South Wales Weekly Post

We are now experiencing the lull that comes before a stornT. The war news con- sists mainly of details concerned with the preparatory work :;1 a. campaign, with efforts to secure information, and with a mass of conjectures of the intelligent antici- pative kind regarding the probable marks at which the lightning will strike. It is cer- tain that the Intelligence Staffs of the Allied Powers know considerably more than is per- mitted to be revealed, and that nothing is being published likely to prove helpful 0 the enemy. Statements, whether originat- mg with the Press of Germany or of neutral countries, affecting to throw light on the enemies' plans, should be received with dis- trust, if nut. altogether rejected in a. spirit of wholesome scepticism. Hi 11 den burg is not such a fool as to fix All Fools' -Day for a German entry into Paris, and if fatuous to such a degree we may be sure that the information would not be al- lowed to leak out of a small secret confer- ence into a Dutch newspaper. And the story of the German deserter, so uncommon- ly in the confidence of the war-chiefs as to be able to indicate the points chosen for attack, is a paJpable hoax or plant. It is an estab- lished practice to capture prisoners in the hope of extracting information from them- one such capture by the Germans is said to have greatly increased the cost of winning the Vimy Ridge—and activity in this respect is regarded as a sign that the enemy is ap- prehensive of being attacked, or contem- plates offensive action. Nor is the device unknown to facilitate the apparent desertion or the surrender of soldiers charged with the mission of commu- nicating information that is false and mis- leading. Maps And army orders "faked" for purposes of deception are also compre- hended in the ruses of warfare, which is a grim game played with wits as well as with guns and men. The aeroplane has materi- ally widened the scope for brain-work. Hence the comicrt derivable from the re- ports reaching thi,. country from France that the Allies are asserting a marked ascendancy in the adr. If that ascendancy were devel- oped to such a degree as to forbid the air to German flying men in the West, the war would be as good as won. For in modern war the side deprived of effective aerial aid is reduced to the condition of the boxer who LC in a "♦crap" finds his eye* are closing uji for "alteration and repairs." It is highly prob- able the war will bb determined," and at the least its end precipitated, by this new arm. Under the existing conditions the Germans could not hope to concentrate large forces in the West without the knowledge of the Allies. By closing the Swiss frontier for weeks they succeeded, in con junction with their Austro-Hungarian Allies, in springing a surprise upon Italy. But, in that case all the railway* used were in the interior of the two Empires, and through Austria and Bavaria troops could be rushed un- checked and almost unnoticed. And the surprise was actually less in the strength of the armieg assembled for the assault than in the demorali sed cwidlition of an Italian Army left for months practically unemployed, ex- cept to contain the Austrian right. The Centra! Powers, operating on interior lines, had the choice of throwing their weight against Russia, known to be in a crumbling state against Italy, where thair propa- gandists had worked better than we sus- pected or against the Anglo-French. They encouraged belief in the third course and proceeded with promptness and energy with the cecond, leaving the situatioki on the Rus- sian frontier to attain the necessary and in- evitable degree of rottenness. Now, without affecting penetration into the secret counsels of the enemy, the Entente Allies know beyond possible doubt that the German fprces are being massed in the West with grept parks of artillerv of every range. Austria, which a.t the Schoda Works has pro.- duced bjgger and better guns than Krupps, hae doubtless sent all that ahe can spare, and may sooner or later supplement the ar- tillerists with' a few divisions of infantry. Apart, however, from the fact that the lat- ter would almost certainly shape badly under conditions with which they are unfamiliar, their oo-operat;on on the "Western front would be very unpopular in Austria and Hungary, where the War Office must per- force a.ct with discretion or risk another and more dangerous outburst of public feeling. There therefore, considerable justification for concluding that the Austro -Hungarians will not be a factor of appreciable importance in the West, more especially as the Italians have again found their feet and recovered a. moral at one time badly shaken by an un- expected disaster. Italy has a sufficiency of men. and by this time a sufficiency of guns alsd, to keep the hereditary enemy fully occupied, even with- out the aid of the Anglo-French armies dispatched to help in holding up the invad- ing hosts. Italian rÆ'ge'e,o; of men are .ample-he came into the war aucter the principal belligerents had all suffered heavy losses — and not only are her manufacture of armaments and munitions highly developed, but the country is easily reached by land by the French, whose output of guns is one of the wonders of the war. And beyond France, separated by a streak of sea, ip Great Britain, winch alone i« now a for- b alone, 16 no, a for- midable riva.1 of Germany in capacity to make guns, shells and rifles. Therefore another attempt to knock Italy cot of the ring i? improvable, and the other alternatives of a thrust against Salonika or &*nst what remains of Rumania are un- inviting because the effect* of complete suc- oesg il1 these subsidiary fields of action would not be immediate, whereas Germany ur- gently wants a decisive result at the earliest possible date. For events are marching a.nd the lank- -J Empires can not afford to wqit. In Palestine General Allenby is following np a brilliantl v oonceived and execrated plan of ca.mpaign wrth the same patience and thoroughness that laid the foundations of his recent victories. He is heading steadily for Aleppo, which. captured and held, would deprive the Turks of the only effective base for action aiming at the recovery of either Mesopotamia or Palestine. If public inter- est were not so entirely absorbed in the struggle on the main front, the magnitude and the merit of the British operations in these regions would be more ade<piately fealised and appreciated. The campaigns in the Soudan, which, brought fame to Lord Kitchener and many other soldiers, did not difiolose either in the leading or the actual fignting higher qualities than those exhibit- ed in the Palestine "side-show" of the great war. Russia is visibly falling to pieces, and noth ing sfyort of a miracle can render her of any flatter substantial value to the Allies. It would tike months under the most favour- able conditions to adjust her internal differ- ences and sweep up the mess made by a succession of revolutionaries, some of them tana-tics, ethers frauds, and all alike defi- cient in the administrative skill essential to constructive work. The most that can be hoped for now is that a counter-revolution in the North will co-ordinate with the agencies that are gradually repressing dis- order in the South. Ie has become almost immaterial whether or not the Bolsheviks effect a peace with the Central Powers. Nor