Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

CAUGHT UNDER- FRENCH FIRE I The following communique was issued in Paris on Thursday a ftei-noon: In the cyurse cf the night there was flight activity of the artillery. In Artois, in the neighbourhood of the i.illf, -o,-ii, the enemy blew up a mine, hut ,,ie v is-pre. un,,ible to occupy the erster. Between the Oisp and the Aisne we caught in our fire some enemy patrols and ■working parties engaged in repairing the trenches. Tn Champagne the bombardment, carried out yesrerday by our batteries at different points of the enemy's fronts were particularly efficacious, and to the vest of the houses of Champagne, where the German trenches were destroyed.

SWANSEA VOCALISTS ENLIST I Two well known wans('a \ocaUstl'> I have given up their brilliant careers in order to undertake military duties. Mr. Ivor Walters and Mr. Glynn Waltem have enlisted in the Artists' Rifles Ó.T. Corps. Mr. Ivor Walters has estab- lished h is cia ims to being one. of the finest tenor* Wales has turned out in recent veans. He was in great demand for ballad concerts. Mr. Glynn Walters had recently been touring with the D'oily Carte Opera Company. He was looked upon a« a young linger with a future. They are nephews of Mr. John Walters, Swansea.

i.. m —. — m 59,666 BRITISH CASUALTIES Mr. Tennant, in the House of Commons on Wednesday, announced that the British casualties on the Western front at the time of the advance OIl Loots .vert-, Officers killed 773 Officers mounded 1,288 Officers mining 317 Other ranklS killed 10,345 Other ranks .wounded Other ranks missing. 8.8)8 Total The grand tr.i-al of casualties for the battle was: 57,28^.

NEW-CAS IT ACK  fiEw-6A?S ATTACK I Rotterdam, Wednesday.- -Large quan- tities of poison gas have a i, ri i-Ni in the La Bassee region, where the Germans are thought: to be availing a favourable wind to renew their gas attack of a fortnight sigo. The British artillery and sappers are harassing the enemy, who are suffer- ing severely from successful mine ex- plosions and well-directed P-iteit fire. The artillery is particularly active in tM neighbourhood of Ypres, The shells are falling with wonderful accuracy on 4hq( German trenches, destroying the machine-gun emplacements. Aeroplanes were again active on sides this morning after a lull owing to the heavy tiorius. Many cases of nervous breakdown due the continued she.iiing have been f-eut. to Germany from Uhelt. Some of thA men me hopelp^jy paxalv>cd. Notice Iw'1 given in the German province of OstfriePlanfj 1jJn^ nf) produce must be cart?'! after the. end of this SBonth, as wagons will he needed for gilitauy purposes, starting on February

TURKS STBAFE KUT I Pros* Bureau, Wedday. 8.5 p.yn.- I The Secretary of State for India has communicated the following for publica- tion:— It is reported by General Townshend that the Turks shelled the town of Kut-el- Amara heavily for ahout an hour on the afternoon of the 2nd inst., and that no further tiring took place up to the morn- insf of the 4th. Amsterdam, Wednp,,dp. ,y.-Tho conxmn- nicjue issued oil January 4th in Constan- i tinople eays.— On the Irak front all attempts of the anemy detachftienfan, which are now near Ali-el-Gharbi, to come to the. assistance of the army at Kut-el-Amara have failed. [Ali-el-Gharbi is on the Tigris, iO miles I due east of Kut-el-Amara.1

CEHERAL SMUT'S ADVICE I'otcliefst room, Wednesday.—General Smuts, reviewing the troops here, com- mented on the arduous nature of the forthcoming campaign in East Africa, the importance of which, he said, was illus- trated by the fact that the Imperial Gov- ernment had 6Ut General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien to command the expedi- tion. General Smuts said ho was sorry he personally was unable to go. but General Crewe would join general Smith Dornen's staff. This campaign would rest almost en- tirely with the infant ry. who would probably get. ai much fighting as would be good for their health, and he hoped they would make a sure job of it. lie was very glad that this special task: nad ))eeu allotted to South Africa and Rhodesia, who were versed in this eort. of warfare. They were going to fight hordes of barbarians, scientifically trained oy German officers. He congratulated the men for coming forward in sucih a magnificent manner, and he wished them the very best of luck. Addressing the reinforcements for the Overseas contingents, General Smuts asked them to take a. message to those already despatched to the front, telling them that they should do their "nest to add now lustre to the name of South Africa. General Smuts added that. if. in the coming months more men were necessary, no appeal would be made in vain to the L nion Government or to South Africa.

