The Cambria Daily Leader

SIR E. GEDDES, M.P. I Sir Eric Geddes, the new First Lord of the Admiralty, was to-day returned un- opposed for Cambridge Borough. -r.

STANDARD SHIPS. The Board of Trade states that the prin- cipal features of oncers' accommodation on Government standard ships are that aiiicors are berthed in a deckhouse in the bridge superstruct1..1re the rooms are elec- trically lighted and provided with efficient heating and ventilation arrangements; each executive and engineer officer is pro- vided with a separate cabin, and a smok- ing-room is provided for the general use of the officers.

TiNPLATE TRADE. I Annual Holiday During First Week in August. Owing to the restriction in the supply of steel for rolling purposes, the tinplate trade will be at a. standstill, as in pre- I iOUq years, during the first week in August. The same applies to steel sheet mills controlled by the Steel Sheet and Tinplate Trade Concilation Boa.rd. Work will cease at 12 a.m. on Saturday, August .1[11, and will be resumed on the following Mondav week, August 13th, at 6 a an.

SWANSEA GENTLEMEN. Mr. R. E. Jones's Sons in a Motor ftlichan. Messrs. Stanley and Leigh Joijes, sons of Mr. R. E. Jones, of Swansea, Cardiff and Porthcawl were injured in a motor accident at Coventry on Tuesday. Mr. Stanley Jones's collar bone was injured, but he was able to .proceed home. Air. Leigh Jones sustained an internal injury, which necessitated his removal to hospi- tal. From information received at Swan- sea it appears that one of the wheels of the motor earned off. and the P-ti- was unset

WAR MILLIONS 18)0001000 A DAY BEFORE YEAR ENDS HUGE MUNITIONS OUTPUT Mr. Bonar Law moved in the House of Commons on Tuesday a Vote of Credit exceeding by 9150,000,000 the largest sum asked from Parliament on any previous occasion His survey of our collosal war expenditure may be summarised in the following way:- VOTES OF CREDIT. New Vote £650,000,000 Last Vote (May 9) £500,000,000 Total Votes fur War £5,292,000,000 DAiLY EXPENDITURE. Average for last 112 days £6,795,000 Budget Estimate £5,H1,000 Excess over Estimate £1,384,000 Aggregate Excess over Esti- mate ADVANCES TO ALLIES AND DOMINIONS. Advances for 112 days £197,000,000 Excess over Estimate £68,500,000 Total advances for War -£1,025,0011,000 Total advances to Dominions £ 146,000,000 EXPENDITURE AT HOME. Excess over Estimate for. 112 days £ 91,500,000 Excess on Munitions £12,000,UOU 'Excess on Food (about) £15,000,000 Excess on Army £ 64,000,000 MR. BONAR LAW'S RECITAL. Mr. Bonar Law went in considerable detail into the expenditure incurred under the last two votes of credit, which covered the first 112 days of the financial year. He had been to some extent di.sa.p- po.-utcd in finding that our advances to the Allies had steadily increased, in 5p1_- of the entry fif the United States into the ivar. The principle on which the three war Governments had acted was that the Allies were waging one campaign, and that we had to assist by every means in our power the general conduct of that camuaign. involving assistance to our Allies as freely as money spent in cur own services. From the beginning we had borne the whole expense to all the Allied countries of supplies produced in the United Kingdom, and until the entry oi the United States much of their expendi- ture outside their own border. THE HELP OF AMERICA. With the entry of the United states, the Chancellor of the Exchequer continued, a great change had como over the financial strength of the Alliance. He was satisfied that, though it took time to make finan- cial arrangements of this kind, we could rely upon receiving in the United States, the resources necessary to pay for supplies of all kinds required by the Allies in that country. We had spent so freely of our resources that those available for pay- ments in America had become nearly ex- hausted when our great Ally entered the Rtru-ggle. t '.J." H"'Ø r>'} -'or munitions did not represent rising prices. Actually, the average cost per article was less than last year, and the addition of X12,000,000 under this head represented an actual increase ill the volume of munitions available. As for the increased expenditure on the Army. part, oi it had gone in greater pay- ments to India for war services. Mr. McKeima warned the House that there was a limit of expenditure beyond which we could not go without forcing prices up to a point which would cause intolerable unrest amongst our people. He pointed out that our present scale of loans represented a permanent income- tax of 3s. 4d. in the pound. Mr. Me Kenna asked the Government if they were quite sure of the wisdom of their proposal to sell the four-pound loaf at the national charge at 9d. A simpler method, he suggested, of "lightening the burden on the working classes would be to reduce the taxation on sugar, tea, tobacco, anct other articles.

