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[No title]
"In begip.yiiig a new 'offensive just' when the old ones threatened to become itenle of immediate result (though one or two promising advances are reported to-day), ?.iarshal Foch has folio ved his established practice, illustrated over and over again in the course of the operations since July. He i ¡s'no," the ma.n to go on hammering until he splits the board for the first principle of his strategy irb surprise, or at any rate constant change. Surprise in the strict sense does not seem to have been achieved in his new offensi ve, for there have been many hints of the direction of the coming attack, and the Germans have shown by their raids (which ere heavy-handed reconnaissances) that they were'extremely apprehensive 01 a new move pn the Eastern French front. It remains 10 be seen whether the object of this new offensive was simply the closing of a door half open into France at St. Miiuel. the cap- ture of a number of prisoners, and the biting Ðff of an offensive salient, or whether this is only part of a bigger plan that has not yet been revealed.5' In the foregoing note the military critic of the Times" describes the distinctive fea- tores 'of' Foch's strategy, as again disclosed in the American offensive, and finally gives more than haHi a hint that the movement is not concerned primarily with the immediate and local results, important as these may be. but form a co-ordinated part of a much wider scheme. It is reasonable to conclude ,t-hat the American First Army, which em- braces the bulk of the Republican regular I forces, and is under the personal direction of General Fetching, the commander-in- chief. is destined for a. more ambitious role than that of the pinche)r out," with French co-operation, of the St. Mihiel salient. Ludendorff and his colleagues esteem so highly this army of 250 000 Americans, most of them of the class of our old "contemp- ti'biee, that for weeks they have been gravely preoccupied with the nature and terrain of its mission. They, we may be -are, will regard the outburst south of Ver- dun as worthy of the gravest consideration. By Friday evening it was officially an- nounced that' the Americans had captured 11,300 prisoners and 60 guns. and that the Allied pincers. which had then their points at Combres and Yigneulles, lefb only a six mile gap for the German garrison to slip through. Thiaucnurt, the junction for the light railways laid from Met/, by the Ger- mans, had been seized eanly on Thursday. so that it had become evident the Ger- mans would have to retire in hot haste to prevent being caught .like iets in a trap. This achievement of the Americans, vary- value with the degree of its com- pleteness, wiill have a depressing effect on the Germans in the held aiid at home. The soldiers, especially, wild appreciate the sig- nificance of the loss, once for all, of a strong- hold that," from the outset of the war, had been marked out as the chief jumping off pkce for an army advancing upon Paris from the east, via Metz. The uncovering of the Verdun front, wfiieh profiles the natural path of entry into Lorraine, is incidentally an advantage the importance of which may only be* fully disclosed in the light of future developments. Verdun and Met-z are rival bastions of great strength, which frown at each other across I the frontier, as delimited after the war of 1870. They are only twenty-four mites apart. and between them lie the battlefields where the w wad. decided in tht» autumri of 1870. It tfas into* Metz that the army of Bazaine was forced by the en- circling movements of the German armies directed by Moltke* and it was in the en- v deavour to break the ciroie that. McMahon fought the battle of Sedan, where his army was defeated and he was wounded, and Napoleon III. made a prisoner. Metz, left to its garrison under the war ■ conditions of 1870, would probably have held out for months, for nature had granted it the essentials of a formidable, citadet-an eminence in low-lying country and two great rivers enclosing it on three sides like a deep' wide moat—but Bazaine's (Large and demoralised army brought, not access of strength, but hundreds of thousands of mouths to eat up the stores. The subse- quent surrender was dictated, not by gun- fire—though this was destructive, directed oil the closely huddled host of soldiers and civilians coiiiined in a narrow space—but bv food dfficuities. Republican France con- cluded that political and dynastic con- siderations also influenced the decision, deemed Bazainc a traitor, and afterwards sent him to penal Servitude for a long term of years. • Fifteen years ago the writer, at the dawn of a summer's morning, set out from Metz in company with a body of Germalt troops to see the battle of Gravelotte re- fought under modern conditions', on the same terrain where the French in 1870 lost in the terrible combat in which they came so near winning by the valour of the rank and file. The mimic battle, made as real as German thoroughness demanded -tfie artillery crashed through the woods and tise infantry forded rivers regardless of consequences—was meant as a rehearsal for the events of to-day, but even the most far-seeing of the German generals never contemplated the possibility that their an- tagonists on the ancient battlefields would not be French but Americans. Thiaucouri is only ten miles away from Gravelotte, and hardly more ha half that distance from the German frontier. Metz. a city fortress set upon a lofty promon- tory, overlooking the Meuse and the Mo- selle, which flow languidly below, can be seen from the hills surrounding Verdun. It 11 as jf we looked to Llandilo from the sum- mit of Town Hill. The area around Metz is rendered sacred by the memories of manv sanguinary battles. In it dlt:' fate of the third French Empire was decided, ?t. Privat. Rezon- Ville. ?-ravelotte. are phces ail within gun- shot of one another, and are more or ies? dominated by the fortress, which'?at-ure and the genius of Vaun rendered im- pregnable before the advent of long-ranged guns carrMng high-explosive shells. The poor resistance offered by t^ie defences of Liege, Namur and Antwerp suggests that the greatff glory of Metz has departed, and that the outlying forts with which the ,city is engirdled will in "reality be more formidable than the fortress thev were originally intended only to "supplement. The German expedience at Verdun does not modify the view of the proved lessened im- portance ,of stationary defences of stone. mortar and concrete French heroism in de- fending the. In!! approaches was mainly re- sponsible for the enemy failures. We believe that the American effort south of Verdun should fee regarded as incidental to the resolving of much wider issues than the pmching out of the St. Mihiel salient: that it shoudd be viewed, in order to catch the true perspective, in its relation to the Struggle extending from Lens to Laon and to the main pm pge of Foeh's brilliant strategy, the "fu,li> fruits of which have not as yet been garnered. The man-power of Germany in ths -West is being put to the test, by attaois and containing actions over a front now extended to many scores of xfci'es. and by threats t'o make these continu- ous over the whole length of the line from the North Sea to Switzerland. I The High Command of the Allies know, as 'I we do not. the measure of ,enemy. strength in men and guns m the West. It" is