FOUR MORE GROUPS Four more, groups of men attested under Lord Derby's scheme will be called up for service on February 8. Notice* to this effect have been received at Hull, though jio formal proclamation has yei been published tner-e. At Birmingham the proclamation was posted on Tuesday evening. Intima bon was received at Swansea on AV(-dne-,(Ia 'inorning. and by the afternoon the necessary posters haid bean placed in position. We understand that copies are now being distributed throughout the coun- try. in order that they may all appear by Saturday. January S. and the condi- tion that a full month's notice should he given i>eiore the men affected in Section B Army Reeerve" are required to rc- join the Army" may be complied with. The four groups are:— VTroup h.—Single men ot M. I Group 7.—Single men of 24. I Group 8.—Single men of 25. (.Troup tf.—Single men of 26. A proclamation catling up Groups 2, ;),1 4, and 5 (single men from If) to 22 in- I clusive) was issued on December 20. and January 30 was given as the date on which men were liable to be called upon. In order to avoid inconvenience and un- due pressure upon recruitin g oiffcos and depots, jt was explained at the time that only a certain number of men would be actually required to report themselves on that date, ot her batches being called upon daily during the following days. The call was to be given to the men individually by post at least a fortnight before h", date on which it became operative. Summonses were sent to the first hate'h of men in these four groups for delivery on Wednesday morning, and that another batch will receive tb-ir summonses on Thursday. SWANSEA AND LORD DERBY'S I SCHEME. T? tc?a! m?mt?r of m?n, married and ?in?k, who hav<? attest?] under the Derby I fM-h?ni? at Swansea l)m ?<?n a!x?!t 9,000.

SWANSEA LAD'S WOUNDS. I Mr. W. Thomas of lo, Plymouth-street, ?'wan??a. has received Qi6cial mt?matton ithat, bis eon. J?tnce? ¡' 0rl)l. Wil])? Thomas, >f the Bedford Begi- ment, has been wound- i?d m France. Later Mrs. Grove, the sol- :HN'f' grandmother, re- ''fived a ]et?r fFom her grandson, in which h? tates thai" a 6h1l :nnst near him on the 7t h of September, kill- ng two and wounding 19 others. Lanoo-Cor- )oral ThornaiS is now in hospital with gun- shot wounds in the legs ftud hand.

WAR SUMMARY SATURDAY. The Tssar has been created a Fioeid Maorak-al in the British Army. An aerial attack has teen made by Allied aviators on Ostend. Squadron Cemma.Mer Bell Da vies, D.S.O., K.jNL, has n gNvat-deft the V.C. The Kaiser was t.oo ill to attend the New Year's Day parade of bis troops. He has issued a message to them. The P. and O. liner IWsia has been suiik., many of the passengers and crew losing their lives. FOUJ- boatloads got. away. The Arab force which attacked the Briti&h on. the Egyptian frontier on Christmas Day suffered serious losses, and retired hurriedly. King Comstan tine's health is again giving rise to anxiety, and a specialist has been called in. MONDAY. Th British liner Glengyle has been sunk There are about 100 survivors. A big Russian offensive on a 200-mile front is meeting with success. A British party temporarily seized a portion of the German front line, losing only a few wounded. A troop train, was involved in a mishap at Pershore JuiV'tion, near Newcastle. No deaths are reported. TUESDAY Three hundred a.nd fifty alleged spies have been arrested by the Allies at Salonika. Grave etissent.ions are said to have arisen between j linden burg and Falkenhayn (Chief of the German Headquarters Staff). The Tsar, in a speech, to the .Knights of the Order of St. George, repeated his vow not to mak e peaoe until hhe last enemy has been driven from his territory. The Kaiser's illness is said tp be taking a more serious turn, and his proposed visit to Sofia, and Constantinople has been cancelled. The voluntary system, according to Lord Derby, has failed. Out of 5,011,441 eligible men, 2,950,514 have ottered them- selves, 428,853 being rejected on medical grounds. The number of unattested Ull- stirred single men is 651,160. The Austrians are making desperate efforts to win from the Montenegrins' the positions on Mount L(?ciM-:i, the k?y of the Adna.hc, bui our gallavt A11 ie.«, during a week's battle, are re-I ported to be victorious everywhere. Disorderly scenes marked the New Year in Berlin, where anti-war demonstra- tions were held, causing the interven- tion of the policefl WEDNESDAY. Germany's export, trade is said to have been substantially destroyed. j Sir Edward Grey has replied to Germany's allegations concerning the sinking of a, II boat. The Turks have threatened reprisals unless their Consul, who was arrested in Salonika, is released. A German attack following a. heavy bom- bardment in Tahure was completeJy repu ] sed on Tuesday. •.President Wilson has hurriedly returned from his honeymoon in order to deal with the situation created by the- latest submarine outrages. It is reported that Caernowita has been evacuated by thp Austrians, who are retiring before the Eussian advance in H,¡1wwina. THURSDAY. A German-Bulgarian force, estimated at 180,000, is said to be preparing to atta-ck our Salonika position, but is held to be totally inadequate to the tafik. fiusfia continues to pursue her advantage in the Bn kovina region, despite enemy rei n forcements. Around Caernowitz and Cnartovysk the enemy's losses were enormous. The Italians continue to dominate the .situation, and are making steady) if 814w, progress.

