The Cambria Daily Leader

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NIGHT RAIDS By EngHsh and Scottish Troops. PRISONERS AND GUNS TAKEN. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. France, Saturday, 10.45 a.m. A was carried out lost, night by English and Scottish battalions north d Bethune, over 60 prisoners bein.g taken. A few prisoners and three machine guns were also captured by us during the night as a result of successful raids JC the Villers- •■Hretto'frneux sector. W raid attempted by the enemy on our poses in Aveluv Wool was re pulsed. Local fighting took place during the night about certain of our forward posts east of Miette. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL, During the night there was con- siderable artillery activity on both tiides 1 between Montdidier and the Oise, to the south of the Aisne, as well as to the. west of Rheims, towards Champlat and Bligny. •Our patrols operating in Cham- pagne brought in some prisoners. The night was calm everywhere else. I BRITISH OFFICIAL. I Jtirincc, Indav, <.20 p.m. In the sector north of Bailleul French .patrols brought in a few priwnets during the night. There is nothing further to report. On June 13th floods and poor visibility Impeded work in fbf, iir, but our machines took advantage of spells of clearer weather to observe for artillery fire and to enrry .t)tif. numerous patrote and reconnais- e3nce«. Nine tons of bombs were dropped by us rn Zesbrogge Mole, A rmentieres and •homines Stations, and on targets in the French-battle area. Ten hostile aeroplane* were destroyed during the day and two driven down out ,inf control. A. German balloon. was br?nght down in,£-. J -ecl, Ihe"mitchi1\>5.. I tf??vy m?ts prp?)tp.d nyiT'? at niyht. I ?, 0 OFFICIAL. I France, Friday. 11 p.m.-There was no infantry action in the course of the day. There was 'rath er lively artillery fight- 1ng in Hansard Wood (south-west- of Amiens), south of the Aishe. and in the region between Villers C-otterets and Chateau Thierry. Auiongst the material taken from I h netny on Tuesday and already counted must be included nine guns, including seven heavy guns. and -10 machine-guns. I Elsewhere the day was. quiet. On. Thursday our chasing tqaadrons fcfwiftht down five German aeroplanes and two f'CLp?iv<? haUoon* ?v?n other enemy machines were put out of action. During 1he ni?ht of Thursday and ?r? day fur bombing machincs drnpx'd ()F,II the establishments, stations, and canton- merits of the enemy zone 19 tons of pro- j jectiles, which.caused heavy damage. AMERICAN OFFICIAL. Jnne 14<It (received Saturday).—North- west of Ch?-au Thierry the day wa.s marked hy heavy ?hcHin?. ex:uted by the batteries of I 'o th 'I'll(] in,Ilj(iiiig the nac of gas. There is nothing to report; from the other points occupied by our troops. Yesterday our aviators shot down two hostile machines. OPERATIONS IN SALONIKA. The Press Bureau states on Saturday that on June 12th, lour aeroplanes were brought down at Meletkoyo (in the Var- d&r Valley, 13 miles behind the enemy ¡ line?) during a combat with our scouts. -? t witli ovir Three were obliged to crash down in ■flaicos. AH pur machines returned safely.

ROYAL MARINbS BAND. Mr. David James, the popular manafer of the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, has II fcpen successful n securing H.M. Baud of Marines (Portsmouth Division) to circ two concerts at the liumbles on hun., day afternoon. Junc 23ra.

MORRISTON WOMAN MISSING I Ethel Hay Williams (25), of 32, Slate- etre?t, MorriBixm, a married wOman. b:, ?'l ?nisi?in? from her home inee May 1 2?th. ?js JpH the house about 8 .p.m. I.I? the abov? d?t?. :)d was accompanied by j her child, tlii,e4e years. ?he is about j 3ft.veins, in Height, medium build, dark hair, and ?as'?-p.?p? in a duff colonml v<)il? dress and t?roiln sboes.

NEW ABERAVON DIVISION, 1 Liberal-Labour Association to Hold .,? ociation to Hold Meetings. i Mr. Cliarlf.,s J.P. (president), In ide'd over an informal meeting of the recently formed Liljeral-Fabour Aseoci?- tion of the new Aberavon Division. on Friday night, when the question of or- tpsniaation was discussed. The meeting was private, but it i.s un- derstood that meetings of the party will be called in different parts of the Division the results of which will lie reported to a tutu re meeting.

