South Wales Weekly Post

PRISONERS AND I GUNS. Welcome Russian Success. Enemy Driven Back Southwards. Heavy Firing Near Ypres. TWO ZEPPELINS DESTROYED. (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, Thursday Afternoon. The night was calm on the whole of the trout. BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- QUARTERS, 0 FRANCE, 8.47 p.m. In the neighbourhood of Souchez and in the southern half of the Ypres salient the enemy artillery was very active dur- ing the morning. Elsewhere intermittent artillery activ- ity has continued on both sides. GERMAN REPORT. I. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) BERLIN, Wednesday, Jan. 3. j With the improving light lively art.il-1 lery activity developed in the afternoon in the Meuse region. In Bois-de-Pretre patrols of the 93rd Landwehr Infantry Regiment penetrated as far as the third line of French trenches, and returned with twelve prisoners after having destroyed the defensive works.

THE "TANKS" IN ACTION. REALISTIC PICTURES SHEWN AT SWANSEA. The latest series of films issued trader the auspices of the War Office aire of the Battle of the Ancre, and were shown at the Carlton I Om em a, Swansea, at, a private view on Thursday morning, aild created a very great I impression. < They aire described as incomparably the finest and most realistic pictures of the kind I ever seen, avud will be first shown to the generaJ poiblic on February 24th. rhe outstanding feature of the picture is a wonderful pour tray al of the way the t "tanks" go to work, showing these awe- inspiring engines of war in action.

THREE SWANSEA PORTERS. SHIRTS STOLEN AT THE I L.N.W. I At Swansea on Thursday, Frederick Chas. ,I Diment, John Powell, and William John Owen, railway porters, surrendered to answer charges of alleged theft of goods from the goods Shed lif the L. and NAY. Railway Oo mpa-ny. The oane in which the three defendants were charged with the alleged theft of five gents shirts, value 20s., the property of the company, between October 1st and December 28th, was taken first. Mr. Rupert Lew, in ope.nM?, ,a.id that Pttty ]Jlit?ng on the railway -??as geUing \?rv seno?. indeed, and it wa.s with groat difncutty that the real Idenders could b? traced. De tee ti\'e Ins{or A. D&rreU (? the MTnpa-nv) gave evidence, and ?i,? he saw a. parcel of shirts secreted in the company's ?rd. Witness watched it from day to dt?y, and on December 28th ne saw defendant I Ddment taking it ?a.y. ?efenda-nt then I had two (Aber pa;r( ds ?nder Jus arm. Witness went to defendant* s house, where he was told he would fi.114 tile thijigs. Two shirts were, found in a bedroom- Defendant ad- mitted that he hnd taken the shirts from a 'J?a.rcet at the station a short time ago. Wit- rmws arrested defendant Powell on another chaige, a#d when his house visited two JJUrt3 bimiJar to the !a?t two were found. tile defendant Owen w..s l??r arrested, and j ?c :!?ed witness to his house, whan he wonM ove htkn (witness) all he had. Witness also tere found a shirt similar to the last four, filiis defendant also admitted that the shirt I 65; from a parcel in the station. Defendants all pleaded guilty, and ex-, ?ea&ed their sorrow. A fine of 408. or 21 days was imposed in ttch case. The other charges were not gone 1