estimated that the casualties of the enemv since the 16th March last amount to no fewer than 1,250,000 (including between' 160,000 and 180,000 prisoners ) and that even after an ample a llowance for the wounded who have been to return to the colours, the net loss is equal to the 900,0C0 of reserves which were grouped behind the lines held by, i-oughlv, -ear's itidifferentl v 2,000,000 men. This year's indifferently trainefl, and asoa c l ass poorly-bodied con- scripts, cannot by the most generous compu- tation do more than hall ma k e up the loss in effectives. And in the meant i me Amer i cans. | British and French conscripts have been streaming torrentially to the front. In former years the Germans, w h en winter called a. pause in the West, have been able to hold their line behind strong de f ences with depleted forces and form new armies to snatch dramatic victories in Serbia, Ru- man i a, Russia. an d Italy. On this occasion thev can hardly dare to venture on a simi- lar enterp r i se. Another resounding blow at Italy would be more than welcome for the mora l e ffect, an d for the same reason a successful thrust" at Salonika, Bagdad, Jerusalem. But the means are lacking, more especially as the Allies, Austro- H uugarian, Turkish and Bulgarian, are practically spent or indisposed to ma k e another effort on heroic lines. Enver Pas ha, the German tool at Constantinople, does not find the new Sultan so pliable as the old, an d the disposition of the Tur k s is to pursue the line of the least resistance in the Caucasus rat her than- yielding- to German pressure—attem p t to j smo k e hornets' nestc in Palestine and Meso- potamia. The Bulgars sre weary of war and of their German masters alike, an d would gladly get out of the struggle with the aid of the Entente Powers, if the latter coul d be in d uce d to forget an d forgive an d make concessions at the expense of Greece, Ruma-tua, an d Ser bia. But this is not a likely contingenc y The ramshac k le Em p ire of the Hap&burgs, which manifests the symptoms of internal disintegration, is too closely welded to Germany to en j oy any real free d om of action. It hasrto listen to the master's vo ice at Ber l in. But the economic an d political strailt is enormous, and every kind of expe dient is being employed to pre- vent a crac k-u p Austrian divisions have been sent to France an d German di visions to the Italian front, tc a d vertise the solidarity of the Central Empires. The- exch ange, however, does not add to the witit' strength on either front, and ? equivalent to the action of the Irishman who tried to enlarge hi^shirt by cutting off the tail an d attaching it to the nec k In Russia events are taking a bad turn for Germany. We are apt fo forget the Immense d i mens i ons of Russia an d the fact that near l y t hree-quarters of a, million German soldiers of inferior grade are still held there as an indispensable garrison to prevent, if possib l e, the German gains entirely evaporating. In the extremi- ties and the. very heart of the Muscovite dominions the Bolshevik power has either tottered to the ground or is tottering. Petro- grad is reported to lie in the hands of anti- Bolshevik peasants Moscow, the last strong- hold of the Leninites, is being 'threatened on ever y s i de, If G'erri an y had any troops to spare they would, be dispatched to Russ i a to conserve the fruits of German penetration. But the situation in the West is too menacing to divert men and gUns t herefrom. Hence the acute worries of Ludendorff and the other Potsdam war- l ords, w h o are called upon to make without 'straw the essentia l bricks to buttress the crumbling fabric of Herman au- thority in man y lan d s.
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Austria-Hungary has addressed a Xote to the belligerent Powers inviting them to a con- fidenti. nOH-bining discussion at a neutral centiePto ascertain whether the conditions are such as to make the inauguration of peace negotiations appear promising. Thus the ex- pected "peace offensive" has been opened more formally and unambiguously than ever before. A special Xote to the Pope bringing the step to his attention indicates the desire for the mediation of. his Holiness. If the action were taken independently of Germany it would be construed as auuninitiga.ted con- fession of defeat and of readiness to submit teethe consequences. But it is definitely stated that the views developed in the Note ai-e sliared by the Allies of Austria-Hungary. » This complicates the situation and leaves the door open to a variety of interpretations. It is not the nature of the proposal that is important, however, but the fact that any proposal should have been openly put for- ward by Austria-Hungary at a time; when the fortunes of the Central Powers are unmistak- ably declining and the latter are entering upon a winter confronted by terrible food and economic difficulties. Peace wa. never so imperative a- necessity for the ramshackle Empire, and it is certain. that for Germany the occasion for making peace is better now than it is likely ever to be again. The recent speech oi the Vice-Chancellor outlines the terms she expects. These if conceded would leave Russia at her mercy to be exploited for man-power and material With which to wage another war at her discretion. For the Entente Allies to yield to a weak compromise now would be, a calamity that would be iltied by generations—the present and others Jo come. Having suffered and sacrificed so much to make the world safe to democracy, we cannot abandon the purpose when it cs about to be realised. The true character of the Austrian move has to be gauged. Is it a piece .of strategy designed to delude the subjects of the Central Powers and weaken, by distracting and dividing, the Allies; Or has it been dictated bv the ex- tremities to which A us ti ia- Hung^fc- has been reduced, ana ii firmly met will iflPe followed by a really independent effort to make terms with the free countries? In arriving at a jlidgrilent-regtrdl* ng these points no vaiue need be attached to the excellent humanitarian reasons urged fnr ending hostilities. These bad no weight with the schemers who wantonly provoked th? war. and it it; safe to assume thev have none now. A Congress on the old-fashioned lines, at which suave diplomats Inrovo and insidiously scheme for the recti- fication of frontiers, t'le conserving of dynastic or other sectional interests, will not suit the circumstances created by this war. e greatllv err in our conception of the spirit inspiring the people of the Ah ied countries, tortured by four years of ruth- less war. If they do -not insist upon a dic- tated and not a negotiated peace, pr^fejiing to suffer a little longer rather than consent, to see the devilry of Berlin, Vienna and Constantinople enthroned in power Qncel more. The malefactors must come before the tri- bunal, of civilisation for judgment, not sit on it as members. If Austria is beaten and cannot go on with the struggle she must be compelled to frankly admit it. and affect. if she does not feel, contrition and the wish to offer atonement. The signs of her distress nave been visible for weeks, and her Allies are not successfully concealing theirs. Des- tiny is knocking at their doors. Thev read theii, fite in the thunder of the guns ad- vancing steadily eastward and in the internal disintegration of the Empires that stand as the ?.-?t ?}ic? of autocracy in the world.