KAISERS MEET. WfgheSm on His Way to the South-East. COPENHAGEN, Tuesday (received Wednesday). While on his way to the south-eastern front the Kaiser met the Emperor Karl at Podgovitza. near Cracow. The two mon- archs, after a cordial exchange of greet- ings, held an animated conversation. After an equally cordial farewell the Kaiser continued his journey to the front. The Emperor Karl returned to Vienna. By command of the Emperor Karl. Count Czernin, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, accompanied the Kaiser.-P,e-,iter.

LAST AIR RAID TOLL. Since the issue of the last official report on Sunday's air raid on Harwich and Felixtowe, two more deaths are reported to have taken place. The total number of casualties is now:— Killed 13 Tnj:, I'd 26

NOT LEAD POISONING. An inquiry was held at Swansea, on Tuesday into the death of Wm. Arthur Loney (57), of 57, Norfolk-street, Swansea, employed as a furnaceman at the <_ rown Spelter Works. He was supposed to have died from lead poisoning, but a post- mortem examination by Dr. Stephens re- vealed the fact that the deceased's iu • gs were full of tuberculosis, and there was inHaniation of the brain, which was in no way consistent with lead poisoning. 'I he arteries were quite clear, and not clogged as it would be if lead poisoning, had set in. It was quite cleijir that death 'was due to natural causes, and a verdict accordingly was returned.

AUSTRIAN BREAD RIOTS. Asked for Bread, But Given Prison. borne, luesday.—Italian benu-Official.— According to reports received from Switzerland, further serious disorders have occurred in Austria on account of the shortage of bread. The military tribunal of Schweinitz, Bohemia, has been engaged with proceed- ings against a man and seven women ar- rested during the riots which occurred on June 29th. A thousand persons, asking m vain for bread, invaded the munici- oalitv. The police intervened, and san- guinary conflicts ensued. The tribunal has condemned the man to 18 months' im- prisonment and the women to sentences from seven to 21 uionths.-Adii,-iralt. per Wireless Press.

SUGAR RATIONING DETAILS OF COMING SCHEME OF DISTRIBUTION London Wednesday. The Cambria Daily Leader is asked by the Ministry of Food to issue the fol- lowing:—A statement has appeared in certain papers this morning to the effect that sugar and bread rationing will shortly commence. TMs statement is in- accurate. There is no intention at pre- sent to introduce a general compulsory bread ration. As regards sugar, it .'is proposed to ar- range for distribution based on the regis- tration of consumers with retailers, con- trolled by local authorities. This scheme cannot, of course, come into operation for some time. PRICE OF MEAT. I Eventual Reduction of 6d. per lb. It ie understood that the fixing by the Food Controller of 74s. per cwt. live weight as the maximum price, both for Army and civilian purchases as from September 1, is expected to secure a re- duction to the retail purchaser of not less than 3d. in the pound. The further re- duction of 60s. per cwt. live weight next January should mean at least a reduction of 6d. in the pound of the present retail prices. ( In the case of bread trte reduction of the present prices, to a standard, charge of 9d. for 41b. loaf, will involve a heavy charge on the State. This will not be the case in regard to meat, the reduced price mean- ing, bluntly, the interception of unjusti- fied profits. No gieat importance should be attached to certain prophecies of a coming dearth of milk. To guard against any deficiency of the kind, however, latge stocks of dried milk are being accumulated, and it is highly improbable thu t tbere will be any rise beyond the price of Is. Sd. per gallon which was agreed to by the Government many months ago.