RUMANIA "PRESSED BACK SOUTHWARDS." ENEMY REVERSE IN RUMANIA. RUSSIANS TAKE PRISONERS AND GUNS. I (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) PETROGRAD, Thursday. The official communique reports the capture by the Russians on the Ruma- nian front of 300 prisoners, three cannon, 60 machine-guns, aod some mine-throwers and bemb-tfrrowers. This success resulted from an attack! I on the enemy's position south of the mountains of Botoch. I (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) PETROGRAD, Wednesday. On the Moldavian frontier the enemy, twice Assumed the off ensive on the sector extending from the village Cotumba as far as the valley of the R-iver Sultza and south i beyond it, brat everywhere he wa-s repulsed by our fire. In this region we Regained a portion of the trenches lost by us yesterday on one of the heights. The Rumanians are conducting attack.* north of the (River (six miies east oi the Hungarian frontier)., The enemy in the m u-ning ntt&cked the Rumanians east of Sopchan (on the upper s.ream of the Hiv?' Susitwi), but was beaten ba?k and puued by cavalry. The enemy withdrew in a westerly direction. During the day the enemy resumed his :.ttiK? w1th sup?ftor ? forces, ;md pr?-ed bak the Rum?mans to their former posltion. Under the cover of a drum fire bombard- ment with shells containing asphyxiating gas, the enemy, I I In close formation, -1 11 -L -z, attacked along the railway soatn-w«?t oi Focsani a portion of one of our regiments. On being met by our well-directed fire the enemy hastily retired to his ov. n trenches, and did not attempt a further attack. One of our i-ifle regiments took by assault the village of Gulianka (south-west of the River Rimnie) and captured six officers, two doctors, a.nd 205 ra.nk and file, as well as five cannon and eight machine-guns, By &u attack on the part of our detach- ments the villages Kiovenu and Maksineni (south-east frcm the village of Gulianka) were also captured. The enemy detachments which were occupying these villages were I Iresed back southwards. GERMAN CLAIMS. I (Admiralty, per "Wireless Press. ) BERLIN. Wednesday JNignt. j Macin and Jijila, in the Dobrudja, have been captured. (Note.iijila is six miles north-west of Macin, and five miles north-east of Braila.) BRAILA CRAIN TRANSFERRED. GENEVA, Wednesday. Large stocky of grain have been trans- ported from Braila to Ismail (sixty miles down the Dauube)!V-('f^% Express cor- > ■ • • < vi DEAríp'E5t;í'iS¡¡ ¡ ,.1 I ARMOURED CAR. (Press Association War Special.) PETROGRAD, Thursday. The version of yesterday's Russian 1 communique mentions that according to further information received: On Janutry 1st a British armoured car j advanced rapidly on the road along the I Danube, from Brailoff to Vizeron, in-, flitting heavy losses on the enemy. i

• i A LITTLE OVER FIVE MILLIONS. j SWANSEA TRADE IN 1916. 11 BIG DROP IN COAL. I 't' t bl" We arc now in a position to publish. ofricial returns of Swansea trade during the p^6t year. Total imports and exports reached 5,14õ,133 tons compared with 5,876,477 tons I in 1915 and 6,091,657 tons in 1914. In the injperts tar and pitch have de- created 10,000 tons on the ye ir; copper, silver, lead, tin ores, 1,000 tons, zinc ore, 3,000 tons iron ore, 15,000 tons; iron, steel, pig iron. 50,000 tons sulphur ore, pyrites, and chemicals have increased 45,000 tons. Total imports, 687,538 tons, compared with &09,003 tone, in 1915. The Slump in Coal. j Chief exports were as follows (tons) 1915. 1916. j Coal and coke 3,804,286 3,225,995 Patent fuel 713,300 817,3781 Tiniplates I 376,185 309,550 Flour, grain and po- tatoes 12,970 15,226, The pa,t-ent, fuel shipments are particularly satisfactory, being over 100,000 tons increase and being the second largest on record. The record patent fuel shipments were in 1913 when the total was 924,731 tons. Last month's trade totalled 281,316 tons, 1■ as against 412,839 tons in December, 1914. I

SWANSEA OFFICERS MENTIONED IN HAIG'S j DISPATCHES. Included in the list of Welsh -officers' names in Field Marshal Haig's second hon- I oifrs'list is that of Captain D. Percy Davies, son of the Mayor and Mayoress of Swansea (Alderman and MNI. David Davies), who is bracketted with the name of Major J. Y. Baldwin in the "mentions" for the Army Cyclist Corps. Thprfc are only twelve names in this section. Captain Davies joined up as a private the first month of the war and has been in France since November, 1915. f SWANSEA COLONEL'S SON. Lapt. A. V. mclaír, son of Col. A. Sin- clair, himself a veteran volunteer officer, who is included in the list, was one of the young officers attached to the Swansea Battalion on its formation. He went out to France with the Welsh Regiment but subsequently was placed in charge of a machine gun section, where it is known he proved him- self a highly efficient officer. He was with the Welsh Division when it left for France in November, 1915. SWANSEA R.F.A. LIEUTENANT. I Included m the long list of heroes mentioned in Sii, Douglas Haig's des- Ktches is the name of Lieut. W. R. Lewis of the R.F.A., and son of Mr. Dyer Lewis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, 2,' St. Helen's-crescent). The success- ful young officer was trained for the Army before the outbreak of war, and was an undergraduate at Cambridge when he entered active cr- vice with the artillery. He has seen much fighting, and his many friends will be pleased to hear of his suemsa.