BEER RATIONS. A rcheme. for the voluntary rationing of beer, approved by the wholesale and retail trade, is working well in the Mid- lands and several of the Home Counties. It is to be introduced in other distiK-ts. In the Greater London area and in Glas- !?ow the increased sobriety has exceeded expectations. Lord D'Abernon. chairman of the Central Control Board, thinks tbat an increased output of beer might: be allowed if the Food Controller can spare 1 the materials, but he considers the num- ber of licensed houses could be greatly re- duced to the advantage of the trade and thepubllo,

1, BUTTER SEIZED I SWANSEA MARKET [ "ROUND UP- j i 1,000 LOSe COMMANDEERED Un Saturday morning -Sir. Victor Evans 'Swansea food contro-licr), and Mr. Ar- nold (the iwsistarit executive officer;, visited the Swansea Market and made- A round up" of over 1,000 ixmnds of butter. Butter was, it is alleged, being sold to unregistered customers, and in some oases Mr. Evans took the names of buyers as well. The.se eases will be brought before the Committee with a view to the institution of proceedings against the persons involved. THE COUNTERFOILS. For all this amount no more than about [ half-a-dozen .counterfoils of food cards v. ere taken. the people buying this butter are getting it in addition to their rations from the grocer with whom they deal. In one instance a customer bought n<. less than six pounds of butter. Quantities have already been sent to the hospitals who will have first claim and then a distribution to grocers who require it v-ill be made. Mr. Evans desires us to state that the food application forms are not coming in satisfactory, and a good many of those already received bear no addresses. The public 111") asked to fill up the forms accurately at once and to send them in to the food office without delay.

TEACHERS' STRIKE. I Deplorable Effect on Carmar- thenshire Children. The Llandilo 'Board of Guardians on Saturday morning, Mr. Gomer .Harris presiding, had its notice drawn to the deplorable effect of the assistant teachers' strike -in Carmarthenshire on the educa- tion of the children, and a r-csolltioit wa-, moved from -the chair, and carried, re- gretting that the strike Had occurred, and that the offer of the X.U.T. to put the matter, to arbitration was n*>t ac- cepted by the County Education Autho- rity ln-st April; and further asking that bo!h sides should now put -ill niaticrs-- the* l'iflier grant and. the new scale of salaries to immediate arbitration, and that the Hoard of Education nhould natll) at- arbitrator, so that a permanent means of settlement will be arrived at. THREAT TO RESIST RATE. Mr. John Bevan, in the couree of a vigorous speech, said the workers in the Amman Valley were fceriouslv consider- ing the advisability of resisting the pay- ment of the education rate as a protest' against the action of the County Educa- tion Authority. wa not going to pay a penny of the rate, and he knewjhere were thousands in the district who were determined to do likewise. The Educatiou Authority probably thought they were gaining something by prolong- ing the dispute, but it was the children who suffered. The ground now lost would "irrer .be ocovered- The Chairman. also emphasised the lamentable results of the sirike on the children's welfare and education, and he regretted that the County Education Authority had not granted the teachers the claim in full, as they deserved all the support they could get. Mr. Evan Davie" said he believed, on good authority, that the dispute was now about to be referred' to arbitration. At the eame time he did not think (hv\ j ratepayer should be encouraged to resist the payment of the education rate. ¡

TALE OF A TERRIER. I At Swansea County Police Court: on Friday Sergt. Taylor spoke to meeting a big white hull terrier at Fforestfaeh. The dog bad no visible connection with any human being except the name on his collar—"James Wise." To Tanits Wise the officer took the dog. Wise said: "Why can't, my dog be out as well a.,s other people's?" iNir6. TÇjEP, who answered tlie, ftiaimons, was ordered to pay CoetE,