LIFEBOAT DISASTER INQUESH The inquest on the body of one of the victims of the Port Evnon lifeboat disas- ter, which was washed ashore off Crumlyn Burrows on Wednesday morning, was held at the Police Station. Jersey Marine, on Thursday afternoon, by Mr. Lewis M. Thomas, the newly-appointed oorouer for the Neath district. Lieutenant-Commander MeLear R N R of Loughor. and Mr. F. Le Boulanger (Swansea) represented the National Life- boat Institution and the local Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution respectively. Mr. Edwin John was chosen foreman of the jury. The Identification. There was some doubt about the identi- fica tion of the body up till the last. 'William Harry, a colliery labourer, of Pantyffynon, identified the. remains as those of his brother, George Harry. His age was 45, he thought, but he had not seen the deceased for four ,yeat6. Wit- ness said he identified the body by some marks on the head which were caused by an accident some ye3.rs ago. Maud Amos, of Ashgrove. House. Jersey Marine, j?aid she found the body between the beach at Jersey Marine and Bald- win's on Wednesday about ten minutes to eight, while she was picking up some sticks. The face was turned upwards. P-C. J. Lloyd, of Jersey Marine, said he received information of the discovery of the body at eight: o'clock. Proceeding to the spot he found the body about 200 yards east of Baldwin's Works. The de- ceased had a yellow oilskin with a life- boat worked on each shoulder, and he was also wearing a brown lifebelt. He conveyed the body to the Jersey Marine Hotel, where it .at'identifi.ed at. 4.30 by George Eynon as his brother-in-law. Thtre was nothing on the body to identify him, only pipp and tobacco-box. Dr. David Samuel. Skewen. said there were no marks of violence cn the body. with the excep- tion of a cut on the 1. ft arm, and 3 few abrasions on tbo. left side of the !aee. The cause of death was clearly drowning. Deceased was a fine, well-built man, and just the &ort of ma.n for life- boad work. It was stated that deceased was a married man with four children. Principal Witness Absent. The principal witness, George Eynon, who took command of the lifeboat after the coxswain had been drowned, had not arrivpd when the inquest opened. After taking the evidence of the other witnesses, the Coroner and jury waited eonie time, and telegraphic inquiries were made.

TME OF A PHEASANT I Thomas Thomas, under-keeper ir tOO employ of Mr. Morgan Jones, Llaiunilce. Pendine. summoned Albert Evan*?, at Whitland, em Wednay. for trespassing in pursuit of game, and also for assault. Mr. H. Brunei White, Carmarthen, ap- peared to prosecute, and Mr. Bentley Matthews, Narberth, dclend. I Complaimnt alleged that Ey<U1s -'loot a I pheasant and put it in hM pocket, an,,l that h? afterwards struck him with thgi stœk of the gun on the head and on t?K; shoulder. Defendant said he had the right to trap rabbits on the farm. He shot no phea- ennt, that day, and complainant, found no pfc«v?ant in his pocket. He also denied that he assaulted Thomas. 1 The B.ndl fined" defendant JOs. for g1).me trespass, and dismissed the summons for assault. A

ADRIFT ON THE GGEAN SWAKSEA MAN'S TKRtUING I EXPcBitrtCE t Mr. non Burnie, of 4S, Walter-road, Swansea, brother of the la te Lieut. Burnie, of the 6th VVeJjsii, has just. re-t?,irned to Swarir+ea after an exciting experience during a voyage m the Mediterranean. (h October 29th he left Swansea for a trip in the Meclitaa-ranean for the benefit ot his health, on the Vena. one of the fCunard Company's cargo boats, under the charge, of Captain Thomson, of Liver- pool. On the outward journey calls were made at Genoa. Leg-horn, Naples Palermo and Patras (Greece), to dis-1 charge cargo, a.nd the ship then made her way bght for Alexandria to kiad a cargo for home. The T?yage was more )r I?s uneventful, Mr. Burnie tDld a 'i/fad?r H'porter in an interview, until December 7th. About two o'ekrek in the afternoon the Vena picked up 22 survivors of a submarined French strainer, which was on her way from Alexandria to Bull, and two hours later, when about 30 miles north-west of Alexandria, the vessel 'herself fell ? victim -to an enemy submarine. She was II l1üt torpedoed, but was nripp?d with gun I fire. 1- Anxious for Food. j "After the crew had taken to the j boats." said Mr. Burnie, the submarine j new went on board, and took what they wanted. They seemed mille anxious for; food than any thing else. As we were rowing away in the distance we eawr the lights of the pirates on the ship, and later heard a loud explosion. They had evi- dently blown her up." V.'c saved absolutely nothing," hil oondDued, but tJw ?thcs we stood up in. Everything was kx-i, and the captain an d t-h? captain had only just left the bridge when oliots iron tiie submarine, carried away th. .bridge and the chart house. None of us ivas injured by gunfire, but one shot just missed the little ship's boat in which I and ten others had saved ourselves. It was either a good shot for us or a bad shot for the steamer. We thought it was fired at w. but tkof-e in the other boats thought it was fired at the ship. Without Compass or Sail. The other members of the crew of j and the 22 survivors is ere accommodated in the two lifeboats. We had neither compass nor sail in our lx>au. Mr Burnie continued. The others managed to take a bit cf food with tliciii r?to boats. It was getting dark. and the only guidance was the lights of Alexandria in the distance. We took eighteen hours to row into Alexandria- Fortunately the sea was calm. and it was a staxlight night, otherwise we would never have got there. The two other boats wore picked up by passing steamers."