GREECE. STILL DEFtANT. ———— ———— TINO'S "STRONG OPPOSITION." ITALY TIRED OF INACTION. —— ATHENS, Wednesday. The King to-day received the ex- Premiers, with whom he consulted on the subject of the Allied Note. Accord- ing to the newspapers, after the ex- Premiers had given their opinions the King expressed strong opposition to the demands of the Entente Ministers hav- ing reference to military matters. Nevertheless, the Press believes that an arrangement RXill possible. The Government has decided to enter into negotiations with the Ministers of the Entente through the intermediary of the Italian Minister, who visited to-day the Minister for Foreign Affairs.- "Morning Post" Correspondent. ITALY" FED UP." I TOO MUCH DIPLOMATIC OSCILLATION. 10 ROME, Wednesday. The Italian Press is not enthusiastic about the Triple Entente's Note to Greece. It is noticeable that, the ?-parat^ Italian Note, while affirming Italy's genE-ral solidarity with the Allies, expressly dissociates Italy from the measures of an internal character men- tioned in paragraph 4 of their Note. The newspapers continue to express ap- proval of Baron Sonnino's differentiation of Italian policy in Greece from that of the three Protecting Powers. This difference of action, they argue, is good diplomacy, I whereas, according to them, the Allies are pursuing a quixotic policy without corres- j ponding compensations. It is useless, says the Messaggerc, to at- tempt a settlement of the Greek question as long as the Allies' diplomacy o.c;c.Hlat.e.<¡ be- tween seoni-agreereent with King Constan- j tine atfid semi-illusion about M. Venizelo.t- (" Morning Post" correspondent.)

.0 HAIRDRESSERS AND 1 11 TAWE LODGE." GUARDIANS TAKE EXCEP- J TION TO LETTER. Swansea "Tawe lodge Visiting Com- j mittee met on Wednesday, Mr. Abe Freed- niar. presiding. The thanks of the committee were accorded Mr. H. Stndt for so generously entertaining the inmates at liis IY, iitter Garden.* on New Year's Day they all had a very good time, j Re getting a barber for the institution, great exception was taken by those present, to a letter that had beeg received from t,he.¡ secretary of the Hairdressers' Association (who had been written to as to prices, terms, etc.), in which lie stat-edthat the conditions for negotiating for the work were unfavonr- able,, and unless a guarantee could be given as to the hygienic and sanitary arrangements being satisfactory, the work could not be undertaken. j As this was regarded as easting a. slur upon the institution-) the clerk was instructed to write and <mk for an explanation. Mr. Alf. George said the House should be ruled from withan and not witho-Lit. Others were of the opinion the letter had been taken in a wrong 'ight. Nvar, L-a;? i s f ar-- Tht? report of Graig Home' was patisfa?- tory, and the children had spent a very liappy Christmas.

?THE KING AND MYSELF." I MR. TRUEMAN'S LATEST PROCEEDINGS. THE RESUMED HEARING AT NEATH. At Nebth County Police Court on Thurs- day the hearing was resumed in the action brought against Brinley Richards, a local draper, by Clement Robert Trueman, the well-known litigant, who alleged certain fraudulent transactions against the defend- ant in connection with the letter's bank- ruptcy. Ms. F. Shipton represented the defend- ant. Mr. W. B. Trick, J.P., auctioneer and val-tier, Ne-ath, was the first witness called by the prosecutor, who subpoenaed him to give eviden. with regard to the alleged business transactions between witness and defendant. Mr. Trick produced some books and said that because his clerk was with the colours he could not find any other books dealing with business transactions with defendant. During his cross-ex-imination, Mr. Trick remarked to prosecutor, When you say we want to know this or that, whom do you mean by we ? Mr. Trueman H.M. the King and-my--etf. (Laughter.) Mr. Shipton A-hot about justice? Mr. Trueman I represent justice. (Re- newed laughter.) Mr. Shipton I am sorry. Mr. Trueman You will be. Mr. Trick, in further evidence, said that he owed defendant nothing and defendant had not paid him any losses in respect of a money lending transaction. When the court resumed Mr. Trueman, ad- dressing the Bench, said that if the justices thought this was an action which ought not to have been brought fte was prepared to leave the responsibility in the hands of their Worships. The Chairman replied that the magis- trates could form no opinion until they had heard all the evidence. Wanted His Exes" First. I An amusing incident occurred when a wit- ness, Sidney Thomas, was called hy prosecu- tor. The witness refused to be sworn until he had received his expenses. Mr. Trueman What will it cost me? Witness: Half-a-guinea a day. Mr. Trueman 1"111 very sorry that your evidence is not worth it. I Eventually, however, Mr. Trueman gave witness a, 10s. note and witness then pro- l ceeded to give his evidence. I I

