The Cambria Daily Leader

CASTLE CINEMA. r r THE PURPLE i LADY. A Thrilling Four-Part Metro" Comedy-Drama of Suspense, Mystery and Humour, fea- turing Irene Howley. Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

I BREAD v. BEER.  DULHM t. DLm. BREW TO BE REDUCED BY 30 PER CENT. i not a Temperance Reform. Important new steps were taken by the Government on Wednesday dealing with the problems of ships and food and men. Beer is to be cut off by halt compared J wit,h befor^-the-war output, because the materials used in brewing it are wanted tor food. If the nation drinks 1< beer it will have more bread and mo*«J oeef. Lees beer { wiil also free ships. > Coal economy is now having it s effect. [ The Government is able to take mure men from the mines, anS it is going to &ak^ them now. i Mr. Protheroe, President of the Board of Agriculture, met farmers in London on Wednesday, and while sympathising with them over their new loss 2f 30,000 fit men he said. We must try and make the best cf it." Later in the day a full statement by Lord Derby and Mr. Pmthero was issued. It shows hmv the 30.000 will be replaced. Ii THE BEER ORDER. The Food Controller, after a careful in- vestigation of the resources available for the- food cf the people, has come to the conclusion that it is imperative to restrict the materials to be used in the produc- tion of beer. He has accordingly proposed that as from April 1. 1917, next, the beer allowed to he brewed under the Output of Beer (Restriction) Act. 1916, shall be reduced to 70 per cent. of the output for the cur- rent financial year ending on March :31. 1917 The result of such a restriction will be to increase the amount. of barley, sugar, end other brewing ingredients available for the purposes of food, and also to economise tonnage, transport, labour and fuel. The War Cabinet have approved this proposal, and have decided that a corr<?- i>i>onding restriction shall be placed upon the release of wines and spirits froio bond; and a Bill for the above purposes will be introduced in the coming Sesision j of Parliament. In order to prevent forestalments the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, acting under the authority of the Treasury, have given directions which will restrict the daily deliveries of wines and spirits out of bond during the period ending on March 31 next to amounts not exceeding the daily average for the year J916. I NOT REFORM MEASURE. Plain Case of Bread Versus Beer. ? In an explanation of the new regula- tions, Lord Deronport said that they are not to be deemed in any sense a measure of temperance or social reform. The plain fact is that the barley, sugar, and other ingredients used in brewing are re- quired for food. It is a question of Bread versus Beer." The effect of the restriction will he to reduce the output of beer to half what it was before the war. For the financial j a ear ending March 31, 1911, the output was 36.0C3.000 standard barrels. The re- striction that will take place now will limit the output of beer to 18,200,000 standard barrels. THE SAVING. As a result, say; Lord Devonport, there will be a savmi? of: Barlsv 286,000 tons Sii,ar 36,000 tons Grits (i.e., a species of bran, the product of milling) 16,500 tons ns well as of ships, labour, land transport, and fuel. The saving will also have a direct bene- ficial effect on the production of meal and milk. It will set free for the farmer a greater percentage of offals for feeding live stock than are at present produced from brewers' grains, which are the resi- duum of the barley he uses in brewing. The brewer returns 25 per cent. of the barley in th-eshape of feeding offals. The barley now saved will be used for food and milled for this purpose it produces 60 per cent, of flour-direct human food-and 40 per cent. for feeding offals. No restriction of price accompanies the Ilew Order reducing the output. The brewer may dilute the beer sold or he may increase the price. THE INEVITABLE EFFECT. Beer Likely To Cost 1d. Per Pint More. Interviewed by a 'Press Association re- presentative on Thursday regarding the TE,striet.ion of brewing as .laid down by Lord Devonport, Mr. Dean, secretary of the Licensed Victuallers* Central Protec- tion Society, of London, stated that the inevitable effect would be the imposition of increased prices, and the restriction might have a tendency to shut up sonu' public-houses. The general trend of events in regard to the brewing industry tended to make it almost impossible for licensees to carry on their business with ordinary success. Mr. Dean estimated that it wa« probable that beer would increased in mice bv one penny a pint for cheaper qualities and h lit+le more for heavier classes. He uid not think brewers would be so badly hit by the Ieridion as the licensees, the brewei's were not restricted 0-s to hours during which they oculd serve, and with a emaller output it would be possible for them to reduce their staifs. A LOCAL WORKER'S VIEW. Working Man writ-eS:- So far ae the new Order is concerned, fliany of my friends similar to myself apre glad that the change is brought about. At first, amongst some of us, there was talk of revolution, but the previous new Order had not been in operation a (, weeks before we all were impressed that it was the beet- thing that could happen. There is now no taking a pint of beer at 11 o'clock at night, and waiting for the pul-a to open at 6 o'clock in the morning, and perhaps then losing a quarter to put oaeself right with a few hairs of the dog that bit me the night before. In regard to the further reduction of heer, I take it that there will be plenty left 6till for me, and so long as the workers rwn g^t something that is approxi- mately like beer they will be quite con- tent with any proposals which might be introduced for the benefit of the country -RY)4 the successful prosecution of the