would the collapse of the negotiations in- volve any immediate and drastic ciiange in the North, for even if hostilities were re- sumed the Germans would hardly be tempt- ed to reach out for Petrograd before the spi-ing. To the Austro-G-ermaii, a with the Ukraine Republic, which is in nominal control of a population of 50,000,000 occupying a land rich in wheat, coal and cattle, would be of infinitely greater import- ? :mcp. It is doubtful, however, whether the negotiators acting for Little Rimsia would be left a shred of authority if they made a treaty independently of the rest of the country. In any event, Russia, though torn in shreds, will still require a consider- able watching* force on ite frontiers, if only to prevent the penetration of Bolshevik pro- pagaatdistfc into the Central Empires. A survey of the war situation generally leads definitely to the conclusion that the German main offensive will be launched in. the West as soon as the weather permits. At present the rains are falling heavily en a half-thawed soil, precluding infantry action on a considerable scale. German War- Lords, if dispensed to pray, would be invok- ing heaven to grant an eaxly and dry spring. i J:'very day's delay diminishes the chances Of success and accentuates the tension of public feeling in Germany and Austria. Assuming the correctness of the surmise that the West is the chosen theatre ior the supreme effort, it becomes easy to anticipate the main ob- jectives. The popular fancy readily fastens on the capture of Paris as an achievement symbolical of the collapse of France, just as the capture of the Channel ports, by severing the communications of the British, j would apparently signify the decisive dfeat of Britain. Either event would be a disas- ter, both a stupendoui3 calamity, to the Allied arms, but neither irreparable. The chief purpose in war is to destroy or demobilise, in a military sense, the armies of the enemy. The occupation of Paris would have an enormous moral and spectacu- lar value, but it would not import collapse if French armies determined to continue fighting were still in existence. The loss of the Ghaftnel port-s would gravely embarrass us, but there are other French ports easy of access to a Naval Power in command of the sea. The embarkation of our troops at Corunna, after the famous retreat, was not the end but the beginning of the real Pen- j insulaf War, and the evacuation c? GaJlipoli did not -involve discontinuance of offensive measures against the Turks. So that in considering conjopt-ures whiioh postulate that the Germans will endeavour to march by the most direct route to Paris, or seek to turn the Allied left so as to batter a way to the Channel ports, it will be pru- dent to remember that these are means to cn en d—and not ends in t-liem-elv whic-h is to break up the Allied Armies in France and Fianders and deprive them of power to strike or resist. In pursuit of the end the Germans will have to deliver frontal attaoks, which are the most costly and difficult, aud the element of surprise will not be large and must be local in scope aawl limited in point- of time. For the line is strongly held, and except at a few points the Allies hold the higher ground. Aerial ascendancy implies capacity to keep a close watch upon enemy mass movements. The country is nearly flat, and except where thickly wooded does* not permit of concealment on a large scale, jas practised in the Alpine mountains over- looking the Italian plains. Excellent rail- ways at the rear will facilitate reinforce- ments for the a-ssailed sectors. The task about to be undertaken by the Germans is so formidable and dangerous j that it is reasonable to believe no High Staff would accept the responsibility ex- cept in a spirit of desperation and under the compulsion of an increasing political 1 and economical pressure. Within a space of days, rather than weeks—that is to say as soon as the earth affords a firm footing for linfantry and holding foundations for heavy guns in transit—we shall enter into I the most thrilling and awe-inspiring stages of the war. From it may emerge the peace I yearned for by suffering humanity—such a peace as will dissolve for ever the sinister ¡ menace that has brooded over the world I since the rise of modern Prussia.

The principal question discussed at the Versailles Conference of the Allied War- leaders was. without doubt., the coining offensive in the West, for which 180 to 190 divisions (out of a. total of about 250 German divisions on all fronts, according to the last news) have been amassed, large numbers of them accustomed to flighting in the open in Rumania, an experience denied to the Allied troops opposed to them, and unfamiliar also to the German Western Army. These par- ticular troops will, according to the opinion ■of some captured German officers,' be em- ployed to develop a break through, should that he effected. It would be natural that they should be reserved for such a purpose, but whether an opportunity will ever arise for an "exhibition by them of their special qualifications is more than a little open to question. The time is opportune for a re- view of the considerations which will govern the issue in the West of what will probably be the greatest clash of arms of the war. } From the German standpoint a decision to try a fall anew with the Allies is influ- enced in all probability by the fact that the British, are possessed of an army still capable of offensive action upon a primary scale- i.e., equipped and numerous enough to at- ] tempt at least an assault upon the enemy j lines which will have a hig, a major objective, in place of a mere local blow. The collapse of Russia enables the massing ,n the West of probably the whole of the German Army, which is at the maximum of its strength throug'hout the war in consequence, whilst the imminence of the advent, of Ameriean. troops upon a big; scale demands that a GOT- man offensive should- be undertaken forth- with, or later only with a decreasing proba- bility of success. v That. the German opinion which counts really makes light of the American peril" we do not believe. Britain has disillusioned !the Germans once for all on the subject whether a national army can be improvised, or raised, upon the slender basis of existing small professional standing armies. A Socialist leader the other day in the Bava.r- iian Parliament asked whether it was seri ously doubted that the Americans could put I millions into the field, when Canada, with nine million people, had transported a quar- itai- of a million across the sea, deepite the srrbmarrnes American oSaaJ document* suggest that approximately half-a-million Americans are in, or on their way to, France,. or nearly ready to be sent thrtShe-r. By the summer they should be fit to take the field. Obviously the prjng i* the only sea«on in w?'oh the Germans can be a?sared that America military a?d to the ABi'M viD not be appreciable. After that date it vwl] augment rapidly by tt-e arafcormn it Bhcrttld become formidable.

fl The Swansea borough surveyor read an application at the Highways Committee from w hich it transpired that a brickworks J at Morriston is in the m<ma.?em&nt of a W0marL "Tha.e the Grst time I've ever known 0f a woman being mana.ge; of a brickworks," said Mr. Heath. Mr. J. W. Uoyd said that the Cockett Bnckwof? I were for years mana?W by ? wtwna?

