South Wales Weekly Post

COMING BACK. I *>». Bfisuming Swansea's Pre-War Shipping. Swansea, Monday.—The trade of the port fg; gradually assuming pre-war conditions. Shipments have been made of coat, flour, etc., for countries with which trade has been suspended for the past four years. The im- port trade, however, still continues very in- active, but it is to be hoped that in this respect also we may see an improvement, and the industries of the district secure the materials and labour llA(">L1J co operations. The export trade k»i-> week 't\'<lS tory, although the pal.^t fuel trad,? ?.'? under the average. with the 'Pr- under th-e ave-,age. -i OC'O ceding week an increas "5 sho?. lo? 16 000 tons a?d 27,000 tons f? ie?inst the cwres- ponding period last yc: The 6hipmcnts of coal and patent fuel to 97,974 tons. 1m,. /Is, Imports 5,720 tons, export*; 101,540 tons, and total trade 107.260 tons, compared with 94,140 tons the preceding week and 80,157 j tons the corresponding week last year. Exports. Shipments of coal 86,324 tons, patent fuel 11,650 tons, and tinplates, iron, steel, etc., 3,566 tons. The latter for Iceland, Holland, France, and home ports. Shipment:; of tinpkde 25,900 boxes, and receipts from works 27,003 boxes. Stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 130,029 boxes, compared with 128,926 boxes the preceding week and 113,083 boxes at this date last year. wyn-stree t. Llanellv.

GOOD FOR COCKLEVILLE. L.G.B. and New Road from Gowerton. An important Local Government Board in- quiry has been held at Gowerton, in which the inhabitants of North Gower are greatly interested. A new road from Gowerton to Penclawdd has been "on the carpet" for years and was only dropped during the war. There is no proper road after leaving Gower- ton and pedestrians and vehicle traffic have used a circuitous route over steep declivities. The distance of road required after leaving the Gowerton Railway Station to Cefngolaa is about, two miles, and the inquiry was to ob- tain borrowing powers for £ 9,600 towards the cost of making the road Inspector Crossthwaite attencded and Mr H J. Ind, clerk to the Gower Rural Council, laid the case for the borrowers. There was no opposition and amongst those present who spoke and gave evidence in support oÍ the necessity for road improvement were :Nlr. Aeron Thomas, Mr. Morgan Thomas (Loughor Colliery), Mr. J. Harding (Gower- ton), Messrs. J. A. Jenkins and Mr. G. E. Gordon (Gcwer Rural Council). Mr. Augustus Jones (Swansea), who repre-" sented the Swansea Grocers' Association, gave important evidence as to the need of the new road, and in the end Inspector Cross- thwaite said he was impressed, and after tra- versing the mute with tha others said he would place the facts before the authorities.

TO PRE-WAR HOURS. Channel Coal-Trimmers' Contention. i A movement is on foot amongst the Bristol Channel coal trimmers and tippers to get the pre-war hours re-installed. The Swansea men met on Sunday, and decided to let the matter stand over for a joint conference of all the Welsh Bristol Channel pcrts to be held at Cardiff on Thursday next. Mr. John Twomey (the men's secretary), /told the "Post" on Monday that the men used to stop at one o'clock on Saturday afternoon, but that owing to war emergen- cies they had worked on. Now the men contended there was ample tonnage, and the only delay was the shortage of coal. They further contended that in view of the pre- tent crisis there is no advantage in working over the week-ends.

FOUND DEAD ON THE ROAD. Thomas Ei-ans, aged eight, or (jytrig- road, Ystalyfera, was found dead on the road. He had apparently been run over by a vehicle.

TIN OF CONDENSED MILK. A fine ot £ b was imposed on Donald Golds worthy and Co., Ltd., grocers, at Swansea Police Court on Monday, for ing a one-pound tin of condensed milk at a price exceeding the maximum on Nov. 1. Defendants sold the milk at is. 3d. per jMn, the maximum price being lljd.

FELL FIFTY FEET. Thomas Rice (44), labourer, residing in Little Madoc-street, Swansea, is lying at the Swansea Hospital with serious injuries. the result of a. fall through the roof of Messrs. Baldwin's Works, Gowerton, whilst repairing a chimney stack on Saturday. One of bis legs and an arm is fractured, also the base of the slndl and spine. He is not expected to Uve.

SWANSEA CHAMBER OF 'COMMERCE. Mr. A. Andrews will be the next presi- dent of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce, the election taking place in January. Mr. C. CLeeves will become the first a ice-presi- dent, and -M-r. W. Turpin has been nomi- nated by the Council of the Chamber as junior vice-president. On the Harbour Trust. The Council of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce are reconsidering the election of Mr. E. P. Jones as a Harbour Trustee in place of Mr. Owen Harries (resigned).

MILITARY FUNERAL AT SWANSEA. Tho military luneral took place at Dany- graig on Monday ot the late Pte. Michael John Thomas, Welsh Regiment, of 13, Llan- gyfelach-road, Swansea. He was wounded in the battle of Loos, but died at home from meningitis?. Father: J. A. Dawson officiated at the graveside, and the Lancashire Fusil- iers provided the firing party, whilst the Union Jnck covered the coffin. Mr. R. J. Davies (High-street) was the undertaken. The principal mourners were Mr. Edward Thomas, Mrs. Ellen Thomas, Mrs. Alice Price, Miss Amelia Thomas, Masters Eddie Thomas and Bernard Thomas.