 ¡ HELD UP. I German Offensive at a I Standstill. jVAIN ENEMY SACRIFICES I PARIS, Saturday. Reuter's Expert Commentator writes: Friday wa-> marked by the arrest of the G t'rma}; Of1\lhi\"è on i),?til t)f t I battleridd..Bpfore Compwgne and Vil- 1'1'3 Cottcrets there were, in fact, only local actions during the last 21 hours, but artillery tiring remains very active, par- ticularly in the Maine ami Ourcq val- leys. In aviation the enemy is making vigorous efforts to prevent aerial reeon- nukaiunees. Thus the battle hetween Montdidier and Noyon, which began u" Stin(lail. has only lasted five days, and the Ambieny—JKmimiers battle only two da-8, The push towards Amiens, 011 the contrary, which began on Starch 21st. was nut stopped until March 31 -t, while in the battles for the Lys it took It" wven days—from April 9th till Apr:! loth II to obtain stabilisation of iront. Lartlv, the battle- oi the Ai^ne went on from May 27 th to June 4th. SPENDING HIS ENERGY. The duration of the enemy's offensive I efforts thus diminishes with every «u. ecsive battle. It may also be pointed out that the extent of the front of attack steadily decreases, as well as gains of ground which the Germans 6till realise from the effect of tirtt shock. Whereas the battle of "Ist wn? engaged on ? front uf 80 kilometres, and aften;urds! en the Ai-np. one of the Ccnuan armies •ucceeded in advancing 18 kilometres in a tlrvgle day. This time attack was. directed only on a front of 3(V kilometres. .md it took Jive days for the enemy to ad- vnneo ten kilometres in the direction of Compiegne, and two days to move less than two kilometres in the direction of Vill'-rs Cotteretf, after which he had to stop to take breath. From all the facts it may be concluded that our resistance is proving itself more and more effective and that the German leases are aggra- vated in proportion. VAIN ENEMY SACRIFICES. I To film up, it i.s certain that ths German General Staft has, 1-1 flie course of the .latest buttle, vainly sacrificed valuable divisions without reaching the <r<!?ncd <:?j?t '.hich eon- "'st'fd in ?tahH-hing tbem-c?p-. on the L'nt ?!ontdidifr ('o???p!<?n?—Villprs Coti terets--Chateau Thierry, in order to start again from a new base for a re^h "offrn- against Paris. New. how will the present halt last? Is tb? enemy pro- ceeding with the regrouping-of his foices in order to ljencw his attempts in the simn with frr-*h troops?. For ev- flmple- > b'sr. of the t rorn Prince Hup- ..|sie«5kr h J ,t, i_' been 3)pl1)\(i. DANGEROUS TO PROPHESY. I Or. will he direct his effort in other ret g''on«r It would be dangerous to make prophecy in regartl to this. In (iise there i? no doubt that the enemy w'll not remajn satisfied with his defeat. To* will continue his offensive with' all the mors haste because his is weakening from day to day. while our reserves art- being incessantly increased by the growing in- flux of American troop-?. THE I^ULL—AND ITS CAUSES, j Where Will the Germans Strike I Next7 r' PARIS, Saturday. The newspapers comment oil the lull now prevailing on the front and discuss its causes and probable consequences. The Petit Journal is of opinion that it Vrils our counter-offensive of June 11th which produ-jed this satisfactory result, and con- siders that wh"n the struggle died down oti the west after this offensive it followed naturally that the attack on the Aisne should also come to a standstill. It pro- ceeds to say tlmt whether a real lull be in question or whet her it will prove merely a momentary interval remains to be seen, but that if the Germans do not re-eom- tiKnco on the portion of the front where thrv^have been held np. they are sure to do so on some other sector. J/Hoinmc Libre also takes the view that the enemy's need of breathing space is evident, but that no one can predict how long this breathing space will be. The same note is struck in almost all the papers. T/Evcnement thinks it much more probable th,t the Germans, before resum- ing their assi'ults in the direction, of Vil- Jor.N-Cotterets and Compiegne, will try to effect a surprise blow elsewhere, but this theory evolves no anxiety. The entire Paris is agreed -as to that. The (.ânlo] remarks: Every man- French, British' or American—in the Armr of the Entente—v:l do his. duty and more than his duty as in the past. and although the situation reniains grave tile forces at our command render the out- look very favourable for us, and we may look for-ward with .confidence to the I future." SOME SPECULATIONS. Although military expei Is for the mosi part do not attempt to foretell at what point tho MoNk- attack will be m'd. a few of them indulge in speculations »-s to yv.iiat is ijfobable. The [Tmnanite inclines to believe it v.id he in the direction üï agid Albert in Flanders. The 'Petit? Repobliqne also expects, that tha new battle will be aimed at Amiens and Abbeville. Other journals hold that the oiunsjve In:n- !x' preceded with again.st ('ompicgne, and between the Mar no and U?\ ,no 'that Rhesus, ?ow enveloped on three sides, may prove a t<-mpt-yoon t;) the enemy. The Champagne district to the right of Rheims is also suggested as a possibility. PARIS THE OBJECTIVE. I The Pays insists that Paris will t- main the objective, and emphasises the urgency and importance of the duties of the Committee of Defence in construct- ing a system of trenches. U Let us a".il ourselves of this period of quiet," it savs, to strengthen the defences of the City and to silence the last echoes of our domestic difference.