IMUMBLES WAR SHRINE.I
I MUMBLES WAR SHRINE. I A very interesting ami impressive cere- mony took place in Mumbles on Saturday afternoon when the handsome War shrine. erected in the Park by the local members- of the Bit-Badge" League to the memory of comrades fallen In the great war, was 'un- veiled by the Rev. Harold Williams, vicar of Oystermouth. The church choir, fully surpliced, hea'ded a procession to the park, where a large concourse had assembled amongst those present,being the Rev. Lati- mer 'Daras (Oystermouth Church). Rev. R. W. Green (Ai ambles Wele 'aii), Councillors Harry Davies, C. P. Bell..John "Harris, É, Bevan and a large number of the League members. Special hymns were sun, and after the unveiling ceremony the Vicar gave an appropriate speech, itiakina re- ferences to the lads who had given thtir lives for the ca.use of freedom. The firing of three yollevr: by troops stationed in the village and the sounding'of the "Last Post" concluded the ceremony. The shrine, which is Loth handsome and decorative, is the work of Mr. Maslen, West Cross, and con- tains, not only the namei of the fallen, but also a RoH of Honour. There have beer* some 120 men from the village killed.
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Penrice Castle is now unoccupied except I for a caretaker and a couple oftservaats. Dancing classes apparently promise to become a feature of the coming autumn I and winter seasons in Swansea.  II The late Sir Samuel Evans was, as the Prime 'Minister is. very fond of music. In- deed, he was a very capable" vocalist. Swansea. Food Office has a cartoon promi- nently displayed of "The perplexed But- cher." What. about the perplexed house- holder ? There is an abundance of blackberries I around l.vower. In Crawley Woods it is estimated that an average man could easily pick a hundredweight a. day. There is a special brand of war bacon as well as of war bread. A cynical local in- dividual says that war bacon consists of 9U per cent. salt and 10 per cent. dead pig. Charged with being an absentee a. Stour- bridge man expressed great, surprise when told that this country was at war.. The theory is that he was employed in some Government depattme -fit_P u'nc-h. The query put forward as to whether policemen have a special gift, for allot- ment work itgc,in raises the interminable problem, "Can a man who playb the cornet go to Heaven?" Thaobbit,g- we-re sold at the Swansea market. un Saturday by t-he pound with the skins on. One penny was allowed the pur- chaser tor the skin. Not ba4 business— for the retailer.  <'v< of that talking ustomer: "Have you any of that taTIdng cheese?" Swansea. Grocer: "'?orry. mum, all our cheese has reached the stage of chant- ing. \A"Ii you ta,,t+, it. Customer: "No, thanks; please don't interrupt it." "District Councillor J. T. Martyn is to be much commended" (writes Rate- payer"), inainsucli as he takes his courage in his hands, and w ill stand. for election on his merits as an independent." It is not generally known that the late Sir Samuel Evans owned one or more farms high up on the Carmart-hensh ire Van Mountain some way above Treca-stle, and here the famous lawyer would on occa- sions retreat for rest and relaxation. "I suppose you will evect a handsome monument to your husband's memory?" said a sympathetic neighbour. "To blis *nienioi-v echoed the tearful widow. "Why, poor Jack hadn't any. I was sorting over some of his clothes to-day, and I found a pocket full of letfters I had given him to post." Mr. Victor Evans cannot see his way to vacate any one of the rooms the Food Con- trol Committee occupy at Swansea rree Library in order to-make place for the Saturday evening lectures. "Food for the brain" on this occasion must give place to Food for the body." Vicar's Wife: I must tell you, Mrs. Roberts--my son has just won a scholar, ship, and goes to college next month. The vicar and 1 hardly know how to express our delight." Mrs. Roberts: Oh, I quite understands your feelings, mum. You must feel like me and my ole man did when our pig took first prize at the show last week. week. The late Sir Samuel Evans was, as tihe band of lawyers that viere in all the lead- ing cases at the Swansea. Assizes in the ninefies. These included the late Mr. Abel Thomas, K.C.. M.P., the late Mr. B. F. Williams, K.C., Mr. Lloyd Morgan, K.C., MP. (-now- his Honour "Judge Lloyd-Mor- gan). and Mr. John Sankey (now Mr. Jus- tice Sankey). The Cardiff "Daily News" obskrves: A "kite" flown with the object'of .prepar- ing the people of Swansea for the possibility of disappointment in regard to an early announcement of the improved status of the town. of which they are s„ deservedly proud, contains the folowing sentence: -A long procedure has to be gone through when a town is raised to the rMlk of a citv, and many difficulties not exactly obvious have to be overcame." As a matter oi fact, this long procedure was started many months ago by one of. Swansea' most farsighted public men, and all that is ;iow required is a single step which may be expected unless too many cooks chime in at the last moment and spoil the broth. MorePtckingsffom "Punch." Ac-corduig to a Copgen telegram Aus-I tria k claiming that Ru?ia shall pay her an lndenmHv. Russia, we undei stand. has re' plied that she is temporarily embarrassed for funds, but is w illitlg to allow Austria a free hand in the Malay States. The controlled price for vegetable marrows is six pounds ten a ton, but we understand that special arrangements have been made for marrows which fall a few pounds short of that weight. Jock: "Could ye no gie me a photograph o' versel' sister?'" Sister "Wnat would you do with it?" Jock: "I'd put it in a nice, collection o' curies I've been mackin' dot? here. The most dramatic Parliamentary scene in which Sir Samuel Jivans ever figured was the turbulent suffragette demoiiptra- tion in the Hoyse "of Commons in April, 1906. He was opposing a motion made by the late Mr. Keir Hardie that sex should ceaSe to be a. bar to the exercise of the Par- liamentary franchise. The storm broke out in the Grille." vCalico banners were thrust out by white arms, feminine voices shrieked in shrill protest against obstruc- tive Parliamentary eloquence, and feminine maledictions descefideft in particular upon the head of the Welsh K.C. "Sam" took it, all without turning a. hair. and when the police finally ejected the petticoated rioters he coolly concluded his speech. 