TWICE GASSED. On Saturday evening blmord Lawrenc-e Cornelius passed away at the residence of his grandmother, Mrs. John Ellis, 36, Coedsae- jon-crescent, Sketty. He was only 22 years pf age, and was on the clerical staff cf Mr. John Bevsjo, shipbroker, Swansea, in 1914, when war broke out, and left to join the Civil Service Rifles. He subsequently sa.w Active service in France and Salonika, and fen his return to the former country was frwice gassed, and in hospiLa!. Obtaining his iischarge in February last, he resumed his civilian occupation, but not for long1. He Irae popular witii_his companions and a mem- er of Wesley f.fiapcl, Sketty, -;vhere a ser- vice will be held on Wednesday previous to bis interment in the family grave in Sketty jBhurchyard.

At Seion Baptist Chapel, Morris ton, on Sunday evening, a magnificent organ recital was given by Mr. C. St. Evan Johns (Swan- Bea), in aid of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund. Tho cnair was occupied by Mr. Nathaniel Davies, and the following artistes assisted -sorrno, Miss Cole; tenor, Mr. W. Tanner; baritone. Mr. W. Lewis; ijiolinist, Mr. W. Fuobarii-:

REFINED CRUELTY. I ——„—— I Swansea Officer's Bitter Experience. Lieut. Vagg, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, whose home is at Walter-road, Swansea, called at the ''Daily Post" office to express his warmest thanks for the "Daily Post" parcels. He says he is at a loss to suggest what he and his brother officers would have done without parcels from home. "We were in iour camps," he said," Karls- ruhe, Strohen, Neunkircken, and Cologne, having been captured at Arras on April I ith, 1917. Wo were treated very badly, realr* orse thi the rsftik and hie, because tfcfc "ru ) tlas mora subtly and refined stance, for the most trifling .geu ;p4 of regulations we wore refused permission to fetch io-i r parcels, Xte were put in prison nstead of uiiapr room arras*. U! barracks, and our letters were stopped—the I worst punishment of all. As for the fo--d, well, this was our menu for six weeks Cologne —Two pounds (or less) of bread to,. a whole week; tw^| potatoes, mangold soup and uneatable salt fish daily. The lightest i brt'?kin? of the skin became Repic a' once.. The Germans used to get round the Ha?ue Convention .flagrantly. For example if a ,J man was punished for' escaping he i have had 14 days, whereas he was alwo imprisoned for a month pending his trial, and if any inquiries were made it was stated that he had the regulation 14 days, not counting the prior incarceration. Another species of punishment was to disallow us the ordinary conveniences. As regards walks which were due to us, these were thoroughly at tho caprice of the cpmp commandant. When we removed from one camp to another our money was taken from us to be transferred to the next canff), and we were allowed no food on the journey, sometimes one of two or three days. At one station they had a sign "Coffee, half a mark." Of course we badly wanted it; but we had no money, and if we had we should have promptly been trapped in tendering it, as we were not allowed to have any on us..Then we always had to travel third or fourth class, instead of first, as was our due." The Contrast.. bit different to the treatment ot ijerman officers here?" remarked the scribe. "You're right," replied Lieut. Vagg em- phatically; "they tried every little humilia- tion they could think of." He harked back to the food question again, and said, feelingly, that when the parcels from Swansea came the recipients were really very hungry he could not de- scribe the feeling when the parcels came. After the armistice they were permitted to go into Cologne and get what food they liked—25 marks (about Ll) for an ordinary dinner!

I DIED IN ITALY. News has been re- ceived th, Sergt. A. E. Snell, A.S.C., has died on Dec. 9 th at the 39th Casualty Clearing Sta- tion in Italy. He was the youngest son of Mr. S. Snell, of 4, Victoria^ terrace, Swansea, and contracted influonza, wiuch developed into pneumonia. He joined up in ISH. He also served in France with the K.R.R. He was attached to the staff of the I.E.F., ana wa3 previously employed in the office of the C astie Trawlers, Ltd.' Late Private Ll, Griffiths, K.S.L.I., of 2, George Bank, Southend, Mumbles, who died from influ- enza and pneumo- nia. Late Private W. Cattroll, of 21, Se- bastopol-street, St. Thomas, WLo ruo. cumbed to the effects of wounds and had a military funeral on Saturday. Corporal 0. A. E. Johns, of 67, Lisbon- terrace, Treboeth, who has won the Military Medal. H, was formerly em- ployed ,by Mr. T. Morgan, butcher, Brynhyfryd. He has served in Suvla Bay, Palestine & France, and was a Territor- ial when the war broke out. —

SWANSEA SUBALTERN'S DISTINCTION. Mrs. Watkins, 23, Portia-terrace, Swan- sea, has received news tjial her son, 2nd- Lieutenant Evan H. Watkins, who is serv- ing in France, has been awarded the Mili- tary Cross. Lieut. Watkins is the elder son of the la I:e, Evan Watkins. of Ross. He joined up on the outbreak Oofl war and went through the Gallipoli cam- paign.