I SWANSEA TEACHERS. May Get Aggregate Rise of £ 17,000 a Year. At the Swansea Guildhall on Tuesday, a conference was held between a deputation representing the Swansea teachers and a sub-committee of the Swansea Education Committee, when the deputation placed before the authority tiuir case for in- creases in salaries. Mr.) David Matthews crea!s-es ir. s??, 'irik presided. After hearing the arguments of the deputation, the committee decided to in- struct the Borough Treasurer (Mr. W. H. Ashmole) and the Director of Education '(Mr. T. J. Roos. B.A.), five schemes tor giving fcVail the teachers increases which vro'okt Represent a sum of tl2,000 or £ 51,000 over three years. This means increases of either < £ 14,000 or 117,000 per annum. It was also decided to recommend that the scheme he retro- spective to July 1st of this year. I TEACHERS UNDERPAID. It would be well at this stage to refer to the remarks of the Right Hen. H. A. L. Fisher, the I-resident of the Board of Education, when. he placed before the House of Commons his proposals for greatly increasing the educational grants. The right hon. gentleman emphasised the fact that in his opinion teachers were underpaid and the grants given for educa- tional purposes should be applied to in- crease salaries. The Swansea teachers, as a matter cf fact, have applied to the local education authority to utilise the grant to Swansea solely in increasing their sa lariM. The additional graht. is estimated at £ 17,000, and it will be sejen that the com- mittee are to consider a scheme whereby the whole of t-at sum will be allocated for salaries. There are about 600 teachers in the Swansea area.

WEAK AND CLOUDY. I Central Powers1 Press on New Chancellor's Speech. Zurich, Tuesday (received Wednesday). —While complaining bitterly that Eng- land refuses to believe in the genuineness c,f the liedchstag's peace resolution, the German and Austrian papers freely admit that the new Chancellor's speech is weak and lacking in clearness and conviction. J They urge the necessity of taking- steps to make the situation plain and cleir.- Reuter.

I AUSTRIANS ATTACK. But Thrown Bgck Every- I where by Italians. I ITALIAN OFFICIAL. Rome, luesday. —Ycsbrday the enemy showed increased activity on the Tren- tino front. Our infantry patrols com- pletely repulsed the enemy everywhere, and our batteries did some effective counter-battery work.. On the Julian (Isonetv) fTont thert- were pome patrol encounters on the heights east of Gorizia, and artillery fire was more violent than in the Mrzii and Vodiil areas, and in the vicinity of Castagnavizza. Two of our bombing flights, accom- panied by chasing planes,. carried out a bombing raid on hutments and railway works at San Daitiele on the Carso. In spite of the enemyJs violent anti-aircraft fire the operation was carried out success- fully. All ou." machines- returned to their bases.—Admiralty, per ^Tireless Press.

THt STttL CASE. The Judge Surtis Up. Mr. Llewelyn Williams, continuing'* alluded to Mor. Edv-ard's's honourable record and hie son's promising career, of which he wa« on tho threshold. The Judge began to euui up at 325. lie eaid, that i ohis opinion, as eoon as it -was pro-red that directions or res. frictions had been imposed upon the occupier ofthêfry it was his duty to eee they irere obeyed. If ha failed to soe that they vero obeytxj by Ms fcubordiaata* committing Q offence. It go answer to 6ay L-a did not trouble trjtfo details, but was doing more important work, (l). J il #0 > 'I *■ 4 ■ v I ■ I • 1, j t } « .l o. a: r

TO-DAY'S NEWS IN BRIEF ——— Ebbw Vale steel workers have been granted a 10 per cent. increased bonus. Mr. BonaT Law says it is not proposed to close the Mini-try of National Service. Canada opposes daylight saving so strongly that the Bill will probably be dropped. A Cambridge girl wrangler was hoeing potatoes in .Pembrokeshire when she heard of her success. The Minister of Munitions has taken possession of all iron ore mine* in Cum- berland and Lancashire. At a meeting of the Welsh Parlia- mentary Party on Tuesday, a hearty wel. come was extended to Sir Garrod Thomas. Earl Grey, who has been ill 'for some months, has recently undergone a serious operation. His condition gives oauee for anxiety. A soldier's wife was fined £1 for smug- gling tobacco in a piece of soap into Wandsworth Military Gaol, where her husband is detained. The vicar of Willesden, N.W., invites his congregation to his garden adit-ex Sun- day evening service to chat and smoke, and see how my onions are doing." Over 500 special constables belonging to the Metropolitan Police reported for duty at the various City police stations during the recent air raid.