6? ,I I The Derby Congress. The Derby Congress, one regrets to note. Condemned by ballot the bofcott of the Huns. If thti-q the lathers of the slain can vote, Our brave beys prove that mothers favour" sons. What mother could support a thing which cliects. The noble cause for which a dear son dies? Soon may sbe use the Charter of her sex: Its advent now is opportune and wise. To put thehest construction on their-view. They wish .to help the German working class To save them from "The Reckoning" that's due. When the Kaiser and his crew are "out to grass. But true it s that ev'ry country since the need Got jtfct the government that it deserved A freedom with a baptism of blood Is better than vile siiavery preserved, When will they learn that real wealth is in kind, That.^currency without it is no use? A country' s progress can but 2ag behind: Which buys and sells- negILctiiig to produce. Oh! soi-i of toil, there is honour in your sweat, s Just is the cause fop* which you ail combine Yet. beyond mere wage will England owe you debt If you produce what once came o'er the Rhjne. ► C. F, SIEDLE. 3, Glanmor- terrace, Swansea. l- Cower has had a record season for visitors. In tMmcwhaf bad odour in Swansea just now—cheese. A Swansea docksman went on his holi- days on Saturday. What about th? t?r pluck ? pILick? f} 81 There appears to be quite an epidemic 01 lost" a-i'tieles in .and about Swansea at the present time. What do those optimists (?'; say now. who said some days ago that the Allies had "sat down for the winter"? The police in LJaneHy desire to warn the public that counterfeit treasury notes are in circulation in the town and district. A Mount Pleasant koasehold had sal tanas last week. The neighbours were all ciwaous as to what they looked like. People who lose their food cards have to pay sixpence to get another. The ques- tion is has anyone else found the old ouesY N-early 5,000 barret- of port wine from Portugal have been recently discharged at Swansea. They are for distribution to various parts oi the country. A Swansea, family who has been spend- ing a holiday in Gower had the main springs of three watches snap the first day. The rain afterwards ceased to be a trouble. 4><>< Quite a number of Swansea families spent the summer holidays at home taking tiips i iid tramps as the tickle weather permitted, pater placing the money saved thereby into war sayings. A Swansea manager spent the, week-end at a Pembrokeshire resort. 'It is said he had to be doubly assured he had realiy got there for he could not recognise the place in the wet and mist. said the wise-looking Swansea shopman as he shook his head over the Austrian peace kite "Beware of the what- d'ye-call-'ems when they they come with, their thingumabobs." Jusso! "We are asked to save gas. How are we to-, do it, ?'' asked a speaker at a West Wales parish meeting. "Turn the tap oft at this 'ere parish council," retorted the. iCè of a rustic at the back of the hall. Are wasps starting a. winter C) ffe-ns've There appeared to be an epidemic of wasp stings irt Swansea on Saturday. One chemist had several callers .with the com- plaint during the morning alone. "Like Wilfred Shadbolt, i-n 'Yeomen of the Guard,' Councidlor DevonaM hath a pretty wit" (writes Ratepayer"). "For his comment on a possible ratepayers' strike has become quite an accepted witticism. Tommy I don't think auntie will stay she didn't bring any Ituggage. "—Johnny Hush! Look how the baby has stayed, ajpd he didn't bring anything."—(Mr. Charles Davies at Swansea Ragged School.) 11" 3 f: Major Cowley, the former Dunvant sig- nalman and now of Swansea, has a part- ner in Colonel Cranston, who started life as a pit-boy, and whose home is at Lan- dore. This is a local record few towns can equal. One often hears grumbles of the rain at I Swansea, but Mr. T. R. Couch who visited Manchester last week said it poured all the way up and throughout his stay there except for one brief hour, and it was rain too. He was glad to get back to the Swansea variety. During his visit to Newcastlie-on-Tyne, Generail Smuts was presented with an illuminated address by Mr. A. E. Spring, executive secretary of the South African Association of the North of England. Mr. Spring is a son of the lite Ald. W. H. Spring, J.P., of Swansea. w- The new ration book applications at Swansea are being put into filing cases which have been made out of old mar- garine boxes. The spirit of economy is abroad. Larger boxes similarly made have been in use in the Swansea food office as filing ca,binets for' months. The -Fforesbfach Comirc B4rid had a disap- pointment on Saturday, for after trudging through the rain to Morriston, where they intended to compete, they "were informed the affair was postponed until next Saturday. The member of the band with the silk hat, frock coat, white trousers and baby's dummy Looked most disconsolate 1 On one occasion Sir Samuel Evans was called to order by the Speaker of the House of Commons, and interrupted in the middle of a sentence. "V ery well, »* retorted the member for Mid-Glamorgan, "I readily with- draw all the remarks which anybody thought I was going to make. A daring retort, but one that sent all into laughter. The particular delights oi Gower provide their own partisans. While one man will plump for Llangennit-h and another for, Llanmadoc there are others who revel in the thoughts of Rhosilly and Port Eynon and declai-b there are no other places like them under the sun; W1wn it Ls raining t-hom under t?ie sun, hard we thoroti-ghl;v telieve t-heni. It is the opinion of those in a, good posi- tion to judge that no matter what slump in trade there may be in store for us direotiv after the war Swansea is likely to feel it as little as any part. This is due to the large diversities of industries here and the great demands that will be thrown upon- a-U branche" of the metallurgical t-rades directly hostilities cease. it is rumoured that a wounded soldier in one of the Convalescent hospitals up the Vallev has-decided leanings towards the ministry of the Church. Last week.a certain clergyman was politely asktd to lend a cleri- cal outfit to one of the wounded Tommies so that the latter-might have some idea of the figure lie would cut before tinally deciding on his vocation. The late Sir Samuel Evans was one of ihe tnost approachable men who ever held high legal office. Nobody outside the list of their immediate friends would have dreamed of calling Lord St. Helier. or any previous President of the v Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Diviaion, by his Christian name, but Sir Samuel Evans wa? "Sam" to every one. When he w? a 'barrister on circuit in South Wales he used to leave the barristers' benches and sit with the reporters in the Press box. On these occasions he unravelled manv* a knotty point of legal argument and pro, fcedure for them. 1 The warrant officer of a local union was "taken in" nicely