DISABLED WEST WALES COLLIERS. 4 At a meeting of the Western Miners Association at Swansea on Monday, Mr. P. F. Owen (Llangennech) presiding, Mr. W. R. Grenfell's (agent) report on the Redcar dispute was accepted. This matter has given rise to considerable interest. The meeting adopted proposals from Gaxn- gcch (Xo. 3) lodge, which included the amendment of the Compensation Act to in- clude men totally incapacitated by disease as well as accident, and that they should re- ceive full wages or the grade in which the ? ra d t, l 71 which tl-,e  had previously been employed, and at no time should the compensation fall below the minimum. This was also proposed to apply to lads working at the collieries.

RESPECTED AT MORRISTON. Amidst nmmtestation? of deep sympathy, the remain* cf the late Mrs. Mary Jane Duvies (widow of the late Nty. Joseph Davies, of the Wore-ester and Upper Forest Works), of "Glyncollen," Morriston, were interred at Llangyfelach Churchyard on Saturday. The officiating, ministers were Rev. J. J. Williams (Tabernacle ) and Rev. V. Dyfodwg D-v,-ies. The chief mourners were: Mr. T. J. Davies, Coun. D. J. Davies, J.P., Ca-ptain J. Sydney Davies, Captain D. Gladstone Davies, Messrs. D. Gething, Leslie Davies, T. J. Williams, W. J. Williams, Geo. Rowe, T. Jeremiah. T. Da-vies, W. Davies, Owen Davies, Dr. W. Morriston Davies, Messrs. Jonathan Davies, QaJdey Walters, John Gething, M. R. Jones, Revo- D. M. Jones and G. Roberts, Messrs. T. Oakley Waltere, John Thomas, W. Thomas, T. Thomas, T. Griffiths, and T. Morgan. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Walters aryi Johns, Morriston.

CROSSING THE RHINE Historic Scene at Cologne Bridges. OUR SPLENDID CAVALRY. COLOGNE, December 12 (delayed). The curtain has gone up on the last scene of the great drama. This morning the British cavairv crossed the Rhine, To- morrow the infantry goes over, and nothing wiIl remain to be done but the formal occu- pation of the area of the bridgehead to the preseriba4 limits of 19 kilometres (12' miles) up aud down the ri-via and 30 kilo- metres (19 JUdlee) inland. «fow truly llJ. thankfulness can one pray !i'tlnC dimittis. ce ib was only half lit the city hi14 awakv to the call (j\ tyug!es and tl ter of Worses' hoofs, and the -wat crowds poured out to line the whole route by which the British cavalry was to pass before rea.ching the river banks. The formal crossing was made by tho massive Hobenzollern Bridge, with its rugged stone ttlemented arch flanked by bionze statues of the Emperors. It wa.s a few minutes before 10 o'clock when a femali cortege of motor-cars swept up to where the approaches of the bridge were lined by a guard of Lancers with red and white pennons. The first car with the red and black army flag bore General Plumer of the 2nd Army, and in the second with the red and white corps flag was General Jacobs of the 2nd Corps. Other cars held the members of their respective staffs, who followed and grouped themselves behind General Plumer where be took his stand in front of a large Union Jack and almost immediately below the tall statue of Kaiser William I-I., who. sitting stiffly on his horse, seemed, as he gazed from his lofty pedestal towards the town, to be keeping his face averted from the fpoct.ade that passed below. As General Plumer took up his position, the baud of the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues) played "God Sa.ve the King, and almost immediately the head of the columns swung round out of the throng of the townsfolk which lined the city stre-ete up the gradual slope of the ap- proach to the bridge. Never in all this advance have I seen our troops marching through towns without being struck anew with their Splendid IOítks and bearing, and never have I seen tneni look iiner traii to-day. Tho march discipline was perfect, including the spacing between the hies and I units, and in all the hour a.nd 40 minutes there was never a check not a hoof or a wheel, I believe, was three inch es out ot line :n the column, which flowed as evenly ail a canal between its banks. The Dra-gcon Guards, Lancers, and Hussars, whether with lance and pennon or swords at the carry, they were all extraor- dinarily good to look at. Certainly not less good were the Royal Horse Artillery. There is something particularly stylish in the salute of the R.H.A., and there seems an especial touch of pride in the way they sit their horses. I believe every horse to-day knew that it was crossing the Rhine. What is true tf them was equally true of all the other units, the cyclists detachments, the machine guns, the medical tuiit, the field squadron of-Royal Engineers, and the Army Service Corps men with transport. And I A touch of humour was given to the ceremony by the armoured cars, the grim, grey fortresses un wheels, which, with no man shown),- as they came to the saluting point, sc.emu.; eyes-righted by swing ng the gun turrets round till machine-guns pointed straight over General Humeris haad, and dipp.ng their guns to him. Throughout the march past the band played, with only the shortest breathing s spaces, and played extrtjiu y well, giving in turn all tho well-known cavalry marcbes (M well as s-xne of Sousa'a), witb other things which have been sanctified by the war, such as Tipporary'" End the "Lung Long Trail. Before the last column passed the guard of Lancers swung from their i places and followed the rest. of the cavalry over the bridge. Then, when the last wagon had paisaed, the band played Cod Savo the King." and the ceremony was over. Beljud te troops and in front of the mass of civilians, which, choking the bridge from side to side, flowed up as the polios restraint was removed, r crossed to the far- ther bank into the town of Deutz. Kalf- way over we met the civilian tide, which came welling up from side, and the vanguard of them was a Ct.-himn of French prisoners returning from captivity. Probably the crossing of the Rhine meant moia U) thein than u did to u* (" Tiir.es oorreeponck'^fc.) ) ,M_

