South Wales Weekly Post

ALONG WHOLE LINE. ( j I Great Gun and Air Activity -ON FRENCH AND BRITISH FRONTS. ENEMY FAILURE ON DANUBE. ——— I (Press Association War Special.) I PARIS, Thursday!. The official communique sa ys: The Germans attempted, after a lively bombardment, a surprise attack upon our trenches t.hree kilometres to the south-east pf I'eiTV-au-Ua-c. The enemy left some dea/l jn the ground. The night was relatively calm everywhere pine. I BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- I QUARTERS, FRANCE, Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. I An enemy raid attempted against our I trenches south-west of Loos early this jnorning was beaten off without difficulty. A number of dead and wounded Germans were left in our hands. Our casualties were very slight. Another hostile party wa.s caught under our fire last night south of Hulluch, and driven back with loss. The enemy's trenches were successfully entered by us during the night south-east pf Ypres. There has been some artillery activity during the day north of the Somme, and also north of the Ancre and in the neigh- bourhood of Ypres. South-east of Souchez enemy trenches and works were bombarded by us with good results. Very considerable aerial activity took place yesterday on both aides. PARIS, Wednesday, 11 p.m. (Press Association War Service.) The offi^ fial communique says:- I Our artillery carried out destructive firing against the enemy's trenches in the region of Moulin-Sous-Touvent and to the jiorth-east of Hill 304. There was rather violent artilleryfight. fng in the sector of Oouiieres Wood. Two German surprise attacks, one directe(I against our line in the sector of Missy, east of Soiisisons, the other at Eparges, failed. We took some prisoners. On the rest of tire fronb there was in- termittent shelling. CERMAN REPORT. I (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) ] BERLIN, Wednesday. Western Theatre.—Clear, frosty weather prevail The fighting activity on most of the sectors of thQ front remains within moderate limits.

p GREECE. off, REGRETBol t GREEK MINISTRY APOLOGISES, I CCIMB-DOWN ALL- ROUND. + Reuter's Agency Is Informed the Creek Government has handed to the Allied Ministers at Athens a Note formally expressing regret for the events at Athens on December 1st (when the Frenoh landing parties were at- tacked with much loss of life). SAIIUTE OF ALLIES' FLAGS. CEREMONIAL DEFERENCE IN'! PUBLIC. • PARIS, Wednesday. The Athens correspondent of the ''Matin" telegraphs It is now certain that the public repa- ration—salute of the lag .8--4enianded by the Allies as a result of the outrage of December 1 and 2 is on the point of taking place, evan before the raising of the block- ade and before the Entente Ministers re- turn to their posts in Athena. "The ceremony will be (he occasion of a. Bolertun manifestation of deference to the flags of the Allied nations. It will take place in front of the very Zappeion-squaru 1 where our brave soldiers were attacked. There will be present, besides the plenipo- tentiaries and military attaches of the En- nte, representatives of the civil and mili. Sa.ry authorities of Greece. „——- -——

I »" ■ inma TALE OF A JERSEY. Unsustained Charge at Llanelly. At Uaneily on Wednesday, Frederick iVhite, 6, Marsh-street, was ch^r^-ed with ttdahng a jersey, the property at a local firm. --r Ludford defended. Mr. Phillips said the man. should have delivered ip the jersey, fcrur. parsed out of the works with it on. There had been some difficulty in. proving intent, a.nd as the man had a good character he did. not intend to pre.is the case. Mr. Ludford said it wa.s exceedingly diffioult for anyone who knew the fa,,ts to speak temperately v/han a firm brought a ,,tii iz firm bi-oti, itt a man with the character such as White had up for larceny. The man worked before a tire, and was ainaiid to take the jersey off for fear of catching a cold. Wihite stated that s ince May last he had been in the employ of the firm. lie re- ceived permission to take home the jarsev from the chernust. Eviderwe was given hy a ohemist to the effect that he glaye White permi.-tsiou to take the jersey home. .1 The Bench decided that' there was 110 .U& iotwit, aad dismissed the case. )