on Saturday morning. He was engaged in taking a man to a Bridgend institution, and chartered a taxi for the pure pose and drove with him to the premises of a magistrate to. have his papers signed. The man remained outside on the pavement whilst the officer went in, but no sooner was he left alone than he jumped back into the taxi and ordered the chauffeur to drive him to an address which- he gave. Believing the officer was also in- side, the driver started the car and was off in a second. On emerging the officer was astonished to find his man and cab gane, and what he said is—well—censored. Here is a true story of a Government de- partment. A bill was received for the light- I ing of a room used in a provincial town by some controller. It amounted to 2s. Ud.. from which, according to arrangement, a penny could be deducted as discount, pro- vided the bill was paid by August 31. The account, however, wandered from office to office, and only reached the department in question on September 8. The clerk who checked the bill passed it as 2s. 10d., and it went "upstairs," where it was countersigned and put before the head. He had a con- science. Was it fair to deduct the penny, the bill not having been paid by August al ? To cut a long story short, four men had a consultation lasting twenty minutes, and finally it was decided to write to ,the lighting. company to inquire wllefher-the penny could be deducted I
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S TOR PRESS t t I C- I
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With Coal Control keeping a. firm, eye on th,- bunkering oi office fire-grates, Swansea Docks office boys will find their winter occu- pation gone. Upon few occasions. during the past sum- fner did the question arise How to keep cool" now the trouble promises to be "How to get coal." Swansea "specials" are somewhat'at a loss whether to regard the incident that Germany has adopted "civil police" as a compliment or a degradation. The other evening a Skettv disciple of Isaa-k Walton, fishing with rod and line off Stumbles Pier, landed, amid great excite- ment-. a, ba^s weighing 9|ffibs. An American officer who bad just "bought -a Post" in Wind-street, Swansea, on Thurs- day evening suddenly let out a resounding, if undignified, whoop. He had seen the great news Verdun wav. An Italian applying for exemption at the Swansea Tribunal on Thursday was not quite le when asked why he had not answered the Italian call to the colours. Thereupon Major Harries explained things to the man in his own language. The sympathy of Swansea- docksmen will be extended to Mr. C. Goulborn, district traffic ^superintendent at Swansea for the London and North-Western Railway, upon the death of his son. Lieut. Goulborn, Mid- dlesex Regiment, killed in action. A writer at the beginning of the nineteenth century remarked of Swansea, Here are but two ctiurohes of the established religion. but. schism assumes a Proteus-like form, and London itself has scarcely a religious congre- gation that is not here in miniature." And ( now? I The rig and bone" business appears to be popular just now judging from the num- ber of applications received by local war pensions committees from ex-soldiers for I grants to enable them to start in tha;t busi- ness. It is considered" work of nations? importance," and, better still, there is money in it. The prospect of 33 elections in Swansea between N oVem'be 1st and the end of the month, to say nothing of the meetings .be- forehand, is anything but encouraging for the ratepayers these times. 'What is the alter- Daii 've? "Get on with the war." as Mr. StantOn toM Mr. Asquithlu a memoraJaie in- ter jection. ■ > Madame Patti's chief occupation these day- it is stated, is signing > autograph albums, in which regard Madame is, very gracious and always writes the same sentence -A beautiful voice is the gift of God." It was in-these words, it will be recalled, that Queen Victoria exprer-sed herself upon iirst hearing Claa-a Butt sing. A Sketty couple who did notaltways dwell together in harmony, one da»y observed their cat and dog sleep^ig peacefully side by side on the hearthrug m front of the tire. The wife said "J-ohn,- there is an example for us why cannot we agree so well?" Ah was the g-ruff reply, but tie them together and then see the result.(Mr. Wm. Mor- gan at Sketty.) The St. Mihiel sector, which the Sam- mies bid fair to flatten out for ever, has been occupied by the Boche ever since the beginning of the war. The" Yp salient was bad enough for us to hold until we put the "tin hat" on it last year. but the St. Mihiel must have been infinitely worse for the Hun. It jutted out like a narrow spearhead and now the French 75 men won't have the Hun to pot at so easily. What is the number* oi' your nitLon book? (Don't, know? Then how wilryou identify it .when the reference leaf is-removed and sent to your local Food Office Suppose the book to be left behind you on a shop counter, or lost on the way home from mar- ket—a frequent occurrence, as the lists ol missing owners in many large shops testify. Having: supposed, copy the serial number or write your name on the cover. The au- thorities cannot descend to ail the details of domestic life. Private George Thomas,-whose sad- death is .reported from France, was of t-he very best type of workman. He spent his life since his "schooldays at the "Daily Post' Offices, and was one of the youngest of the compositors when appointed deputy over- seer. Quiet, with. a keen sense of ha was trustworthy in the highest sense, commanding the respect of employers and fellow-workmen alike. And he was a genuine Christian, without. cant or affeota- tion. He could have avoided Army ser- vice. but felt it a duty to go. No man made the sacrifice with a fuller conscious- ness of what it," involved or in a more cheerful and resigned spirit. Many interesting letteis are reaching the I Coal Controller from people anxious to save coal and asking for advice as to how best they can help the natinJl oy doing so. In reply he has issued the following:-To save coal you should mix coke with it. a third of which, will have no bad effect on the- fire. Use fire-bricks to reduce the size of the grate, or have a false bottom fitted. Keep*" your kettles and pans clean; dirt and soot absorb and waste heat. Never E'5 gas for cooking when the kitchen fire is alight. Take out-the electric light bulbs that are only a tempta- tion. Put in smaller, gas burners where much light is not required. Never mend a fire late at night. When you only want a fire a short while use gas- or electricity if you can in place of coal. Use gas in place of coal when you are able. Mr. Charles