Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

WELCOME GIFTS. I The matron of the British Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital at Baglan Hall, Britollfcrry, wishes to acknowledge the following gifts kindly sent in December: Mr. Crews, bread; Mrs. Congdon, cakes; Messrs. Cadbury, chocolates; Mr. Davies, meat; Mrs. David, cakes; Mr. Gower, fi-oiir, Mrs. Hallowes, sweets; Mrs. Hill, tea; Mrs. Harry, butter; Mr. J "mes. bread; Mrs. Jacob, cakes, fruit, cigar- ettes; Misa Jenkins, cakes; Mrs. R, W. Llewellyn, fruit and vegetables; Mr. Llewellyn, rabbits; Mr. G. D. Loveluck chemist, daily papars; Mr. and Mrs. McEwen, shortbread; Miss Roberts, mirice pies and cakes; Mrs. Roberts, bieud; Miss Sapii, bread; Mrs. J. M. Smith, caks; Mrs. Schwenk, ham and cheese; Miss Talbot, vegetables, pheasants, and Christmas cakes: Miss Tennant, eggs; Mrs. Williams, buttpr and rabbits; Mr. WoodI?Y, meat; Miss Yeo, cigy vette hshtar?; SL AUrji* Church children, I X

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT r HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday. I New writs -w??'o oitt?rcd to be issued ?for an election in Central Bradford and th<? Mile End DivJ@ons to fill th? ?vacaiici&.3 caused by the death of Sir G.  Scott R?bort?a and the succession to the peerage of tho Hon. Harry Law&on re- spectively. Germany and Constantinople. Sir bdwin Cornwall a^ked whether the I Foreign Secretary had received any in- formation indicating German aims with regard to the- future position of Con- stantinople, and as to the growing ap- jpi'cheu&iou of 'rm-kLah people at the real objects of Germany. I I Lord Eo!>ert Cecil said the Foreign Office I had no authentic information as to the I in "Joiistantinopk, but inasmuch as the result of war so far had been to place Germany's allies in a position of military dependenco upon her, it would not be surprising if Turkey were not I without apprehension. I New Derby Recruits. I Mr. King asked how many men had eniMed under the group system since onHstment in this form was re-opened ou January lUth? Mr. Teiiu&nt: Quite a considerable number. I Mora British Successes in Mesopotamia. Mr bdw in Cornwall asked .the Prime Minister whether the campaign in Meso- potamia had been fully considered in all it? bcarilg6 by the BIjtidh War Council ia conjunction with the Allies; whether the decisions arrived at were considered by the Cabinet; and if -so, at what date; and whether, in view of the growing im- portance of the campaign, he would in- form the Houst' of the policy decided upon, together with the steps which had already been taken, or are in contempla- tion t; carry it out. Mr. Chamberlain replied. He said the recent operations in Mesopotamia were considered and approved by the War Council. It would not bo in the public iinerest to make any statement as to the scope of the military operations now m progress. Information of that kind under the preheat circumstances would be much nvoro valuable to the enemy than to the meml>ers of the Housc. (Hear, hear). He niglit. however, take advantage of tho opportunity toO bring up to date the information he gave the House as to the operations that had already taken plaee. (Cheers). On the 11th inst. he mentioned that the enemy had retired to the Lssin position, six miles Mtit of Kut-el-Amara. He, how- ever, apparently advanced again on the 12th to what was ealeld in the telegrams the Waddi position. Since then telegrams had been received from General Town- shend up to the morning of the 15th, and from General Aylnier, commanding relieving force up to the morning of the 16th. General Kemball's column on the right bank was holding the Turkish divi- sion in front, while Geueral Aybncr was pressing back two divisions on the left bank. There was continuous fighting on the 13th in that neighbourhood, aud on the morning of the 11th General Aylmer reported that the enemy was a^ain retir- ing, and that he himself was removing his headquarters und motor transport to thf month of the Waddi. On the loth he reported the whole of the Waddi position had been captured and the enemy's rearguard bad taken up another position at Essin. General Ayl- mer's pursuit was seriously hampered by the weather throughout, and he was sorry to pay the weather was still reported to be bad. All the wounded had been sent down the river. (Cheers.) I House of Commons, Tuesday, House of Commons, TUe6da.1. The Speaker took the clusiv at 2.15. Mr. Lloytl Geoi~ge informed Sir Joseph Wartou that a committee of business men had been set up in eonnection with the Ministry of Munitions with a view to securing economy in expenditure. Con- siderable saving had already been effected owing to the action of the committee. Mr. William Thome asked whether the supply uf munitions from America was still coming through the Morgan Mr. Lloyd George: From the United States, yes; Dot from Can akta. New Postmaster-Generai. Mr. King askeel the l'run- Minister whether the officuof the Postmaster- General and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, until recently united in the person of one Minister, were now he-ld by two members of the House of Com- mons, and, if so, whathfer this change entailed an increased charge on public i und*,? Mr. Asqnith said the answer to the first part of the question was in the affirma- tive, the King having approved of the appointment of Mr. J. A. Pease as Post- majter-Generul. The answer to the second part of the question was in the negative. Mr. Booth asked whether this appoint- ment involved the relinquishing of the political pension v.