M }.r-, RI'V 0., 30 MAJORITY OF 130. | i-ii .ast of I' Prime Minister's Forecast of the Result. I ¡ It is understood that th-n Premier' s (jwn opinion of the mrjit of the. e??ction is that 11 the,,i i-,? a ?-tear iTn?r'ty(.a'! 0--rtl:es d LO tr.r'hcA'?n'?' l;lfJOV-1 i ernmcnt cirder, it is thon^ht i.liot ibe figures will be something like the loiWmg — Liberaa CeC11íiíö111&ts 1.)0 Tory Coalitionists 315 Labour 100 Asfjuitb-ians 72 Nationalists 36 49 Independents 5

I TWO NEW WELSH V.C/S. A iist oi th:ft.v-one new v.t a, tho award of which \vr*s <:hr.nic'eJ in » supplement to the" London Gazette on Saturday, in- cludes two Welsh soldiers. The fi!t, (t. Lieut-Cel.) Burges-, P.&.O., Iii the Gloucester Regiment, but who wr.s in ccmoiand of the 7th Batta-ion of the South WaVo Borderers when he won the coveted decoration, 'md the seoond is ('.S.M. J. K. Whiiams, D.C.M., M M., of the 10th Hatlalh" So?th \Va'? Borderers, who- hosne is at m. I

NFAl't-t"S RECTOR. I At Ft. ThontaV Cbiuvb. Xe:n. on Satur- day, the new Reel or (the lk, Gwylim Francis, M.A.), was inducted by the Bishop of Llandaff. There was a large congregation, In his addrc-ss. the Bishop pf-id an eloquent tribute to the memory of the kite rector, and bopod -)-Le new vector would prove a beneficial blessing to the town. He -e!J that the Uni- versity of Cuinbiidg? had selected• the best man and he was a Wekhman. The new rector placed his hand on the key 0; the door, :*cc!iivc.! the mandate win tho bishop, and iforwards tolled hei' Tliiyirlg that he had taken over ih i care of the p&riih. On Sunday afiarnoon the rector addressed a large assembly of discharged and demobil- ised soldiers at the Gwyn Hail.

I ANTHRACITE MINERS' I I TREASURERSHIP. At the anthracite miners' meeting at Swansea on Monday it was reported that Mr. W. M. JDavies (Cwmgorse), nephew of Mr. J. D. Morgan, had ob- tained a chiar majority of 548 votes over the nrixt candida.cfe for the treftsurer- ship. It was decided to scud on to Cardiff a motion sent in by Great Mountain Colliery in favour of the establivshxnen t by the executive council of an intelli- gence bureau for the systematic dis- semination of information relative to industrial welfare, wages, etc. Medical Attendance. A resolution by Ammanford hranch, was adopted, that owing to the inade- quate medical attendance caused by so l many doctors being called up represen- tation be made to the authorities for the Release of more medical men.

MURDERER LYNCHED — Assassination of Portugal's I President. I SECOND ATTEMPT. (Reuter's Special Service.) LISBON, Sunday. I Major Sidonio Paes, President of the Portuguese Republic, was as- sassinated just before midnight while en his way to the railway station. He had intended to travel to Oporto. Later. Senhor Br ft i C'arnacholyl leader of Sate Unionist petty, is undt" police pro- tection. I MADRID, Sunday. The official announcemeEt received by the Spanish Government of the assassination, states that the assailant was lynched by the crowd. Senhor Tamignini Barboza, Minis- ter of the Interior, has been charged with the duties of Prctident. It is added that Major Pnes died ë-t the ambulance station. The Portuguese Legation in London states that the President was struck by two or three revolver bullets, and died almost im- 1 mediately. The Portuguese President came- into office a few months a.go as the result of a coup d'etat. A previous attempt to take his life was unsuccessful. SYMPATHY FROM THE KING. Sunday's Oourt Circular f^ays:— By command of the King, the Earl of Cromer (Equerry-in-^Waiting) called afc the Portu- guese Legation to express the deep regret with which his Majeatv has learnt the terrible news of the assassination of tSenhor Sidonio Paes, and his sincere sympathy with the Government and people of the Portuguese Republic." PLOT TO ASSASSINATE CLEMEN- CEAU. (Exchange Special Service.) GENEVA, Saturday. The Geneva "Tribune" to-day publishes particulars of the discovery of a plot which was being hatched at Lausanne by partisans of Lenin and Trotsky against M. Clemenceau. Two Bolsheviks actually succeeded in crossing the French frontier to 'carry out the project before they were discovered.

OTHER PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATIONS. 1865—Abraham Lincoln (U.S.A.). 1881-General Garfield (U.S.A.). I. S A ) 1894-Prc-sideiit Carnot (France). 1S01—President McKinley (U.S.A.).

