The Cambria Daily Leader

I DOCS BITEPillSONERS HORRORS OF CAPTIVITY IN iiiitMH HANOS j The use of police dgg-s in prisoners' camps in Germany is dealt; with in a i'ar- liauientary Paper issued to-day. JSvi- } dance is given by a eore of British. ttnd men who were in eight German camps, aril testifying to the iatt that these dogs, described by some as halt-bred wohe, were set upon the prisoners. j A half-witted jbeigiun was taken into the- lieidB at lialle, dressed in sacks, and baited by the dogs to trttin them. At llameln the German sentries laughed as these wolf-dogs were let L).f We leash and set on the prisoners. Eight British soldiers were bitWn. At Senuelager, a German lieutenant set a liouud on a man named Howard, who had committed no offence, and he was badly bitten on the ice. j SAVED BY MUFFLER. At Stendal this was the experience of Private liichard Marsh, King's Uwn 1' Royal Lancaster Regiment, on December iiS, 1915: Three shots were fired as a signal for all the prisoners to get into their huts. but we had never been warned about it and did not know what it meant. The eergeaut-major came through the oom. pouu-a in v. nich t anu set the which he had with him-big half-bred wolf-hounds—on those who had not gone in. I had the misfortune to be bitten in tive places, and finally the dog flew at my throat, ttud had it not been for a thick muffler I was wearing I feel sure I should have been killed. As it was, I carried the dog some 20 yards holding on to my chest with hie teeth. When I complained to the sergeant-major he threatened me with his sword. As a result of the dog's attack I was unable either to eit down or lie down properly for a couple of weeks." I SCARS FROM THE BITES. Mareh bears the scare caused by the bite*. J This evidence was sent to Mr. Gerard, then American Ambassador at Berlin, und the German Foreign Office replied: The dog broke loose in consequence of the behaviour of the prisoners. He gripped the prisoner Mursh for a moment, but was at once fetched back by the German sentries. The scars said to have been found by a British doctor on j Marsh can, if they were cau&ed at all by the bite of a dog, bo only of a slight nature. j A WELSHMAN'S CASE. Another case reported is that of Corporal Edwin A. flail, South Wales Borderers. Wittenhorg, January 15, 1915- November 29, 1915:- "Tlii.s man eocnplaifis that from the beginning of his imprisonment the Ger- man guards took savage dogs into the hucs at night and frequently net. them to attack British prisoners. He also states that men were often beaten by bath attendants, etc., appssren-tly for no reason except sheer brutality. The British Foreign Office pointed out that there was no such practice at in- ternment camps in this country and asked that the use of the German police dogs should -be stopped. Through the American Ambassador the German Foreign Office replied on December 18 that the use of the dogs is a military necessity," and added: It is not the caee that these animals ane particularly savage," and It is impossible to regard this measure as a breach of the principles I of humane and reasonable treatment of prisoners."

LANDORE. Oil Sunday, at New Siloh Chapel, Lan- dore, the Sunday School held their yearly anniversary, when many papers were read and aolos anl recitations were exceitently, rendered. Mr. Ivor U.en gave an organ recital. The Rev. Samuel Williams pre- sided.

PORT TALBOT. Traffic at Port Talbot Docks last week was thus: Exports-coal and coke 38,033, patent fuel 2,642, angles 1,001, ballast 503, a total of 42,179. Imports were 3,107, being iron ore 2,000, stones 307. and pitwood; 800. The total tonnage was 45.286, com- I pared with 65,990 last year.

BIRCMGROVE. Anniversary meetings were held at Ainon Baptist Chapel, Heol Los, on Sun- day and Monday evening. The Rev. Wm. Morris, D.D., F.R.G.S., Treorci, officiated. Mr. Dd. Rees, L.T.S.C., conducted the j ringing, and Mr. Richard Reea was the organist. The pastor. Rev. J. E. Griffiths, j presided.

NEATH. The Neath Orpheus Male Voice Party I were successful at Blaengwynfi Eisteddfod on Saturday, carrying off the first prize of .£8 and a beautiful oak chair value 3gns. Five choirs competed, the test piece being The Hallelujah Chorus." Tre- berbert Choir oame second. Miss Winnie Richards was the accompanist.