NAVAL CONFERENCE I c WILL IMPHOVE OUR STRENGTH IHi OthEHuE AftU DEiiMiE. I Paris, Thursday.—M. Marcel Hutin, in to-day's Jboho tie I'ax-i,S" says:-A very important inter-Aliied Naval Conference 01 War has just been aekt in London. According to utile informaCion, this Naval Conference was a<n anodgeoas mMl) successful, botn in results come to, and in complete understanding realised be- j tw-een the dift'eient Fleets. There is every reason to hope that the accord arrived aX will strengthen our defensive and offensive; power at sea.

I TEACHfcRS' BONUS. I I Swansea Scholastics Leave Matters to N.U.T. ) At a teachers' meeting held at the 1 iglier Grade School, Swansea, on Wed- nesdav evening regarding the recent war bontt, grant to the teachers in the Swan-j sea area, it was decided, after consider- j able discussion, to refer the matter to j the Executive Council of the N.U .T., and that any further action on the part of the teachers will be in consort and through the Executive of the Union.

I COLD KILLS FLUE." ———————-  ——————— i I Icy Blasts That Sweep Away | Disease. Bright, boisterous cold weather is deadly to the influenza germ," said a j doctor on Wednesday. It sweeps away •| his 'happy hunting-ground,' the thick raw fogs that choke the air with impnri- ties of all kinds. The stagnant atmosphere' j in which London's millions practically poison one another in foggy weather has been cleared out. It is not cold weal her, but the 'cold carrier,' that is largely to blame for the epidemic of colds. One snch person travelling daily in a crowded train, cough- ing out myriads of germs, may give his bad j cold to twenty people in a weelv. A remedy is not easily found, but it would be cheaper in the end if everyone who develops a cold were isolated like a .small-pox .patient. Allowing only three days' loss of work for each person in a year, I calculate that colds cost the country CI5,000,000 annually."

A DEGREE DECLINED. On two occasions the late Rev. Thos. Levi, of Aberystwyth, who at one time I wa. a pastor at Morriston, was pressed to i r.<"?ept, an honorary degree from all .American seminary. Both offers were politely, but firmly, refused.. This faot has only just come to light from Mr., Levi's diary. ■ _■!

EXPENSIVE SMOKES. Fines ranging from S10 to £3 were ira, posed on munition workers by the North Midland magistrates on Wednesday for smoking or having matches in ft £ !r pockets while engaged on unition work. A strong warning was uttered that the same leniency would not be shown in ¡ future cases

JUDGE AND MASTIFF. "The dog is in the precincts of the court if Judge Parry would like to see it," said counsel in a Ca6e at Lamh?th County Court, concerning a mastiff alleged to have bitten a young man. His Honour: Why should I go out to gee the dog? I don't want to see it. Counsel: Then shall it be brought into court? Judge Parry: What are you going to do then? Let him loose to see whom he will bite? I think he is better outside.

I FORMERLY OF SWANSEA. I Rev W. Watkins Edwards, Rhondda I Rural Dean. I The IiOrd Bishop of Llandaff has ap- pointed the Rev. W. Watkins Edwards, B.D., Vicar of Pontypridd, as Rural Dean of Rhondda, in the room of Rev. Canon Lewis, who has resigned. The new rural dean has been at Pon- typridd for about three years. Prior to that he was vicar of Blaenavon, and pre- viously of St. Mark's, Swansea. In all his spheres he has been conspicuous for hard I work in church buildings and renovations.