"I WANT MY MONEY BACK!" Mr. Trueman's "Liveliness" at Neath. At Keath on Monday Clement Robert Trueman, the well-known litigant, of Rock Cottage, Peiid-hiewtyn, was summoned for acting as a pedlar without a ceitiRcate, mi d 1 1 also with obstructing tne toouway on oa-tui- day night last. Mr. A. J. Jeffreys prose- cuted. Immediately the case was called defend- ant, in an excited manner, said that before proceeding he wanted the return of the money taken from him on Saturday night when he was taken to the police -station. He had L8 6s. in his possession, and JE2 vas taken from him. Mr. Jeffreys said the money was retained as deposit when t he-de,fei-ids ntt. was liberated on bail, as was usual. Defendant: They had no right to take it. lEivntedly) Where w my money? Hand it over I want it hack:! Mayor: Keep quiet, Mr. Trueman. Defendant: I want my money back be- fore the case proceeds; and I also want a copy of the information, or a summons. Mayor: You shall have a copy of the in- formation. Defendant: I must have it. I know I am entitled to it, or I would not ha-ve asked for it. I am Not a Bolshevist. This is worse than Piusftianis-m. r was stuck into a dirty old cell, and I could not stick it, ao I paid the .G2 as bail to get out again, and now I want it back. I am not going to be bluffed. Mayor: You must sit down. We are considering your application. Defendant: I want my money ba.ck. Mr. Jeffreys: You can have 'the moaey, and you shall have a copy of the summons a.nd of the information. Defendant (smiling): That is the way to do huginess. Defendant, however, continued to inter- rupt, and said that the police had no right to do what they did. The Mayor The ease is adjourned until Wednesday morning so that ulr. Trueman Can have a copy of the summons.

FULL MEETING. First Conclave of Greater Swansea Council. The adjourned meeting of the Swansea Borough Council, which meets for the first time with its full membership for Greater Swansea, takes ulilcÐ on Wednesday next. Since November 9th an Emergency Com- mittee has earned on and its' recommen- dations include (1) That the appointment of Mr. W. L. Jarvis, acting clerk to the Oystermouth Urban District. Council and chief assistant oveiseer of the parish of Ovstennoutb, be de- termined, halt that he be retained as an as- sistant in the Town Clerk's office for three months at £ 220 per annum, upon the condi tion that he immediately retires from the chief assistant overseership. (2) That Mr. William Hadlev Ashmole be appointed chief .ssutant overseer of the ex- tended parish of Oystennouth as from 1st December. 1918, to supervise the whole cf the work of the overseers of that parish and that the question of the salary to be paid for the office be refetted to the Finance Com- mittee. (3) That the lady clerk (Miss Tasker) lately in the employ of the Oystermouth Urban District Council, be transferred to the office of the borough treasurer, and that the borough treasurer take over the accounts of the late Council and be responsible for closing and balancing the same The standing committee of the Council are also to be appointed.

NEATH ENGINE-DRIVER'S COLLAPSE. Edwfird Charles Brewer (ol), single, an engine-driver in tho employ of the Great Western Railway Co., collapsed and died on Monday morning at the .7 mormng at the railway engine sheds at Penrhiewtyn, Neath.

NO TRAMS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. The public of Swansea may prepare itself for the exercise of "Shank's Pony" on Christmas Day, for it is certainly likelyf if not certain, that there wiJJ. be no trp*ncars running at all.

NIC,ATH LAD'S "JOY ADE.. 'n A young t-en-vear-oio lau trom rveatn will not forget his "jov ride in a hurry. He jumped behind a Neath motor-car on Satur- avid thought ho would have a jaunt, bttt did not bargain for what foldowed. The car quickly got up speed and went so fast that the lad was afraid to jump off. He had to hang on like grim death until the car pulled up in Swansea, when the lad, plastered with mud from head to foob and much frightened, related his experiences and the kindly-hearted police seat him saiely home by train.

PARIS CAPTURED! I "W ————. Record Reception for I President Wilson. TORNADO OF CHEERS. I PARIS, Sunday. I watched Mr. Wilson driving across the Place Concorde from the balcony of the Ministry of Marine. IN ever have I seen so great a crowd. On the left it had washed like a great sea I over the Tuileries Gardens; on She right it scattered jnto thtl highest braii"s^»e^ of the ti i<!» in the Chaws,vs Elysees; ip front it stretched across thrf river and covered the £..¡'oitt of the Chamber of Deputies. The statues in the Face Concorde .Iere perilous but packed grand stands. Captured German guns bore loads of happy irenchmen and women. Mr. Wilson was received with the LOUDEST OHEÐRS EVER HEARD IN PARIS- sustained, full-throated, almost Anglo-Saxon I bravos. He was moved,^delighted, boyishly excited. It is not true to say that he waved his hat to the crowd. Hat-waving, I suppose, is not compatible with Presi- dential. digriity, but the whole-hearted sweep was certainly next door to a wave. Mr. Wilson's portraits suggest a certain cold aloofness, but this morning he was the laughing democrat enjoying the Fete Wilson as much as any gamin in the place. Paris at once took him to her heart. She adniired his appearance she loved his smile. In- deed, the President SMILED AND CONQUERED. If this popularity continues through the coming critical weeks-and it is well to re- member that Paris is feminine and fickle— it will holp tremendously towards the ac- ceptance of the Wilson gospel by the Peace Congress. Nevertheless, it is notable how often one hears the name TIoyd George. The French always speak of the British Premier with Clemenceau, assuming that they see abso- lutely eye to eye, and the popular view evidently is that Mr. Wilson has come from America to confer with the two European statesmen. Mr. Wilson, M. Clemenceau, and Ilr. Lloyd George are to the Frenchman in the I street the only people who matter.—("Daily Express'' correspondent).