-bich Mr. Pease enjoyed ? ?Jr. Asquith: The right hon. member has already reU nq uished i t. I Vcn Papen's Papers^ I Ixyrd Robert Cccil informed Sir Henry Craig that the W hitePaper containing selections from the papws found in possession of Capt. von Papen would be presented to Parliament as eoon as pos- sihl. German Dukes' British Honours. I Mr. Swift MacNeil gave notice of the f-ollowing reeolution: That the retention by the Duke of Cumberland and the Duke of Albany, new in command of forces of the enemies of this country, although natural-born British subjects (and as such guilty of high treason) of no fewer than eeven peerages ot Great Britain and Ire- laud and of tho United Kingdom, and their continued possession of the style and dignity of Royal Highness and Prince of United Kingdom and Ireland consti- tutes cause for great public discontent and indignation which demands im- mediate remedy." (Cheers.) Trading Witlh the Enemy. The Soiicitor-Greneral presented 4 Bill to amerd the TracL,- to amend the Trading with the Enemy Act. and it was formally read the first time. COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL. I The suspension of the eleven o'clock rule having been agreed to, the House again weut into Committee on the Mili- tary Seryice (No. 2) Bill. The discussion was resumed on an amendment moved by Sir Ivor Herbert providing ttuit }"OtlDg iaen who become 18 years of age subse- quent to the 15th of la6t August should be brought within the operation of the Bill. Mr. Watson Rutherford said after the refusal of the Government to accept the ainendmeat he was strongly tempted to resign his seat as a protest. Since August 15th some hundreds of young men had, without legitimate ex- cuse, attained the age of 18. (Loud laughter.) He wanted to know why they were not included in the Bill. (Laugh- ter.) He saw the joke, and if he were not in such deadly- earnest, he would in all probability not have perpetrated it. (Re- newed laughter.) House of Commons, Wednesday. The Speaker took the chair at 2.45. A new writ was ordered to he issued for an election in the Rotharham Divi- sion, consequent oa the acceptance by Mr. J. A. Pease of the office of Postmaster- General. Serbians' Call for Hetp. I Mr. Booth asked if the Foreign Secre- tary was aware of the statement made by the Prime Minister of Serbia, that they hMi expected help from the Allies, which did not. oorne, that t-,be e)tltpr- wje* Ye,r threft<«jhrei> saries in a big battle, and w hether any statement oouid be made as to the oaurse decided upon by the British Government? .Lord Robert Cecil said ho bad seen in the Press fho statement referred to in the question, but he had no other informa- tion. The answer to the lact part of the question was in the negative. MISSING IN GALLIPOLI. Mr. It. McNeill asked if there was any hope of the large number of officers and men who had been reported missing in the Gailipoli Peninsula being traced ? Lord Robert Cecil said the hon. mam- ber would realise the great difficulty the Foreign Office were under in dealing with such questions, owing to the character of Turkish administration. They were con- stantly in communication with the United Statos Ambassador at Constantinople in the matter. Malt and Barley for Belgium. Lord Robert Cecil informed Mr. R. McNeill that permission had been giyen by the Government lor the importation of malt and barley into the provinces of Belgium occupied by the Germans. It was based on tho same general principle upon which sanction have been given to the importation Si food stuffs by the Commission lor the Relief of Belgium, namely, that it was our duty to mitigate as far as possible the effect of the blockade on the civil population. The Firm of Runciman. In the House of Commons this after- noon, Mr. Runcunan made a detailed statement with reference to the relations of the firm of Runciman, London, with the Government. He explained that he himself retired from the firm ten years ago when he took office under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Since then his only connection with it was that its chair- man, Sir Walter Runciman, was his father, a relationship of which he had every reason to bo proud. Possible Imports Restrictions. In a statement with, regard to merchant shipping, Mr. Runciman said that it might be necessary to shut out from this country articles which were not now btr-Ictly- Mesopotamia Operations. Mr. Chamberlain said a telegram had been received, dated January 15th, from the geueral officer in command in Meso- potamia in which it was stated that, the, weather conditions had been atrbcious and had stopped all progress. GERMAN LOSSES. In the House oi Commons on Wednes- day, Mr. Tennant said that the total Ger- man casualties otheia;lly announced to the end of last year were as follows:— Killed 538,986 Died 24,080 Wounded. 