"DEFINITE OBJECT." GUN VIOLENCE ON I WESTERN FRONT. f INTERESTING FRENCH COM- MENTARY. PARIS, Wednesday. The" Pelit Journal" says:—It seems that the hardened terrain due t.o the present cold spell on the Western frontier has re-awakened the activity oi the oppos- ing forces. In view of this fact, we must not attach great importance to tho reconnaissances, patrol encounters, and coups-de-main re- ported at vnrious points along the lines, but it is as well to draw attention particularly to the revival of the artillery bombard- ment. During the past two ckys the guns have been. Thundering without interruption even in. the Belgian sector and on almost the entire length of the British front. The aviators are aiding the artillery, and this would seem to indicate that the can- nonade has a definite object outside the ordinary objectives. The French artillery, stimulated by the example of her ally, is showing g-ecat activity in the sector between, the Aisne and the Oise, 111 the Champagp.3 and in the Argonne. The near future will .show -is what im- portance is to be attached to the present bombardment. DECISION IN THE WEST." AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. TIle Berlin correspondent of the "Tyd, who has shown himself to be well informed, makes the assertion to-day that the last round of the conflict is about to begin. On the Eastern front there will only be such fighting as is called for to maintain a state of equilibrium, bat Austria will se accounts with Italy aiitcr the fashion 1 which Rumania has been dealt with. A decision will probably be sought m the West, and it is believed that an action on a j formidable scale will ensue within a period of four to six weeks.

l TRIPLE EVENT I TO HELP OUR FIGHTERS. OOl FIXTURES AT J ..??.SWAN?EA.. j ¡.dq r, I A big ,ffo t ?ill be m&d? at Swa.n? during the n??ew weeks to ?ipo cS the arrcE'S of JBXM on the Mayor's Comforts for Swan^ Boys' Fund. Another big Rugby match be- tween W?s and the New Zmlander3 Has (as ?h-ea?y ?tod) b?en fixed Jor M. Helen's on <*iturdav week, February 3rd, by the "Daily Post" an^i on February 7th, 8th and 9th the "DaU, H t," aided i?y a Ir and influential commute are organising another three S' Wist drive, at which 32 prizes will be offered for compet?o?). There is also a possibility of a boxing tour- nament being arranged by tiie "Daily Post at an early date for the Swansea Boys Com- forts Fund. It ia hoped that these three events will realiec a. very useful sum. We need hardly sav all money received will be PUT TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE. II The many thousands of Swansea, boys serv- jug all over the world are greatly in need of certain comforts, which would make their loo I a, bit happier, and remind them they are not I forgotten by those at home. They sulfa many hardships during this cold weather, I and an immediate supply of comforts would be gratefully received by them. There are many applications for such com- forts held back owing to the lack of funds. This should not be in a town like Swansea. and it should be looked upon as a pleasrure, as well as a duty, to help the boys who are away fighting for those at home who, through various reasons, have to remain be- hind. The events referred to ebove can be assisted by all, and the popular prices charged are a bar to no one. Those who cannot go to the whist drive can patronise the football match, and all will have the satisfaction of knowing that, besides bavins full value for their money, they are helping the boys who are away fighting.

FOUND ON DANISH BOAT. YOUNG SWANSEA GIRLS GET GAOL. j Elizabeth Alice Copley and Annie May Coates, two young girls, were charged tt Swansea. Police Court on Thursday with heingfound in the area of the North Dock between 10.45 and 11.45 on Wednesday evening, without being in possession of a pass issued by the nilitart authorities. De- fendants pleaded ffuilty. P. S. Squires (Harbour Police) said he, saw Copley coming down the bdder from a; Danish boat lymg in the dock. She had 110 pass. Defendant here asked the magistrates to give her another chance and she would net j go there again. P.S. Squires said that in consequence of i information he boarded the same boat. He there saw defendant Coates in a bunk with one of the members of the crew. She was practically nude. Witness ordered her to j dress, and afterwards asked her for her! pass. She did not have one. Witness; later: took both defendants to the police station. Coates also asked the magistrates for an- other chance, stating she would go to the shelter until a home was found for her. Both defendants were sent to prison for two months.

RUMANIA I I "MUCH IMPROVED." POSITION ON THE DANUBE. ENEMY ADMISSION OF FAILURE. (-kdh-draltv,-I-per Wireless Press.) BERLIN, Wednesday iMgCU Front of Archduke Joseph.—Very severe cold prevails. There were only local en- ga.gements between the opposing lines and lively artillery fire. Army Croup of von Mackensen.—The north bank of the St. Coorge branch af the Danube delta, north of Tuloea, has again been abandoned. VIENNA, Wednesday Night. Group of Archduke Joseph.—Apart from aji increase of gunfire at places, there is nothing to report. IMPORTANCE OF HOLDING SERETH I LINE. PARIS, Wednesday. M. Claude Anet, telegraphing from Petro- grad yesterday to the Petit Parisien," say.s The military situation has much improved in front of Galatz, where the Russian troops gained recent successes, and where the pre- sence of General Sakarofl's forces, after the evacuation of the Dobrudja is making itself felt. Since the capture with the bayonet by the Russians of the village of Vadeni (seven miles south-west of Galatz) the enemy has not retaliated. Ir. a gcnor.il way all the operations have slackened on the Rnn.aniari front. This is due not only to the effects of the winter and the difficulty of carrying on war in the mountains, but to the result of the Russian efforts, which have succeeded in restoring i the military situation in Rumania. ON THE WESTERN FRONT. German attacks on both sds of the River Aa resulted in considerable territory being wrested from the Russians. Up to the present over 1,500 prisoners, have been brought in. i