THIRTY YEARS CHAIR- MAN. Swansea School Prize Distribution. The animal distribution of prizes of Dum- barton School, Swansea,* took place on Mon- day evening at the Cent,ral Hall, which was filled with parents and friends. A delightful concert, was given by the pupils and the programme comprised carols, songs, violin solo, action songs, recitations, pianoforte solos, ballet dance, exercises and (jOHib-ball drill. An item deserving of praise was the "Trial Scene" from "The Merchant of Venice" by Form IVa., and also "The Fairies' Revel,a song and dance with torch- lights, and a very graceful dance given by a pupU ,-oproseiit';ri,, ".Niight." The prize?iist was a long and creditable one--oii-e of the scholars, Madeline Cowin, ) having won five prizes (her attendance also ) was live years without missing). Another with distinction wa? Meta McRitchie, who wa? awaixled four prizes. pv. Canon J H. W?tkins-Jones, M.A., said it was delightful to be there again and to give prizes for the thirtieth year. He felt sure the parents appreciated the good influence brought to bear upon the pupils j by the untiring interest displayed by Miss Garlick. For the past four years it had been difficult to cope with the work, but the speaker felt, that evening, they were beginning afresh and there was going to he ( a great future before them all and a happy time to come. ( The proceeds of the entertainmdht axe in aid of the St. Dunstan's Hostel for the Blind and the Swansea Hospital. By these efforts during the past four years a sum of about 2114 has been devoted to various I charitable objects, which is noteworthy. During the evening Miss Garlick was pre- sented with a beautiful basket of chrysan- themums by the scholars. A vote of thanks was accorded the chair- man, and three cheers were given for nim I and, Miss Garlick.

I IN THE ENEMY'S LINE. How Swansea Officer Won Military Cross. Captain W. Tregvnn, Ro-va- I W, I sh Captain H. W. Tregunns. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, of (^ae Tyla, Coc.ett, Swansea, has been awarded an immediate award of the Military Cross for gallantry and devo- tion to duty in the field. The official de- scription of the deod is as follows;- When a coftip* ny was held tõp ar:d the position was a difficult one, Captain Tre- gunna, who was in command of a support company, volunt-eerod for and led, with great daring and under very limvy fire, a strong fighting patrol, and successfully es- tablished postb in the eaiemy's line and thus cleared up what was a very obscure situa- tion. Captain Tregunna will be remembered as company sergeant-major of A Company of the Swansea Battalion in 1914 and 1915. He has served continuously in France for over two years, and fortunately escaped from a single wound. Before the war Capt.1 Tre- gunna was on the clerical staff of Messrs. Avery the aoaie makers.

I TEACHERS' SALARIES. I Question for Swansea Finance I Committee. It is understood that, the Swansea. teachers' salary question will come up for consideration a,t the next meeting of the Education Finance Sub-Committee. The teachers were admittedly underpaid before the war, when the total salari-es Amounted to £ 57,000. The sum payable for the ensuing year, however, shows a big increase, due to war conditions, and amounts to £ 84,000. If the full increase now aeked for by the teachers is granted, this sum wiU jump up to LL15,000 next year, or over double the pre-war salaries.

I ONE OF THE INNISKILLINGS. Signaller i). Siher, of the Inniskillings, has arrived home a.t Cariion-terraqe, Swan- sea, after nine m<mths' Zt Germany as a prisoner of war.

NEATH SHOEMAKER. I At the Neath Bankruptcy Court on Tues- day the exaniiiiation of W. Lewis, boot and 31JOO dealer, Queen-street., and Windsor- street, Neath, was closed, subject to the I signing of the notes. I

"INTO WRECK AND RUIN." "Our smali-pox hospital is getting mto wreck and rain," said the chairman of the Swansea Rural Council, Mr. Wm. Evans, on Tuesday, and added that "there is nut a pane oi glass in the place, and maliy of the water-taps have been removed." Mr. Evans ad-vised Mr. Williams, the surveyor, to get labour as soon as possible to repair the place. Mr. Williams said it would be no good renovating the place until someone had been installed as a caretaicer. It was decided to advertise for a care- taker, preferably one without children.