KIDWELLY. I The annual gymanfa ganu of the Inde- pendent Church choirs of the Kidwelly district was held at Sard is Chapel, Trim- A4rzLn oil Sunday. Choirs from Capel Sul, j Kidwelly, Soar, Mynyddygarreg, Llan- j saint, Car way, Pontyeates, and Trinisaran took part, the conductor being Mr. D. S. L'avia, of Tonypandy.

MORRISTON. 1 A welcome home concert was held at the Midland Hotel, Morriston, to present Pte. L. Ackroyd, who is home after having been wounded. Mr. D. Anetey presided. The following contributed songs, &tc. Messrs. E. Griffiths, G. kfewr, A. Davies, Taylor, Thos. Jones, Chris. Jones, Edward I Taylor, Ted. Lewis, D. Ockfield, Ths. Jones and Edward Rogers.

ABERAVON. At the annual meeting of the L.R.C. the following officers were elected for 1917;- Mr. Tom Llewellyn, chairman; Mr. J. ?oripan. vic?'chairman; Mr. D. Rees^ sec retary. The report and statement of &c counts 8howd a very 6aful ypai?s working. A special Food Vigilance Com- mittee has been formed. Pleasure was expressed at the favourable turn of events in reference to the supply of flour to the local Co-operative Society.

LLANELLV. The Lalaelly V.T.C., under Coinman- dant H. W. Spowart, accompanied by the, St John Ambulance Brigade, under the direction of Mr. E. D. JoBM, went for It;-nail-e route march on Sunday afternoon, headed by the Town Band. Just at the start an accident occurred, a motor cyclist running into a child near Furnace Bridge. First aid was rendered by the ambulance [ men, and the child, who was badly bruised. was removed to Dr. Evans' surgery.

C-ORSUINON. A repeat performance of the book en- tltied The Five Steps was given at the Tabernacle English C.M. Chapel on Sun- day by the choir, accompanied by Miss Ailan. The conductor was Mr. J. L. Evens. j The Goraeincm Excelsior Glee Party, after a few months' nest, have resumed work nnder their new conductor, Mr. E. Maddock, who has acted in the game capacity both at Bryaamman and Llan «amle4. j

BURRYPORt. It On Sunday evening the English Congre- I gational Church Burryport, by an un- anipious vote dexsided to give a cell to Mr. Cjnog Hughes, a former etudent- at Car- martiien College, to the pastorate of the church, vacant through the departure of ■ tho Rev. R. O. Hughes to Ynyemeudwy. On Sunday evening a resolution w" i unanimously passed at the Welsh Congre- gational Cymania held at Jerusalem Chapel, Bu;rryport, representing npwards of 1,000 members, calling upon the Gov- ernment to stop supplying breweries with fod stuffs and sugar, as these were wanted to provide tiie people with food.

PONTARDULAIS. Mr. E. Arthur Williams, Plasgwyn, pre- sided over a benefit concert at Hope Con- gregational Chapel on Saturday evening. j The artistes were Madame S. J. Thomas (Llanelly), Miss Catherine Campbell CSwaneea), Mr. David Harry, (Llwyn- hendy), Mr. Rhys J. Thomas (Pontar- dulais), Mr. Dan Matthews (Pontar- dulaie); organist and accompanist, Mr. O-redig Williams. Mr. David Howells was chairman of the committee, and Mr. Win. John, (41,Refryn-road, hon. secretary, The whole of the proceeds will be handed over to Mr. Brinley Lewm, Glanyrafon- To? d. who wu forced to emigrate to South Africa two years ago for the benefit of his health. Mise Eva Davies, the talented daughter of Mr. and John Davi. LlanUuan House, wn th. open champion reeita- tion at Bryn (Port Talbot) eisteddfod. The first church parade of the local R A.O.B. took place at St. Michael's and Ail1 Angels' Church on Sunday, when a nioet impressive sermon was preached by the chaplain (th Rev. W. C. Morgan, Vicar of Pontardulais). There was a muster of 106 brethren, and the procession j was headed by the Town Silver Band.