MENTIONED." I Sergt. R. G. Antield, Llanelly, has been mentioned in dispatches by General Allenby. Commanding-iri-Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force. So also has Major S J. Williams, son of Mr. David Wil- IJnm's. of the Royal ti-y Bush Hotel. Car- 'V art hen

|HITS ON THE MOLE I r -*=: MORE BRITISH BOMBING RAIDS Adinira'ty Official, Friday. —During -i e, 10 to !2 n.: op??i-.itions by Air c nt il ii,v, 0 ii 4 have to '-ome extent been attended b'' unfavourable weather. I'! ad4l-?'ti.-)n t,) t?h" I however, s out during the day ;\nd night against Zee- brugge, Bruges Docks. On these objectives in all IS tons of boaibs hn been propped. Two hits were observed on the n le and bursts on a sea- plane ehe.l at Zoj-brugge; at Bruges tires ■•vere caused in tq eastern Darse, and hits were observed in Brugeoise works; bursts were obsei-vcr-1 at the Bassin de la Marine and'the Gare Maritime at Ostend. Clouds ct times preventad observation. One enemy aircraft was d?olroved, and one of our machines is mis-rung. SUBMARINES BOMBED. I In home waters, in siiite of the handi- cap Of fog, numerous anti-submarine, hos- tile aircraft and escort patrols were car- ried out by seaplanes, airships and aero- planes. Submarines have In sighted anrl bombed and mines located on a number of occasions. 111 Mediterranean waters submarines have also been lighted and attacked, enemy mines located, and Allied and neutral shipping convoyevl. During the some period aircraft at- tached to the British Ægean squadron have bombel aerodromes and enemy work-? at Drama jnd other places on the Bulgarian and Turkish coa?ts. Enemy torm.itioiis which.were nut over the Dar- danelles were attacked, and two of their tighter scouts were brought down in flames. I d U.S. RAID TNTO GERMANY. AMERICAN OFFICIAL. Thursday Night. — Last night our aviators bombec^ with good effect the station of l>ommary Baroncourt. north- west o: Metz. All our machines have re- turned.

TO BE INTERNED? China Sending -7,000 Germans to Australia. Tokio, Wednesday (.received Saturday). —Doctor Tstir, Secretary to tiie Chinese legation, who has been appointed Direc- tor of the Bureau for the deportation of 7,000 Germans from China to Australia has left for Pekih en route to Australia. The removal of all Germans from China removes a serious menace, and consti- tute a'ti'enH'ndou?»economic blow to Ger- many in the Far. East.

A AUST?iA FED UP. i (' Popular Demand for Cessa- tion, of War. r-- Amsterdam. Friday. Reports have been received 111 Amster- dam this afternoon that a serious political is ibo?!t io omcc,- crisis is about to occur in Austria, caused by the popular demand for an immediate cessation of the war as far as Austria is concerned. Reports agree that Austria is completely exhausted, us is also Hungary, where Stop fighting meetings arc beiiit orga- nised all over ttt. countryThe situa- tion is most seriou?. The consequence'' was an unprecedented slump in Austria^ Shares c-n Amsterdam Fxchange to-day.F.xchange.

m USE AT ALL." I 3,700 German Officers at i Bucharest. I A telegram i rorii Copenhagen on Satnr- day says: — At yesterday's fitting of; the Reichstag various members delivered sharp attacks against the military authorities. llerr Muilcr, of Mcni»%ert-, criticised the mili- tary preference system, declaring that at, present there, re ,'5,703 German officers in Bucharest who are no use at all. Active officers fire, as far as, possible, kept belli;.d the front while reserve offi- cers arc used in the firing line. General Wcisbrfg said it was necessary to maintain strict discipline, as fuMiers to r-illillit,,iin :?rT?it?t bued with Bolshevik ideas and were every- where circulating revolutionary pamph- lets.

'ERASED BY CENSOR. 1 I How Austrian News is Being I M (filiated. Copenhagen, Friday, June 11. During the last few day.s the financial supplements of .llie Y ienna newspapers have been issued with gTeat white spaces in their columns. The H Arbeiter, Zeitunz 11 states that the articles thus suppressed by the censor contained statements about a meeting of the Pr-ague Industrial Company, the fac- tories of which hav«^'or a long time been dosed through -m.an. -of coal, and about the passive resistance of the workers caused by bad food conditions. In Prague twenty-five work-men were brought up before a military court charged with mutiny, or, in other words, with ceasing work in the Bo- hemian machine factories. They are to receive sentence th-inwrqw. -Exchange.