WEEKLY REVIEW OF AGRICULTURE I AND THE GRAIN AND FLOUR TRADES. Sinco posting ray last, review io the. date] of drafting this the 4-e.1-ts been j mR tnly nnld and fet—not very ?c<?sor- able but nevertheless favourable tor ? agricult ure. Winter w h?a), continnos to! look ?nd do wctJ. Live 6tock are heathy, and vegetables, gr, etc., are fairly plentiful for the f-?a?-on. Trade, in fat stock has ruled quietly steady, with prices about unchanged. Beef. 8d. to lnd,; mutton, 7\d. to Is-; pork, 8d. to 9Ad. per To. Business in ivocti has been fairly brisk, and quotations maintained—washed. Is. 7d. to Is. Fd.; unwashed, Is. 3UL to Is. 4k). per lb. ■ Winter wheat in tho North Ameri-can Continent continues healthy and vigor- ous, whilst exports of eereals trom hoth the United States and Canada are ab- normally large. The autumn sown wheat in Europe, speaking generally, is doing well, and agricultural prosfperts arc on the whole favourable. The harvest in the Southern Hemi- sphere will be over in the near future undei- generally favourable conditions, and In rg- yields of excellent quality grain will result in both Argentina and Au&- tralia. Reports from India ar of a mixed character. In some parts the outlook is good, whilst in others more rain i-s titill- wanted. Kxports of foreign wheat to Europe are quite up to the a.erage for the time of year, and deliveries by English farmers continue Liberal. W arehoute stocks about unchanged. The Floating Grain Cargo Trade. Wileat again dearer; Russian, nil; I Ai-Lstralian crop). t-i- to 64s.; Indian, 63s. to 1)4.g., to (i.16.; American spring, 60s. to frte. Cd.; winter, 59e to 63s. Maize again higher. Russian, nil; Amterioan, nominal; Plate, 4-ts. 6d. to 6d. Barley very firm. Indian, 45s. to 47s.; Amecrican, 42s. to 44s.; Persian, 41s. to 42s. Oatf; very lirm Russian, nil; American. Sfo. 5d. to 3& 6d.; Plate, 30s. 6d. to 31s. 9d. Spot Prices at Mark Lane. Wheat again bigher. Russian and Aus- tralian. nil; Plate, 63s. to 6,108.; Cali- fornian, 64s.; Indian, 64s.; American Spring, 6Ss. to Ii& Winter, 61s. to 64s. 6d.; English White, 59s. to GIs.; Red, 58e- to ftOvS. 6d. Maize strong and dearer. Russian, nil; American, nominal; Plate, 45s. to 45e. 9d. Barley very firm. American, 43s. to 44s. M., Indian, 45s. to 47s. 6d.; Persian, 41s. fld. to 59s Oats very firm. ^English, 34s. 6d. to 3..15. 6d.; Foreign, 31s. to 35s. 9d. Feedinjf Cakes very finn, trade moderate. F lour. I With milder woatkor there is a slight easing off in the consumption of bread, but with a further perceptible advance in the xvhe-at. markets there has bef-n a good demand for flour at prices in Fellere favour. Town Whites, 51s. to 52s.; Households, 49B. to 5t}" Conn tn- Patent's, 45s. Whites, 43s. ()d. American Spring Patents, I' •17s. Cd. to 48s. &i.; Manitoba P&tents, 468. to 47s.: Kansas Patents, 45s. to 46c,. Sp ri 71 Bakers, 42s. 6d. to 44s. 6d.; Hungarian Patents, nominal.

Sir Alfred Mond, Bart., M.P., will ad- dress his constituents at Swansea Albert Hall on Friday. January 34th, on the national situation. I ]