LLANDOVERY. j Tine funeral of the late Mrs. Elizabeth A. Thomas, 72. High-Street, Llandovery, wife of Mr R. M. Thomas, our LIandovery and Llandilo representative, took place on Monday at Uandingat Church. The Rev. J. Jenkins, pastor of the Tabernacle C.M. Chapel officiated at the house, and the Reve. D. Edmondes Owen (vicar) a-id D. Evans (etirate) at the church and I grave.side. The chief mouraerg were: Mr. R. M. Thomas (husband), Me Frederic Thomas. Master Ernlyn Thomas. and Privates W. Rhys Thomas and Ewari j Thomas (sons), the Misses Jane, Annie May and E. Ermine Thomas (daughters); Mr. David Price, Srach. Pentretygwjrn (uncle); Mr. J. Price, Coedevan (uncle); Mr. and Mrs. D. Jones, Pengjoilaii (uncle and aunt); Mr. James Williams (uncle). Star %nd Garter In-a. Llandovery; Mrs. Evans, Blaenvaun, Pentretygwyn (cousin); MifSe Annie Rogers, Vron, Llan- ( dovery (nieee); Mrs. Dan Evans, Orchard, street (cousin); Mrs. Bryant, gtar nÐ and Mrs. Worbu??n, Neath (cousins); Mr. "d Mn. &es Thomas, Orchard- street (brother and ei^ter-in-law) Masters Richard and Danny Thomas (nephews); Miss Mary Thom" (niece); Mrs. Rowlands, Britonferry (sister-in- law) Mrs. Richards, Britonferry; Mrl. I Jonee. and Mrs. Anne Thomas.

] LINE WIPED OUTi j I HAVOC OF THE BRITISH I ARTILLERY I 90 DIVISIONS SHATTERED I WAR CORRESPONDENTS' HEAJ* QUARTERS, FRANCE, MondMf. It i6 not surprising that the Geruuig authorities are now seeking to prov,e that there is no Hindenburg line, although they trumpeted the invincibility of thia defensive system loudly enough when the Hun army began to retire towards it. according to plan," in February last. The truth is that we are biting into their new western wall in a manner which may well cause them grave uneasiness. The fuller reports of yesterday's attack along the banks of the River Seneee render it clear that this was a very suty ceasful little operation, which gave us possession of about a mile and a half of the Hindenburg line between Bullecourt and Fontaine le& Croiselles. and has thua far resulted in the capture of about 170, prisoners, including three ofifcers. TAKING TOLL OF THE FOE. The Germans fought desperately in plaoes, as is well evidenced by the fact that in the sector we have occupied more than 300 dead were counted. A few smltll isolated parties were holding out late last night in chosen positions along the north bank of the river, but, judging by the artillery drenching they received during the small hours of this morning, the must have had a very bad time of it. X; do not think I have ever heard during my) two years of campaigning such a cata- el-Y-sm of noise as broke loose some while "before dawn this morning, which was doubtless largely owing to atmospheric conditions accentuating the uproar. I understand that the Boches were endea- vouring to retrieve their keees, but with no other result than to add to the human side of them. Our ce&selees, remorseless artillery te. indeed, taking toll of the enemy at a pace which has never yet been approached dur. lug the war. He has skinned his eastern front of troops to stiffen his western de- fence. counting upon the military impo- tence of Russia for a long white to come— calculation which may yet prove as erroneous as many of his paost conclusions. 90 SHATTERED DIVISIONS. Uui of some 150 divisions between the Vosges and the sea the Germane have thrown in and pulled out again as war. shattered more than 90 divisions Gince the; beginning of the April offensive. The latest reports which have come back Agi»rding the fighting up the Sensee River are distinctly good. Our attack extended from a little rise in the ground knowa a* The Hump." between Bullecourt and Fontaine, northwards over a front of aome ".000 yards. The entire front fpr this dis- tance is now believed to be held and the Hindenburg support trench to be occupied for a considerable width by our troops. The enemy division north of the river ft ught well, but that to the south, the 49th Reserve Division, composed mainly of Breslau troops, showed clear signs of demoralisation from the long and hotvy, bomhardi»ent to which it had been sub- jected. As an example, one "unteroffirier." whe had b?n thro?h the whole atm< paign and was regarded as ? seasoo?d War- rior, went down into the deepest dug-out he could finit when our attack began, and stated, gruffly, that he had finished, hav- ing had more than enough, and that ly r would not come Hp until the English fetched him out. I LINE POUNDED OUT, For a long stretch the Hindenburg lino la j been pounded out of existence, a" is there anything in the aerial photograph* to show that it ever did exist at this place, although earlier pictures diselow a most formidable tracery of traverses and communications. Small wonder to learn that the men who had been through such An ordojil as this bombardment have very little fight left in them. We now command good observation over the ground towards Fontaine-les-Croisillep, and hare been aMe to break up several ceunier-attacks before they could get near our front line.—Press Association Way Sf< cial.