BLAZING FURNACE OIL STEAMER STRIKES I A MINE CREWS THBItUfcC EXPERIENCE LONDON, Saturday. Details are now availaole of the ter- rible experiences of the crew oi a iiriti.-ti oil steamer which (aught fire at sea as the ITitlltd having struck an enemy nuncjnti? early hod's of the morn- ing. 'the explosion or rhe mine cau.-ed the cargo to ignite, and within a coift- ?muvt.'jV ?hort time, names swept tue vessel ironi end t(.) exi(t. l'he greater number of the ships company lost iaeir lives, presumably tieing burned to ,death, and 'is;. ten wjio wert saved three were badly injured and burned, H&>ti was proceeding lo a iiritish port when she struck the mine. One ot the Sl" i-ii-ors (a mess room steward) in the course 01 a statement says: A VIOLENT JAR. AbDul :jl). 1 was awakened by a violent jar- I got up and eiaiteu to dress iviien I heartl the signal lot- l»oat j stations, i then went o'ut of my f-abin into the port alleyway tv go to my eta- tion, when I was surprised to see great tongues of flame sweeping over the deck iroiu starboard. 1 imniLsiiau iy iiishcd back and told my room-mates to jet out of it at once as the ship was in fiames. I tried tu e £ «Nii>e. but we were cut off from bofli 'doors, ill the alleyway several men were on tire with burning oil. Thinking it too dangerous to remain any longer. I and the chief cook made our way through the galley iuto the star- board galteywuy, which we found equally full of smoke. The tirst man 1 met w as the chief engineer, who had rushed aft to get the firemen out. H" was badly burnt about the face and hands. By this lime the smoke and fumes, were so thick we could see nothing and recognise no- body. The fumes, which 1 took to be naptha, were choking u", The door at the lore part of the galley way was locked. I opened my pantry door and one of the engineers took a largt, axtr and tried to batten the door open, but. wa? unable h), It was now impossible to hILatlw, 1 went into my pantry and soaked one of my white jackets in water and tied it around my mouth. RRIDGE IN FLAMES. We wero beginning to loso conscious- ness. 1 augge.-iwi breaking open tl-o sky- light, which I think was done, and I lye- lieve several escaped that way. 1 made itil, way to the after-door for a tonal-try to escape, when the wind seemed tu blo..v the flames a-way. 1 got out on deck at last, and saw iiie chief, third, and fourth en- gineers, the third officer and the appcen- tice, ul?o a greaser and the cook. Fhis yvas on the starboard <side. We had to cross to tho port tide, as the fire and smoke begun to envelope U-. i stumbled over several charred bodies on the deck. Tlve boats appeared to ha\e I weii burnt, one of which I tiaw floating away ou iire. 'ihe whole oi the bridge and cabin were in flames. We sighted a desirover, and then jumped over 'the side. We wera picked mi later by a boat from the de- stroyer. Whilst swimming to the Ixiat I particularly noticed our Ik>ws toio-r-coueu in. The chief engineer and third engineer were badly burnt, so also vus a greaser. We owe our lives, 1 think, to remaining in the alleyway, as the heat and Haines on deck were terrific. It was' impossible to keep our feet on deck owing to the heat." COOK'S THRILLING STORY. I Another survivor the ship's cook) says: I retired ;ibokit a.Ili., and at 2.50 a.m. I was awakened by a jarring srnnd. Thinking we had been torpr deeu 1 slipped out of bed, pulled on my working trousers and a oinglet. 1 threw my shoie-c-oat and tiousers over my arm and put on a life- belt. In about a minute I was out in the alleyway. This was already a mass oi flame and isnioke. One or two men were nulling about on fire. One of them brushed against the steward's boy, and, I think, set him on fire. In company with the steward I rushed through the alley- way into the .starboard alleyway. This was also lull of smoke, which I think was really gas, generated by naphtha. In this alleyway were gathered several men. One or two went down overcome by the futmes I heard them moaning. I can't say how the other men saved their lives; this is how I saved mine. I got a cloth somewhere, and had it' over my mouth and nose, but it was of little avail. I went down, but managed to get up again. I etaggered into somewhere which proved to be a lavatory. LAST TO GET OUT. Several men were here also su ffocat- ing like myself. Someone had all axe, and attacked the alleyway door, but it was no good. I went down again, as I thought for good. 1 could not breathe. Af, I fell my hand caught something, which proved to be a tiush lavatory. I pushed my face in here and threw salt r water over it. I am positive this saved j mv life. I gasped out Water, boys," and the other fellows who heard rue did the same. We were all pretty nearly mad j about now, some VL-tde a r.. h and get ) through a skylight or something on the, bout deck. I rushed along the all«>~ way and got out on deck. The wind, or else the ship bearing round, had blown the flames over to the port side. All the men who were landed safely seem to have made their escape at that time out of the alleyway. I was the last man to got out. and I found them all on deck. The flames swept over the starboard side again in a few seconds, eo we ran across to to port side. It was red hot here: we put our iML over the rails and shouted as loudly as possible, and in a Jew minutes a destroyer came up and lowered- a boat. We jumped into the water and were picked up. The chief engineer, third en- gineer and first greaser were admitted lo the hospital badly burnt. SAVED BY A DESTROYER. -N,,It nl,)T.e than two minutes could have elar|>sed from the time I was awak- ened until we were picked up by a des- troyer. The ship was a roaring furnace in about two minutes. When we got cn deck we saw a lifeboat in the water just like a pice vi charcoal." Soon after the survivors were picked up by the des- troyer ?me BriÜsh patrol ve'-M?s and tegs arrived on the &cen€. The vessel was at that time biasing from head to stern and flames were leaping from the holds to a height of about 100 feet. The heat was so great and the condition IIf the vessel such that it was only with the- utmost difficulty that towing hawsers cculd be got on board and made fast. The I3.gar.i'ê was on fire, and cart- ridges %-er'f- a exploding. EventuaDy haw- sers were made fast, and an attempt he- sran to tow the vessel in thore with a tie v. to beaching her. It was. for f-nyoue to remain on board to aieer.- the i flaming craft which made towing a..great uifficuly, owing to the heavy fide which was running. In.the course of the#towing operations a mine exploded and severed one of the tow-ropes, while a second, mine zileo blew up a few yards from the boiler. Just after sunset the vr.c,cl was trot into comparatively low water, but af s he was still blazing and did not appear to be sinking, n torpedo boat fired several 4hot- just below her watpr line. Even this did not have the desired • effect, and it was not until the next .morning tlint the ves- sel was benched and the fire extinguished.

