is confident that it cannot be a question as to the vessel having been torpedoed by a submarine, inasmuch as the conditions under which the accident occurred pre- sent a justification for this hypothesis. The torpedoing of the Angeliki has caused a distinct revulsion of feeling in Athens and the Pirjeus against the Ger- mans.—" Daily Chronicle."

DEAD IN THE TRAIN. On the arrival of the train from Lon-! don due at Felixstowe at 10,20 on Tuesday night, Major Clutterbuck, of the Essex Regiment, was found in a carriage with a fatal wound in the heart.

SHELL-SHOCK. Lance-Corpl. T. J. Norris, of the Welsh Regiment, eon of Mr. Joseph Norris, 1 and 2, Thomas-street, Swansea, is in hos- pital in France, suffering from shell-shock. He had been at the front for over two years.

THE BRUNT OF BATTLE. Mr. Stanton has given notice to ask the Secretary for War, if he will gay why our infantry, who have to bear the brunt of battle in the trenches and engage the enemy with the bayonet or bomb, and who have to risk their lives in all front line movements, should be the lowest paid regiments in His Majesty's service; and if his department will at once con- 1 aider a more fair rate being paid to these men pro rata to the risks they run.

CLOTHES TICKETS] Amsterdam, November I.-The State has undertaken the regulation of the supply of clothing in Germany to the ex- tent that a new order, operating from to- day. makes tickets for the purchase of clothes and clothing materials necessary. By State regulation of prices and the ap- plication of the ticket system it is hoped that better distribution of the available materials may be obtained.

MAKING SURE OF DEATH. Mr. Alfred Knight, Acocks Green, War- wickshire, left 97,420. He directed that Dr. Joseph Ganer shall @ever a main artery to make sure life is extinct and re- ceive £100 for this operation, and his re- mains shall then be cremated and the dust broadcast over the land. The ulti- mate residue of the estate is to go in equal shares to four hospitals in Birm- ingham.

BOMBS ON RaTLWAY. Amsterdam, Thursday.—The Tele- graaf" learns from the frontier that three French airmen dropped six bombs near Courtrai, in ord-or to disturb rail- way communication with the front at Ypres. The bombs caused much damage. A German tuglxiat, armed with machine- guns, fired at the airmen, but was unable to ursue them.

THE ELYSIUM MANAGER. Mr. Jack Watson, the popular manager of the Elysium Cinema, JTich-street, Swansea, leaves Swansea this week-end to serve his King and country in the motor transport service. He is not severing his connection with this popular cineina alto- gether, and his many friends hope to have the opportunity of welcoming him back when the war is over. During the two years Mr. Watson has heen manager 01 the Elysium, he has discharged his duties with uniform courtesy and consideration for patrons, and with evident satisfaction to his directors, for they are presenting him with a substantial cheque. Before coming to Swansea Mr. 'at,)D was for 12 months acting manager for Mr. Nor- man V. Norman's Co., in the Marriage of Kitty," and he has also held managerial appointments at Folkestone (with Car- dow's Cadets) Electric Theatre, Merthvr Tydfil; White City, Newcastle-upon- Tyne; and Palace Theatre, Tynemouth.

SALONIKA AND ATHENS. Salonika, Tuesday.—The Press Bureau Of the National Government has issued the following Note explaining the views of Venizelos on the situation created bv the agreement between the Government at Athens and the Entente Powers:— "As is known the Government at Athens has completely accepted the demands of the Entente, namely, to evacuate the armies from Thessalv and to deal with the anarchy reigning in Greece and with the misdeeds of newspapers of the German propaganda. The Government at Athens must no longer terrorise volunteers coming to Macedonia in order to drive the enemy from the invaded Motherland, 'or raise any obstacle to their departure for Salonika. Following acceptance of the Entente's ,| demands the Government at Athens has still been allowed to exist with a shadow of powr." Volunteers are coming forward from everywhere, and will form an ei,my of 100,000 iuen.Itetiter