SWANSEA'S EXAMPLE. Marram Tribunal and the Married Men. Margam Tribunal are following the ex- ample of neighbouring tribunals by ad- iciii-iiing the eases of married men over 31, pending instructions from the War Office as o combing out single men. At Monday night's meeting the chairman (Mr. Ed. Lowther) announced that the cases of married men over 31, and medi- cally examined, were adjourned ona month; those not medically examined were requested to go before the Board, TOO MANY AGENTS. When the cas? of the couiery atal previously exempted, was <mU?d, he wr<>t« eaying he Md another exemption from I the Docks Tribunal. h. W. B. Hailowee said there were too tV.any of these agents in the town, and the work could be pooled. They knew that there was great shortage of trucka and shipping He suggested that the military representative should prepare a list of men thus exempted. Mr. 1. S. Ellis fiftid several young men of military age were working two days a week instead of full time. 8evera1 men from the docks, r?ilw&ys and other worka(| wuld be spared.—The caM was adjourn? THEN-AND NOW. l One man, now classed çs, told an I amusing tale: When mobilisation waa i on," he said, "I went to the Drill Hall, but the Colonel said You're no good for as.' Later I went to Cardiff, and the doctor there asked What sort of men! ar^ they sending from Port Talbot ?' &weve.r. I enlist? in ?M Glousa?lt., 'a and got discharged. Now I've been classed C3." When told he would be given three months he suggested that he should be examined again; he might get into a higher class. The Chairman: I adinire your pluck. Mr. HaliOwes: We don't have many of his sort. I propose eix months' exemp- tion.—Agreed. When a number of cases from a copper works came on, Mr. J. H. Grant (general manager) complained that he had to Mme there week after week. He wanted to know why his works were singled out.. Mr. einith (military representative) said these men had not been before the Medical Board, and until they went the CdW:i$ would have to come on. Mr. Grant said that the instructions- from the Ministry of Munitions were that skilled and semi-skilled were to be ex- minod only when called UD by the mili- tary.—'file case# were adjourned for farther inquiry.

WELSH MEMORIAL. Pembroke Dock Lodge of the As&oeiate<5 Blacksmiths and Ironworkers' Society have passed a resolution expressing strong disapproval of the policy of the Pembroke*; phire County Council in refusing to be- come affiliated to the Welsh National Memorial Sanatorium Scheme, and re- cording the opinion tbat in thus depriv- ing the afflicted of means of alleviation the council is deserving od Lhe seve;e»t ■ t J