I tTALY'S SEA POWER. The Crippling of the Austrian Navy. Rome. Friday (receircd Saturday). the end of to-day "s sitting the Chamber passed with,threat enthus- iasm a resolution of congratulation to Commanders Polk?-mi and Eisao. pira). land the officers and crews conccrned in the recent ck-jtrnction of the Ana* Itrian warships.—Replying the Mini- jfctef of Marino said ho was almost cer-* :fain that in addition if the great leliip admitted by tho enemy, two ¡er5 iave been destroyed or eeri- jcasly damaged. A dreadnought has lbeen seriously damaged and a super- .drea?dn,yo  ht sun l,- i dreadnought sunk, without co'untm'g deefroywts and submarines in | Im1->lô numbeI'6. I I .a; 'j

TO-DAY'S ALLOTMENT HINT. I Where not already finished the earth- up of the main crop potatoes should t be taken in hand before the plants get +P.o large; if delayed too long monr of j the tuber-bearing runners will be broken in the process, and the crop consequently veducod. Many beginners make the mis- take of earthing up too high up the stems, with the result that only a narrow ridge is formed. The growing tubers push out through these- narrow ridges, and hv remaining on the surface, ami tie- ini; exposed to the light. Inxome green. I and consequently of les6 value. The aim in earthing up potatoes should be to form a good wide rooting medium for the tubers, and if the soil is pulled up to the stems to a height of not more than eight inches, good wide ridges will he formed, provided a reasonable distance has been ]pft between the rows. Those who have a few rows of earlies nearly ready to get up, should not be too J anxious ro lift their plants. The largest i tubers can easily be found by the Partli being cracked or bulged round them, These may be removed and the plants left | to finish bearing, as at this eariy date all 'he tubers are not fully grown, and if the plants are lifted a loss of food i, the re- suit. Grower.

"BANKER" AT CWMGORSE. At Pontardawe on l'rjday. Thomas Richard* Thomas Williams, and Giirt j Jenkins, Gwaun-cae-gurwen. were fined "hanker" at Cwrogorse. Wm, David Jones and John 1 Evan Davics.of Ystalyfera. were also for the same offence. j

GERMAN DYES. Sir .Albert Stanley announced at a meeting of leading dye user* in Man- Chester yesterday, that the Governmenir have decided to prohibit the import of foreign dyes lor ten years except under licence. To meet Ihe cost of extensions j of plant and buildings and research, the Government arc prepared to make lonas and. giants to dye manufacturers on CP"- tain conditions.' The Board of Trade have cohip to the coiiclu'-iositrdhat if & operation is adopted the Hritih dye in- dustry can bo placed un a r< a?onKMy wide and sure basis to resist German after-war competition. A resolution was parsed approving of an immediate arnal- ganlation of the principal dye makers of ,he country. 4