j. Swansea bakehouse owners report a big j mcrease in the number of Sunday joints. The official who is to control sausages is up against a large order, that's all about it! I  food inspw- The appointment of a, Gower food inspec- tor was secured by an ex-soldier. Good business. There was ONE drunken man in Swansea streets on Saturday mgtht. A correspondent who saw him vouches for it. The quaJity of the meat at Swansea last Saturday was stated by an authority to be superior to tha.t of Christmas week. The deal was—one pound of sausage for a pound and a half ot tripe, and both of the Swansea ladies were perfectly satisfied- The war is one of contrasts. A man who went into the market the atiher day for a rabbit came out with half a pound of t.ffle. y A Nv.x-time Stu-id,,ay dinner -Fiied bacoo: and potatoes, with laver-bread. Getting very popular at Swansea—while the laver- breckd lasts. A Swansea street vendor says violets which used to be Is. 6d. a bunch wholesale (retailed at about 3s.), a.re now lis., 6d. a bunch. He now sells artificial flower. Everybody's doing it. "I am very sorrv sir," stud the Swansea boot repairer. "but I will not have, your boots ready until Monday morning." "All right; Til queue early. Sticnuous business at a Swansea butcher's ohop on Saturday was interrupted by an ex- eit.t>d lady who owed the owner lid. from a week back, and, presumably, couldn't sleep j for thinking of it. If there be any other man in the Kingdom beides our Mr. Roger Beck who in hie 77th year can repeat from memory a coi-riplew book occupying an hour and a halt without halt or hesitation—well, we want his name and address; that's all. The four young capped and fringed in- dilBpensables" arriving by an afternoon train who essayed to be "funny" at the ex- pense of two giri munitioneers with their dispatch cases" will remember their i Saturday's joy trip" to Swansea. "If every community in this country would act with the commendable common sense and reasonableness of the people of Swansea town, we have got the Huns, with all their devilish methods of warfare, weil j bea.tffi," is the opinion of "Patriot" (S^ wan- | sea) It is a compliment to the Post Office sys- tem that a letter addressed by a London firm to a, man at "Perrybool, Skatty," reaobed its destination at once. It waa really "Peny- rheol, Sketty," but in London they are so innocent of real knowledge of Welsh place- names. A big crowd of people were jostling each other outside a, Swansea shop which had in its window an old placard bagging people to "Do your shopping here." and alluding to the attention and comfort which would ersue. At tha.t moment aaiyone would pre- fer to do their shopping in a penitentiary. .5- The Civil Court. at the Swansea Guildhall was not nearly capacsou:? enovigil to hold the huge crowd of workmen who had assembled, and, curiously enough, it never occurred to the ofiicials that the Crown Court could ac commodate the lot. One scribe had to do miracles of verbatim note-t>akin,g with his notebo<?k .balanced on his knee. 1 Now, there was a time when, had a man carrying a bag of bloaters seated himself in a place of amusement, those around him would have seen to it that he either removed himself elsewhere and his bloaters, or they would have had him forcibly ejected. But that didn't happen hi a. Swansea place of amusement on Saturday afternoon. The intention originally was to reserve only a few seats for Mr. Roger Beck's recita- tion of "A Christmas Carol. But 300 went slick befora the promoters had hardly realised the rush. It was the same with the shilling tickets. Ninepenny and sixpenny tiok-etiq were not wanted. Just fa-iicy-.C paid in popular prices for an illustrated imitation. What a tribute to the reciter There have been such rushes made for rabbits in the Swansea Market and (}ow.e.r 'bus garages on Saturdays that owners of the 'buses are dubious about running the risk of carrying further "bunnies" into town. The Vanguard Co. did not bring a single rabbit to Swansea on Saturday. A rush was made on their .garage the previous week. Mi". Vaughan Edwards' remarks at the close of the munitions eace at Swansea on Saturday afternoon went right to the point. "Close up your ranks," he said, "for the solidarity of the front at home." As he was returning into court he had heard the waz ret u 7!?? we downhearted?" No, we were not; but the men at the front would! be if the induetriaJ soldiers at home did not do their duty. j They were a musical company at the Welsh Munitions Court at Swansea on Sat- urday. When the president and the assess- ors left to consult with the parties' repre- sentotives in private, someone suggested [V'Lead Kindly Light," but he got no further than the opening bar. Then, after the pre- sident's stirring appeal to the men's loyalty, j someone commenced, in the gallery, "Hen Wlad fy Nhaclau." the president's -voice I ringing out', "Sing on!" Brigadier-interpreter Henri Fayette, who is attaohed to the American Army in France, and was formerly chief clerk wiith Miessre. Depeaux at Swansea, in an interesting letter to a Sketty friend s peaks of the good moraJ of the troops everywhere in that country, in spite of the length of the war, which they realise must oontinuTbe "until the dirty Bochas" are finished with. Every- thing over thore, he savs, is very dear, but there is the consolation tha.t one wants little. Sketty realises the imperative neoetfsifoy i  rea l 1Fe the imperative  of more food producers, and a-ppkmtions for plots on the new field recently acquired a? the Bryn keep the hon. se<Tetary. Mr. J J. H. Morgan, busy. On Saturday after- noon it was interesting to watch the crowd I | members energetically clearing the ground of trees and stubble preparatory to the trac- tor ploughing and harrowing the soil. En- i terprise has. also been shown in the opening of a well-etooked depot in Eversley-road, in a commodious shop at the corner of Firog- more-avenue, in charge nf a young lady, where gardening took, implements, seeA, etc., can be purchased. Already a good business has been done. Rumours." 1 I had it from a friend of mine, I Who heard it in the tradn. He'd met a friend, who'd bad a, line i From o&e wfw' cÍ "heard" again. My wife wm talking n'm the wall, And Brown's wife said knew That Brown had heard, and bd ib all From Jones, who'd had it "true." The dustman said he'd had it from The milkmakn. who had said The butcher had been told by Tom— The fellow t-hat sold bread. Thus ramour is a lying jade, And "stretches" o'er the earth; Her "death" reports are daily made, j But never rf her birth. THE GHIEL." < The Swansea Police Court resembled a smail china shop on Monday. Inspector Nichols, Gorseinon, hofcfe the .first class Government certificate in mus- ketry. Swansea Food Controller states thai, in all probability bacon will continue very scarce all the oumraer. Some people only just got their rabbit in the nick of t.hne on qatLircL-iy-in fact, by a mere "hare's" breadth. "I see that fome ironmongers are sellmg anticMe, obsolete agricultural accessories—• to w.tt, chums!"