TMAY'S NWS IN BRIEF  -si*- —— A separate unit of the Royal Engineers has been created for meteorological ser- vice in the field. Following a seizure after a church ser- vice, the Rev. D. W. Davies, vicar of Nerquis, Flintshire, has died. Isle of Wight farmers have declared war on tli6 sparrows, which have become a great pest on the island. Charged with breaking windows in Whitehall, Elizabeth Hope and Methy Scrabo were remanded on bail at Bow- street. East End doctors are stated to take the whole of the insurance maternity benefit for the first child, and never lege than a I guinea. Attention of incumbents in Essex has been called by Mr. Montagu to the fact that the ringing of church bells dis- turbs the rest of munition-workers. Sir Edward Goulding,. M.P., wants bombs dropped on the Antwerp-Berlin- Constantinople express because it in- creases food facilities for the enemy. Ottawa, Thursday.—The Government has been advised of a German plot to in- troduce foot and mouth disease into Canadian herds.—Reuter. Capt. Lnmsden, director of Indian marine, has been ordered home to give evidence before the Mesopotamia Commis- sion.—Bombay Exchange telegram. Melbourne, Wednesday (received Thur- sday).—The majority against conscription I in the referendum is now 80,890. The final result wiii probably be known within I a week. Sydney, Wednesday (received Thurs- day).—The mines at Newcastle and Mait- land are now idle. The employers are granting a conference with the meal.- Reuter. An announcement is to be made by the Board of Trade shortly on the question of the improvement our machinery for the collection of commercial intelligence and for promoting British trade overseas. New London (Connecticut), Wednesday (received Thursday) .—Capt. Koenig ,of the submarine Deutschland, which ar- rived here yesterday, could not account for the non-arrival of the Bremen.— Reuter. When a girl of 15 asked at Whitechapel County Court for £10 from a compensa- tdon award for clothes, Judge Cluer said the request was ridiculous. He never had Xio spent on him for clothes when he was 15. Sentence of three months' imprisonment with hard labour for a serious street as- sault was passed at Glasgow on Wednes- day on a youth, described as a member of a gang of hooligans known as the Sing Sing Boys." Corporal J. Mattison, of the Australian forces, and belonging to North Berwick, reported wounded yesterday, was rejected '16 times. Only the dogged perseverance ended in his acceptance for the Army, after travelling from Australia at his own expense. For obtaining 9364 from the Brentwood branch of the London County and West- minster Bank by means of two Zgtd dheques, Arthur Frederick Collison Flat- man, Tachbrook-street, Pimlico, was sentenced to IS months' imprisonment at Essex Assizes. Elizabeth King, an Englishwoman, who was married to a German, by whom elie had eight children, and then married to an Englishman when the German abs- conded at the outbreak of war, was at Caerphilly sent to prison for a fortnight for failing to register as an alien. Learning that in two years and three months J. Keefe, a printer's assistant, iiad repaid Cyril J. Marston, a reader, about Xll UL respect of an original loan of S3 15s., Judge Woodfall, at Westminster County Court, decided yesterday that the transaction caine under the Money Lenders' Aot, and made no order on I Marston's claim or with regard to costs.

SON OF NEATH TOWN CLERK. I Second Lieut. Curtis, son of the Town Clerk of Neath, who is serving with the Welsh Regiment in France, has been pro- moted to the rank of first lieutenant. I Lieut. Curtis joinod up as a private.

LIBERAL M.P.s AND THE WAR I On Wednesday evening, at the War Office, Mr. Lloyd George met the mem- bers of the Liberal War Committee of the House of Commons, and addressed them in matters relating to the war, answering also, it is understood, a number of ques- tions. The proceedings were strictly pri- I vate. I

I THE BELGIAN FRONT. I A German Night Attack Repulsed. I Havre, Tuesday.—The following official communique was issued from the Belgian Headquarters on Wednesday:— During the night a German detachment, which attempted to approach the Belgian lines south of St. Georges, was repulsed. -i he day was characterised by reciprocal activity of field and trench guns at various points of the front, notably to- wards Streanstraete and Boesinghe.

A LANELLY ENGAGEMENT. I The marriage of Lieutenant Hume Buckley-Roderick, Welsh Guards, and Miss Barbara Garnons Williams, will take place at Holy Trinity Church, ¡' Brompton, on November 9, at 2.30. There will lie no reception, but friends are welcomed to the church.