SWANSEA'S SEATS. Commissioners to Visit Town on August 8th. 1, The Boundary Commissioners will hold ail inquiry at the Swansea Guildhall on August 8th, at 11 a.m., with refcrenoe to the proposals for the re-distribution of seats in connection with the Parliament I tary representation of Swansea. I

I The Cambria Daily Leader" gives later news than any paper published in this dis- trict. —

——————————.? • j I FOR F-' LATEST REPORTS, SEE THE 6.30 "LEADER." I I

 BIG TRENCH RAID 114 PRISONERS TAKEN NEAR YPRES, .-1 French Hold Their Gains I GREAT SUM PUEl IN FLANDERS. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. 114 Prisoners Taken in Trench Raid, France, 11.51 a.m. We captured 114 prisoners, includ- ing two officers, in the course of the successful raid carried out by us yesterday east and north-east of Ypres. The enemy artillery showed con- siderable activity during the night east of Monchy-le-Preux and the neighbourhood of Lom- bartzyde. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. I New German Attacks on Plateau Positions. Vfter a bombardment which was violent, though of short dura- tion, the Germans attempted, about five o'clock this morning, an attack on the positions re- captured by us during the day time on the California Plateau. This attack was completely re- pulsed, and our gains of the previous day were maintained and consolidated. Jnexpected enemy attacks to the north-west of Hurtebise monu- ment in the region of Cornillet, and in Alsace, to the north of Aisbach-le-Hant, failed. Wo took some prisoners. On the left bank of the Meuse the artillery of both sides showed activity, but there was no in- fantry action. LAST NIGHT'S NEWS. Gun Duel in Flanders More Intense than Ever. Tuesday night's British report recorded raids at four points east and north-east n Grut, -m.f1'¡t1 a"ct1,orl Olll' lhT:;T r:rm:-îl the part of the enemy, was reported. The German report v. as to the effect that the trtillai-v duel in Flanders con- tinued to rage day and night, at an in- tensity never before reached. By a brilliant counter-attack, the French regained nearly the whole of the ground so dearly won by the Germans a lew clays ago on the Casemate and California plateaux. BELGIAN OFFICIAL. The night was marked by a bombard- ment with gas shells in the region of Isieucapelle and Hazewinad. Enemy aviators have dropped bombs on Adin- kerk.' During the day there was the usual artillery battle, particularly violent in the region of Steenstrate.—Admiralty, per Wireless Press.

CANADA AND CO'NSCRf PTION. Ottawa, Wednesday.—The Conscription Bill passed the third reading iii, the House of Commons to-day by 102 votes to 11.—Eeuter. OTTAWA. Wednesday. Later.—The majority of 58 by which the Compulsory Military Service Bill passed the House of Commons included 22 Liberals. While Quebec voted solidly against Conscription, with the exception of Mr. Sevigny, Minister of Inland Rev- enue, and the Deputy Speaker (Mr Rain- ville), only four English-speaking inimibeiv. vest of Quebec province opposed the third t leading.—Renter.

.I COAL CONTROL BOARD. Our London Correspondent says:—There 13 the best authority for stating that the drafting of the Bill to embody the agree- ment in i-egard to Government control of coal mines come to between the Control- ler of Coal Mines and the Mining Associa- tion of Great Britain is in such a forward state that its introduction in the House of Commons may be expected shortly.

HOTEL RENT FOR HIS BODY. In order to avoid premature burial, Count Manoel Joaquim Alves Macliado, of the Hotel Frankfort, Oporto, n-lio left property in the United Kingdom valued at £ 134,882, directed that his body should not leave the house in which he might die for 48 hours after. Should he die in the hotel. £fî was to be paid for every hour his hed. lav in the place as compensation tu tl: OWII.¥:.