—("Mark Once.") to wit, churns -—("Mark Once. ?aid one c < ker.to a gloomy-looking o?m- panion, "Whtt are you biting your na?ls for, Bill;" "It's my meatless day said Bill. Now there was a time when many a good man viewed with unction his act of alstaii-i- ing from sugar during Lent, but that time is not now. A Kidwelly soldier, wounded laA May, has received back by registered post a plate of artificial tÐeth he left in his valise in the Flanders lines. 4 The present day popularity of s'five- penny and the force of habit accounted for a Swain sea man handing out 2jd. in pay- ment for a shave. A bull-dog with a Union Jeck on its back caused some izuusc-riieiit, and cariosity at the Swansea Police Court on Monday. It was, however, a china one. There h" been no respotise yet at Swan- sea, to the Food Controller's appeal to turn over any hoards. The local official view is that there is practically no hoarding at Swansea. Mr. Ben Tillett. xv-ho 16 at leut as influen- tial and authoritative as any Labour leader in Wales, says that "pacifism at the pre- sent time may be defined as "blackgU'Q¡l'd- !m." Up against somebody, this!. Mr. S. Palmer, who presided at Cha-plain Manner's war lecture at Sketty on Monday evening, said he had now heard the same lecture five times, and a friend had heard it ten times—and neither had tired. Some lecture, that What with Jim Wignall and Dai Williams for Swansea, Bob Williams for the Ajberavon district, and George Gunning out aganusi all comers, the Swansea docks-toiler w<.s of the opinion that Swansea is "a bloomin allotment for Parliamentary candidates. < < --< -<A-- From the Docks.—"Horace! yes, sir." "Now, look here, a piaaio organ play- ing, Keep the home fires burning outside I the office is no excuse for piling on the coal in that manner. I see I hall have to plaice •you under the coal control." Sorry, sir. Mr. Roger Beck is 77 years of age on Sundav next a-nd yet bis reoital of "A Christmas Carol" in aid of the Daiy Post War Prisoners' Fund might put him down as a young man. In ft, not one young man in a million could relate the story at all. Some of our modern encyclopaedias are woefully out-of-date." Llanelly, for instagte, jdescribed as "a manufacturing seaport Carmarthenshire for shipping coal, iron, copper." The compilers don't know that the Western town's principal industry is tinplate. •4xS>< • Miss Violet Deakin eang exquisitely at St. Joseph's on Monday evening, and the only regret of her hearers was that she was un- able to gi" eany more items. Miss Deakin also acted all accompanist, and in general proved the-musical treasure of the evening. ':t:- A butcher fhep ir, Pontardiuliai- s which at the time of v'ritillg-w-1,6 akk-.K.)Iutely empty as far as meat exhibits were con- cerned. had in it a printed card contain- ing the fallowing: "If you do not fee what you require in tie window—please ■ ask for it. .-)?-:?>-?:?.i>- The value of s?weed a? a manure is weU recognised at the Mumbles, ?efe fcr many yearw it has been one of the principal fer- tilisers used for potato growing- For many weeks past parties have been gathering from the beach large quantities of !.he va-.ie-Y particularly favoured, known locally as hoar- weed, and storing it in readiness for the planting season. any recruit thinks he can "monkey" with any of the present medical boards, he is riding for <1. fall. No good taking certifi- cates for "housemaids knee," "noating kid- Ttfv." or "agrip'nobia." The only certificate -c)f any use is one of the death variety, and oven then you are liable to be ported as an a bsentee, and fetched out of your little G'ol- goiha by an escort.—("Mark Once.") The Swansea' man who carried home a paper pa-rcel on Saturday afternoon will not do such a thing again for the dirra.- tion." Policemen scrutinised him, house- wives eyed him with suspicion, and small bovs, "with tine-ir customary candour, Gpenlv denounced him as a Mod '()ard?r." Wb?t tbe parcel acwally con- tained was a couple "f empty sacks the good man purposed using on his allotment on Sund/iy. | oil -,undii, Father O'Hare, the "Grand Old Man of t-he local Catholic community, had tears in hit eyes when he surveyed in the huge at- tendance at Fat-her Harrington's jubilee the littJe boys and girls who had just commenced to toddle when he embarked on the stupend- ous task of "making" Groertbtill. Father Harrington paid him a great tribute, and Father O'Hare's one desire is to remain for ever- amongst his beloved flock. AHottee" (Swansea) writes The Food Production Department, on the one hand, are pressing for more and more ground to b3 cultivated. and on the other the Food Con- troller is asking us to reduce our rations. If other allottees are like myself I do not know how it is going to be done, for I re- turned to dinner the other day after a stren- uous morning tilling the soil as hungry as the proverbial hunter, and I am afiaid much exceeded Lord Rhondda # bviiii. The great audieno? at the Swansea Empire ere immensely ticklftd at the close of Mr. B £ er Beck's reci-tal. He bad shown a m ,te.rlu 1 effort of memory and the Mayor c ine forward to thank him. Mr. Beck was not on the stage and in the middle of his -oeer.h his Worship called out. looking to- -w rds the wings. "Come on here. Mr. B->ck. Mr. Beck came forward and visibly ft :wed all fiisinciinatkvn to be praised. "Out it short," he said, sotto voce, and the a dience lauffhed heartily. It was a painful ordeal to Swansea's philanthropist, who does not like being "buttered up. In this case it was bound to be done. Certainly Lieutenant Gwyn Thomas, Welsh Regt. and Neath, is worthily carry- ing cn the traditions of Welsh Rugby foot- j ball, for of his Saturday's game for the Public School Services v. Guy s. and his team just won, we read: He played &,r-! inglv cl ose up to the t h ree-qaarters when the wind was behind him, a.nd in one in-j stance he saw his chance and went through: with a try an uncommon feat for a f-il1- back to perform." Old stager? of Welsh Rugby will thus be pleasantly reminded of a most disconcerting manoeuvre initiated by the great W. J. Bancroft, Swansea. j Our Roger Bsok," 1 In every charity, Foremost with gifts so free, There you will always see Our Rogsr Beck. His par.»-string* loonen when Some of his fellow-men Need help; and thus he's them Our Roger Beck. Gifted with talents rare, Metr'ry beyond compare, Bleassings he's glad to share, Our Roger Beck. May he be spared for yeaavs To mfve us to mirth and tears; His smile our spirit cheers- Oor Roger Beak. THE CHI EL."