RUSSIA, 'OBSTINATE BUTTLES' — I ON THE RIGA FRONT ALTERNATE WINS AND LOSS. S.. '1 LOSSES. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) I PETROGRAD, Thursday. The offic:al communique says:- .Persistent attacks by the enemy between •the" Tintl Swamp and the Rive# Aa were first repulsed by our fre and afterwards, as a result of. a violent counter-attack by one of our gallant regiments, the enemy were dis- lodged from a hillock on the outskirts of the swamp and thrown back. South-east of the River Aa our detach- ments I Assumed tha offensive in the direction of the village of Kalceu. The Germans, after bombarding these de- tachments by heavy artillery fire, then themselves Look the offensive and threw hack our troops a third of a mile. Obstinate battles continue. ————

SWANSEA OLD SOLDIER SENTENCED. FULL PENALTY FOR POSTAL THEFT. LETTERS FOR MEN IN THE TRENCHES. At Swansea on Thursday, Frank Good- child Naeh was charged on remand with the alleged theft of a registered Idtter and -i postal order for Ss., telojivijig to and in the possession the Postmaster-GerierJ, on January 18th. J1r. Rupert Lewis prosecuted on behalf of the Poatmaster-Gejiera), and iii. opening said defendant was employed us temporary postman at Swansea since August last. On the dAy in question a bag containing a regibLered letter was to have been desl)atp,he,d by clefeiidaiit from fligh-street S.t,tiÜ\11. After the train had gone the registered letter bag was found with the naal.s broken by one of the railway officials at the station and returned. Defpudadlt- had taken eleven registered Jett-ers out of the bag, and one of the letters, which was .,tlbject to the charge, contained a postal order for 5s. The letter was addressed to a soldier on foreign, service in India. Eight out of the eleven letters rifled were I For soldiers on foreign service and some to wounded soldiers in hospital a fact which made the theft 121 particularly mean one, as defendant himself was a. soldier invalided out of the Army. Defendant had served fcr many years in the Bedford Regiment, a,nd had served for eleven months oat in Fraj?cc. The Post C?oe Auth?rjttes em-I ployed these ao!diers as they thought they would be protecting the public, as a sol- dier's boliestv was r?iad upon. Defendant earned ia weekly wa.ge of :10s. at the Post Office, and drew a pension of 7s. a week from the Army- Daniel Norns, sorting clerk, was called. John Brice, luggage' labeller at High. street Station, said about 5.30 p.m. on the day in question he saw defendant on the. platform put a letter-bag dowii "hear liis I la.bel case. Defendant then walked away towards the station exit. Ten minutes later the ?K was brought to him by Cab Police-j man Munslow. ?f the G'. W.R., and later it i\M returned to the head post office. The lioensea of the Cornish Mount Hotel spoke of caching two postal orders for de- ¡ fendant on the evenine: in question. Defendant handed in a written statement, in which be stated that whatever possessed him to do such a dastardly act he did not know, but he was extremely sorry. He went through the battle of Loos. On one oooasiou he was stuck up to his waiflt in mud for 36 houra. He was later invalided out. Chairman's Scathing Remarks. The Chairman: Yon have sen t us in a peti- tion in which you state you are an old sol- dier and have been in and out of the trenches. Yon knew the wants of the men in the trenches who were suffering. They would feel the loss of contributions from their pa rente, and on behalf of the who are suffering we cannot give you sufficient punishment for this cruel act. We are determined to give you the full penalty of three months' hard labour. I Mr..T. W. Jones: I endorse everything the chairman has said. You ought to have I double hard labour. i