Davies. the. well-known s.wansea teetotaler, was 95 on Frida.v. He has lived in five reigns, and still enjoys ex cellent health. He is interested- in all cur-" rent events and has been in Swansea ince 1845. He is the sole survivor of those who took part in the education controversy in 1851..Mr. Williams (a Welshman), M.P. for Lafnbeth. attended a meeting at the Town I Hall at the time, under the presidency of the kite Mr. Diiilwyn. M.P., with the object of inducing his countrymen to accept State aid to educate their children The Noncon- formists, as a body, objected against State interference. /Drs. Michael and Darvies (Norma.1 College) spoke against it: Kilsbv Jbnest Dr: Davies (Bethesda, the blind minister). Father Kavehagh, and others, in- cluding Mr. Charles Davies, spoke irt fav- our. The Resolution was. carried. Mr. Davies waz, a member and direct-or of the first Benefit Building Society started in Swansea nearly seventy years ago, and-he has ever since been prominently associated 1 with maLV of these useful societies. I The South Dock, Swansea, was opened 59 years ago this very^veek. How time flies Exceeding animation prevailed In the kitchens of Swansea Jewry after 5'ns('t on Monday. of ?'waii,.ea Jev?-rv on One of the fruits" of our Egyptian cam- paign. There are prime—and ehNp--onions 1 from the dand of the Phaioahs on s? at Swansea. • A 17th centur\e-d for sale at the A 17th,centurN be?l  far sa l e Pontardulais inmbie sale on Saturday realised £ 220.# Both auctioneers dedaroo this to be a record. a record. First Tar: "Bill, here's a chap got three yearS for bigamy. Second Tar: "Wot's bigamy?'' J?rst Tar "Having two iii the same port." "Some of the honours are punishments, "said Sir Mervyn Peel at Carmarthen Insur- ance Committee, when it w-asvsnggested a, certain post was an honour. Complaints are received as to. the qualify of certain cheese received at Swansea. In- different ''cheeses bring their own question- able bill of health with them! .a. We met a pessimist the other day who was dismally awaiting the time ..whèn Johnny Bulgar would push the puny Allied forces in the East into the sea) "Wot 'opes!" after to-day's news? There is more than one handcuff king "d in Swansea a.Qd district. One of the .adpptsd4: elares that he will forfeit 2100 if anyone escapes from the handcuffs he will produce. One Swansea man cannot get used to the resuscitated street lights at night, but his wife is beginning to doubt that this question of studyin is the sole object of his nocturnal peregrinations. Tramp: "Garn d'ver mean to tell me ye've got cuts to suit all purses?" Butcher: "Aes." Tramp: "The-n what 'ave yer got, to suit an empty purse and no coupons f Butcher: "The cold shculder." .8." Two of the winn;œ in the prize drawing a t, tbo jumble sale at Pontardulais on Satur- day are at Salonika and France respec- tively. The poldier in France won the 1,000 cigarettes prize. V âYha.ndy u The dramatic scene of the late Sir SaMnEil EVans'- eiiffragette speech in the House -of Commons is wen related by your correspon- dent, other than that the Wel&h K.C. (he was the last Q.C. made by Queen Victoria) could not very wei-i "turn a hair." for Sam EVans was quite Wd.-("Captious.") Mr. Rupert Lewis was quite serious over the pronunciation of "Llewelyn" at the Police Court on Tuesday. Whilst Mr. J. W. Jones was encouraging, the deputy clerk (Mr. Thorpe) was exceedingly wroth at the bad pronunciation 1 From a Lancashire man, too I "i>. When the late Sir Samuel T. Evans (then plain "S.T.of course) was defeated in his second attempt to enter the Glamorgan County Council, in the eighties, for the (llyn- _? h tiL-s, for the i i corrw.g Division, he remarked to a friend. "Well, if I cannot get into the County Coun- cil I will get into Parliament." •ma y »a> It is not generally known that the late Sir S.. T. Evans left Parliament for the Bench very reluctantly, and against his wish. A couple of days before he was made Pre- sident of the Probate, Divorce, and Admir- alty Division, lie told a pressman the Go- vernment wanted to kick him out of Parlia- ment, but that he would see them hanged first." But Circumstances were too strong*, and he had to accept the position offered him. f I They were talking at a Wind-street ren- dezvous the other afternoon as to remarkable escapes, and the. story was told of a man who once got out of Swansea Gaol through a drain-pipe. Another member of the com- pany rerrrembered the incident thqroughlv. and said on gaining his liberty the man found he had forgotten his coat, and went back for dt. This remln-de us of the stotv of the man who broke into the Bank of Eng- land and. broke out again without being de- tected, and who abstracted nothing. The Parliamentar y elections in Mid- Glamorgan at the time of S. T." were most enthusiastic. There were songs by the bards, brass bands, and crowds so., wildly exultant over their champion as to indicate his immense popularity. One song —in F-nglik-had this refrain: We"Il go with him, for we all are bent =! To put S.T.' in the Pa-rly-ment, To get Home Rule and Disestablishment And help old Billy Gladstone,- and-, we won't repent." Two Swansea brothers fighting with the colours, who, owing to the war, had not seen each other for more than three years, met in rather peculiar circumstances. Both happened to have leave granted for the same time. Both came home on the same boat, but neither knew of the other's presence un- til on landing, when, much to their astonish- ment, they-nipt.: Strange to say, the sister of these brothers was expecting home on leave the youngest brother, who is also serv- ing in France. He was, however, unable to come certainly; not a refreshing drink, but compensated by the unexpected arrival of the other two. «J>s5XJX5XS- A well-known Glamorgan minister re- lates an amusing experience. He was the sole passenger in a compartment of an express train coming South one night-, when a Japanese got in, together with his wife and children. The rev. gentleman was indulging in a pleasant snooze when the train stopped, and the guard popped 'his h-ead in -to ask who had- pulled the communication cord. The minister replied that he had not pulled it: in fact, until that mometit he had been fast. asleep. Sus- picion then ceiitre'el on und after- a great deal of trouble (for he did not speak English) the truth at length leaked out. The Oriental had -wandered out of the car in search of a drink, of water. In the lavatory he saw: a basin with tape, and he thought if he pulled the cord a nice drink of waitor would come gU8hing" Jm somewhere. Something did; come, but his sister' ? disappointment, was. & very angry;railway official.