RICH AND POOR. Revolution in Medical Service. A revolution in the system of medical ser- vice is authorised by a Government Com- mittee, thr., main idea being to extend the panel system to rich and poor alike, and to I offer an easy return to civil work to the thousands of doctors now in the Army. I The acileiiie-a copy of which has been sent to every practitioner of the Medico- Political Union—provides for a whole-time me*i*tal service, and practitioners entering iiit icm to be graded into live classes. The cla$&€M would correspond with military rjjgjtk, ranging frora lieutenant to' colonel. C-«a-ss 1 would be paid EI,500 a year, Ciass 2 £ 1,000, Class 3 £ 750, Class 4 ;C5W and j Class 5 £ 400. Promotion will be by examination forj each class. Expenses for drugs, appliances, clinics, and travelling will be paid by the Government. HOSPITALS TO BE TAKEN OVIER. I Big houses "will no longer ne ncce^ a\ tvi doctors. The patient will be expectea to attend a morning surgery. Evening surgery will be discontinued and less visits paid than is the case at prascnt.. Work out of hours—say. after 5 p-m.-will be taken by ju-Ti-iors- in rotation. All hospitals will be taken over by the Government. Study leave up to six months will be granted. Holiday leave will be the same as in the Civil Services, a month per year. Pension will begin at óO years oi.«fe,c. Opinion amongst medical men locally^ is n? ob.otlOn to the State taking over the hospitals — though inanv think th? present a-rr???ements work I far better than Government, control and such control a-s we have seen in many departments 01 our life during ths war; but what they object to in the cliiiical system is the destruction of the personal element between practitioner and patient i and the abolition of the free choice of doctor. "Post" represent*-1j Dr. F. Knight told a "Post" repre.SeT' -t-?- tive on Tuesday tb?. he thought the State would have been better advised to leave matters alone. Up to now the doctors have managed very well, and during the wa.r un- der disadvantageous conditions; but, taken on the whole, he thought the public were well satisfied with the attention they were receiving. At all events, the doctors had given r.,f q-.eir best, and no system of State management could increase the number of doctors at present available or the efficiency with which they carried on their work "We are strong," he added, "for a free choice of doctor, and also free choice of patient.

ANXIOUS TO GET BACK. Swansea Belgians and Their Return. We learn from Mr. F. Tunbridge, ho.n. secretary of the Belgian Refuge Committee. Swansea, who bas jure returned from seeing the principal Belgian authorities in London. t-hat up to the. present there is no regular service between Harwich or Folkestone with Ostend and Antwerp. In. vital cases of nacecsitleis Belgians are able to return art their own expense, via Folkestone and Bou- logne, with probably a 48-hours' train jour- ney through France and then to Brussels. This trip is very expensive and most incon- venient, and all parties axe recom- mendoo by the principal Belgian, senators and other Belgian statesnHsii not to take the journey, and especially net to take women and children. The British Government ha,ve arranged to return all the Belgiaai refugees, free of at the earliest possible moment. At Swansea there arc 600, and all these people are most anxious to get back to their homes, irrespective of whether they earn less money when they get to Belgium. In all probability these will commence re- turnin.g within a month.

10,000 TONS OF GRAIN AT SWANSEA. The s.s. Rexmore, one of iNiesc-r, Iohns- ton Broa' largest cargo-boats, has arrived at Swansea with 10,000 tons of grain and parcels of flonr for Messrs. Weaver and Co. She is to be discharged by suction plant at the Government's new warehouses at the King's Dock.

DIED IN GERMAN HANDS. 'i'" Information has been received by his wife, who resides at High-street, CJy- dach. in the shape of a telegram from the War Office, seating that her hus- band, Pte. Albert Lewis, who was a prisoner of war in German hands, has died in captivity, his death dating as far back as August 2nd. He leaves a widow and two young children, to whom the sympathy ot all local residents will be extended.

SWANSEA FRUITERER WINS CASE. At Neath on Monday, the cases against W. J. John, fruit merchant, Alexandra-road, Swansea, for selling apples above the Maximum Prices Order, 1918, and for not delivering an invoice to the buyer, was again referred to.—Mr. A J. Jeffreys, who defended. said that at the last hearing he argued that the Bench had no jurisdiction, and he understood that the police did not dsire to pro- ceed. Chief Constable Higgins said he wished to with- draw the summons, AS be was satisfied that the Court had no jurisdiction.—The Bench agreed, and the cases were struck out.

The giving-up of German rolling-stock will be made in this way: During the ten days following December 18th the Germans will daily hand over 110 locomotives and 3,200 wagons, and during the remaining twenil' days 150 locomotives and 320 wagons. Major Civrieax observes in the "Matin" that by the extension of the new armistice clause all the roads into Northern Germany ,>ViII be placed under the control of the Alliee. In the 20-round contest between Lance- Corpl. H. Curley, of the Army Service Corps, I and Idris Jones, of Wales, at the Rin, London, yesterday aftemo-n, after i-ome | bnsk exchanges the Welshman sprained hIi J wrist and on th? advice of h!? ?ccond, W'lde. gave in. Another Welsh boxer figured ;a ■ the special contest over 20 rounds at Hoxtrin Baths yesterday when Conv.u- Perkins, of Swai).aea, bvat Air 'i l ec b T. Pughw,  the Swansea, boat Air Meeb. J. Hligh, oi the Ilomal Air -FoicA. on points. 1 —-