NAVAL. ) "MUST mt BEEN TREACHERY191 -00- GERMAN OFFICERS' PLAINT. THEIR STORY OF NAVAL 11 FIGHTi I I -— YMUIDEN", Wednesday, I Nine petty officers were landed from the j damaged German destroyer V 69 and brought to the Willem Barentz Hotel, Ymuiden, to- night. My correspondent engaged them in conversation at a. late hour. The following is the story of one of the petty officers, a waarra-nt offioer:- My watch on deck was from 6.30 p.m. yesterday (Monday) to 12.30 this morning. We had left port at 1 p. m. on Monday for an ordinary patrol, so far as we knew. With one ether destroyer we formed a rearguard to the flotilla of 11 vessels, whose comman- der flew his flag aboard our ship. As all was quiet during the night I went below after my watch, but feeling uneasy I put on my overcoat and went on deck at 3 a.m. It was a clear night, and as nothing happened I re- turned to my bunk. I had hardly been there five minutes when the alarm bell raiyg and I had to take up my j post on deck to look after the ammunition supply. I had just reached the deck when we discovered the enemy abeam at long ) range and opened fire. The enemy's Marksmanship was very accurate and we were soon hit. We tried to get home to a German port by all possible means, but we wonder how we got away, for we were faced by two British squadrons of four to ix big ships each. There must have been treachery, be- cause all precautions had been taken to a void being overtaken. Both steering gears having been destroyed and also the com- passes, we steered by the stye's and by our screws. If it bad not been for four British destroyers, which we sighted when we were off Ymuiden, we should have reached the Mouth of the Ems. As soon as we sighted them we decided to run the ship ashore on tdi,p Dutch coast, we were not sure at what point we were. But a Dutch steam trawler told us that we were off Ymuiden and might make that port.. In A r Main action teak place about 30 miles off Zeebrugge. We escaped, j so far as we know, owincr to the fact that we were the rearguard. We do not know what happened to the other vessels, but they must have got it badly. This is my fourth de- stroyer. My escape in the Jutland battle ) was a good de-al more miraculou? t-hsn this. I have been in three raids hn the English coast. "—(" Times" correspondent.) "FICTION." ADMIRALTY AND A GERMAN: DENIAL. THE BRUTAL SINKING OF THE WESTMINSTER. 1 The Secretary of tlie, Admiralty Last' night issued the foUov.fcg In 17, the German Government attempted to refute the statements contained in the British Admiralty cor.-munique published in the Press on December 30> giving details of the brutal sinking of the British steamship Westminster. Those particu- lars were based on the sta,temellt.sof the survivors made on oath; but, on receipt of the German denial, the survivors were minutely cross-examined, and as a result of this further investigation the facts re- main unchanged. The vessel was torpedoed without warn- ing and struck by two torpedoes. The survivors of the explosion took to the boats, and were Shelled by the submarine, • j the captain and chief engineer being killed by shell fire. Furthermore, this cross-examination has elicited the fact that no other ship was in sight when the submarine opened fire, and the only surviving boat was not picked up until twenty-seven hours later. The statement in the German submarine officer's alleged report, that rescue by the submarine was made impos.sible by the approach of a patrol steamer, must there- fore be regarded as fiction. DAZZLED BY SEARCH- LIGHTS. GERMAN FLOTILLA WAS SURROUNDED. AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. i't, is confirmed tha/t the Gemi-in flotilla wae isuroiuided, and that a short but very severe engagement followed, the scene being illuminated by British searchlights, which appear to lw.ve daz/led the Germans. The British gximiers fired with rapidity and great accuracy. Whi'e ii, nunrbrr of the surprised German vessels managed to escape to Zeebruggc, j the remainder became involved in a running light. the vessels engaged proceeding in a northerly direction. So far deilixite information is lacking re- garding the exact number of German vessel? sunk.—("Morning Post" corres- pondent. )

DAILY TOLL, I THREE MORE DOCAL MEN I DEAD, I Killed. 1 Welsh R-egiment.-Davios (26334), A., Briton Ferry. I Previously Reported Wounded, now II Reported Killed. Rifle Brigade.—Harris (4740), Corpl. W. F., Morriston. I Died of Wounds. I South Wales Borderer* Jenkins (13972), II ii., Ne-atti. ) Wounded. I South Wales Borderers.- Jones (33680), Com- pany-Sergt.-Major J. W.. Swansea. Swansea Rhodesian's Fate. I It has now been officially reported by the I German Government that Lance-Coll)1 J. E. Bees, of the King's Hoyal Rifles (who was reported missing on July 1st, in France), was killed or died of wounds. He wag the eldest son cf the late Gapt. James 1 Bees, of Swansea, and of Mrs. E. A. Rees, now of the, Mumbles, and was educated at j the Swansea Grammar School. For a num- ber of year's he was with Messrs. E. W. Cook and Co., Swansea,, but went out. to I Rhodesia in 1897, and resided in that coun- try until the beginning of the present war, He served m the Beer War, the Rebellion, and went through the whole of the German South-West African Campaign, where he was attached to the 1st Rhodesian Regi- ment. At the termination, of the latter ho came to England, and joined the RhodesianjI Platoon of the Kina's Royal Rifles.