SWANSEA VOLUNTEERS AND THE I WHIST DRIVE. In connection with the great Swansea, I whist drive next week, Major Perkins, the Officer Commanding the 3rd Giain. Volunteers, has offered a special prize valued half-a-guinea for the member of his battalion who makes tho highest aggregate, and in addition has granted I permission for the wearing of uniform on any of the three nights. J

PETTICOAT IN- FlUiiSE. ft WAR OFFICE AND THE LADY. YOUNG LIEUTENANT VINDICATED. I OFFICERS CENSURED. I < Much speculation was aroused some mouths ago when Mr. Lloyd George, then Secretary for War, asked the House of Commons to pass a special Act of Par- liament for the purposes of an investiga- tion of certain matters concerning, in addition to officers, civilians, whose names were not disclosed. The Army (Courts of Inquiry) Act was passed with- out any public intimation as to the iden- tity of the persons concerned. The Court sat at the Westminster Guildhall during September and October. In a statement as to the action taken h", the War Office as a result of the, inquiry, made by Mr. Ian Macpherson, the new Under-Secretary for War, in the House of Commons on December 22, the names of those concerned were made; known, and an unnamed woman was re- ferred to. Mr. Macpherson then pro- mised that the w hole of the Court's find- ings should be made public. They were published on Wednesday night as a Par- liamentary paper [Cd. 4835]. The lady implicated in the case "to use Mr. Mac- pherson's phrase—in Mrs. Cfornwallis- West, wife of Colonel William Cornwailis- West, of Rtit),in Clg.tle, Denbighshire. The Court inquired into two cases, and their Reports are printed below. The first case concerned the granting of a corn mission to Sergeant P. Barrett. Koyal Welsh Fusiliers, and his removal from one battalion of the regi- ment to another. This removal followed a letter of remonstrance seat to Mrs. r Corn wahi s-lr est by Second Lieutenant Ba ri-ett. who had "consistently failed to respond to "a more than ordinary 111- terest which she had taken in him, the cii-eii in stance. of which were fully re- ported in Wednesday's Post." The following summary indicates very briefly the findings of the Court of Inquiry and the action taken by the Secreta.rv for War. as already stated by Mr. Macpher- son Second-Lieutenant P. Ba.rrett.-Found wholly undeserving of censure congratulated by the Secretary for War on his complete vindication. General Sir W. H. M'ickinnon (formerly G.O.C. Western Commandi.Actuated by good intentions, but showed want of judg- ment and discretion in intervening in a dis- ciplinary matter which had ceased to concern him. Has now retired under the age clause. Lieu tenant-General Sir J. Cowans, Quar- termaster-General. -His correspondence with Mrs. Cornwallis-Wsst .ibout the case showed indiscretion and was a departure from official propriety. In view of distinguished war ser- i vice he is retained for the present in his i position, but he has been informed of the i displeasure of the Government at his action, Lieutenant-Colfenal Removed from cornmant1. com- manding 3rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.—Acted hastily, harshly,, and. improperly and. in- fluenced by a lady of. position in the county; denied justice to one of his own junior officers. Has been removed from- his com- officers. Has be-eji reTnoT, -ej d froin- hiF- c,>M maud. 'u- Mrs. Cornwallis-West.—Found to have acted in a. highly discreditable manner and to have given untruthful evidence. Her prominent connection with county associa- tions and war work in Denbighshire con- sidered regrettable. Mr. and Mrs. Nrcli.-C)vemta-ted their case with some indiscretion, but, on the whole, rendered a notable public service by their defence of a friendless young officer iMr. Barretts General Owen Thomas Commended. the second case concerned lion. Lieuten- ant-Colonel (late Brigadier-General) Owen Thomas, who. formerly commanded a Welsh Brigade which he had largely raised, and afterwards had command of a Reserve Bri- gade, of which he was relieved last June. The Court, comment on the action in this matter of Colonel T. A. Wynne-Edwards, to whom jealousy of his Brigade Commander is attributed; Sir J. Cowans; Lieutenant- General Sir W. P. Campbell, whose judicious conduct, save on a minor point, is com- mended Lord French, an ambiguous letter from whom is criticised; and Mrs. Corn- wallis- West. The Court thinks sense of ill- treatment not unjustifiably rankles in Briga- dier-General Thomas' mind, and suggest some appropriate recognition of his valuable service. Lord Derby has since publicly thanked him for his great services in xecruit- ing Welsh regiments. THE LADY. FORMER RIVAL OF LILY LANGTRY. Mrs. Cornwallis-WTest is 61 years of age. She is the daughter of Lady Olivia Fitz- patrick and grind-daughter of the second Marquis of Head fort. In her girlhood she was a famous Irish beauty. She was Mrs. Langtry's great rival in soci ety, and sat several times to Forbes- Robertson, the painter. Her marriage took place when she was 17, and she was a grand. mother at 36. Her husband. Colonel William Comwallis- West, is 82 years of age and has been Lord. i Lieutenant for Denbighshire for 43 years. His seat, Ruthin Castle, has always been a centre of social activities. He owns 10,000 acres, is an art connoisseur, and is hon. col- onel of the 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusil- iers. He assumed the additional name of Cornwallis by deed noil in 1895.