THE "VICTORY" LINE.1 The German paper*; tell their rea.ders that t-he British bite upon granite when they attack the Hin- denburg line. There must be some- thing wrong about the German geo- logicQJ survey, for Haig reported last night that we now hoid about eight miles of the victory" line, and that we have secured our new positions below Bullecourt with little interference from the enemy." But this, says the German com- ¡ munique, is "in accordance with plan." The phrase must have an I ominous sound now to the enemy people. The reference to the com- pletely demolished trench" is a tribute to the power of our artillery, which has pounded a long stretch of the Hindenburg line out of exist- ence. To-day's telegraras include a gloomy dispatch from Odessa which gives a very depressing picture of the state of things prevailing in the Russian Navy and Army. The Navy is said to be in a state of con- fusion, and the Army is described as "passive." We trust that the new spirit at Petrograd will speedily infect the sailors and soldiers. M. Kerensky, at a Congress of Peasants last Friday, evidently I spoke with the conditions revealed to-day in his mind. As Minister of 'I: War and Marine, he clearly recog- nises that he has a difficult job to ¡ tackle in his new post. He has I undertaken the heavy task of re- storing discipline to the Army-4 clear admission as to the effect of the Revolution. I have never known what this discipline is," adds M. Keronsky, but nevertheless I propose to introduce an iron discir pline into the Army, and I am sure I shall succeed." Yesterday we wrote of the strong complaints heard in military quar- ters both at home and abroad, re- garding the inadequate way in II which the work of home regiments is referred to as compared with that of the Dominion troops. Since what we had to say about these com- plaints has been printed, we find that the letter itself, emanating from an in,fluential 'person at the front, has been published, so no pur- pose is now served in referring to it in indefinite terras. The letter runs as follows: I A great deal 01 dissatisfaction 1>^5 j been caused amongst the men out here by the newspaper reports; the papers are alwaye saying the Canadians did this and the Australians did that. as if I English, Scotch. Welsh, and Irish troops did not exist, or, worse still, as if they had done nothing. No one grudges the Colonial troops their full share of praiee, but they do grudge the British troops being abso- lutely ignored, more especially as every- one out here knows that they have had to bear the brunt of the battle. It disheartens men if they never get any praise, and puts extra life into them, not that they want it, for our fellows arc splendid, if they are praised. And we might be allowed to add that no more disheartening letter has ever come the-way of the news- papers. When we think of the at- tempts made from this office t-o secure permission to relate the heroic deeds of local units—and we believe by every daily newspaper in Wales—and the regulation reply, we are amazed at the charge that the Press is ignoring the troops of the United Kingdom. Is there any special military rea- son now, when ten months have passed since the glorious feat, why the work of a certain battalion very dear to us, in a certain wood east of Albert, should not be told without mutilation of name ? Was there any fecial reason at the time ? Is there any reason why the heroism of the -— Welsh Fusiliers at High Wood—such heroism as the war has often seen equalled, but never surpassed—should have been passed over at the time? Is there any rea- son why to-day, so long after the event, the unit should still be a -? Is there any reason why the work of the Welsh at Gaza should be dismissed with a line in official dispatches? We could multiply the queries. Wales bas been hardly dealt with in the war. The Welsh Division h3Æi a wonder- ful record. Why is it not. made available so that Wades, in her grievous losses, should be fortified by the knowledge that her sons are worthy the race out of which they are sprung? Mr. James Douglaii speaks for all the newspapers of the Kingdom when he says that they are without exception only too eager to publish the names oi English, Scot- tish, Welsh, and Irish regiments and to describe their feats of gal- lantry- But they are bound hand and foot by an iron censorship. The war correspondents at General Headquarters are not free to praise our regiments. "It is verboten t G mention any of our splendid regi- ments. If there is on the men out here —and the writer knows full well that it was strong enough last summer whea the journals which came to the Somme front were read by the fighting men-it is not the news- papers which must be blamed. The Australians and the Canadians have their own official chroniclers, and it is about time that, among others, the Welsh had their own historian. The reference above to the work of the Welsh at Gaza—where they were specially commended—prompts us to reproduce the Appeal of the I Pall Mall Gazette" for further information regarding the campaign in Palestine. The impression has, since become disseminated, says our contemporary, that the objec-; tive wa.s hot attained, that the Staff; work proved defective, and that the casualties were high. It is time that we had a revision of the old conventions of military communi- ques. The public have shown that they can bear bad news as well as good, and they resent the kind of discretion" which wraps up un- pleasant facts in silence and ambiguity. The country has earned the right to know everything which it does not serve a distinct military purpose to conceal, and suoh know- ledge is moreover, a very necessary stimulus to the elimination of In- competence and the securing of the right men for positions of high com- mand. The tetter we published from Mr. George Clarke yesterday with re- ference to the celebration of the 1 Vicar of Swansea's fifteen vears of I' service here, and the thanksgiving service, leads us to say that no community in the town appreciates I his spiritual work more thoroughly than the Free Churches. They have had their tttssles with the Vicar, and in these columns there have been not a few sharp pas- sages with him. But the old con- troversy is passing away, and we prefer to remember rather those occasions of friendly co-operation in good works which are growing features of church onol chapel life in Swansea. Nonconformists will re- call how bravely the Vicar bore the storm of criticism following the joint j Communion service at the Corona- tion period; they will recall also the willingness of the Vicar to unite with Free Churchmen in promot- ing many things for the town's deepest benefit. Very heartily they will join in congratulations to Preb. the Hon. W. Talbot Rice on tlH completion of fifteen* years' of ser- vice in Swansea. The spirit of competition animat- ing the allotment holders at Neath awaits development. A splendid opportunity willprest itself when the spade wielders assemble this week to consider a communication from the Food Production Depart- ment relative to sprajing machines. Several suggestions have been ad- vanced as to the form of competi- tion, but the most popular is a muni- cipal vegetable show, confined to 1917 allotment holders. Chief Con- stable Higgins, who is responsible for tjhe suggestion, has been work- ing out a scheme for development, and the probability is that he will be able to place something tangible before the meeting. Competition will help to maintain enthusiasm, which, after all, is th( root of suc- cessful cultivation. It is easy t;) groww-tired I