AERIAL. 1 i TWELVE HIT. j TWEL WE HIT. i  I I BAD TIME FOR HUN II 'PLANES. I GiREAT ACTIVITY IN THE AIR. > PARIS, Thursday. The official communique Fays: Aviation. Lieutenaiifc Guynemer brought down yesterday his 27th, and Lieut. Heur- taux on the same day his 17th enemy aero- plane. BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- QUARTERS, FRANCE, Wednesday night. Very considerable aerial activity took place yesterday on both sides. In the course of air fighting one of our machines was brought down. Six German aero- planes were destroyed, and three German aeroplanes were driven down in a. damaged condition Another two of our machines are miss- ing. (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, Wednesday, 11 p.m. A German aeroplane was brought down in our lines during the day in the neigh- bourhood of Vaux Cere (Aisne).

THE LUSITANIA CRIME.; REMINDERS ON SALE AT SWANSEA. Will the pecple of Britain ever forget the crowning deed of German "frightfulness," when they attained the height of their foulest crime, when they ruthlessly slaughtered 1,200 human beings and darkened the waters of the Atlantic with their innocent blood? The Huns do cot wish to forget it. Such an act of savagery ranks high in their archives of brave deeds, and the sinking of the Lusitania. was heralded by ths people of Hunland as a deed of wondrous daring. They gloated over it, and in reply to the storm of neutral pro- teat, calmly alleged that the mammoth liner carried contraband, and, to let the crime be constantly before their minds, struck a medal to commemorate tha act. Messrs. Ben Evans and Co., of Swansea, have on sale, at the cost of one shilling each, replicas of this famous medal. On one side, under the legend "No Contraband" ijveine Bannware) there is a picture of the liner sinking. The designer has put in guns and aeroplanes, which (as was certified by the U.S.A. Government officials- after inspection) the Lusitania did NOT carry; but has con- veniently omitted to put in the women and children which the world knows she did carry. On the reverse, under the legend "Business above all" (Gescliaft uber alles) the figure of Death sits at the booking-office of the Cunard Line and gives out tickets to pas- sengers, who refuse to attend to the warning against submarines given by a German. This picture seeks apparently to propound the theory that if a murderer warns his victim of his intention, the guilt of the crime will rest with th& victim, not with the murderer!

EX-SWANSEA VICAR NOW RURAL DEJKN OF THE RHONDDA. Tho Bishop of Llaadaff has appointed the Rev. W. Watkins Edwards, B.D., vicar of-Pontypridd, as Rural Dean of the Bhondda Valley, in the place of the Rev. Canon William Lewis- resigned. The rev. gentleman was vicar of St. Mark's Parish Church, AN aim-wen, Swan- sea, from 1834 to 1904. His many Swan- sea friends and old parishioners will ba glad to hear of the appointment.

BOY DECK-HAND'S I FALL. FATAL INJURIES AT SWANSEA DOCKS. Swansea Deputy Coroner (Mr. E. Glyn Morris) held an inquest on Wednesday on the body of Fiono Manio. a 17-year-old deck-hand aboard the s.s. Medusa, at the North Dock. Sergt. Juo. Danahar (Harbour Police) spoke to being called to the ship and finding deceased on the deck, apparently dead, with terrible injuries to the head. Marello Neisla, mate, through an in- terpreter, said deceased was an Italian, living at Leghorn, Dr. Trevor Evans said he found a large o-inch scalp wound, a definite fracture of the skull, and other minor injuries. The cause of death was n fracture of the skull and laceration of the Irv.in. The mate, recalled, said he was not on the deck at the time of the accident. The boy had bepn on the ship only a month. Messine Simone, boatswaiij, said he was asked by th0 boy to be allowed to go up into the rigging, since he iiked the work. Later Manio must have slipped and fell, alighting on a winch on the deck. The jury returned a verdict of Acci- dental death," in accordance with the medical ev id once.