STRUGGLE ON DOCK- SIDE. SWANSEA LABOURER'S DIP IN THE WATER. At Swansea, on Thursday, John MeNamee, laibourer, was charged on remand with at- tempting to commit suicide by throwing him- self into the North Dock on Decmber 14th, J916. Evidence was given by William Rickard, a foreman employed at one of the warehouses at the North Dock, who saw defendant come to the dockside and jump in. A workman secured him by his clothing with a boat- hook and lifted him out of the water. De- fondant shouted out, "Let me go," but after Oille difficulty he WiOO got to the dockside. It took four of them to hold him down. Special Constable E. T. Rich said that in company with .Special Constable Rees ;ic took defendant into custody. Defendant was later taken to the Workhause. In his pos- session was found a card written as follows Dear J. S.,—I hope I haven't disgraced you. You can find out aloout me in Ty- U Detective A. Eynon spoke of aIr-resting defendant at the Workhouse just as he was aibout to be discharged. Defendant told him I' he did not know what he was doing. He had lost his head, being worried a little. I Defendant now said that he had been driven to do it by employes with him on his job. They had put him down on the job and in his lodgings as a "policeman's spy," and they had got at him in such a way at his lodgings that he bad got nervous. Defendant was committeed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions.

"POLL TOGETHER." 0 HAIG TO THE WORKERS. ALLIES REPLY TO AMERICA. I Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig has I ,written to Mr. Ben Tillett: BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- I QUARTERS, FRANCE, Dec. 22. I Dear Mr. Tillett,—Thank you very much for your letter and good wishes. You can tell labour at home that the best of all Christmas presents that they can make to their comrades in the field is the assurance that so far as in them lies nothing during the coming year I shall hinder the regular, constant, and increasing output of munitions and material. The workers have done splendidly in 1 the past. We look for even greater I efforts in the future. If the men and women workers at home and the troops in the trenches p1111 together the triumph of our cause is certain. With every good wish Believe me, yours very truly. D. HAIG. OUR REPLY TO U.S.A. THE ONLY PRELIMINARIES TO NEGOTIATION. The reply of the Allies to President Wilson's Note will be published perhaps a couple of days after it is in the hands of the President, says Renter. It seems likely that in again going over the ground for the responsibility of the war the Allies on this occasion will also emphasise the only possible terms of peace. It will thus be in contrast to the Teply to the German Note, which was pur- posely negative in character, rehearsing the conditions of peace that would not be acceptable. In the answer to the American Note it may be expected that the Allies will go further ,than this and indicate to the United States Government in more precise I fashion the only preliminaries on which they would be prepared to negotiate. "THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE US." M FRENCH MOTHER'S VIEWS I ON PEACE. FOR THE PACIFISTS TO PONDER OVER. PARIS, Tuesday. M. Gustave Herve in "La Victoire prints the following letter written him by the wife of a working man—perhaps a country labourer:— December 23, 1916. Sir, I've lost a brother of twenty-five and my husband was called- up at the beginning of the war, and he's at the front, where the fighting is; and since he's heel\ gone we're not often able to keep very ivarm, and we've not always got enough to -eat when we're hungry. But. sÜ, we don't w!mt peace, though it would mean that w6FAoiild have more money again wf3've got children, and though we're only working people we I don't want them to have to I Fight in ten or fifteen years; and that's what would be sure to happen. And there's my husband, and he's had enough of this war, hut he'll go on fighting as long as he's got to. so as to give those Germans a good thrashing and make them have the kind of peace that we won't have to worry about the children. And it isn't