PREMIER IN PAR IS. Conversation of Allied Ministers. Paris, Tuesday Evening (Received Wed. nesday).—This afternoon M. Fibot, the French Premier, had a long conversation with Baron Sonnino, Mr. Lloyd George, and Mr. Balfour. M. Albert Thomas, Munitions Minister, and M. Painleve, Minister for War, also came to take part in the conversation, at the end of which M. Ribot went to make a report to Presi- dent Poincare.—Renter.

£ 30,000,000 FOR PEACE. Rome, Monday.—The Socialist Deputy Morgari, just returned from Stockholm, -peaking at a crowded meeting at Turin yesterday, said that Mr. Ford, the Ameri- can, had placed at the disposal of the oocmli.sts <fc30,000,00U to arrange peace, but difficulty of telegraphic and postal communications and the American de- claration of war had prevented the scheme from materialising.—Exchange.

I MINE NATIONALISATION. I M.F.G.B. Unanimous Vote for the Principie. At the conference of the Miner. Federa. tion of Great Britain st Glasgow on Wed- nesday, the Segates voted unanimously in favour of the nationalisation of mines and minerals. They argued that this would not only be an advantage to miners, but to consumers. They believed the pub- lic would support the demand. A resolution was carried urging that old age pensions be raised to ten shillings a week; old age limit reduced from 70 to 60 years, irrespective of provision made by working oemilA Wieureelves. i