I STOP PRESS. i t I I I f

NOTABLE EVENING. I MR. ROQEr p". r v'S t I'íl I WONDERFUL FEAT. I VALUABLE AID FOR "POST" I FUND. — — The" Daih Poot" War Prisoners' Fund ben?lrts to the extent of ever £ 100 as a re- j suit of the valuable aid rendered Lev Mr. Boger Beck, chairman of the Swanses Har- bour Trii-,t, v,,h(>, at the Swanfeea Empire on j Siiiday evening, gave a recital of Dickens' f "A Christmas Carol." The spacious hall wac; pac-ked from floor to ceiling and the ell- tvrtainnmtt was a great success. ¡ Prior to the recital Mr. Maurice Every, the well-known Llanelly baritone, gave a fine rendering of Friends of Mine," and Miss j M. L. Williams (St. Thomas) sang with j mncll feeling "Star of Bethlehem." Miss J Macnamara was the pianist. The piece de resist-aitee was, of course, Dickens' famous story, and when Mr. Roger Beck aplic.Lir,-Ki in front of the footlights he received a greeting that lasted several m?t'tes, the vast aud?ce evidently desir- ing to show by the warmth of their enthusi- asm their deep arVm;ati<)n of the princely munificence of Swn8':I phUauthrcp?st. Apart from that Mr. Beok's very appearance seemed toO have a magnetic influence upon the crowd. Hoary-headed, yet he was as upright as a dart at seventy-seven yo-,tim of age—a fine specimen of man- hood—and his ruddy, cheery face put every- body in the best of spirits. In a few preliminary wards, Mr. Beck said the could not thank them sufficiently for their warm greeting and then intimated that a film would sub- stantially if not in detail illustrate his re- cital. Then he proceeded with the story of Scrooge, whose avarice and greed bad grown so much upon him that his whole life be- came devoted to saving and grasping. Thus he became hard-hearted, cruel and tyranni- cal, without a human soul to love him. Titers, the ghost of his i.Ji-mer partner, Joseph Marley, appearod to him and warned him of the fate of such as lie, and the spirits of Christmases past, present and future showed him by a series of pictures how he was hated and d-etes-ted and that no one would be sorry if he died. Scrooge learnt the lesson. Magnificent Feat of Memory. In a few words this, as everybody knows. the story, aud Mr. Beck, with a masterful effort of memory, recited the entire work without a", much as a scrap of paper before him and displayed much histrionic; talent. We saw the grasping Scrooge, the pkinftivrt, at his desk keeping his watdhful eye on poor Bob Cratch it, laughed heartily over the merry Feaziwig, smacked our lips (in these hard times, particularly) over the description of the Xmas goose-^ifh the stuffing oozing out at the CratohSs', shared Mr. Beck's pathos over little Tiny Tim, and, finally, marvelled a.t the compete change wrought in old Scrooge's nature. It was a. great effort, and to show Mr. Beok's perfect sang froid," when relating that Scroogie was suf- fering from a cold, he said, by way of an aside, "like my unfoTtun?te self." The recital was given in parts and at the close of ea?h the Ide?) Renting Company's film, "&r{x>ge, the Skmthnt," was thrown upon the screen. The Joan of this film had 'b?en obtained by Mr. Richardson, of the Empir?,, through Mr. Nat Dix, of the Picture House and Carlton, and the lantern was manipulated by Mr. Hopkins and Mr. GiUard. The Mayor's Tribute, The Mayor (Alderman Ben Jones) at the dose proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Roger Beck, wftio, he said, was a very rich man, but his heart was larger than hia wealth. (Hear, hear.) Tho recital that evening was for a most deserving cause—the "Daily Post" War Prisoners' Fund. They knew what the Germans did with oufr sob diere and sailors when near our own shares, but God help any Britishers who became prisoners of war in Germany. The fund was one of the most deserving causes in the town and he. was glad the Daily Post" was ro I well supported. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that Mr Beck, though over 70 years of age., would live for very many years to do the good work he was doing from day to day. (Applause.) An Atmosphere of Sacrifice," I M. le Bars seconded, and said that as a. result of the recital the "Daily Post Fund would benefit p about £ 100—-(applause)—- which was more tha.n sufficient to keep the boys from Swansea, who were prisoners of war, for nearly a fortnight. There was an atmosphere of sacrifice ahout. the even- ing, but the greatest sacriifce had been made by their worthy townsman. (Hear, hear.) It was a sacrifice of strength to a man, 77 years of age, to stand there for nearly two hours and, with considerable histrionic talent, rerit? one of the greatest masterpieces of British literature. (H<ear, hear.) The resolution was carried almost before it could be put to the meeting, amid much enthusiasm. In reply, Mr. Beck, who wa.s again most cordially recei ved, acknowledged the services of the vocalists and the accompanist, ex- tended his heartiaHt tha-nks to Mr. Richard- son, the geiilitl manager of the Empire, for the kindness he had shown him, and also acknowledged the services of Mr. GilUrd and Mr. Hopkins. Finally he said he owed the audience a debt, of gratitude for their kind attention. I Applause.) The evening terminated with the singing of the National Anthem, and cars, specially arranged by Mr. David James, of the Tram- way Company, conveyed people livinr, ar a distance to their homes. Tfee warmest thanks of the Daily Post are given to Mr. Joseph All.(-.ti far the free use of tie hall, to Mr. Richardson and hn- staff for their kind co-operation, to the artistes, and Mr. David James, for helpinc to make the recital the splendid snccese it proved.