I I- WAR OFFICE WASTE. I Comment on the waste of public m1. oney, disclosed in a claim at the War Losses Commission was made on Wednesday by the chairman, Sir James Woodhouse. A farmer near Bristol WU6 told by the War Office that a number of mul.a would be placed on his farm. He sold his stock, and then the War Office decided to abandon their plan. The farmer now j claimecl IZI,008, which he had to spend in j res(8f,king at a bad season. rr'a Commission awarded him 9M. j I

SIR ALFRED MONO ANOTHER TASK FOR FIRST II cumfdlsslogER. COMMANDEERING CRAZEj PRIME MINISTER APPOINTS A I CiiMitfifTEE. The Prime Minister has appointed a committee to consider, during the -.on- tinuance of the war, demands for accom- modation from any of the War Depart- ments and al" from any department not directly conc-orncd with the prosecution of the war which might conflict with the need-s of the War Departments, and to de- termine the allocation ol evch accommoda- tion. The members of the committee are a" follows •— Sir Alfred Mond (First Commissioner of WQrkt;), chairman. Dr. Macnamara (Admiralty). Mr. Forstwr (War Office). Mr. Kel-laway (Ministry of Munitions'). Sir Arthur Durrani (Secretary). THF NEED ACUTE. The need for an authority of this kind ("lays the Times ") has become acute in the last few weeks, with Department after Department indenting for hotels, ducal residences, and "garden suburbs." There! have been complaints that Departments have taken more space in the Whitehall area than they really need, and that, generally speaking, there has been little c-hock on the official a-pj»e+ite for swollen establishments. The whole business is at last systematized, and no Department will be able to secure an extension in future until it has satisfied Sir Alfred Mond's committee by facts and figures thn+ its need is urgent. The Office of Works is nea ring the end of its present "comman- deering" and building programme, and there is no fresh work in sight at the I moment. THE CRAZE FOR OFFICES. io In editorial references, the Tiln-(,wg, speaking of the gigantic and apparently unchecked growth of" Ministerial establishments, says th-at it. is to some extent a legacy from the late Government, and i-o ftonip i ^t*nt it is inherent in the conditions of thewar. The commandeering of olubs and hotels, the erection of tempora-ry buildings in the parks, the absorption of private houses—all this had gone to great lengths before the present Cabinet was formed. The Munitions Department, which must be counted uowadays as n old concern, is still probably the worst offender of all in sheer numerical exubemnce. But the process seems, if anything, to have gained momentum in the last few weeks. More and more spacious homes are daily bi»!n<: converted into offices. Every scrap of open ground on the Embankment is being covered with more and more capacious buildintrs. Where is it all to end ? Who is to fill these thousands of new clerical po«{s at a time when every available man and woman is needed either for fighting or for production? Is it really necessary that the primary operations of fighting an d pylpdi-.etic,-n should have this vast accumulation of records and correspon- dence behind them?

KAISER AND PEACE. How Wilhelm May Celebrate His Birthday. Paris, Thursday. M.Francis Laur writes: I learn from a meHlher of the group which is associated with the author of Jaccuse that the meeting between the Kaiser and the Kings and Princes of Germany's allies, and the Parliamentary Presidents, has for its object to consider an important proposal which the Kaiser al which the Kais4--r will make very shortly, probably on Satur- day next. his birthday. In it he will declare himself to be the promoter of peace, and will ask that a meeting be called to discuss as a war aim the prin- ciples of a future peace organisation.— Press Association War Special.

NO RACING ON FRIDAY. Newbury Meeting Further Post- poned. Already having been postponed from Wednesday and Thursday this week to to- morrow and Saturday, owing to the severe weather, the stewards of the Newbury Meeting have further postponed Friday's programme -Lintil Saturday, and have j abandoned the second day's programme.

THE "MORATORIUM. THE" MORATORIUM." Lord Knutsford at the mooting of Bar- clay's Bank on Wednesday, said:— "A few days ago I was trying to ex- plain the word moratorium to a friend, who turned to me and said, Why, isn't there a good one at Golder's Green P

MOTHERS AND MUNITIONS. In order to help the nation, mot hens with only one child on their hands are to be urged to give their services in muni- tions or on the land. In order to help them it is proposed to organise munition crechos in certain areas where the little ones will be looked after.