END IN AUTUMN P -0 GENERAL BRUSSlLOFf'S OPTIMISM. Belief in Victory. TRIBUTE TO M. KERENSKV I PETROGRAD, TUESDAY (RECEIVED WEDNESDAY). The "The JBrisliewya Wjedorn-sty" publishes the following interview with the Commander-in-Chief, General Brus- siloff. Replying to a question as to whether he believed in final victory, General Brus- giloff said: "r Yes, I believe in it, other- wise, without such a belief it would not be worth living." Continuing, he said: The chief thing has already been done; the Army has been moved to begin an offensive. "M. Kerensky's services have been im- measurable. He did not auote impos- sible things." With regard to himself, he converted him into addressing meetings. Concerning the duration of the war, General Brussiloff said he thought the autumn would see it ended, and added: The Germans know that next spring, thanks to America, they will be crushed." Referring to the last offensive, the General said the Revolutionary regime ats j were doing splendid work. MR. HENDERSON'S VIEW. I Debacle Solely Due to Extremist I Propaganda. In a statement to a Press representa- tive the Rt. Hon. A. Henderson, M.P., who has just returned from Russia, said the sole cause of the debacle in Galicia was the propaganda of the extremists who, he believed, would be effectually squeezed out by the country's new leaders. The Russian people were enthusiastic for the war. The representatives of the Council of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates. now on a visit to this country, would be the guests or the British Labour Party,. He declined to have anything to do with any organisation established in this country which sought to set up in Great Britain bodies analagous to the Council of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates. It was his intention to see his own com- mittee immediately to discuss with thtan uny future action and endeavour to get together immediately an Allied Socialist conference to discuss the Questions which had been raised by Russia, as a prelimi- nary to a larger an-d ftjllvr discussion at more representative internationale to Ue called at an early dat-e. KAISER'S QUICK HONOURS. Copenhagen, Wednesday. A Berlin telegram states that the German blll- peror arrived at the Galician front cn Tiuvalay morning. After, hearing- the rc- uort of the commander-in-chief cn the military situation the Emperor visited the troops fighting on the Sereth. He awarded the Order Pour Lc Merite with oak leaves and chain to Prince Leoooid of Bavaria, commander-jn-cliief, and to his chief of staff, General Hoffmann, and the Order Pour Lo Merite to Major Frantz, the chief of staff of an auny corps.-Press Association Special. THE LOSS OF HALICZ. j PARIS, Wednesday. I Concerning the situation in the East, M. Marcel Hutin says:—According to in- formation, the faithful and disciplined troops who are obeying the wqrds of com- mand of General Brusiloff and M. Ker- ensky have forced back the German army of Von Eiwhhorn, taking numerous pris- oners, and returned to the charge. In Eastern Galicia it is undeniable that the Russian Army is following upon the general retreat between the Seretb and the Carpathians, and Tarnopol in overrun from the South, where the Germans have crossed the Sereth near Trembowoa. Fur- ther westward the enemy has retaken Halicz and Jesemvl.—Exchange SpecifcL RUSSIA AND FINLAND- I It is believed that a breach of the diplo- matic relations between Finland and Russia is imminent.—Exchange Special. I ENEMY'S GALICIAN GAINS. I The swift advance of the enemy in Galicia continues without pause, not alone to the north of the Dniester but as far south as the crest of the Carpathians. Halicz has again fallen into Austrian hands, and Bohm-Ermolli's troops have crossed the Sereth, pushing south-east. Since the retreat began the Russians have lost many hundreds of square miles of territory won in General BrusilofFs offen- sive li-A year. The Petrograd report has not yet been received, but there can be no doubt of the vast scale of the enemy's advance, which is stated by Berlin to be on a trout of over 15.0 miles. l RUSSIANS BUSY IN THE NORTH. I The Russians, however, nave taken the offensive on many parts of the northern front, and the expected attack by the Russo-Rumanian Army has also appar- ently begun. in the north, the points of attack were Dvinsk, Jakobstadt. and south of Smorgon. These assaults are said to have been all repulsed with very heavy losses. In Rumania, on the other hand, our Allies have evidently been sue- cessful. for the Berlin report adfnits that the actions which went on all day, brought the enemy local advantages." ARMIES CUT OFF? In Galicia the main impetus of the offen- sive is still southwards towards the Dniester along the 30-mile wide corridor formed by the Sereth and Zlota Lipa tri. butaries. Here the enemy hope to cut off the Russian armies whose flank \HIj ex- posed by the break farther north, and who are now deprived of their chief rail- way facilities, dependent on Tarnopol. The Eighth Army, on the Stanislau front, lately under Gsneral KornilofTs command, is obliged to retire in accord- ance with the development of the situa- tion north of the Dniester, as it was fullv 50 miles farther west than the troops on the Sereth. The enemy is following, and has crossed the Bystrzyca, which must re-, suit in the early abandonment of Stanis- lau. In the operations as a whole the Germans claim to have taken vast quan- tities of booty and many thousands of prisoners. RUSSIAN OFFICIAL. PETROGRAD, Tuesday. South-west of Dvinsk our detachments occupied the German position on both sides of the Ddnsk-Vilna railway and afterwards voluntarily, without pressure (Continued at the foot of next column.)

R.N.A.S. SENSATION. Ex-Civil Servant Charged With Consniracv. 1 + At Bow-street Police Court on Wednes- day afternoon William August Cassonu (64), retired civil servant, was charged on a warrant with alleged conspiring wilth Wing-Commander John C. l'ortu,.of --the Royal Naval Air Service, and Ayman J. Seely in respect of large sums of money from time to time correctly paid to and received by John C. Portu, an agent of the Crown, in respect of certain contracts between the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and the Curtis Aeroplane Co., of New York. Prisoner was remanded on formal evi- dence of arrest, the sureties being him- self in £500 and two sureties of £ 500 each.

ENGINEERS' WAGES. South Wales Aippllcation Referred to Arbitration. A wages board conference was held -it the Hotel Cameron, Swansea, to discuss applications for advances in wages re- eeived-by the Welsh Engineers' and Foun- ders' Association from the A.S.E., United Pattern Makers' Society, the Friendly Society of Ironfcunders, the Dockers' Union, and other sections. The parties concerned were represented, and after long discussions it was resolved to refer the? whole matter arbitration immediately on the lines of the agreement entered into between the engineers and Employers' Federation and a- number, of societies, now '-known as the national agreement. This arbitration will govern .the wages in the engineering and foundry trades throughout South- Wiles.