Mr. Lewis, ths recently appointed Mid- land Railway stafcionmaste- comes to Swan- eoa from Coalville, so he s,houl-d be in IIIF el^r>en-,t. Mr. P. M. Sewe?, one of the -9wans- Salisbury Club Cbajnpio? BtUiaids i'?;tm, and now on war work, participated rccntl.Y in a scries of 41 *,liR -1 -da ?ij -ed bv the Barnst?p!? Conservative Club for the benefit of the Town Y.M.C.A. Hut Fund. In a game of 700 up Mr. Sewell besit his opponent by 238, amd is described by a local critic a<s "a etascy piayer with a delicate touch." I

"MY HEART IS IN GREENHILL." REVERED SWANSEA RECTOR. RED-LETTER DAY AT ST. JOSEPH'S. The extensive Catholic community of Swansea demonstrated the remarkable bonds' of feeling existing between their admirable clergy and themselves on Monday evening when the silver jubilee of Father Bernard j Harrington, rector d St. Joseph's, w;ai cele- bra-fed. A strong committee, who had for inspira- tion a deep persona; afrectiou and respcct j for their rector, had been working for three weeks past perfecting the multitudinous ar- rangements necessary to ma-ke the interf mg event a memorable one in the histcry Father Harrington's priesthood, and by Father Carroll Baillie, that inveterate, hustler," with Mr. George Griffin as secre- tary, we must say that their efforts met with complete and astonishing snccest. The capacious Si. Joseph's Ila] t was quite crowded a long time before the hour for commencement, and amongst those present we! no<-ed Monsignor O'Reilly (Vicar-General of tihe Iboce.se of Cardiff), the Abbot of Down- side, Father Cox (Olydach), Father Dtbv son. j (St-. Illtyd's), Father O'Hate (the ct.Jj"cn of the local community), Father O'Reilly. I Fattier Chatterton (naval Chaplain). Father Fjgerton (St. David's), Fat,hel' Ftenell (St. j Da.vid"s), tJIe iayor (Alderrnan Ben Jones),! Councillors T. W. Howells, D. J. B-asse.it, William Owen and T. Sheehaai, Messrs. A. Freedman, T. Alf. -Cf,,k)rge,T. H. Rosser I (chairman. Bop.rd of Guirdian?). Captain A.1 Thomas (Chief Const-able), W. Gibson (head-j master), W. J. Cound (Ben Kvans'), and many others. The OhiicSran'i Tribute. It should lie mentioned that the boys, j girls and infants of the schools had pi-eseiited the father with suitable tokens of their grtat aiteein and respect some time ago. I Father Carroll Baillie, in congratulating Fath&r Harrington, said in any work meant something done, and the idea of holding that celebration had taken every- j where, and it was his privilege to tell them that the .subscription list had been a distinct success. (Applause.) They had had little more t?aj? Uire? weeks in which to do every- J t!mi?. but during that tune they had maL- aged to amass a sum of JSlivD, and everybody had written in appreciation of the work, not doile in St. Joseph's but throughout Swan- sea. by Father Harrington. They hoped to h?td bver the entire !i?t, to devote to wbat- ever plr the father would desire. (AP'I plause. ) Mr. W. F. Hulley moved the reading of the beautiful illuminated address, which set forth in admirable terms the devotion of Father Harrington toO his flock and his tire- lesnoss and unselfishness in every good cause. "A Household W (tnt Coun. T. Sheehan said that nothing in his life gave him greater pleasure than to be able to do something to honour Father Har- rington, who had devoted his whole life to the welfare of the He had laboured amongst them fofJMiftcetV ye^rs—untiring and unselfish. memor- able period when Father Harrington went across the Atlantic to get funds to enable them to erect the new schools they so de- j sired, and how the father strove to the point of breaking hie health. When they were all gone and passed away the rev. father's na.me would remain a household word in every I Roman Catholic home. (Applause.) The Abbot of Downside said that it was impossible to impress hotter than the ad- I tiress had done of the tender' feeling 1 which brought Uicm together on that solemn occasion in the father's life. He spoke of how he had hecn responsible in taking the father away from St. Joseph's to another and less exacting parish, aud had approached him to re-j turn once more to the scene of his early labours, receiving the quiet reply My i heart is in Greenhill." (Applause.) The Abbot paid further tribute to the grand j work of Father Harringtnu, and wished ji him every good wish—most of all that he should celebrate his golden jubilee at Greenhill. f Own. Percy Molyneux, after relating? instances of the close friendship that had existed between the father and! himself, said that some peoptej might attain riches, wealth and! power, but Father Harrington had attained the greatest thing of all-thnir love and gratitude. (Applause.) He hoped he would be spared many years to minister to the material and spiritual j welfare of the parish. (Applause.) 1 Councillors T. W. Howell, W. j Owen, Mr. O'Neill, and the Mayor (who said that they held a debt of gratitude to the father which should make them use every endeavour t.o make his life as easy and pleasant as they could), also added their eongratula tions and tributes to the fine personality j and work of Father Harrington. I The Hero ef the Evening. In replying the father showed deepi emotion, .H-I said he fevnd it very hard: indeed to give words to express his feel- j lugs. The ad dress that had been read to him and the things that had been said about him had left him without words. He felt abashed to be the centre of object of that enthusiastic meeting, beca.itse be realised how during t-bat period <?i years that had elapsed Iw mi?ht' have doM much more than he bad done.: He was, of course, glad to have the re- spect. and admiration of his superior, glad to have the esteem of his people as presented to him, and glad to have the respect also of the civil authorities of I the town. He considered that an asset, and he would always strive to merit that respect. both on the part of the peopb of St-. Joseph's and the people of the! town. (Applause.) He recalled the years I that had been dimcult. the. Tearq thazI had b?ec strenuous, but all, on the whole, successful, although when be looked back on the 35 years and saw what little had been done in comparison with what might have been done he felt humbled. What. he had ever done had been an undiluteo pleasure always, but now he had received the recognition of the people of St. Joseph's and many friends outside. Father O'Hare. I Continuing, Father Harrington said tbat the venerable rector who had preceded him, ¡ Father O'Hare—(loud a.pplause)-ha.d cole- j brated his fifty years of priesthood. If lie were to live 25 years more he could never h-ilve or even quarter the extraordinary achievements, of Father O'Har? in Swansea.. (Applause.) He referred to the Greeuhill people as a mo?t ?ener?'js aud o?dient, flock. "Whatever time Almighty God ?!ves me in future," concluded the father feel- I higlv. "will be devoted to those generous people who have shewn snch bO!ld of affec- tion to-night." He 'Wa., glad W f<p? mem- bers of the Council and Guardia?? there, and in coming there the Mayor honoured it 't only himself but the jieople of St. Joseph's. Father Harrington also thanked all those who worked for him. Prior to the event, the choir, under the ¡ baton of Mr. dames I-umphy. gave fine se- lections. whilst the soprano was.Miss Maggie May O'Brien; bass, P.C. Jack Lynch; and the contralto. Miss Violet Deakin. who sartg and aoeomps.reed in most accomplished man- ner. ■ Afterwards whist and danoing were indulged in. I The result# rrf the whist drive were:-— Ladies: Mit-s Morrisey (334). hand-painted 'ker--b Ief gatchd. G«n<s Mr. D. Courtney (144). iam dish. Consolation—Ladie« Miss Newbury (87). Gents: Master Frank Boat (99). Knock-out: Mr. Murphy, cruet s,and Mise Cassy Lee, box of soap. Winner of bil- liard tourney. Master Bernard Condon The dancing was extended until 1 on Tuesday morning, the aeoomjwnist being Mis* Violet Deakin. r-

A Swansea connc/ilicr after a function the other day went in in the an to-roam, and, seizing a hat off the table, -,aid to the atten- dant, "Is this my hat?" "1 don't know, sir," was the reply; "but it was the hat you put there."