1.-566,540 :Jth;ing :«6,153 2,535,7(j8 HOUSB OF COMMONS, Thursday. I Mr. Ronald McNeill asked the Foreign Secretary whether J1í: had any official in- formation showing that in August, 1914, the French Admiral in the Mediterranean informed his Government that he wai in pursuit of the Goeben and Breslau, wb (-l). he intended to sink before Constantinople, and that he was forbidden to do so by the French Government in corisequence of the objection of England to do anything to annoy Turkey? Sir E. Grey said the answer was in the negative. There was no record of any fiuch communication in the Foreign Office, and he had no recollection of having heard of it before. Mr. McNeill: Seeing the etory has been published in neutral countries, has he taken any steps to give it an authoritative contradiction ? Sir E. Grey: I did not hear the story until I read the hon. member's question. I should like to make inquiries of the Admiralty before I say anything morl about it. Allies' Councilr., Mr. Asquith stated that arrangements for an extension of the Allies' Councils were in progress. Changes in the anti-aircraft defence of London were under consideration, but it would not be in the public interest to make any further statement. Suvla Bay Operations. The Premier also stated that the Gov- ernment, after careful inquiry, had come to the conclusion that any inquiry into the operations at Sllvla Bay was at present not practicable. In reply to a further question, Mr. Asquith said they were doing their best to secure that in the end ample inquiries should be made and full justice done to all concerned. Montenegro I Lord Robert Cecil 8aid he h?d no in- formation on the position in Mou?np?r? further than had a])j?ared in the 1.1r.. I Foreign Office and Blockade. I Major Hunt asked if the JVoreign Office had been aware of the state of things demonstrated by American trade statis- tics, and if so, how much longer was our Navy to be crippled by the Foreign Office, the war prolonged, and many more thou- sands if our men sacrificed? Sir Edward Grey said he understood this subject was to be discussed next week. lie must, however, say the statement in question was grossly unfair and entirely misrepresented the facts. Casualties in Merchant Service. I Mr. Pretyman informed Mr. Peto that II tho number of masters, officers and sea- I men belonging to British merchant vessels reported to the Board of Trade as having lost their lives by enemy action between 4th August, 1914, and 30th November last 1 was 1,073. Pooling of Railway Trucks. < Sir Alfred Mond asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the congestion of traffic and shortage of trukes on the railways on the railway*; owing to the absence of arrangements for the pooling of railway trucks of all th-c different railway com- panies, and whether, in view of the fact that thee companies were controlled by the Government he would issue instruc- bons for this to be done. Mr. Pretyman: I have requested the Railway Executive Committee to consider how they can oiz-lfullv extend existing, ar- rangements for the common use of the railway wagons. Suvla Bay Affair. I Mr. DilVm asked if every opportunity would be given to field officers of coinpara- tively junior rank tr) put on record wliile they were living their account of what took place? (Ilcar, hear.) General Sir Ivor Rerbert Will the right hon; gentleman consider the possi- bility of seeing ctfncers whoso names have been prominently connected with this affair, and who have been temporarily withdrawn from the Service, we not placed in prejudiced positions until their cases have been judged. Mr. Asquith: Tiis is a very delicate matter-(hear, hear)—and applies not only to this particular operation, but to a number of other operations. (Hear, hear.) All I can eay ie we shall do the utmost we can to secure that in the end ample in- quiry shall be held and full justice down to everybody concerned. Sir JI. Dalziel: Will he give Menrance that greater care will be taken in the future in the selection of generals for im- portnt operations ? Mr. Aequith: Every care is taken. Army Wastage. I Army Wastage. I Mr. Tennant, answering Sir Alfred ? Mond, said the statement that the per- [I centage of wastage in tb** Army estimated at 15 per eeut. per month, applied oaiIt to 1, the miactjj.