WATER BANKS UP AT SWANSEA. v STRONG WIND AND HIGH; TIDE. With the strong ea.steriy wind the tide of Thursday morning was the highest of the season at Swansea. The effects, though not of a serious character, were felt all along the sh ore, and from Oysterm^uth Station to. West Cross the Mumbles Railway line was under water. The traffic, however, was not interfered with. The fame state of affairs appli_ ed to the Slip where, at about 7.30--the time of the high tide—it alajost reached St. Helen's- road Junction. Inquiries, at the docks showed that no unusual occurrence resulted, but it was noticed that the water was level with the quayside. At the Prince of Wales outlet th" height of the water was 34ft. lOin.

Commandant Maggs paid a visit to the: Naval Brigade headquarters on Wednes- day evening and witnessed the urill. after which he addressed the hqys. I should have never thought it possible that <-uch drill could be got out of liTtje boys," he remarked. And from what he &aw of the cutlass drill he believed that the Germans; woul d stand a poor chance in front of some of thera. He advised them "to stick to the brigade and put in their drills regularly and try and grow up good 11 en aryi become good citizens. The bpys vii a him three hearty cheers.

At a teachers' meeting held a.t the Higher Grade School, Swansea, on Wed- nesdav evening regarding the recent war bonus grant to the teachers in the Swan- sea area, it was decided, after consider- able discussion, to refer the, matter to the Executive Council of the N.U.T., and that any further action on the part of the teachers will be in consort and through the Executive of the Union* i

SWANSEA AND BEER RESTRICTIONS. STEPS TAKEN IN ANTICIPATION. QUESTION OF LIGHTER BREW. I The new order from Lord Devonport, the Food Controller, will atfe-et the reduction of beer supplies by about 50 per cent. as compai-ed with the pre-war standard. This I will apply frrfm April lst. Already the re- duction is 15 per cent, of the normal. Inevita,bly the effect will be to reduce consumption by reaeon of the restricted hrewings .m d the conseq uent further in- crease of prices. Swansea brewed beers are amongst the hght?.-t in the kJngdom, and inquiries locally show that the greatest effect will be felt upon the h?her class beers, wht're the standard of strentgth ap- proaches the standard barrel. To the ex- tent of the gravity of beers being below this standard they will be correspondingly beneiitted in their output. "It mearns a serious thing to brewers, Mr. Evans, manager of the Swansea Old Brewery, told the Post" on Thursday, and the full etfed we cannot accurately gauge yet. Establishment- charges will have to be maiintained. As to the question of brewing1 lighter beers than at present., that will, of course, be considered by brav. ers, but 1 don't anticipate much, if any, development in that direction, as the I public taste has to be considered, and people Like what thoy are used to. Then if only a. small percentage of beer is j alcoholic there is the question of keeping. for, as vou know, this class of bear does not ketp like the heavier gravities. Anticipated at Swansea. Further restrictions have not come alto- gether as a surprise. to the Trade, though the extent of the present proposals was not generally anticipated. Only last week the Swansea L ic.ensed Victualle3' Association. in conjunction with the brewers and bottlers, decided in the interests of the Trade that uniform minimum prices must be strictly observed by all retailers, owing to the restriction of output and the consequent shortage of supply, which is bouiid to take place before March 31st next. At a Trade meeting on Friday last it was unanimously resolved that the action of the committee in lecommending the prices of Guinness' stout be confirmed, viz., the price for same shall not be less than 4d. per half- pint bottle, indoor, and 4d. ditto, outdoor, operative from 6th January-, 1917. It was a!- o decided at the same meeting that the prices of best and fresh draft beers shall not be less than 44d. and 3 £ d. per pint respect- ively, indoor and outdoor. "Further, it was unanimously resolved that all proprietary brands of spirits be increased Is. per large bottle on the old minimum price list. It will be seen that -on th-j ordinary recognised proprietary brands of whisky the minimum price is now 6s. 6d. per bottle. Superior brands to be more, thus making an all-round increase Gf Is. per bottle on the old orice list." Staggarivtg Blow." Mr. Harry Rogers (president of the Swansea Licensed Victuallers,' Associa- tion) told the Post that the extent of the proposals came as a staggering blow, and a great many house's would be unable to meet their standing charges, and would have to close. "The one satisfactory feature" (he continued). was that the new Order was to be brought about by Parliament, and not by tfn unconstitutional authority like Tf Parliament considers the course suggested aa neces- sary we acquiesce. The Trade have been perfectly willing to make sacrifices and have made them. Prices have gone up Jhrough the war, and certainly' they will have too go up again, though to what extent under the new conditions I cannot suggest. There is no statement that the proposals now made are for the continuance of the war only, but I take it that is so. As to the effect of the present restrictions, some parts of the country have been already Without beer for days at a stretch. Now, under the new Order, the consump- tion will be considerably further reduced." As to the possibility of lighter beers being brewed, Mr. Rogers r-nid they would not suit tho palate of the ordinary beer drinker. Tiie war, he explained, had dctrimezitaJly aifccted the Trade, for maiiy houses were now taking less than before the aii(-l ha,-] htiagk?l' ng les% 'c l iaii b,,? f ore the war and had higher charges to meet. PROBABLE INCREASED BEER PRICES. Interviewed by a Press Association repre- sentative on Thursday regarding the restric- tion of brewing, as laid down by Lord Devonport, Mr. Dean, of the Licensed Victuallers' Central Protection Society, estimated that it was probable that. beer would be increased 111 price by Id. a pint for cheaper qualities and a little more for heavier classes. He did not think brewers would be so badly hit by the restric- tion as the licensees -as the brewers were not restricted as to the hours during which they could serve and with a smaller output it would be possible for them to reduco half their staffs.