j. SWEDEN ROUSED. j Pres; CaU;foy Drastic I Press Calls for Drastic i I i Mea,sures. Copenhagen, Monday.—The Bei-iijig- Tid-ertde from Stockholm that enormous indignation has been created throughout Sweden <.16 the Tudt of the torpedoing of the Swedish steamers Westerland, Aspen, and Viken. The Stockholm Dagblad declares that tlie Germans have sunk, not only three ships bringing the, necessaries of Hfe to the Swedish people, but also all Swedish sympathies The Dagens Nyheter" (Stockholm) says Sweden will now better undrot.tand Norway's feeling towards Germany. Ger- n all scientists need no longer wrack their brains to discover why Germany has so few friends in the world. Tho" Svenska Dagblad" writffi :-Ge.r- many's enemies cannot wish for any better propaganda material against the Germans. The" Stockholm Tidmingen does not think it possible that this affair can 00 over with a simple protest. Writing in h's organ, the "Social demokratan," M. Brantiiig, Swedish Soc- ialist leader, says that the stamp of bar- burianis rests now on those who advocate solidarity with a people adopting euoh methods, and he exhorts the German people to rise up against the last existing pillar of militarism and autocracy in the world." The Aftenblad" demands that all Germans in Sweden be expelled, a& it is of opinion that a formal protest is both j useless and insufficient in the circum-

ADLER'S CRtME. I Trial Causes Sensatgon in I Austria. ) Milan, Sunday.—The trial of Frederick ¡ Adler was followed with immense ill- tf re*t in V' ienun, as it constituted a scath- ing indictment of Goverument politics, and also because Dr. Victor Adler, the prisoner's father, is actually the conti- dential emissary of the Austrian Govern- ment. Adler boldly declared My crime was committed for political motives, and no other. It is a shame that- my country was reduced to the state it was by the suspejision of all political and con8titu- tional guarantees. Where are our liber- ti ? We are under the heehs of an odiot16 tyranny. My Socialist comrades themselves are so crushed that they have no voice, and had 1 merely made speech to them they would not have had the courage to lieten. I decided to sacrifice my life to make them see, and all Austria see, the depth to which we had fallen. Scores of Czechs have been tried, hung, or shot. Deputies to the Reichsrath were not even spared, and you have sentenced to death Deputies Kramarz and Markoff and numerous others without right of constitutional justice. I knowingly and deliberately give my life for what I con- 6Ü1r the cause of justice." The trial ha.s caused a tremendous sensation in Austria, where Adler is ¡ looked upon as a victim and a hero.— Press Association War Special.

(PEMBROKE CLERK'S SALARY. Soilie time ago the Pembroke borough magistrates decided to increase the salary 1 of their alerk (Mr. H. A. Jones Lloyd) from £ 200 to = £ 250 par annum. This de- cision aroused considerable resentment in ¡ thp town, and the town council decided to appeal to the Home Secretary on the mat- ter. whilst a largely-attended protest meeting was also held in the Market-hall. The town council have now received a let- ter from the Home Secretary stating that he will not sanction the increase of salary.

CWMLLYKFELL. Special May Service* were held at St. i Margaret's Church, Cwmllynfell, on Sun- day, the Rev. D. Spencer Jones, B.A., Ammanford, officiating throughout.

MUMBLES. Among the crew who manned the I Mumbles lifeboat which put off in the early hours of Sunday morning to the help of the vessel which went as hore on the Mixon was Mr. Crawford Heron, the manager of the Castle Steam Trawling Company.