I THE EMIGRANTS SON ROMANTIC STORY OF All AUSTRALIAN StiLDItR Last Friday, a bronzed young Austra- lian soldier, stepped off a train at Port Talbot, and chancing to meet the well- known postman, Mr. Tom Williams, in- quired if there were any persons by the name of Howell in Port Talbot. Thousands," was the instant reply. Tho Colonial was somewhat embar- Colotial vvas iso)iiew,iat rassed at this discovery, and bddthe postman all ahmtt his life, where he came from, aud whyi In the early tiftib 01 the last century, a lad, 16 years of age, by name John Howell, set out from Peucae, Port Tal- bot, bound for Australia. The discovery of gold in that continent was then at- tracting many of the more adventurous. After a voyage of six months, he landed in Victoria. He began an up-hill hght in a wild, desert land, enduring hard- ships and passing through vicissitudes of which dwellers in settled communities can have but the faintet conception. News came to Port Talbot occtlsionalh- I to the effect that the emigrant was alive and prospering in the Antipodes, but very iittlo was known of him. Bis father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Howell, his brother, Mr. Llew. Ilowell, J.P., and his two sisters, Mrs. D. Spencer Davies and Mrs. Thomas Jenkai: each in their day well-known ill Port: Talbot, have passed away. Not one of the little house- hold the boy left on. the hill now remains in this country, though there are a brother and sister in the United States. In Quest of Relatives. Our bronzed hero was the son of that lad who Jerft Port Talbot GO years ago, and had come to look up such relatives and friends as time might have spared. The postmaa was able to direct him to the residence of his oousin, Mrs. Rachel Jones, Tydraw-street, a daughter of his father's eldest sister. I Many other cousins have been' dis- covered, and from one of them—Air. Gor. I don Jenkins—we have information that, despite, his great age—he is now 76—-the erst while emigrant lad is in excellent health, very active, and managing direc- tor of a gold mine in Victorio. I Five Soldier Sons. The son, Ray Howell, who has arrived at Port Talbot, is one of five brothers, sons of the preceding, who arc terving the Empiro in military capacity. Ray has served in the Dardanelles, where he became ill, and had to spend three months in hospital, and after that ILlS sent to England. One of I)- 's was at Anzac with him, but is now Ali Egypt; another ;s on his way there; and one is getting on well in the Australian Navy. Jfc'ivo out of seven sons, have left excellent situations to join the Empire's navui and military forces, which proves their love, not only I tor the land of their father's adoption, but also for gallant little Wales, the land of his birth.