CINDERELLA DEPARTMENT. Both inside and out I have heard the Local Government Board called the Cin- derella. department—the department that did all the hard work and did not get very much credit for it," said Lord I Rhondda, answering a deputation on W1e1 dnesd?an6wering a deputation on « Our ugly sisters up the 6treet get all the kudos. I am not going to say that Cinderella has married the Prince yet, but I may say this: that she is dressed and ready for the ball."

ECONOMY IN ENVELOPES. To prevent vn stage of inter-depart- mental enveloeps a plan has been devised by the Post Office whereby uoSed envelopes can be re-used until they arc worn out. The ordinary address side is left blank. On the reverse side appears th* address, which is written on a small gummed label. The label is attached to the flap of the envelope. On one side of the en- velope is printed the following instruc- tion Open by tearing the label; re-usc by affixing fresh label." It may be adSed that Mr. Moses Thomas, Town Clerk of Aberavon, has for a con-I siderable time set an example in similar economy. _<

HOT BATTLE IN RIGA REGION RUSSIANS, AGAIN FALL BACK I TO-DAY'S RUSSIAN OFFICIAL. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) Persistent attacks by tile enemy be- tween Tirul Samp and'the Hiver Aa were first repulsed by our fire, j and afterwards, as a result of vi-0- lent attacks, by one of our gallant j regiments, t.he enemy was di- persed in the direction of Tirul Swamp, and thrown back. South- east of the River Aa our detach- ments assumed the offensive in the direction of Kale em. The, Germans replied, bombarding this detachment by heavy artil- lery fire, and hen Teok the off en- j sive, thrusting back our troops northwards for one-third of a mile. Obstinate battles continue.! Rumanian Front.-Tltere is no change. Black Sea.—One of our submarinsei sank four schooners in the Bos- phorus. Three otiier schooners grounded on sighting the submar- «• ine, beached themselves, and broke up in the prevailing storms. I SURPRISE ATTACK. I German Effort Against the French Fails. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. The Germans attempted, unsuc- cessfully, after a lively bombard- ment, a surprise attack uopn our trenches three kilometres to the south-east of Berry-au-Bac. The enemy left some dead on the ground. The night was calm everywhere else. Aviation-Lieut. Gwynemer brought down yesterday his 27th and Lieut. Keurteaux, on the same day, brought down his 17th, enemy aeroplane.

LIMBS FOR LIMBLESS. The Duke of Connaught announced on Wednesday that the St. John Ambulance Association and Order of St. John had offered to take sole charge of the repair and maintenance of wounded fighters' nr. tificial limbs. The War Office and Ad- miralty were favourably considering the proposal.

I KAISER'S 58th BIRTHDAY. Geneva, Wednesday.—A me-jsasre from Munich states that the Kaiser is expected i to pass his birthday with his fleet. A great patriotic demonstration will take place at AVilhelmsharen.—Exchange. The Emperor will be fifty-eifrht on I Saturday next.

I FAMOUS LAWYER ROBBED. | Sir Edward C larke, K.C., has been1 robbed of his gold watch and cliain and a sovereign purse, containing two sove- reigns. The watch and the purse both have the letters E.C. engraved on them, and in-side the watch case is an engrav- ing of a playing card.

DIED AT ABBEY DOOR. On entering Bath Abbey during an in- i terce&sion service on Wednesday Miss Charlotte Bull, aged 76, collapsed and died, apparently from the effect of the bitter east wind which was blowing out- side. For some days the thermometer at Bath has been below freezing point.

SHOWMEN'S WORST YEAR. Last year was the worst ever experienced I by showmen, said Mr. Patrick Collins, at. a meeting of the Showmen's Guild on Wednesday. They had given their sons and workmen to the fighting line, and had placed plant and twenty road engines at the disposal of the Ministry of Munitions. There were only old men and cripples left to carry on the show-ground work.

SEVERE ELECTRIC SHOCK. I Ammanford Man's Alarming Experience. Wm. John Davifs, Betcws, Ammanford, electrician, at the Tyrydail and Llandebie Collieries, had a severe electric shock on Wednesday afternoon, white supervising the electric plant at Llandebie Colliery. < lie was uneonscious for about two hours, and his condition is still serious. He is attended by Dr. D. R. Price.

I FOOT CRUSHED TO PULP. I A shocking accident occurred at about 111.30 on Thursday morning to John Cot- terell, labourer, employed by Mr. W. Herbert, the sawmills, Ammanford. While hoisting a heavy piece of timber, the grip i of the hook slipped, and the timber fell on Cotteroll's left foot, crushing it to a pulp. Dr. D. R. Price and Dr. Inman ar- rived, and; the injured man, who was unconscious, had to be removed to the Swansea Hospital, where his leg will have to be amputated.