I SWANSEA EMPLOYERS AND THE LOAN. NEXT WEEK'S CONFERENCE WITH THE MAYOR. The secretary (Mr. W. H. Ashmole) of the Swansea War Savings Committee an- neunces that a. oonferetwja of proprietors and managers of works, collieries, factories, et.. tvijl be held at the Guildhall, Swanso,, j o". Tuesday next, 3Cth inst., at 4 p m., when the Mayer of Swansea. (Aid. David Davies) and Mr. A. F. FIdcn (chairman of the Swansea- War Savings Committee) and others will speak upon the new War Loin, and suggest means by which the targe em- ployers in the neighbourhood can exert thMT influence to make the NVOT L?,] a huge success. The Mayor hopes that every large busi- ness will ;.>cn<ti one or more representatives to the conference, and lIe will be pleased to have the benefit of any suggestions which may be made. SWANSEA'S BAROMETER. I A conspicuous heading in a London daily on Thursday morning read, "Swansea's Barometer Nearing Million." It's a way we have in Swansea Messrs. Hy. R. Merton and Co., the well-known metal merchants-with exten- sive local connections—have subscri bed £ 250,000 (new money) toward s the loan.

SWANSEA-LONDON KETCH I VANISHES. The Louise Anne sketch), of Lannion (France), which v; reported to have sailed from Swansea to Laililion on November lb, I not having been heard of sine this date, is I considered very much overdue.

CURRENT FISH, PRICES. I -GRIMSBY FISH MARKET, Thursday.- Soles, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d.; turbot, 1; 8d. to 2s. 2d. per Ib, plaice, 14s. 6d. and 17s. to 1&. 6d. lemon soles. 16s. to 22s. whitings, 9s. 9d. to 10s. whitches, lZs. 6d. to 13s. dead halibut. 17s. to 28s. live cod, 8s. to 8s. 9d. dead cod, 6s. 6d. to 8s. small had- docks, 8s. kit haddocks, 9s. gibbed liad-- docks, 9s. 9d. to 10s. hve dabs, 16s. dead dabs, 14s,; guraefcfi, 2s. 3d. to 2.s. 6d. ip<r stone, -< y

STOP PRESS. I I

TOO LATE FOR CLASSIFICATION. MOIJESKIJCS.—Million Wanted, 60s. to 66s. f.1. per 100 for Best Quality till April.— Gerrard Brothers, Farriers, Edinburgh. lOObl-26