THE BORROWED SHILLING ? [ (By Our Mining Correspondent.) j Although tb<? Ant.hraÓte Miners A?soci?ior: oS?.ci'aIs (1r- .J. D. Morgan. Mr. ?. -Ta??Rp. an d M;. D. Morgan) -?ejf aware of the communication^ which have been received by Mr. T. Richards, M-P-. the General Secretary ot the South Wales Miners' Federation, if will surprise the workmen at the Anthracite district to iind that the lost five per cent." inquiry was not formally opened -on Thursday by Sir Lawrence Gomme. It bad been agreed that the proceedings should be com- menced on the 6th Sir Lawrence Gomme sitting as arbitrator, with three representatives of the Coalovmers and three representatives of the Miners Federation, forming a commission." as I directed by the Government. But within the last week or so. it has become abso- luteiv clear that Sir Lawrence Comme would n-ot be able to undertake the duties '!t the da4e. fixed, owing to the tact, that he is suffering from P. severe illness. As a matter of delicacy, and in the hope that Sir Lawrence Gomme might possibly recover in tin-i-. there was no announce- ment made of the difficulty which had arisen through such a reg-resttable. and un- foreseen event, and only when it was- cer- tain that the inquiry would have to be postponed was an intimation sent to these who had intended attending on Thursday that they must make other arrangements, and that a later datR. would be fixed for the inquiry. Preparatory Work. i An immense amount of preparatory work has been gore through by the leaders and officials 011 both sides in order to thoroughly thresh out, once for all, the important question involved in this in- quiry. Tabular and evidence as to the wage-rates, and what are known as "price lists" (meaning agreed figures at the respective collieries as piece and day" wages for various classes of work do net have been collated, and the com- mission will, when it sits, deal ex- haustively with the pros and cons of the miners' demand fcr the restoration of I what is now generally known a« the lest five per cent. The Borrowed Shilling. I Perhaps. it may as well be explained that the term originally applied to the point at. issue was the borrowed shilling." But., as the "borrowing" (if any) took place S3 or 34 years ago. and the oufst -t d ng, it borrowed shilling is still outstanding, it has come to be called the lost five per cent."—to be restored, not repaid. These seern to have been the circum- stances :—The Anthracite coalowners de- manded a reduction upon the standard wage of five per cent., or. they said, they would have to close the collieries, because the*" could not make them yay. The workmen agreed, after -oTn,- demur, and a definite agreement was entered into by rPprM?ntat.ivM of <hp two sides. What gome of the workmen said, was F,a i ( w*lr that they only lent the employers a shilling, which would be repaid when trade improved. Coal prices, wages, and things in general have gone iip sine" then, and the workmen have, intermittently, been, for years and years, demanding a return to the old position by the addition of the lost five per cent, to the standard. On the other hand, the coalowners deny the borrowing, and describe, the bargain made 33 years ago as all adjustment," and they point out that, even if any TP- turn or restoration was understood at the time, the matter ha-s been carefully con- sidered on both sides in the making of the price lists at 1lhe collieries, and the number of pric» lists now is certainly very- much larger than in tho?p fRT-?fF days. How these and other contradictory riews j <1 p to be reconciled, and what tp outcome will lw. are points to be settled by the inquiry fixed for Thursdav. but post- poned owing to the ill-health of Sir Lawrence Gomme. -=-

PANELS FOR WALES The Home Secretary has appointed t special tribunals for the purjxxse of with- drawing all mine workers of ages eli- gible, for military service from the juris- diction of the ordinary" recrmting- tri- bunals fvir the colliery districts in Walea and the Forest of Dean. Glamorgan.—Dr. W. N. Atkinson (Chief Inspector of Mines tor South Watess). Mr. Hugh Bramwell (representing the em- ployers). Air. Vernon Hartshorn (repre- senting the workmen). Monmouth and Brek-,in.-Dr. W. S. Atkinson, Mr. W. Stewart. (representing the employers), and Mr. Thomas Ricliaj-dvi, M.P. (representing the workmen). Carmarthen. Pembroke, and Anthracite Mineisof G I amorg-an-I)r. W. N. Atkinson, Mr. Evan Williams (representing the em- players'). and Mr. John D- Morgan (re- presenting the workmen)., Forest of De^tn—Dr. W. N. Atkinson, Sit Francis Brain (representing the em- ployer*,), and Mr. G. H. Rowlineon (xa- pietsenting the workmen}.. North Wales.—Mr. A. D. Nic&oieon (mines imspector), Mr. E. Craig, M-P. (representing the employers), and 3fc. E, Hughes (.representing the workmen.)

LOUGHOR ERIDCE ACAIN A discussion arose as to the efcate o* the Loughor bridge, at the meeting of the Carmarthenshire Main Roads Council at L La nelly on Wednesday. Several i-tieml)ers emphasised the grave danger incurred by allowing hearv vehicular traffic to pRSS over tie bridge. Dr. J. R. Williams; What would be our position as a OmnÙl supposing the bridge collapsed and a vetucie fell: throogh ? Mr. Nathan Griffiths said it would not be judicious to express aa opinion on the point at present. Mr. Dd. Evans: Are there any dangers signals each side of tho bridge? The Acting Clerk 1 There are two men stationed there to warn people, and < notices have been posted up. « Dr. Williams: What is the answer to 1 the first qnetstion ? I The Chairman I am doabfcfoL Sir James Hills-Johnes said til at tba Council surely had power to preveat ve-nk-les ot excessive weight passing over the bridges.

LATEST WAR NEWS Russia Pushing the Enemy Back. ALI-IES' SUCCESS ON WESTERN FRONT. Paris. Thursday.—The special corre- spondent of the Petit Parisien" at Petrograd telegraphs under yesterday's date; Operations on the south front con- tinue to develop with success for the Kussians. J n Bukovina. the enemy is strongly organised fi-on- a defensive point 01 N-ioli. 'I'b- Germans have in fact dis- patched hastily thither part ot the armies ot Cen?rais YOn Gallwitz and Dewerdo. which have been wit hrll'aWn I 1 loin Serbia. In ?P'? ?'?' <<' Pussians !!t?m the advantage and are making progress- Enemy Forced Bark. Petrograd. Wednesday—Though Auet.ro- German communiques claim that there is no change in the southern situation, and ill-pilitn- of the de- fences of the ('zernowitz front, the fact remains that ?- have pierced the disposi- tions which occupied the trendies in the jsp mediate vicinity of the town, compel- lmg the enemy to fall ?x'k to their secondary line and definitely assume the der'i'nsive. The enemy's losses in these engagements were enormous, as also in the neighbour- hood of Chartovysk, -where he was pressed hack westward for several miles. A steady advance was also recorded in the middle roaches of the Strypd.—" Times" telegram. Captured Ground Consolidated. Petrograd, Wednesday.—The Russian communique to-day says:— South of the Pripoi. region, at Kouksotz- kavolia, we repulsed the Germans in the region of the Middle Strypa. Our units consolidated themselves in the ground they had previously captured. Enemy at- tempts to re-take the lost fortification? v.-ere j-epulsed with heavy losses to the enemy. Xorth-east of Cz^rnowitz furious tight- ing continues. Our troops have seized furiher portion-; of the enemy's positions. Hostile counter-attacks were beaten back, and our fire inficted heavy losses on the enemy. in this region oiw of our units captured is officers. 1,013 so ldiers, and four machine guns.—Press Association War Special.