CANADA'S GLORY. In a version of God Save the King," published in the Montreal Weekly Wit- ness," the third verse of the anthem is as follows:- God save our splendid men, Send them safe home again, God save our men. Keep them victorious, Patient and chivalrous, They are so dear to us, God eave our men.

PREACHERS AT 4d. PER DAY.' There is a great agitation among the Welsh Methodists for a reduction in the number of monthly meetings and sassiynau." Its supporters insist that the spending of money in travel in these days is not only wasteful, but unreason- able and unworthy of any ordered society. The 50 per cent. increase in railway far? has already hit the ministers very bad, and of one it is stated that all he had to hand- over to his wife on Monday morn- ing arter returning from his preaching, engagement was the princely sum of-ld. (

WAR TAXATION I CONSCRIPTION OF ACCUMULATED WEALTH I Inn. KAmSAY MAuOuNALDS PRUPOSAL MANCHESTER, Th umla.v. The (Migrations of the Labour Confer- ence were continued at Manchester to-day under the presidency of Mr. J. G. Wanile, M.P. As soon as.the chairman had taken his seat, a delegate said: Have you received a reply from the Prime Minister about the deportees? The Chairman: No I have not received a reply. •Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., who was received with some slight cheers, moved a resolution on the subject of taxation, which demanded the conscription of ac- cumulated wealth to lighten the financial burdens of the war; that taxation on un- earned incomes should not be lees tiian 15s. in the pound; that the whole system1 of land taxation should be revised, and that the banking system should be nationalised. Mr. Macdonald said that when the war was over the country would be left with a debt roughly of 4,000 mil- lions, with an annual fixed and irreducible charge of 200 millions. When it was re- membered that the Budget which made Mr. Lloyd George very unpopular amongst certain elements of the country, only amounted to 205 millions, the Conference would &ee that 200 millions for war debt alone meant it was due to the State that that debt should be at any rae subsan- tially reduced by a conscription of ac- cumulated wealth. Mr. Bonar Law stated in Glasgow that he believed in voluntary methods. (Laughter). Well he (Mr. Macdonald), was glad there was one little section, at any rate, of national responsi- bility which was still left to voluntary methods; but ho was bound to suggest that that section ought to have been the first subject of compulsory methods, j ( Cheers). You have not yet heard, con- tinued Mr. Macdonald, the story of how | tiie banks have manipulated the finance of this country. 200 millions was an added debt which was simply a book entry, and does not represent cash in hand, which will have to be paid for at the rate of 5 or 5.1per cent. The last two and a half years have shown us that the banks should be State mrmd, so that all money transactions 6ha11 be guaranteed in the interests of the whole and not of a small section. (Cheers). Mr. John Sill (boilermaker). seconded. Mr. Will Thorne, M.P.: What I should like to know is whether you are prepared to raise taxation on unearned increment from 15s. to 20s. in the t. The Chairman If you take 15«. in the S you don't leave them with much, but if you take 20s. you leave them paupers. (Laughter). I Mr. Will Tborne: Oh, no you don't. I The Chairman: Of course you do. Mr Thome: Tbere has been a lot of talk about conscription of welath, but I am coming to the conclusion that the con- ference is hardly in earnest in the matter. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was carried. I CO-OP. DIVIDENDS AND INCOME TAX. A motion was also agreed to emphati- cally protesting against the repeated attempts to bring Co-onerative dividends within the scope of the Income Tax. EXTENSION OF THE FRANCHISE. The subject of the extension of the fran- chise was riext discussed. A motion was brough forward declaring that war had made obsolete all our past systems of enfranchisement and registra- tion, and urging that adult suffrage should be adopted, and that Midiers and muni- tion workers should not -only have the right of voting, but that arrangements be made by which the right could be exer- cised There was considerable discussion on the subject, but the opinions expressed were all in favour of a franchise on the most extended basts, and the resolution was agreed to without dissent. i POSITION OF WOMEN AFTER WAR. The position of women after the war was debated, and a motion was adopted asking that work of maintenance should he provided for all women displaced from their employment to make room for men returning from service with the Forces or other national work, and that wages paid to women should be the same as that paid to men." The congress affirmed its opposi- tion to any system of compulsory arbitra- tion in trade disputes. This concluded the resolutions on the labour problems after the war, and a motion was adopted that Mr. Lloyd George should bo asked to re-eive a deputation of the Executive Com- mittee and the movers and seconders of the resolutions. I INADEQUATE PENSIONS. ) Mr. Cramp, of Sheffield, moved a resolu- tion declaring that the present scale of pensions to sailors and soldiers and their Add Beer dependents were totally inadeq' uate, and instructing the Labour Party in Parlia- ment immediately to preas the Govern- ment for a new scale which would main- ? tain a proper standard of existence. Mr. Tyson Wilson. M.P., seconded. A number of delegates adversely criti-I cised the action on pensions, which had j been taken, but to this Mr. Clynes, M.P., replied that every effort was being made by every political party to do all that was possible for the men returning from the war. view that not enough was being done, and denounced the old fogeys, the Chelsea Mr. J. E. Sutton, M.P., expressed the Commissioners The resolution was agreed to. It was. then announced that 30 members had been proposed for the committee to inquire into Mr. Henderson's attitude, and the question of selecting five out of that number was deferred till Friday. The Conference was roused to a high pitch of excitement when Mr. Bruce Glasier rose to move a resolution referring to approval of the principle of inter- national solidarity of labour, and urging the calling together of an international Socialist congress simultaneously with a I peace congress. Mr. Gla.sier denied that German internationalists bad deceived their fell ow internationalists, and said they had openly stated that if Germany was invaded by Russia the German Social- I ists could not resist mobilisation. CRIES OF DISSENT. I There were many cries -of dissent while Mr. Glasier was speaking, and when Mr. Robert Williams (Transport Workers), in seconding the motion, cried: Long Live the International! he was received with a loud outburst of mingled chwi. and hisses-