>- TAIEHTEO SWANSEA 'CELLIST Miss Blodwen Jones, the t.i hp. ted young Swansea "eellist, who last week at the M ay'oral concert at the Albert Hall, Swan- sea, in aid of fityieis, itiade it liiostl, favourable impression upon the crowded: audience with her very beautiful and re- fined 'cello contributions. Blodwen is an I ardent and painstaking musician, her welcome surprise appearances at the numero? military hospitals in the <ii?-t tdd being heartily appreciated by the ? wounded tommies. Photo by Mr. W, H. J ivoun d -o( i i oniw i I Hoare, .MeaLthtt?d Studio, Swansea. ———————————

SWANSEA BATTALION PRIVATE KILLED. Lieutenant Frank LI. Corker, of the Swansea. Battalion, has written to Mrs. Sandy well, who resides at 13, Viiieent- i street, Swansea, in- forming her that her husband, Private W. J. Sandywell, also of the Swansea Bat- talion, has been killed in action in France. Lieut. Corker, in the course of the letter, says; "It is with deep regret and sorrow that I write to tell you of the death uf your husband, Pte. W. J. Sandywell, who was shot on the morn- ing of the 13th inst. Perhaps it will help you to bear up in your great trouble if I tell you ho died without pam and was unconscious throughout. Of course those idle words of niiue (n"t recompense you in such a time as this, but after a little while you will read my letter again perhaps änd know that your husband was one of the best soldiers in our regiment. Ho did his duty always and never wavered in the cause for which he gave his life. He was iu'my own platoon, and was an example to many and liked by all. One of his friends spuko to me of him as a father to the platqon. I am told that you have five children. I hope that while caring for them and helping them on in life that it will lessen somewhat the pain of your irreparable loes." Pte. Sandywell enlisted in March of last year, and prior to enlistment was employed by Mr. Laugharne Morgan. He was 36 years of age, and leaves a widow and five children. Pte. Sandywell was the first Swansea Battalion member to die in action.

MERTHYR'S GERMAN CUN 11 Stantot's Gun," eo called because it I was allocated to the town upon the re- quest of Mr. C. B. Stantou, M.P., has arrived at Merthyr TydliL It is a 3,in. field piece captured from the Germans, and will be placed upon a specially pre- I pared foundation near the town hall.

Sir Herbert. Raphael does not, intend to saek re election.

-=-= r WILL UPHELD I ESTATE OF THE LATE Hit. J. D. LODWIC 1 I Thø judgment wm given on Thursday by Mr. Justice Sargent, in the Chancery Division, in the summons taken out 'by David John Lodwig, of 8, Sketty-road, Swansea, the 60U 4nd heir at law and sole next-of-kin of the late John David Lod- wig, of Puebla House, Brynliyfryd, Swan- sea. Applicant asked for a declaration that the trusts by the will of his father for the benefit of Mrs. Katie Lodwig, other than the direction for the payment to her of a weekly sum and the trusts thereby declared for her children by the applicant, were void for remoteness, and that accordingly, subject to the legacies and weekly and annual payments, directed to be paid by the will, the real and per- sonal estate of the testator was undisposed of and should be transferred to the appli- cant. The respondents to the summons wens David Walter Evans, of 1, Pinewcod-road, Uplands, and Ahraham Boyan. Dayi, of Oxford-street. Swansea, Mrs. Katie Lod- wig, wife of-the applicant, and their four children. Judgment for Defendants. His Lordship decided that the trusts declared by the will in favour of the children were not void for remoteness, and that the plaintiff was not now entitled to the conveyance or transfer to him of Any the youngest child attained the age of testator's estate. Dealing with the provisions of the will, his Lordship said the trurstees were directed to pay to Mrs. Katie Lodwig. for the benefit of herself and her children, £ 5 a week, the payment to continue until the youngest child attained the age 0'1' I 30- In the event of any of the grand- children marrying, each one was to lie paid week from the date of mar- riage. But when the youngest of such children should attain the age of 30, the payments of t5 and £ 2 per week should cease. When the youngest child had reached the ago of 30, and the payments should bo ceased, such part of. the capital as was not required for these pay- ments should ha divided equally between Mrs. Lodwig and her children. No Grounds for Hypothesis. At. tenants in common, the plaintiff contended that the direction to divide he- tween Mrs. Lodwig and the children was too remote because it was a direction to divide between her and ;such of her chil- dren as should attain the age of 30, but the* words of the provision were elaborate and precise, and there seemed to be no reason for introducing into the very definite description of the persons to take any other hypothesis or contingency. His Lordship therefore made a deelara-1 tion in accordance with his decision.