SCALE OF CHARGES. For Consecutive WerkH Insertion# of SMALL iSSWiirNYS. (Wfiirj [-r2,1 Only.) THREE UNES. not e-: oeed (ag 24 Words 6d. pox ir.iertion, Inery additional 8 Words, Pocrpcnee. The foregoing scale applies only to APARTMENTS AND houses. To Let or Wanted; Situations aoa/st at Wa.nted; Houses, Offices, Pror-" "ties a.nd Wiopg to Let or Sell; Lost and Fooud; Migeellaoeocs Private Wa.nts and SaJeø; but not to any Advertisement of & fM-dw TRADE SPECIALITIES, Eta. (When Prepaid Only.) Twenty-four Words—9d. per insertion. iTiirty-two Words—Is. j A reduction is made for a. series of 5c 131 or 52 insertions. If a voucher copy be desired, an extra 'IUlrœ Halfpence per i?prtion eho?d b* added to the above cheap ra.i«. ?nieaa prepaid, the AdT0imt'mtfl wiU b< ebar?ed by the Businees Sca' Advwtls^ m?nte from Puidic Bodies a.re not inearted « the prepay ?r, The aster-Qener-J does rot allow tett?ra h. ted ? initial- or SotMoo* Ma?es to L uidressed k an> P?et OCec. "ad letters so are returned to the &enfiec t^rougro ih- Dead Letter Departmeat. I/ot- 'c-rp tr A.! •. r tleers by initials, etc., or other-   may ? direct? to "The CMBbri?n" (i!?!.? free f charge, and if stamps a» sent covcr pthtage will be forwarded to tJM Adverriser's own Address. Remittances under 5t may be made up in Halfpenny Pe Stamps or Postal Oroera. Postal Orders phould be ma.de payable to The South Wales Post" NewBpaper Ox. Ltd.. 211, Hig%-rt.met. Swansea. Address all oommunioations to the llanage# MUSICAL. A GRAND, New GO-giijrioa Piano for Sale gooti reason for selling; bought only sii montUa ago.-Write 49 X.Y.Z.. I>ajlv Post: Swansea. 986e24rf SALE. Piano, coat £60; sell for £19.- Apply 35, Cai-lton-terrace, Swansea. æh2.1¡ "OR SALE, Upright Grand (by Kirk man, gocd eonrlitior.) Piano.—Wrrto K. Iteily Poet," 8wan 968g^-i; QKCOJSD-HAKD Pianoforte, by CMIa-id and Coliard. fall trichord, ivory keys, duoed to £.33 2i!. CaáÏl; Walnut Piano, by Roeenttriob, £:\3 21> Walnut PiUlO, by Hine, .{;40; Walnut Piano, by Wit-ton and Wlt-too, £42; Walnut Piano, by Y. F: Yates, London, iron-framed, Waiuat Piano, by John Wooda, .£45 Ebouiged Piano, by Bern, Pa.ri., £68; ifaeon and Hamlin Orlt&n..£15 10s. "unall Harmonium, by oaJi Harmonium, 7 stops. £10 10».—Thompson and •Sliacke! 39, Castle-etreet, Swansea. 854g2-t ,4 RK You about. to Purchase a Violin Viola, or Cello, etc.?-Our Stock is un equalled. Private Rooms iu whioh to Scieo 1 netrumentc. A Keliable Expert in Attend nnee to Advif-e. Every kind of Accessary ii >Stoek.—J. T. Wooding, Gowcv-efcreet, Swan Violin Maker, liepairer, and Expert The Orly Practically Trained Violin Exper in Wales. Dealing with such, there are 7* afrentr' to be oovered. > BAMOPHONBS. from ?3 108.; XewDouMt ? EidedR, Is. ea?h. Gmmophone Repaireri. All Spare Parte Stocked.—D. J Snell, 14a. 21 and 22. High-street AjcaA (near G. W .1U, Swansea. OIANOS, New and Second-hand, from £ 2 A Orng, from £18 189.; Gennny Bargains.—D. J. Sûell, 21 and 22, Hish street. Arcade (near Cr.W.R.), Swaasea. X* 17 10S.-Eceptiilal;Y Good Sooond cs/?. < hand Piano (by (onmgOOn), 1D en< Walnut Ca?; bargain.—D. J. SneU, 1.4. 2 and 22. High-street, Arcade (n.&r G.W.E.J Swansea. 965g2.1¡ fOR SALE, three Houses, a.t Mount Pleap ant, Freehold; yields 9 per oeat. great barguin.—Write 8prÍ11gfttald," "D2.il: Poat." Swansea. íg2.1: G WYNNE H. BKADEE'S Announoeoiente PRACTICAIJLY New. Overstrung PjaDl (by Gars and Xallermaa), tioaewooi tjafe. Ivory Keys, Yeiy fine tone and quality £ 55.—Gwynne Ii. Brader, 17, Heathfwld street, Swajwea. QEVERAJj Second-hand Fia'.ioe in Stocl (b; Normell^, Bnntmead, Eoyd, l>auct Neumeyer, Krau&s, Toft, xlopkineon); al Overstrung, Iron C it d do. — Gwynue H Br&der, 17. Heat-hneld-sireet, S^a^asea. T? EW Pianoc, Jut njTiv?d (by Cramar —?' Beadle and L?ncbjeu, Dumno, EUi<< am Hill, •Sijjnw, Payne. Inspection inviu\l.