-1 YOU- LAZY OLD THING." lie never worked; never work, and does nothing but walk the roads. said Rosina James. Old-road. Skev.cn, 10 the Neath magistrates on Friday, in cup- pott of her application for a s-eparation cr!ler, 1 d<m't want any inon?y." ?ai? ap- plieant., 1 only want to get rid of him." And she's done her best." said David, j She has tried to scald me to dealh witli boiling water, and thrown heaps of cup-, saucers, and plat-e-s at my head." Applicant said she kept a little grocer's shop, and that was the way she oould get a living for herself and tLe six children. 1 And don't I help your No, you lazy old thing. I have had 1 j in have parish relief, and he was sent to jail for it." Defendant: I went to jail because I was too late. I-liQ ratp,4' ( The Magistrates' Clerk: No, no, my man; they don't send people to prison for heing too late, (Laughter). Defendant said he worked for his wife j i: the shop, and only got his food lor it. He pushed a perambulator to Clyda--o and Morriston selling cabbages for her, and brought hack the money. The Bench made the order to 10s. a vleck maintenance.

I RATION BOOKS I 83,000,000 TO BE ISSUED 700 TONSJJF PAPER Since tli-e 1 j ii 1 ood its work two thousand imliioii tonus have [ been printed and distributed. oue btt of tonus out ol the wliok* number i Have had to be cancelled, the loss beiug | jess than £ 50. i-rr-sned, including individual !>ooks and i iuppiementary il\)'.Jk s granted to agricul- tural labjuie: munition wor^ero, and tf-o.-o engaged cn iieavy work, it is ei- poctcu mat 700 ton- oi papers rill be used in their manutact urc. Nearly LvXM person-, are engaged in lhe niauu:acture ot the beioks. The book for the general public cou- tains !> pages—orange coloured for sugar, blue for 'ais. red tor' meal a £ d bacuu, brov.ii and blue !r other fouda whicil may be rationed, and green for reiereuce purposes. A specijl book hue been )??ti'<! ÙH', l'hdd!'lIt. Tbesupplcmentaty b?okb contain u bacon page ?md a s.pe page. Each book is numbered and bear* a code or reference letter so that it can be traced without diiffculty. A special process of photogravure and special ink are being used in tue. prun- ing of the coloured pages, which a, e covered with delicate design wiiich should prove a great deterrent to would-be formers. CONTROL OF FRUIT. From Monday next Lord Rhundda con- trols tlie disposition and the wholesale prices of strawberries, raspberries, and black and red currants in the United Kingdom. The fruit crop, he says, is (-on- siderably below the average, and there- tore he has earmarked the bulk ot it for jam.

MEN OF 50. Called Up for Medical Examination. The DirectOT^Geto.ral of National Ser- vice has issued an Order for the calling- up for mciical examination of the last, classes 01 men affected by the recent Military Service Act. viz- those born in the years 18'iS. and 1869.

GREATER SWANSEA. Why L'ancam!et Labour- Ccwncil is Opposing. At kite instance ot tll. Llansanilet Trades and Labour Council. Mr. Jobii Williams. M.P., will oppo-c tli* I.Ùt! GQyernuwHt .Provi«ionai OrÙ r, hich )ru"jdN< for the exteaeion of Swansea IvX'UBdariee. A deputation from Council narufd lias waited on the lion, iiiei.ilier.' request- ing him to take 'hi- action with a view t-> getting a better division of the Llan- ),>ett(-r (ii- of tije 1,1,in- that the proposal*, as tiiey stand. in- flict a greet injustice on the locality." Mr. John Willams's opposition will be withdrawn if term- can be arranged. The Order is not expected to come on for pro- bably a fortnight

QUOTA REACHED. Aberavon's Investments in the Tank. The Tank ojiened oil the second day (Saturday) at Port Tallrtot and Aberavon with excellent pro* [>eets of far exceeding the town's quota. The. opening ceremony w tus performed by Mr. Sidney B, of the Mansel Tinplate Works, and he gave a splendid start witli a cli-equf, tor £ i0,00rt. CalJl. Pre, ton, ,chairm:n of Ü), .Margallí Council, presided. Mr. Byass gave a 6.peeeh, apJIt.aling to all to out their money in the Tank. They could be of good cheer, bec<ius<* they were going to beat and thrash the iiun com- pletely. Boys at the Front, were very, cheerful. They heard not b in thpre of pessimism. A vote of thanks was proj)osed by Mr. Kdwin'Lowther, and seconded by Aid. J. M. Smith. Mayor of Aberavon. 1? The indicator was raided .-hor.iy after Ihe opening to x'Ml.000. the iown's quota. A ntong the largej- sums Copper Miners' the company's emi>loyes, Mr. J Michaelstone, Whit worth Estate, Uo,(lOil; Aberavon Mutual Building Society, ei.500. In order tc create enthusiasm in the Valley a largely-attended meeting wus ad- dressed at Pontrhydyfen, on Friday e-veil- ing by Messrs. Joseph Thoma.s. Percy Jacobs, and L. M. Thomas

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS. Imports— £ 12o,8y3,oSl increase over HIL-, Jc3fe.257.8tj9. Exports— J;H.%7.221; iiicr(-a,e 1917. £ ') .529,9ti5..