MENTWIED iN DISPATCHES 1 The district of Skewen and Neath I Abbey has earned the distinction of hav- ing the names of two of its soldier-heroes n*entk>ned in despatches." The name of Com p an y Se rgoa n t Ma j or 11. J. Gossey, of the Welsh Guards, whose widowed mother resides at Ta lie r n ;tc. 1 e.st, reet, Skewen, came into prominence in connection with the capture of one (if the German guius in the great advance at. LOOP, where be was also wounded. Tie displayed conspicuous gallantry. Previous to joining the Welsh Guards h served for years in the Grena- dier Guards. Company-Se.rgeant-Major E. Gallop, of the 1st Welsh. who has for many years made his home with a sister. Mrs..Norton, latterly at Neath Abbey, is aiM "men- tioned in despatches." It was at and near Hill GO that his conspicuous bravery came under the notice of his commanding officer. ITe was wounded at Zillebeke, and also gassed. Be is a native of Wigan, being of a fighting family, his father, the jatp S?r?cant Cailop. having gone through the Aby?i'uar) Ex??dition. and fought at Asnanti, etc. He has also two brothers at present sering—A.B. Jim Cailop. some- where in the North Sea," and Private Ry. J. Cailop I,- iili the 5th Manchesters in the Dardanelles.

HUMOUR OF THE TRENCHES The Christmas number (Trench edition) of the Twentieth Gazette, a journal issued al the battalion headquarters of the 20th Canadians, somewhere in Fran'-e." a breezy publication which reflrct" much credit on its editors. Under the heading Extracts from (px- pected) Brigade Orders," appears the fol- lowing Commanders of eaibmarir.es plying in the communication trenches are requested to see that these vessels are not iised by pleasure parties between t he line. N.C.O.'s and men a'.M 11(11 allowed to use the bathing beach at 1z .50 trench. Thin is fol, cfficcrc, ODIV. Ateli on duty must not fire at. the peri- scopes of .submarines plying between the redoubts and the firing line. Some Strafe Poetry. .,Hation and fatigue parties must not; par- ticipate in swimming race-s to firing line, owing to the presence of hostile sub- marines. These events will be swum off during the six days' leave iindoc the supervision of the, battalion swimming in- structor. Owing to the scarcity of material for filling sandbags, any inVn who consumes more than of mud per day will be severely dealt with. v From the Str-(tfp Column we quite the following: 1 tossed a bomb into the air. It fell to earth—I know net where. The shock that ('am'" A,i, loud and mighty. When I awoke—well, me for Blighty. Said a Cockney on furlough from Ypreê, J Cs a rottep oP villas? i-r sn ypres, An' the things as they do Ain't exuctly wot you Reads a.baht over in the pypres."