SWANSEA STOCK EXCHANGE. Business on the Stock Exchange to- day, with the exception of Coal aa4 Shipping shares, was on tho quiet si4le. D. Ordinary and Gwaun-sao-Our- wen New hals w«>ro in demand. Busi- ness done -D. Davis.' Orel., ??. «?.. 13«. 10'd., ¡ hI.. fi'auii-eae-OTmven N 'w, 265. I'd., (.d., 20-. ?\r> Kbbw Ord.. 27s. :.7:. 0a.: Tiede».-ir Iroc S.S., TIaenton S.S., 26s. 'kl.; <; wa u r-cao-Gr« rn-sn (partly 1, 25s. ;1.. NV i n, .3 Thomas Evans ami John Dyer Ord., "log.: Town T.ir.r K.S., 11-. 1;ÇI. :1c1.: 1.; Now CiUiselogT), Ebbw* VaiOKj 6s. Insoles. 3Ss. M.: 3d.: feng- lish Crown Spelters. Britisl Oil 27s. lid. i -1r i N Botting 2.45: 100 to is Va Via. 3.15—Telephun 1, Aihdara 2, Xerth Slsr 3.ix ran. 10 to 1 v, Inner. :U5-Rayhar.v.v J. W ailoii Heath 2, [Frustration 3.-2! ran. BODY FOUND AT OXWlrH. A body was picked up to-day at Oxw ich, presumably one of the victims of the -wreck. I t

f J I!!r- CASTLE CIItEMA I (Adjoining Leader Office.) Thur., Fri. and Sat., 2.30 to 10.30. MATRIMONY, A Five Part Triangle Drama, featuring Miss JULIA DEAN. A Good Example of the Intelligent Picture Play.

FURTHER FRENCH ADVANCE NEW CAINS ON SOMME LATEST SUCCESS IN BALKANS TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. Heavy rain continued to fall during the night. There is nothing special to report. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. To the north of the Somme, in spite of persistent bad weather, we followed up, during the night, our advance between Les Boeufs and Sailiy Saillisel. Our troops have consolidated the ground captured, and have carried several points of support, and smashed up machine-guns em- placements. In the course of these operations we took 186 prisoners, including eight officers, which brings up to 586 the number of prisoners taken by us in this sector since yesterday. On the right bank of the Meuse the night was relatively calm. There is nothing to report on the rest of the front. ARMY OF THE EAST. From the Struma to the Vardar there is nothing t-o report except i rathey lively cannonading, notably in the sector of Lake Doiran. i the region of the Cerna the Serb- ian troops have repulsed several Bulgarian counter-attacks, and made considerable progress, de- spite a lively resistance by the enemy, who sustained appreciable losses and left some prisoners in the hands of our Allies. On our left wing there was great activity by the artillery of Doth sides. AVIATION. Despite the misty weather and gales which have prevailed on the greater part of our front, our scouting machines have shown great activity during yesterday. On the Somme front Adjutant Bar- aston brought down his sevent h enemy m-achine near Moulains. One of our' three-seater aero- planes on the same day brought iown two German-aeroplanes, of svanJi one fell on the aerodrome at Metz, and the other at Mont- St.-Quentin in the region of Ver- dun. A German aeroplane was brought down in the region of Hoguemen- ville-en- W oevre by Adjt. Sagaret. This is the sixth machine brought! down by this pilot. Jne of our air squadrons attacked j with their machine-guns an enemy infantry column towards: Azannes, and some trains near Couplars and Margierres. lastly, in Alsace, one of our pilots ittapked German machines, and brought down one of them, which crashed to the earth near Alt- kirch. TO-DAY'S BRITISH SALONIKA OFFICIAL. Doiran Front.-The artillery has been active on both sides. Janes station was bombed yesterday by hostile aircraft, but no damage was done. Struma Front.—The new position at Barakli Barna has been con- solidated. I Our artillery, in co-operation with the Navy, bombarded the hostile position of Hori on October 31st.