JAPS LAND AT SWATOW. Tokio. Juiie 12th (received Saturday).— It. is officially aiii-iounced that owing to. the di-tnr'oed conditions prevailing at Swr.fow. Japanese Marine6 were landed tilere on Sunday evening.

A GAME OF CARDS. At Xeath on lrida;" Thomas Francis. John Llewellyn, James Williams, anfl John Jenkins, four R-e>olVen colliers, were siunmone^l for playing a game of nap in a public: place. P.C..Tones, MeJ, ^aid he saw them sitting in a circle, playing nap, and pa,,sing Wli(,n he approached thev ran away. Francis was fined as., ami the other lfton, wijo"dO not appear, 7s. (id.

LOOKING AHEAD. Sir Auckland Geddes, in an interview with the chairman of the Bristol Tri- bunal. said he had settled down to meet the urgent need for men for a year or two longer, and expected tribunals to do the same thing. Younger men, he adèed. could not be removed to the fightihg forces until older men had been trained to do their work. but younger men were being called up as well as older, There were 60.000 fewer men in Govern- ment departments than the, were three years affo.

At Llandovery on Friday, Dariee., butcher, Cilycwm, was charged tnth po-in? v?al for coMu?pt?n. contrary to ■ the m-o'r?ons of t?s I,lv?. ?t"c? H?ttno. t'ons. He was ordered to par tko c oaft.

REPATRIATION. Anglo-German Conference Making Good Progress. Amsterdam, Saturday.—In well-in- formed circles at the Hague it is stated that the Anglo-German conference i- making good progress, and agreement may be reached within a few days. The principle of a man for man re- patriation for men over 18 months' cap- tivity has been adopted by both sides. Exchange

THE JO iSs CASE. I Second Arrest Effected iv Cornwall. There w-is an important development on Friday of the in which Sir Joseph, Jonas. ex-Lord Mayor of Sheffield, stands remanded at Row-street on a charge of conspiring to contravene the Official Se- crets Act, by obtaining and communicat- ing information which mizht C> useful to an enemy, and information relating to (1 prohibited place and to things therein. It took t-lie forni of a :-eeond arrest, which was effected at ?ve,wguay. Cornwall, the pri«»onep toins: Chirles Alfred$~ernon. a irl <'? b#j; £ ?t" .pa?pl?y? p.i ??e Mini?- tr? cf ,'Jumbon PROCEEDINGS AT BOW STREET. At Bow-stret^ on Saturday morning, Cha-s. Alfred Vernon (37), described as a t. manufacturer, was charged on a warrant for having on divers dates, IWwe-en Sept- ember. 11)13, and June, 191S. conspired with Ii- J. Jonas and with other divers person*, with contravening the Official Secrets A.-t ]'III, by ol,tainj*i,, and com- municating information prejudicial to the interest, of the State, and likely to be useful, to the enemy. Only evidence of arrest was given. Accused was remanded, hail being al- lowed in the eum (If £GOft.

NEW WEST CROSS PASTOR. I I Reoognition cervices in connection with tlw ir« Taction of tho Rev. Medley Samuel as pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, West Cross, were held on Thurs- day. The chair was taken by the Rev. Lister Gaunt. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. H. A. Beynon Phillips (Pantygwydr), H. J. Willougtyby, E. Worthing, W. Samuel (Morriston), and Mr. A. E. Fursland. j

WRANGLE" OVER SWAG. Turkey Wants the Black Sea I Fleet. Anusterdan, Friday. Some of the atribltions of Turkey are mentioned by the. Constantinople corre- spondent of the >veser Gazette." The Turkish Pte^s is demanding that the captured Rusrian fleet should tic handed over to Turkey, but the corre- spondent declare* the 11 eel. was c;:p- t'rcd by German tt-oops, and Turkey must come to an arrangiment with the German Army Command, r Turkish papers.also inland the ziti nexation of the- Crimea, bnt the corre- spondent. says Turkey would not he able I to defend it again*! the Russians.—Reuter.