WORKERS & COMPULSION I IMTAIsT C8SFEREH0E IS lOHBGN. I LONBON, Thursday. The special Lahour Congress convened in agreement with the decision of the Bristol Congress, opened on Tlsnrsday at I the Central Ball. Westminster. It was anneuineed as <;alled for the purpo-se of considermg the (iosernment''? Compulsory Military Service Bill, and the chairman was Mr. Barry Gosling, (;'h e c b airlarm wis L.C.C., chairman of the Tra des [ nion Congress Parliamentary Committee. As the delegates assembled, leaflets were landed to them cont-ining a report printed by three National Counaitteos, signed by the Chairman and Mr. Bo-wer- man (sec rotary ). The leaflet summarised the position, and ?,.iz ed the members to recognise that there rested upon the congress a great responsibility in taking its decision. The resolution set forth on the paper was in the foil-owing termer—- ( This conference reaffirms the decision of the Bristol Trades Union Congress when it unanimously protested in the name of oves- 3.iXH).900 of organised workers against compulsory military service. It regrets that the unity and solidarity of the nation have, been gravely imperilled, antI the industrial and political liberty inenaoed by the action of the, compulsionist-s. against winch it makes a most emphatic pro- test. The conference rejoices at the magni- fjcont. success of the voluntary principle which, in SO) short a period, has sup- plied this country with an army of 4,000,000 of free m-jn. but it is compelled with regret to recognise that, in spire of Lord Derby's scheme having pro- duced nearly 3,000.[100 volunteers, t-he net results are governed by tlv Prime Minister's pledge to the ^married n.- cruits which, in the opinion of the Gov- ernment, has rendered necessary the Military Service Bill. The conference regards the results af not yet ascertained with sufficient accuracy and certainty to warrant so momentous a proposal being parse d by Parliament, but wishes to leave the Labour members to vote upon it as they individually tli i nk fit. Other resolutions sent in were re- mitted to the Standing Orders Committee, and after this formality had been dis- posed of the Chairman read the special circular above referred to. Its aiffrma- tions were greeted with repeated cheers. There was a demonstration when the Chairman reached the sentence: Unfortunately we cannot dispose of the grave problem created by claiming that orgallid labour is ,i n any wty bound by the Prime Minister's pledge. The pledge has been given. It binds the Government. From all parts of the hall came a shout, H But not us, not 116." Another sentence in the cirriilar was: The Government Bill is limited in scope and time. It terminates with the restoration of peace. These words, as they fell fl-n) the Chairman's lips, were greeted with de- risive laughter and shouts of "Question.^ Mr. J". Hodge, M.P., in moving the reso- lution on the paper, declared the volun- tary py.stem had not failed. An army of 3.000,000 within fifteen months was un- paralleled in the world's history. The Prime Minister should have taken ac- count of his own dictum, "wait and (Cheers). The Cabinet was divided. A great many married men would not have come forward but for Air. Asquith's pledge. 1" Quephon."). Well, that wa.s the general opinion. But for the pledge and the Derby scheme they would have been up against conscription. (Interruption) The resolution he was proposing repre- sented the views of moderate men. It left freedom of opinion to the Labour members in the House of Commons. (Voices: We say No.") Mr. Will Thorne, M.P.; We say Yes. Delegates: And we say No. Mr. Bodge: Then you are treating Labour members differently from the way they have been treated in the past. (More interruption). The Chairman jnterveDing): If the Bill were rejeftod the alternative would be a gor:?ral election, and that would be the worst possible day for the Labour Party. The issue wou ld then be, com- pulsion. full and complete. Wihell asked if the Bill would be used for depressing labour, the Premier ack- nowledged that it would not. by nodding his head. (Loud laughter). Mr. Hodge: Well he shook his head in- timating that labour would be prurueteu. Mr. James Sexton (Liverpool Dockers) on rising to second the resolution, was re- ceived with some hostile cries. This re- ception drew from him the reproof, "This is a, serious matter, and ought not to be the subject of jeers." A Delegrate: Put it down to their ignorance. „ Yiilgar abuse, said Mr. Sexton, was no argument.. He went on to recall the cir- cumstances under which the Bristol resolution was approved. The Prime Minister's piedge was a pillv pledge, but it went by detault, and was not chal- lenged. (Voices: We. challenge it now. But. ¡:;illy as it was. without it they would not have reached Lord Kitchener's re- quirements. Th* Government proposals were the fiahbieet he had ever heard of. They did not, amount to Limited conscrip- tion. The conscientious objector would so grow that everybody would have a con- srionco. He warned the conference that a General Election would result in the return of a House of Common.? pledged to conscription of the worst character. Mr. Haveloek Wilson heartily supported the resolution, and spoke amidst some noise, delegates sitting in his vicinity now and again raising vocal objections to hi", remarks. Air. Ben Turner remind ed the confer- ence of the Trade Union piedge, and hoped they would not adroit the thin end of the wedge tcKiay. Were they going ? bow down to the Houae of Lordsv <" No! ") It wa? said that Labour members might lose Its at the General Electien. Then let them go down defending justice and rigfht. Wo must win this war, but not by means which would bring about bigger wars- At t.hw at-age the Standing Orders Com- mittee reported amendments from repre- sentative grouns bad been sent. in. Mr. J. H. Thomas. M.P., said no one felt more keenly against a General Elec- tion than he. Certain questions would be raised in such an event, but they also as Labour men would have questions to raise. (Cheers.) A General Election would be a crime against the men in the trenches, wh o would have no voice. Were they fjoing to admit that Labour alone should be conscripted, and not wealth.! ("No/') Re himself challenged the Prime Minister's pledge at. the time it was given. An amendment by Mr. Bellamy, Na- tional Union of Railwaymen, to the effect that the Conference reaffirms the decision of the Bristol Conference protesting in the name of three million organised workers I against compulsory military service, was' tarried. The Conference further consid- J ered the GoveTrrmont proposals pconomi- cally disastrous to the of the nation, I and recommended the Labour Party to j oppose the measure. On a card vote the I' figures werp: For the an.dment. 1,715.000 I Against 934,000 I

Colonel temporary Brkra .1 ier-Cenerr.l Owen C Woliey-Dod was on Wedn(-d-,iy rlight ga,ettp(j Inspector of the Territorial i Force (temporary),