WHAT AMERICA WANTS WE ARE FIGHTING FOR. BONAR LAWS REPLY TO WILSON. Referring, in a speech at Bristol en Wed- nesday night, to President Wilson's speech this week, Mr. Bonar Lav; said: "It is im- possible that he and v. o can "h ;-V this 1 the same point of view. Whatever i.-s private feelings may be, and to that 1 know as little as you, the head of a great neutral State must take a neutral attitude. America is very far removed from the horrors ot this war. We are in the midst of them. America is neutral. We are not neutral. We believe that the essence of this conflict is a question which is as old as time--d-iffererc-- between right and wrong. President Wilson's aim is- to have peace now and security for peace in the future. That is our aim also-(hear, hear)—and it is our only aim. He hopes to secure that by means of a League of Peace among the na- tions, and to do President Wilson justice, he not only put H?is forward as an aspira- tion, but he tries to get the American Senate to do something that 'would make it possible. A QUESTION OF LIFE AND DEATH. I It would net he right to look upon the I quest-ion as altogether Utopian. I think I it is not impossible—I hope it may prove possible—that the time may como when the nations of the world will look upon what Cromwell ?cacribed as his great work l as their work, too—that of bein? a con- jj stable to preserve peace in the parish. That is not impossible, but this for U5 is not an abstract question for the future, it is A question of life or death now. When we consider whether the aims which he and we have in common can be secured by his methods we cannot forget the past. Mr. Law referred to the atrocities com- mitted by Germany, and went on: "All this has happened, and no 'neutral coun- tries have oeen able to stop it, and, more than that; irt 'neutral countries have M44i any protest against it—-at least*, any effec- tive protest. What President Wilson is longing for we are fighting ior. (ProlonSed. cheers.) Our sons and brothers are dying for it, and v/e moan to seoure it."

NEATH'S BIG 1918 ;1. NEAT H9S BIG .1918 -ll I EVENT. EVENT. GENERAL MEETING OF I COMMITTEE. THREE DAYS' COMPETITIONS I AGREED ON. A well-attended meeting of the General Committee in connection with the Neath National Eisteddfod of 1918 was held on Wed- nesday night at the Gwyn Hall, Neath, under the presidency of the Mayor (Aid. H. P. Charles). It wa.s unanimously decided that the eisteddfod should be held on the first week in August, 1918, to commence on the Tuesday after Bank Holiday. Considerable discussion ensued as to whether the eistedd- fod should be curtailed to two days for com- petitors, with a cymanfa on the third day, as was done at Aberystwyth, or whether they should revert to the old system. Rev. Henry Hughes moved that the com- petitions be limited to two days, with a. cymanfa on the third day. Mr. John Clements urged that two days for competitions would be ample. The Vicar of Aberpergwm advocated,a, three days' eisteddfod without a festival. j Mr. James Nicholas, Port Talbot, thoUght ( a two days' eisteddfod could not be ade- j quately described as a national event. i Aid. Hopkin Morgan appealed to them to ¡ take the present and frture circumstances into consideration. Fast experience had taught them that, whilst three days' eistedd- fodau were well attended, the fourth day was but meagrely attended, and four days were o.gainst the success of the eisteddfod as a whole. They had to think of the aftermath of the war, and he thought that two dayaVl competitions and a cymanfa on the third day 1 would be far more satibiactorjr. Mr. D. Rhys Philips (Welsh Librarian) supported Ald. Morgan's appeal, and pointed out Ilat they would 1.(e incurring a very great: responsibility if they extended it over threa < days. He maintained that a four days' eis- teddfod had been a failure. On a vote being taken a majority voted in favour of three days' competitions, to commence on the Tuee- I day, with a cyiaanfa on the Friday. Members were then nominated to nerve pon j the following committees: Gorsedd, Finknce, i Literary, Musical, Arts, Pavilion; and Recep. [ tion Committees. It was stated by the see re- tary that the Gorsedd CODlmittee hoped to hold the proclamation about the middle ot: June.

í RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR) TO ENGLANp. 1M. SAZONOFF TO COME OYER J; TO us. j ("Times" Telegram, per Press Association.) PET ROC HAD, Wednesday. The Czar's offer to send M. Sazonoff as I Ambassador was received last night. M. Sazonoff wiJws to proceed to his new post as soon as possible, but probably some, time must elapse before he will be able to leave Petrugrad. Meanwhile dt is to be hoped that the internal sit uation of Russia will assume a more settled aspect, and thereby facilitate the task of her diplomatic i representatives abroad. M. Sazonoff yesterday at the Anglo-Rus- 1 sian Society promised to help to bring the- younger generation of England and Rugsia: together.

CLEVER SWANSEA JUVENILE y ARTISTE. V Ma.ster Freddie Warner, Swansea's- clever juvenile comedian and dancer, ist this week making a "big hit at the; Empire. Carmarthen.

Mr. Wm. Jenkins, late of the 6th f Welsh Regt., Jost. his bit badge (,N, n. 64438) on Saturday evening- somewhere] between Rolxn-t-sireot, Brynhyfryd, and i, High-street Station. Will finder kiiidIT-1 return to the "L)ally Post" offices ? § ?<ti  ? "A