FOR NEATH WAR HOSPITAL. At a meeting of the Neath Board of Suardians the Clerk (Mr. Edward Powell), announced that a further contri- bution of £ 2,000 had been received fro^i the War Office as a contribution to the Neath War Hospital.

CARDIFF SHI.PPING FUSION. The Kestell Steamship Co., Ltd., Car- diff, is being taken over by the Universal Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., of the same port. P. Samuel and the company man- agerkn of the latter have purchased the management interest of Kestell Bros., and are offering £100 per S50 share. The I Kestell Company began in January, 1915, having purchased two steamers for £ 80,500. The company paid 35 per cent.- the first year, and since then two interim dividend of 5 per cent. each.

MR. GINNEL GOES TO GAOL. Mr. Laurence Ginnell. M.P. for West Meath, was arrested on Wednesday at his house in QueenVroad, Richmond, having refused to pay the fine of X50 impend by the Bow-etreet stipendiary for an offence against the Defence of the Realm Regula- tions. Mr. Ginnell was conveyed to Ppnton- ville. where he will serve three weeks in the first division

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR YSTRADCYNLAIS MOTHER ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY HER 1 SON. On Wednesday night a shocking acci- dent occurred at Cwmgiedd, Ystradgyn- lais, resulting in the death of Mrs. Margaret Thomas, wife of Mr. Jenkin Thomas, a well-known grocer, and secre- tary of the Ystradgynlais Horse Show. About 8 o'clock, James Thomas, 16 years of age, the son of Mrs. Thomas, was playing with a gun at his home when it accidentally went off, and the charge caught his mother in t.he head, causing frightful injuries to the neck and face. The young man had no idea that the gun was loaded. Dr. Walsh was immediately sent for, hut nothing could be done for Mrs. Thomas, and she died in about 15 minutes. Deceased belonged to 8, most respectable family, and the tragic affair has much affected the Ystradgynlais village. The Coron-er has been notified, and an inquest will be held on Friday.

SUCCESS ON STRUMA. British Take Village and 300 Prisoners. Press Bureau, Wednesday, 5 p.m.—The War Office announces:— On the Struma front, in spite of heavy rain, we captured Barakli Djuma by a smartly executed attack after a pre- liminary bombardment. Three hundred prisoners were taken. Our own losses are light. Further south the enemy has been dri ven from the villages of Prosenik and Kumli, which are occupied by our troops, who also took 14 prisoners. [Our patrols had previously entered Prosenik—the main station between Seres and Demirhissar. The village is on the eastern side of the railway. Kumli, on I the west of the line, is nearly two miles north-west of Prosenik, and three miles south-west of Barakli Djuma.]

M.P.'s SON KILLED. News reache d the House of Commons on Wednesday that Mr. W. A damson, M.P. for West Fife, has lost ihis son at the front.

NEW BOWLING LEAGUE. I At a meeting held at Neath it was de- cided to form a new bowling league, to include Neath, Britonferry, Port Talbot, I and Aberavon. Hitherto Neath has been I affiliated with the Swansea League. I

[ A BRAVE WOMAN. I Mme. Camarashesco, daughter of M. Blonde!, the late French Minister at Bucharest, has been decorated by the Commander of the Russian army opera- ting 71? tl D Vndja w^th the Crotw of i the Order of St. George, for bravery under the enemy's artillery fire while attending to the wotinded.-Reuter.

TO-DAYS WAR RESUME Leader Office, 4.50 p.m. I Considerable progress north of the Somme is reported by the French, North-east of Les Bceufs two trenches and 125 pris- oners were taken. The British assisted in the enterprise. In connection with the Schwaben Ep- douht victory of 21st October, Sir Doug- las Haig, reviewing the position, pays tribute to the Canadians and the men of the New Army for a signal and most economical victory. Our prisoners on the Somme since let July total 31,132. The position in Rumania is held to be not unfavourable, even tlwagh the latest German claims should prove well- founded. Those engaged in the coal by-product in- dustry have to make a declaration re- gar ding their operation to th" Ministry of Munitions. British aviators in Mesopotamia have demo excellent work against enemy cav- alry detachments. Athens is indignant over a further U boat outrage. I