TO-DAY'S WAR RESUME get-- Leader" Office, 4.50 p.m. In raids east and north-east of Ypres, re- ported by Sir Douglas Haig to-day, we took 114 prisoners. Last night's German report referred to day and night artillery activity iii Flanders, at an intensity never before reached. Halicz has been retaken by the Germans, and although there is news of Russian attacks at many points, the general debacle of our Eastern Ally's army in Galicia continues. The enemy is re- ported to have crossed the, Sereth. Mr. Lloyd George and other Allied Premiers are in Paris in connection with the Balkan conference.

I RUSSIAN DELEGATES. Our London Correspondent writes:—The delegates from the Russian Citizens' and Soldiers' Committee were at the House of Commons to-day and had an interview vritli Mr. Ramsay Macclonald. To-morrow at the House of Commons they meet tho Labour Party and -the Parliamentary, Committee of the Trades Union Congress. Mr. A. Henderson and Mr. G. Barnes will probably attend.

A SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. Swansea Nurses Have to do Their Own Housework. At the meeting of the Swansea Tawe Lodge Visiting Committee on Wednesday, the shortage of female labour at the in- stitution was discussed. It was stated that in the nurses' home the nnrses, in addition to their specified work, were performing the domestic duties. Dr. D. Lloyd Edwards said this was not fair to them. Ultimately it was decided to em- power the master to engage female labour.

MESOPOTAMIA AND RED CROSS. Mr. Montagu, replying in Wednesday's Parliamentary papers to Sir W. Collins, says two motor launches for hospital work were sent by the British Red Cross Society to Mesopotamia in August, 1915. On De- cember 16, 1915, the British Red Crops Society cabled to Sir John Nixon offer- ing to send out anything that might be required. Sir John replied: "Many thanks. Nothing required at present. If anything needed in future will not hesitate to let you know."

BIRTH OF A NATION. Return Visit to the Grand Theatre. t The rapid strides 01 the motion pic- < tures industry in comparison with the stage where the spoken drama flourishes is astonishing when you study the figures. Take the cass of Griffith, the man who created "The Birth of a, Nation." He draws a salary of$100,000 a year. Thpre few big combinations of business in this edravagant age which can boast of more than one$100,000 per-year-man. Thfl spoken stage is considerably more than 100 years old in America. The "movie" hie flourished about ten years. Yet there is A. $100,000 man in the motion picture busi* ness. His great production, "The Birth of a Notion," will pay a return visit to the Grand Theatre next week.

WHO GAVE THE NEWS? Mere About a Remarkable Swansea Story. Despite the publicity given to tlie cas £ in our columns on Tuesday, the identity has not been discovered of the person who is alleged to have given information of the supposed death of Driver Beti Robin- son in France. Apparently there are a number ol accounts of the manner in which the re- ports gained currcncv. According to Mra. Robinson, who resides at 13ft, Western- street, the information reached her through Cemmandant Towel, of the Sal-* w-ution Army, who had in turn hn in- formed by a stranger on Saturday morn- ing. This stranger was attired in civilian clothes, ant] wore a light coloured suit. On the other hand. the story told to a Leader representative on Tuesday was to the effect that the report emanated from a soldier. The greatest credence must, however, be given to Mrs. Robin- son's account, and it is her especial desire that this civilian should communi- cate with her in order to set aside any doubts that may still ext. Mrs. Robinson had a further lettej from her husband on Wednesday morn. ing, bearing Friday's postmark, so that her fears of the week-end are entirely re- moved The relatives of the other men, however—Mrs. Lesfker, of 95. Western- street, and Mrs. Abraham, of 125. Oxford- street—have had no further Uewflt &&1" they are naturally unxiouil >

from the enemy, retired to their original trenches. A number-of units refused to narry out military commands at the time o th- battle. I NEW NAVAL CHIEF. l'etrograd, i uesa^y (received Wednes- day).—Captain Razvozoff, who was re- cpntly promoted. to. the rank of rear- admiral, has been appointed Commander- in Chief of- the Russian na val forces in the Baltic.—Reu'ier.