only my husband that feels like that, sir. he says all the others are just the same. Of course there's grumbling sometimes, and people aren't quite satisfied with things, but, sir, you mustn't think that we want peace because of that; indeed we don't. When we saw in the naoers that they I were talking about peace my next-door neighbour, who has three children, said t'o l' m e,, "These dirty Huns, I They are trying ,'°, have us." And arter unat we man t so much as mention it again, we thought it was so stupid. And then there come people who have got education who seem to be taking it seriously. Sir. they haven't got any children or else they don't love them, because they would sooner their I1 children had to fight than them. Sir, you needn't worry, the soldiers who've got children, and the women who are left behind and. who are work- ing to take the father's place, they'll hold out as long as is wanted, a year more or even two, so that the little children won't have to see this sort of thing later on. I am, dear sir, yours very respect- fllllv. M IMrs. H I -1- ————

STRUCK BY CART SHAFT. I CART AND LORRY COLLIDE AT NEATH. I An in-quest was held at Swansea on a ed 29, of Wednesday on Thomas Morgan, aged 29, of 56, Cecil-)?treet. Neath, who died at the Swansea Hospital on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a street accident at Ncath. Dr. Wood (Swansea Hospital) said de- ceased was semi-conscious when admitted on I the 1st January with injuries to the body. After an operation deceased died within five minutes from internal hemorrhage. Benjamin Morgan, Westboume road, Neath, manager of the Melincrythan Co- operative Stores, an eye-witness of the acci dent, which occurred a/bout 1.25 p.m. on January 1st, said he saw a motor-lorry be- longing to Mr Glover coming m the direction of Neartjh, and alsp saw a green-grocer's cart [ coming ailong behind. The car kept a straight j [ course, and the driver of the cart, thijik-ing he would not have enough room to pasa on his right side, since there was a bend in the road a little way on, swerved to the wrong side of the road and both collided. The left hand wheel of the cart was knocked off and the driver, still clinging to the reins, was pitched out. Witness thought the speed of the car was indiscreet (he nad estimated it at 20 miles an hour) on a-ccount of the state of the road, though not excessive. James Lappam, 16, Cattle-street, Neath, the driver of the cart, accounted for the fact of his being on his wrong side through his effort to avoid a collision. Philip Jenkins, 21, Ethel-street, Neath, driver of the lorry, also gave his version of the affair, and in answer to Chief Con- stable Higgins said he did not pull up be- cause he could not although he had twenty yards in which to do it. and his speed was not more than ten miles an hour. The Coroner said the evidence wa6 very confusing- It had come out that the de. oeased, who was in the lorry, was struck by the shaft. There was no evidence of man- slaughter, but evidence agreed on the point that the motor driver was not as much on his proper side as he might have been, but the evidence was very conflicting. The jury brought in a verdict of "Death from injuries accidentally received." •

AERIAL. TWO ZEPPS DESTROYED IN GERMAN SHED. AIR ACTIVITY IN GALICIA. (Reuter's War Special.) COPENHAGEN, Wednesday. The Ribe Stlftstidends 11 says that on December 28 a fire broke out In a double Zeppelin shed at Tondern (Scnleswig- H elsteln). The outbreak was probably caused by a short circuit. Both the Zeppelins in the shed were destroyed. RUSSIAN AVIATORS BUSY. (Admiraltv. per Wireless Press.) PETROGRAD, Wednesday. T,he official communique says Western Front.—Enemy neroplazie,- have displayed considerable activity, and have dropped bombs at various points. One of the machines was brought down by our ar- tillery fire near the village of Iva. south-east of the Yishnersk Lake. The aviators, an officer and a private, were taken prisoners. In the region of Pors-Kaia Vulka, south- east of Kovei, our aviators brought down two enemy aeroplanes. Both machines were smashed and the four aviators killed by the fall.