   Truf! -uaYo ?S? titLOU?iL "L d u:O- iT. PI Lea d er IIce, 4--id The Greek Government has handed a I Note to the Allied Ministers at Athens in which regret is expdessed for the events of December 1st and 2nd. There have been conti iet ing reports as to what happened in Monday night's naval action, in British naval circles, how- ever, no doubt is entertained that the German flotilla received severe treat- ment. A German survivor says his countrymen must have got it bad." No answering chord has been struck in Europe by President Wilson's No Victory" speech. Mr. Bonar Law summed up the situation splendidly at Bristol on Wednesday night when he said, referring to Mr. Wilson: "What j he is longing for we are lighting for." Heavy fighting is in progress in the luga j region. The Russians gained ground near the Tirul Swamp., but fell hac], I about a third of a mile south-east of I the Hiver Aa. A Russian submarine has again been at work in the Bosphorus, destroying seven schooners. In the region of Berry-au-Bac, the French defeated a German surprise attack, the enemy leaving some dead.

THE LUSITANIA. I Replicas of German Medal at I Swansea. Messrs. Ben Evans and Co., of Swansea, are offering for sale, at one shilling each, replicas of the medal which the Germans made to commemorate the sinking of the Lusitania ,which sent to teh boctotu 1,200 innocent souls. On one side of the medai, under the legend, -No Contraband" (Keino Bann- ware) there is a picture of the liner sink- ing. Tho destgner has put in guns and teroplanes, which (as was certified by the C.S.A. Government officials after inspec- tion) Lusitania did NOT carry; but has I omitted the women and children which the world knows she did carry. On the reverse, under the legend "Business above all (Geschaft uber alios) the figure of Death sits at th ebookmg-offjee of the Cunard line and gives out tickets to pas- sengers, who refuse to attend to, the warn- ing against submarines given by a Ger- man. This picture seeks apparently to 'I propound the theory that if a murderer warns his victim of his intention, the g-ilit I of the crime will rest with the victim, not with the murderer!

PREMIER'S PORTRAIT. I -«»- — Mr. C. Williams and Thrilling II Incident in France. Mr. Lloyd George is now giving sittings to the Welsh artist, Mr. Christopher Williams. Mr. Williams has had the Premier for I a "subject" before. At the time of the investiture of the Prince of Wales he painted Mr. Lloyd George in his robes as Chancellor of the Exchequer—a capitat portrait, which was presented to the National Liberal Club by Wei*h members and friends. Christopher Williams's finest painting ia in Buckingham Palace. It represents the Carnarvonshire investiture, and although it is a comparatively small canvas, measuring 8ft. by 4ft., it contains about 2,000 figures, among them many life-like portraits of members of the Royal Family. The Prince of Wales gave many special sittings to the artist for this historical picture. Mr. Williams has lately been executing a painting commission at the front, where he nearly got shot in mistake for a spy. No doubt his new picture of a thrilling I charge of the Welsh Division will also be a Royal Academy attraction.