ITHAT SACK OF WHITE FLOUR.…
I THAT SACK OF WHITE FLOUR. Swansea rood Uommitten on Monday decided to prosecute both buyer, and seller in connection with the case alreadv reported of a deteciive finding white flour being taken up Primrose Hill. It. was pleaded that the sack was taken in mistake, and Mr. Victor Evans stated that..white flour had been so much abused that only millers were to deal with it in future.
I— I IBIG SWANSEA SHIPPING…
I — I I BIG SWANSEA SHIPPING TRANSFER. A large and, important deal has; we I understand, just .been contracted. The X'astle Trawling Co. has been acquired by the Consolidated Fishing Co., the-great Grimsby firm (which was founded by Sir Geo. Doughty) for This deal should foreshadow great.. developments in the local fishing- trade.
ANSIONS MINISTER AT ...GORSEINON.I
ANSIONS MINISTER AT GORSEINON. At the Institute, Gorwi-non, on Saturday evening a mass meeting was' held in.,connec- j tion with the liidn and Steel Trades' Con- federation, the speakers being the R-iglit Hon. John Hodge, .M.P. (Pensions Minister and president of the Confederation), and Mr. John Baker (assistant secretary). Mr. Hodge dealt with the question of amalgamation, ,ln u?,?' ama l izaniatioti rerwkiii,, that the difficulty under the Trades .Union Act was that a two-thirds ma- jority was required, and the officials were the men most likely to block the lines. He also spoke on the administration of pensions, say- iiig that the red, tape of the Government de- partments was in no small measure respon- sible for the slew progress made. but he had' made up his mind to carry out all his pledges to the letter. <
*' 1I1»* j EISTEDDFODAU.
1 1»* EISTEDDFODAU. Successful Events at ClydacH and Grovesend.. The first annual chair esitedd;od. pro- moted underihe auspices 01 the Baptist cause in Clydach, was held at. ttie Caifaria Baptist Chapel, on Saturday, and at* tracted a large number of competitors and large audiences.. The conductor. always an important personage, was Mr. Duvid Roderick Clydach, and the adjudicators, were: Music, Mr. Arthur Davits, F.R.C.O.. and Mr. W. I). Clee, A.R.C.O., Ystalyfera- literature,- Rev. J. Dfyntailfc Owen, Carmarthen. The accompanists » throughout, the day were ^essrs. David and Rees Williams, Clydach. Among the principal. awards, are the following Bin- tone solo-Ntr- Aneyin Morris, Lough or, who sang in magnificent style, and who was in a class by himself soprano solo- Miss Hannah .Williams, Ymstawo (last year's "National" winner); champion solo —Madame Bessie Morris. Ammanford; children's choir—:Cwmilvnfel! chief diorai Ystalyfera chaired hard-Re.v. Enoch. Joriees. Curate of Llangyfelach. Net pro- ceeds were in aid of the Calfam Soldiers' and Sailors' Reception Fund, and a goodly sum is. likely to result. Under the auspices of Hebroir Chapel, Grovesend. a grand eisteddfod was held on Saturday, the conductor being Mr. Tom Griffiths. Danellv. There was a record at- tendance and enÚie. A à jlldicators were;- Music. Mr. E. Maddock, L.T.S.C., Gorse- irion opoeti,v, Rev. John Ellis, Grovesend elocution, Mr. Tom Griffiths, Idaueily ao- conipanists, Madame Levshon Davies, F.V.C.M., and Mr. T. Moigan. Awards: Solo. children under 12—Maggie Phillips, ?Loughoi,; recitation, under 12—Trevor Knight, .Ql'ovesend; solo, under 16--Sybil ,itation, -Lzn d er i6-?- .Lewis, Gbwerton; recitation, under 16-— G'wyneth Thomas, Grovesend, and Madoo T h( ;ir,as. Poii'L v bcrerri Thomas. Politybere'm soprano solo—divided. Miss Edith Williams, Tynycerrig, and Madame E. Davie: Lianeliy tenor—Mr. W. T. Rees ("Eos Gwili"). Pontardulais; contralto—Miss Agnes Thomas, Tirydail; baritone—Mr. George Bennett, Gorsemon; recitation, adults—divided between Misi. Bessie Rees, Gorseinon, and M*. Dd. Evans, Llangennech novice sok>—Mr. E. J. Evans, Pontardulais poetry—divided, ^lessrs. I. Johns, Gorseinon, and D. J. Bevan, Gorse- inon champion solo—Mr. J. Morlais Evans. Llangennech. The proceeds were in aid of the chapel ftinds. I ■■
CHIEF INSURANCE CLERK.