FACTS ABOUT OUR FOOD. ———- I CROPS AND CON- SUMPTION. HOW GREAT THE SHORTAGE. OUR CRITICAL PERIOD The following information in regard to the position of the food sutuply for this country will be read with considerable inter-ft. be- ing furnished by Mr. M, Jones (managing director of Messrs. Weaver and Co.. Ltd.): — The wheat crops of the world this 'ell' ar very much below those of the year 1915. The shortage is sericut;. The totals are in mil- lions of auarters. 1915. 1916. United Stat-es 108 76 Canada 47 23 Argentina. 20 I. *1 Australia.25 India;4 *40 Itidia  t <  (* Present crop.) This shows a difference of no. less than 81.000,000 quarters. British, French and Italian Crops. The crop? of the United Kingdom, Frincle anrl Italy for 1915 wfre 58,200.000 qrs., as against 56,500,000 qrs. in 1916, so that the crops of the last named countries, which are all large importers of wheat are less by 1,700,000 qrs. in 1916 than they were in 1915. According to Broom hall, during the season 1st August, 1915--31st July. 1916, import- ing countries had i-hipped to them no less than 74.4-17.000 qm. of wheat, but, this cereal year. according to the same authority, the quant,ity expected to be available for ship- ment to the importing countries, (which in- Ciude the United Kingdom, France, Italy, 1 Portugal and the neutral countries of Europe) is 55,000,000 qrs. On account of the high prices some au- thorities argue that. the consumption of bread will be less than in previous years a.nd they set this down at 10 per cent. But this is doubtful. From practical experience a Swajisea expert thinks the consumption will be greater, and not less. "And bearing in mind ihiw tne potato crop is gucn a poor one this' yicar, 1 cajunot jnia-guie a Aower con- sumpuon of bread" the says) "because lasauly the food that is substituted for bre.a.dis (potatoes. Potato Crop. The potato crop íur HHv, according to the Government re-port, for th* United Kingdom was 7,640.is4U tons; but in 1916 t4w eiop aiiiountfed to olliy 6;46tt.447 tons, showing » difference of no less than 2,071,9 tons. This is a very eerious shortage for it equals 27 per cent. of the crop of 1,415. So, as the potato crop is so short, one cannot imagine less bread being consumed, and I consider" the continues) "that the requirements in wheat of the importing countries should be quite equal to une year 1915. Provided. therefore, at the end of the cereal year the stocks of this country and the other import- ing countries should be of the same quan- tity as on the last occasion, there is a de- ficiency of 19.417,000 qrs. of wheat; but this will be reduced by about 1.000,000 qrs. by the Government's new regulation as to milling an increased percentage of flour, and may be further slightly reduced if we en- croach on our stocks by the end of the cereal year, but, being at war, it will be extremely dangerous to seriously reduce our stocks. With the continuance of the war and the submarine trouble the critical time will be a fevf months before the next harvest, wihioh in this country usually takes place towards the end of August or beginning of Septem- ber, and if we have to feel the pinch a.t all it will be during June, July, August and September. I Importance of Allotments. ( mere is a grca? movemem around Swan- sea at present for allotments, and although I do not go so far. as to say that all the parks should be ploughed up, I do think tha.t every piece of land should be planted I with potatoes and other vegetables for pota- toes can be gathered during the month cf ) July, although not of full size, it is true, and could be u when they are most urgently j wanted and so help us to tide over the short- age. Besides the shortage of crops of wheat and potatoes we have, of course, a shortage of tonnage. Ships are scarce, and as a large quantity of the wheat available has to come from Australia the võyage is very much lew- get- than from North America and Canada, from whioh countries we hare been receiving meet of our supplies for the past two years, and it will be a question whether the whole of the wheat available in Australia can be moved in time. This only makes it the more urgent that we should plant all we possibly can of crops that will bear early in this country, and I cannot imagine anything better than to ad- vooate that all the potatoes possible, and the early ones, should be put into the i ground." a