I "MY ONCE DEAR WI FE." I A testator whose will is just proved states therein: I bequeath to my once dear wife nothing. She left me for nothing, and wants for nothing, and I I have nothing more to say respecting her."

I BETTER THAN PRECEPT. j I Premier's Tennis Lawn Now I Vegetable Garden. I The lawn tennis courts in the grounds of Brynawelon, the Premier's beautifully situated residence at Criccieth, North :situated at Crieciet?b nversion Wales, are being dug up for conversion into a ve garden.

I U-BOAT OFF URUGUAY. I Buenos Aires, Tuesday.—The local Press reports this morning that the Spanish steamer Reina Victoria Eugenia was stopped last night in Uruguayan waters by a German submarine but al- lowed to proceed after her paoers had been examined, but the report should be accepted with reserve.

PANAMAN CANAL AND ARMEDI MERCHANTMEN. Washington, Wednesday.—According /1 to the ruling of the War Department, I merchantment armed solely for defen-I eive purposes, which use the Panama I Canal, will be accorded the same treat- ment as other merchantmen.—Reuter. I

TWO 'WIVES' AT BEDSIDE. A petition for divorce by Mrs. Violet Frances Louie Drewe-Mercer, wife of Cap- tain Hubert Alfred Drewe-Mercer, was granted in the Divorce Division on Wed- nesday. The officer was wounded in France, and it was stated that when his 'wife with her father visited'him in Guv's Hospital they were tiid that his wife was ailready with him. Ning to his room the petitioner saw a woman sitting by her husband's bedside. There was a scene and Mrs. Drowe-Mercer and her father left the building.

GAOL FOR MISSION MATRON. I After a five days' hearing the trial was I concluded at the Old Bailey on Wednes- day of Louisp Alice White, matron of the Christian Mission Maternity Home, Whiplis Cross, Leyton, on four indict- ments relating to children under her care. She was charged with the manslaughter of a three month's old infant; but the jury found her not guilty. On the counts of the indictment charging her with neg- lecting three other infants ■she was found guilty, ,,nd on each count (sentenced to frix months' imprisonment, the sentences to run concurrently.

BEHIND THE LINES. Paris. liie Jouxnai aays the Minister of War has created a oontrai organisation to deal with com- mi&6ari&t awranjoments at the front • and behind tho li»86. and tnth Aviation Supply somoo. THfc PO J L,) N G OF LABOUR. At West Walts Munitions Court thio t ttw ehaixraan (Mr J Vaughan. inwards) put forward so^gfettion that the tinpta4 m^tifa-tare-fc should oou- sider eeh«roa for' the pooling of labour. i yv 'y • • j I ■ t ,I" t

o.o=-===-:= GERMANS AND OUR PREMIER A non-commissioned oiffcer of a Welsh regiment, home on leave, says: "The other day, when we raided some trenches on the Western front, we found pictures of Mr. 1 j Lloyd George in almost evorv dug-out." —

 JIMMY WILDE'S DECISION. Jimmy Wilde, the champion boxer, has withdrawn his appeal for exe mption to the Rhondda local tribunal, aiu. on Tues- day joined the colours at Cardiff. He was posted to the Army Gymnastic Staff I at Alder'-hot, and will take up his new duties on Friday. I

I A ROSE GARDEN PIGSTY. j Dr. John Harrison, coroner for East Essex, president of the Braintree Pig Club. is to be asked by the local council to lend plans of the model pigsty he has It up in his rose parden. He has received I an offer of 20 young pigs for free distri- bution to cottagers who will undertake to i fatten them.

1 E20,000 FOR MEMORIAL. Mr. R. J. Thomas, shipowner, of Holy- head, has given 1'20,000 for a memorial to i men of North Wales fallen in the war. He suggest^ that the memorial should take the form of new science buildings,! with special provision for agriculture, in j connection with the University College, Bangor. A big campaign has been organ- ised to carry out the scheme.