WHY THE U.S. CAME IN WHY THE U.S. CAME !WNM Wilson's Moving Speech in Paris. ILLICIT AMBITIONS. (Heater' Special Service.) PARIS, Tuesday- President Wilson. in the couree of his speech after the freedom of Paris had been conferred on him, said :— "It is with no ordinary sympathy that the pple of the United States have viewed the sufferings of the people of France. We were the more deeply moved by the wrongs of the war because we knew the Inanner in which they were perpetrated. Though a wide ocean separated 118 in space, we were in effect eye-witnesses of the shameful ruin that was wrought, and the cruel and nn- ueeossary sufferings that were brought upon yoa "The United States enbered the war not only because they were moved by a, convic- tion that the pnrposos of the Central Em- pires ware wrong, and must be resisted by men everywhere who loved liberty and the right, bat also because tb-e illicit ambit'ons which they were attempting to rtaltee hod le d to Practices which shocked our hearts as much as they offended our principles. You have interpreted with real «j £ 'ght the motives of the people of the United States. I know vihat they have tonight, I know'what they have desired, and when I have spoken what I know was in their XNinds it his been delightful to see how tht con- sciences and purposes of free men every- where responded. We have merely estab- lished our right to the full fellowship of these peoples here and throughout the world -i- f ies,o Tiec)p l es lierc a-?l: d who revenence the right, of Genuine liberty and justics. Y ou hay;) made me feel very much ft borne here, not merely by the delightful warmth of your we lcome, but also by the manner in which you have made me realise to the utmost the intimate community of thought and ideal which characterises your people and the great nation which I kavo the honour for ttie time to represent."

NOT COMMITTED." Swansea District Council's New Houses. Mr. Edward Harris, Clerk to the Swansea. Rural Council, informed the members on Tuesday that he had informed the L.G.B. of the proposed erection of 750 houses in the area, and that plans were to be got ready by February. Mr. Davies intimated that houses built now did not pay, and thought the Council would be ent,ering on a losing scheme. Mr. Harris admitted that it was rather an unfavourable scheme, but was accepted as being the only one possible under the cir- cumstances. He added that the Counc? were not committed to anything. Chairman (Mr. Wm. Evans) confirmed that, and said the adoption of the report ..lid I not commit them at all. Sir John. and the Women s say. Sir John "Llew-eivn said that -Vir. LJovd George's manifesto stated that the schema of building the houses was one for tne Cen- tral Government with the assistance of the local authority, and therefore Sir John added the loss should fail on the National Exchequer. He thought economy should not be forgotten when building start ad, and also that women should have a say with re- gard to choosing the styles of architecture, etc. Mr. Thomas supported, and the report was adopted. Generous Discretion. It vfas stated later that the <,ovnrnm<ms Wfre prepared to undertake tho responsi- bility-of three-quarters of the loss cn build- ing undertakings by councils, and are also prepared to exercise generous discretion ac cording to the council's means.

I THE WOMEN VOTERS. I, Swansea Treasurer's Interest- ing Statement. Swansea borough treasurer (Mr. W. FL Ash mole) has prepared an interesting state- ment showing the percentage of men and women voters to population in the chief towns of South Wales. Cardiff, with a population of .203;995, has 95, 148 voters; percentage to population, men 28.71 per cent., women voters 17.93. Merthyr, population 86.000, voters 35,049; percentage to population, men 26.17 per cant., women 14.58. Newport, population 95,138, voters 40,146; percentage to popu- lation, men 25.87, women 16.33. Bhondda, jropula-tion 172,090, voters 75,021; percent- age to population, men 27.90, women 14,53.. Swansea, population 130,611, voters 59,069; percentage to population, men 27.71, women 17.51. SWANSEA'S PERCENTAGE. It will be observed that Swansea's per- | eentage of women electors is slightly less than that of Cardiff and more than the other three places named. The totals for the five towns a.re :-Popit. lat-ion 687,843, voters 302,433 J percentage to population, men 27.60, women 16.36.

I I SWANSEA'S GUESTS. IiM. ayor to Entertain Canadian Troops. • I The Mayor of Swansea (Councillor Miles) lias promised to entertain. 50 Canadian sol- diers for two or three days over Christmas. It has been decided to accommodate them at I the Metropole and the Cameron. It is esti- I mated that for £.5 two men can be enter- tained during their stay, and several local gentlemen haye already contributed to- wards the required aniouiit to entertain the boys. The Leave department of the Canadian overseas military forces have written point- ing out that the Canadian soldiers now over here will find it harder to content them- selves this Christmas ao far from home, bc- cause, while the excitement of war occupied a great deal of their tifne heretofore, this Christmas thev will think more of their ill-luck in having to be away from home when the war is over. It is suggested that the boys should be driven'to Gower on Christmas morning, rs- turning to the Metropole, where they will be entertained at dinner by the Mayor.

SWANSEA "RURAL'S" FINANCES. The Financc Committee of the Swansea. Rural District Council reported on Tuesday a balance in the. bank of £ 5,952. The lady health visitors were granted 5s. per week war bonus in accordance -with their applications. A lady clerk in the Surveyor's Depart- ment was granted an increase of 2s. 6d. per week war bonus, mailing her wages 255. per week.

YORKSHIRE MINER EXECUTED. At Arm ley Gaol, Loeds, on Tuesday morning, John illiam Walsh, aged 3.). miner, was executed for the nmrdfr of Ruth Elisabeth Moore, at Bottom Boat, near Wakefield. He strangled the vroman as &he Jsi.v asleep on a bed.

/• •; :b but recently made a justice of a Lemuel Jones, Aboravon, had tis ..wruction of presiding over the magis- tefial bench at Aberavon County Folkc Court on Monday. The justicbs take ft 1'1 turns there to preside, except when 't Sit H. Byass is