1 STOP PRESS. w m I f

"WHAT, WErt AND HOW." f USEFUL HINTS TO GROWERS. i THE WAY TO USE AN r ALLOTMENT, Questions being asked by the amateur gardener are: What to glow, when to grow, and bow to grow, and with a view of answering the saiiie a representative of the 1.)nliv Post has obtained the following opinions from Mr. A. K. Dmmmond. who has been co-opted on 'the*1 Swansea Allotments Committee:— The primary and most important points to consider Mr. Dmmmonci) axe the Adaptability of the site, nature of the soil, and por-ition of the garden. Whether ft is within the smoKo area and a con- taminated atmosphere, or whether it is ,;tu::1tpd in an o;>cn position of purer air I -• -i .slirltc-rcc! from .the prevailing winds* whether the land, is sbnHow, poor and sickly, or whether it is in good condition with a rich and deep sub-soil. All this must be well considered, as it is of vital importance and has a direct bearing upon successful cultivation. In connection with this point it is advisable to study the nature and utility of various manures and fertilizers, and their application. The condition of the land and position of the garden should be our chief guide in the selection of the crops. In speaking of town gardens generally the space is limited and conditions any- thing but encouraging. Consequently it is hopeless to grow to any extent such crops as require sppce and open air. Much, however, can be done with town gardens, and much more ought to be done. Many are lying waste through in- difference. Surely the slumberer at thif critical time will arouse himself from lethargy, and put his heart, and soul into cultivating whatever is within his reach, beginning at home first, at the safiijPtime cultivating a knowledge of what practical and permanent gardening really means. In town gardens many small things may i be grown so useful in the household, leaving I potatoes and large croT),- for the allotment and field. The most profitable things for town gar- dens which occupy little space are:—Shal- lots. lettuce, runner and dwarf beans, radish, early carrot, vegetable marrow, onion, beet, parsley and other kinds of serviceable herbs and salads. Most of the foregoing will repay for cul- tivation under averse conditions, and where space is available, such as cabbage, savoys and green crops may be brought into use when the earlier crops are finished. For the allotment or open field, potatoes, of oourse, are of primary importance. Plant as many as possible, also peae, broad beans, all kinds of cabbage, turnips, parsnips, car- rots and other root crops. When to Crow. I Every cultivator who does not know from experience should keep a calendar of gar- dening operations which is easily obtainable at small cost. This would refresh his memory as to what should be done and when to do it. At the same time he should be discreet as to the condition of his ground and the weather, at the time of sowing or planting. It is often the case that a week delayed in pla.nting or sowing, although scheduled time, prevents lose of, crops through unfavourable climatic conditions. Bear in mind that gardening is a continual and regular occupation, needing constant at- tention and forethought, otherwise I am afraid disappointment will often damp the ardour of the most enthusiastic. To such I would say, try again, the experience is well bought. How to Crow." I Methods of cultivation are legion, and havle to be arranged in accordance with the intended crop. Books are written and theories expounded, but, after all, there is nothing equal to practical knowledge. Suf- fice it to say that with a good garden, well prepared and manured, and with good seeds sown with care and discretion, practice will soon teach the greatest novice "how to grow. I would commend to thfe notice of every amateur gardener and allotment holder a little book, concise and comprehensive, en- titled, The Making and Management of an Allotment," edited by A. S. Gait, of the University of Leeds and Yorkshire Council of Agriculture, as being the most complete andcusciul wor on this subject; it will prove invaluable to all gardeners and allot- ment holders. I may also add just one mofte '(phrase, and t-ha-t is where to grow. When you have cul- tivated your own garden, which is the first duty, and fully satisfied that you can do something further, do not exhaust energies on any waste corner of land, but take a per- manent allotment where you may get good soil, crops protected, tenure assured, and a garden for successive years or as long all it may be required.

NEW SWANSEA LUWT.£NA-NT. I In the London Gazette ^appears the name of Vivian Dormithorne Culhs ne second lieutenant in the Yeomanry. Lieut. Cullis is the son of Mr. T. D. Cullis, Surveyor of Customs and Excise at Swansea.. He joined siiortlv after the war broke out.

SWANSEA AND MINISTRY OF I MUNITIONS. With respect to the advertisement in &n- other column re the transfer of the Ministry of Munition offices from Newport to Cardiff, we are asked to state that the change does not in any way affect the Swansea office, which will continue to be at Bank Cham- bers, Castle-square, as heretofore. i