CHIEF INSURANCE CLERK. I Impressive Funeral from Swansea. r 1, J A most impressive funeral took place 'at the Congregational Church, Abergwili, when the mortal remains of Mr. Jonn Griffith, Morris were interred at the 'Pongregational Church, Abergwili. Mr. Morris, who was 37 years of age, and Who resided at Lake View, Victoria Park-road, Cardiff, had been paying a visit to his uncle, Mr. R. Morris Lewis, of 3, Richmond Villas, Swansea, who is seriously ill, when he contracted influenza, which was followed by pneumonia. He was, chief clerk to the ftlamorg-an Insurance Committee, Car- diff, where he. was greatly esteemed by all who came in contact with him. At 3, Rich- mond Villas, from where the funeral started, the Rev. Sinclair Evans officiated, and prayers were said by the Rev. lorwerth Davies. B.A., S.D., B.Lt..The funeral left Victoria. Station for Abergwili, where a deeply impressive service was held by the Rev. Dd, Williams. Mr. Eynon Lewis, Glamorg-an In- surance Committee, also gave a striking ad- dress, and the Rev. V Corwen Davies offered prayer at the g-rave. Am one the chief mourners were Mr. ar.d Mrs. R. Morris rifather and mother), Misses Myra, Gertie,. Gwyneth. ard Kate. Morris (sisters), Mrt. Griffiths (sister), Mr. Harvey Weston (brother- in-law), Dr. and Mrs. Granville Morris (uncle and auntV, Mr. Even Morris (uncle). Miss Ena. I Morris, Mrs. Protheroe, Rev. J. Titus, Vicar of Llangadock (cousins), Mr. T. -Iewis (uncle), Messrs. Eynml Lewis. Gwilym Trehame, Lewis, and Evans (representing the Glamor- sah Insurance Committee), Dr. John Wallace (Tumble), and many others. A larse numbef of wreaths and letters of condolence and sympathy were received. The fnneri! ar> wn onrried oat by ^5es5rs. D-. C. Janes and SOIlS, Swansea.
IABERAVON LABOUR SPLIT
I ABERAVON LABOUR SPLIT I Port Talbot Delegates Turn k, Ballot Down. i A conference of delegates from organisa- tions composing the Labour party in the new Aberavon Division was held at Port Talbot on Saturday night to consider an order from the National Labour Party that a bailot of workers should be taken to select a Labour candidate. At the close the secretary (Mr. Ivor H. Thomas if Briton ferry, issued an official report. Y oting took place as to whether they should take the ballot and thereby cancel the candidature of Mr. Robert Williams, who was selected at the last conference. The result .lJls:- Aeainst a ballot 143, representing 14,300 For a ballot 69, representing 5,900 Very few delegates did not, vote. This, said the Secretary, meant that the conference will not. accept the decision of the Rational Labour Party's executive, and. so far as the Labour party in the division is concerned, the candidature of Mr. Robert Williams stands. The Miners' View. ine stvporters of Mr. William Jenkins, J.P., the miners' candidate..said that the voting was no true index of the position, as they claim t-hat about 76 deleg-ates did not vote, their organisations taking the view that the conference had no right to override the de- mand of the National Party. They seem to thinly that in view of the refusal to ccfnduot a ballot the endorsement of Mr. Williams' candidature map be withdrawn and. that the miners' nominee will be accepted. The conference lasted nearly three houret and included several women delegates.- Feet ing- ran very hig-h, and there seemed to be no hope of unanimity between the parties.
I-., SWANSEA POLICE PAY..…
I SWANSEA POLICE PAY. I ll PA -1 W ath. Committee Grant Increases. Swansea Watch Committee on Friday, Aid. Daniel Jones (chairman) presiding, con- sidered an application from the force for fur- ther police pay and bonus. The men asked for the Metropolitan rates. After discussion the committee agreed to adopt the Cardi8 7 scale, which means 10s. per week increase in pay and Is. per week added to the war bonus, the latter now amounting to 16s. per week. The committee decided to advance the, special service allowances as fullows: -In- spectors Is. 8d. to 2s. 6d. sergeants. Is. 4d. to as-; and constables Is. to Is. 6d. The total increases mean practicallv £ 4.QOO per annum, and tbev only fall a little short of the Metropolitan rates..
iOFFICER'S TRIBUTE TO SWAN-…
i OFFICER'S TRIBUTE TO SWAN- I SEA GUNNER. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Griffiths, of Oakland House, Mumbles. have received the following, 3 giving details of the death in action of their only son. The letter is from Mai or Brittain, 1 commanding the deceased's battery, and it says:—"Dear MI-S. Griffiths,-I very much re- gret to inform you that your son. Gunner x C. Griffiths, was killed last night. A shell -1 burst just- outside his bivouac, at the batterv, and he was hit by a splinter, which rendered him unconscious, and he died before "he reached the dressing station. I need only say how deeply everyone in the battery-officers and men—regret his death. You yourself Will know how exceedingly cheerful and will- ing he was"^always ready to lend a hand^to w help anyone who asked for it, and continuallv r-heerful through all the hard work and trv- ing circumstances of active servfte. In addi- tion to these sterling personal qualities he had gamed the distinction 0f being the first best gunner in recent batten* tests The officers and sergeant under whom he worked knew him as in every way. a rncst relink* gunner. All those in the battery who lwi! worked and fouglit with him for such a long ti me ask me to express their deepest sym- pa/thy with you in voun Joss. and their hope that God may comfort you in your .sorrow" i
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