- G wynne H. Brawler, 17, Hea-th £ .eld-stree« Swansea. 334g2-l' GODFRKT'S La?Rt Models, direct !Tom our Factory; oa?k or lur? pureliabe. CALL and Inspsot the Daintiest Bab? ? Grand m Waiea; perfect in tone &n? touch. SEVERAL Second-hand Piano*, thoroughlJ renovated, at low prioes.—Godfrey and Cc., Ltd., 22, S. Helen's-road, Swansea. PIANO BARGAINS—(Godfrey Yacht Piano in Oak Case twhan new 50 guineas) £20; Pleyel Uprigrlit. in Hand-painted Case .:£:38; Murriook Player Piano, in good order £45: Oollard and Oollard Upright (whet new 75 guineas), £46..All Instruments de Jivered carriage paid.—Write for OoJttplet* Catalogue and Bargain List to C. Milaon and Son. Ltd., The Grea.t 'West of Enplane Piano House. 16, ililpoiu-etreet, Bath. TRADE SPECIALITIES, T^ATERLOO to Mons.—Riboons for Medals f Naval, yi ilitary. a.nd Oivil; Eftgimenta' Colours, Braoea/v, a.nd Bars.-M.a.g-gs Bros. Wind-street, Swansea. Id0gr2-li MITHWOSK promptly attended to. P-ail k. ings, Fire Gratet-, SurDS, Iron work of v.v-ery deeoription; Coa-clumiih Work Pryoe Trow, Ox ford-street,, Sww-nsea. HoJ-1' TO get out of hen food all the eggs are in it, juet add a little Karrs-wood Pcyul try Spire containing ground insects. Rt Ji lt< usually double when are wood is added Pae-kets 2d.. 6d„ le.—Maggs Bros.. 13, Wid. street, SW. Z4g2..1 Potatoes and Save the Flour.— Steamer rivr.ls Daily of Sound, I list Potatoes, examined by Government In speotors before leaving Ireland.—Ed* arc England, Ltd., North Dock, Swansea. 4S6n2-x( TTIIJL/'S Animal Stook-takii* Sale is Non —— Proceeding. Special Une: — A few Sideboards, from 7i Guineas; Bedroom Suities a.nd very heavy Parloui Suites, from Guineas, and othei Goods too numerous to mention. Pre-wai Prices. For Bargains Come Quickly —Not* the Addrese: rill's. Central Building*, Gower street, Swansea. 96Jf02-U TRY Sidney Palmer's for Teas and CoSe-4, CoM Luncheons, eto. War Wedding Caress. Boie", etc., in Stock—Pakatr'* Cafe loppoeite Empire), and Bnaichee. 964gZ-1t DITWOOD Haulage, with Steam Tractors to ,t, near Swajieca.—Write Box 214 Post," Swansea. 484n2-U lj^URS.—-Real Goods. &a?e li?menM! De- ductions. WjH pay you to buy now. Government rernictiorcB on F'1; r IjMpoiM. See Windows.—Jenkins, ?arrjfr, 8" > Dillwyn- street Swansea. 374gi>a 0 ALF-1IOOP Di'i?no?.d Rm?, ?18 ?.< ?' Second-hand: i-p?nd'd v<?T)e. A few other Second-hand Articles to be Sold at Bargain Prices.— S^e fcullock Win- dows, Portland-street, ayd 10, Dunns, IvfiTra- hies. g2.U I ADAME DRUSIJJjA, F.B.I.M.S., Scientific 1 Palmist Clairvoyant. American Mystio Eeadinns. Advice Daily. Houra: í2 to 8.—AudreEs: 50. St. Rpien's-iio&d, Swan- eea (next, dcor to Orxmiarthe;. Gafe). T) El-'ILLS for Matthews,' and other Fil3« cheap.—" Daily P' X." Stationery De- ^arr,roent, hlgh-streft, SWE..ilsea.. ENVELOPES, aU tli},cs, Oommerosal and Catalogrue Shapes, at Daily Pest" Stationery Department, High-street, 8wan. St-ik. TWINES, Oords, for Shop and Wareihoase Packing.—" Daily Post" Stationery De- partment. High-street, Swansea. A NTOINE'S Oopyine Ink. Reduced rates. -Apply" Da.ily Poet" Stationery De- partmert, High-street, Swansea. ?YRDDIN DAVIESS (Chemists; Am _fJ nounoemcnts rpBUSSBS.—Singrle, f*om 2/6: Don Me, fro? ? 4/6. AU Smea. CIOTTON Elastic Stockings, 3/6 cadh; CMMn ? EUM?o Le«giné), 3/3 each; Cotton Elastic Kneecaps, 31. each: Cottoa Elastic •V"klets, 31- each. QILK Elal": ic Btockin^s, 5,6 each, and :Of6- lj pair; Silk Elastic co-hj 8;:k Filaftio Kceecapf,, 4,. each; Silk Ekst-Ïo Aukiets, 0. 6 Ð8.h. A LBO Crutches. Shoulder Eraceg, Air Pillows, and Enemas at the Lowest Possible Prices. — Myrddin Davies (238), Bottom of High-street. 71i