-777?- E!SIEMFM AT GWYMFE I A euccessfal eisteddfod was held at Gwynte for the benefit of local eo ldiers. 'D? proceeding'- w<*r? cond uded hy Mr, G?;lym Jono?, fh?j?roy. The adj'?dica' tors weN": Music. Mr. John Morgan, A.L.C.M., Garnant; literary, Mr. Daniel Thomas, M.E., Gwauncaegurwen; art, Mrs. Griffiths, Brynmeilwcli; accom- panist, Miss Griffiths. Brynoa^rau. 'The following were the prize winners:—Solo for children under 8: Nauo Griffrtlrs. Glynclawdd. Solo for children under 10: 1. May Price; 2. Nano Griffiths: 3, Irene Griffiths. Solo for children under 16: 1. Peggy GriSthf; and LUian GriSifh?-: 2. arah H. Jon?s. R?ts?ion for children) imdcr 8: 1, Mrio Jon<?; 2. Hilda Mor. { gan; 3, Dorothy Rot?rr?. Recitation fori eLildn under 10: 1. Ma?)o WiJ1am; 2, Brinley FTano: 3. Irene Grii?tl)?. [ Recitation for children under 16: 1, Maggie Thomas; 2, Maggie Williams. Novice solo (male): Mr. G. J. Griffiths; female. Miss Blodwen Wniiame. Solo for tbc?e over 50: Mr. John Williams. Soprano solo: Miss J&Q?t Thomas. Con- tralto solo: Miss Florcoc? Evans. Bass solo: Mr. J. G. Griatlw and Mr. D. J. Francis (aqual). Champion solo: Miss K. Eth<"l Evans. ReciratioD. under ?: I Mi"-s Annie Thomas. Open recitation: Mr. B?nry Thomas. Best po<?m: Mr. Dd. EY?D.?. L?anddfu?Qt. Bf?t stanza: Mr.\ R1Jv D. JoT:?s. Brynamm^n. Bt letter: Mr. P. E!ia? Evans. Brvnamruan, who al?o Lad the best essay. Best sat-f. Mis;; A Williams; 2, Miss M. Thomas. QTiar-? tetfe: Mr. David GrifEth? and friends. Bé choir: Mis? K. Ethel Evans and friends. The p??rp-etio secretary was Mr. Dain?l James, J'ontb.n, while Mr Jones, Y nystoddeh. wa. treasurer.

"A FAT GOOSE" MMANFGRD EKJKCtiLDB DESCRIBES THE RATEPAYERS A touch of piquancy was added to ft discussion at the Ammanford Council Oil Wednesday, Mr. ,1..[i&rries (.lrlwyn) pro- siding, ovfti- a summary of the Paxiia-, mcntary hill of oosts prepared by the' clerk. Mr. D. G. Davies referred to an itesa, of iS4 payable to ,}1 r. Henry Herbert (engineer!, and said the bill originally reo- ceived was for k79. As a result Ute Coon. cil had resolved that the bill be altered accordraglv, but he did not. know tILait itt had been before them since. Several members joined issue with Mr. Davies, and Air. David Jones (chaarmaa of the Finance Committee.) stated that the detailed account, twnt in by Mr. Herbert was for .£1.24. but at the end of the brill he stated that under the agreement he was onh- entitled to .£81. Tirerf> wa.s no £ï9 on it at all. Mr. D. G. Davies: Why was his kilt referred bac ? The rierk said the bill was referred bftckuj because it was not properly drawn up. Mr. T. Fletcher agreed with Mr. David. 1 Jones that the original biU was f,&r < £ 124., 8 Mr. David Jones: I think my mecaory serves me corrioctl-v. I know that the biil was £ 196 and something, and tie .£81 was in settlement wf the account. NVhat Ifr. Davies has in his mind is anotlver haM re- ferred back to Mr. Herbert. Mr. D. G. ttevies moved that the re- porters be asked to publish the ganwaajy of th? costs. He wanted the pirihiie te know exactly what had been spent andi where it had gone. The Ammanford mte- nayers were evidently cotnskiejvd a fat goose. But the fattest part of that fpoowt was its head. They did not know wfaeii the money was spent. Clerk's Protest. The uttered a warm protect. Bet had nothing whatever to bide, aad itifWM malicious to talk of fat geeefe. Mr. Wm. Evans staid eome of them ten members of that Council from the <o<n< iiiencemem-t, and had the intereststhai* ratepayers quite as mnch at heart as Mr. I D. G. Davies, and were loofcmg quite am carefully after the work. And if Mr.4 Dav ies took as much interest da wntdnrrpr the ratepayers' interest as in w bin* fellow councillors he would be aat ideeli councillor. Ifr. J. Daries maid Mr. D. G. Dowtem had the whole bills on the table at the Finance Committee, bat be did not tarn a leaf. But in every ("oaacR mecting he raised points simply with iL vi<rw to pwie-e popularity. He is not working ia tie: place where he ought to, and wociringin, the plaoe he sibould added Mr. Davies. Mr. D. G. Davies: He is mwaouTing ma by his own yard-stick. At tbis point the Chairman decbnd the meeting closed, and wished the xdoep fcers a Happy New Year.

No frMh outbreak of foot-ai«4-moiifch disease ha. ooctBrred in So:»erset during- the past month, and the Bath diatrict is now entirely free from it.

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