_un CHOilUS GIRL'S ROMANCE. Few romances of the war have had (says Tlx* S^&i ") such piquajit interest as one just brought to light, in which a chorus girl, earning her modest thirty shillings a week, has become heiress to a fortune of considerably over £ 15,000 through, tho death of an officer in Flanders. The fortunate young lady, Miss Pat" Peel, is a m-ember of Mr. Harry Day's revue company, Keep to the Right." which has been playing at the Grand Theatre, Ciapham Junction. The secret leaked out through Mifs Peel tendering her resignation to Mr. J. 1), Seabrook, Mr. Day's manager, and naturally she was the recipient of a host of eongratnlaiions. She was persuaded to withdraw her resignation, for the present at all events, the company refusing to part with her in such an abrupt maimer The money was left to her by Lieutenaot Edward Ross Mulor-li, of the Gordon Highlawk'io, who l'ell in action at Neuve Chapelle The young officer—he w.vs only about 2.3 years of age—fell in love with the chorus girl some time ftgo. and made her the sole residuary legatee (sub- ject to a life interest) under his will. All the legal formalities of this docu- mcnt-a few ]I-pe,- scribbled in an A rniy pay-book—have been complied with, and probate has been granted. Lieutenant Mulocli wae Formerly a schoolmaster at btreatham, hut on the outbreak of war he joined tha Artists' Rifles as a private, and was subsequently gazetted to a commicjsion in the Gordon Highlanders. His father was a Fleet surgeon, and his grandfather was a man of considerable property in this country and in Ireland.

NEWSPAPER PRESS Fulio At a. meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire br.auch of the Newspaper Press Fuwl on Saturday, Mr. William E. Pegg presiding, Mr. W. C. Folden was ap- pointed chairman, and Mr. G. F. Hill secre- tary. The following wero elected on the committee —Cardiff. Keesre. J. Smurth- waite, William }1, Pegg. J. Kemp Foster, J. R Stephen?, and H. A. Davies. Newport: Messrs. Charles I. Mills and J. Hopkins. West Wales Ifesors. P. Shuttlewood and P. F. Smith. It was reported that the dis- trict contributed f,118 in 1914 to the fund, a record fiyure. Ddriujr 1914 the fund (lis- persed no less than £ 7,062 in grants and pensions, this being also a record. Cordial appreciation wm expressed for the kindness of the following loail donorsLieutenant- colonel David Davies, M.P., Lord Dynevor, Sir Stafford Howard. Mr. R. E. Jones, Sir I John Llewelyn, the Eight Hon. Sir Alfred Mond, Bart. M.P., Mr. Mervyn Peel, J.P., Sir

LOST IN A WELSH MINE Nearly three thousand men at the East and Wast Elliot Colliery of the Powell Duffryn Company, Rhymney Valley, re- fused to descend the pit ou Wednesday morning until they had been assured of the safety of Thomas Price, one of the night firemen. When he was recovered the men agreed that it, was too late to go down the shaft for the day. Price had an alarming experience, be- ing for nearly twelve hours alone in a disused part of the mine. When making a insepetion his lamp was knocked out and he waB left in -pitch darkness. He was not well acquainted with his sur- roundings, and consequently he could not recover the main road. He walked about for nearly twelve hours and at eight o'clock on Wednesday- morning a search party discovered him.

THE SAME AT SWANSEA I At meeting of the Pontardawe and District Milk Sellers' Association on Wednesday night, at the Public Hall, Pontardawe, it waa unanimously decided to raise the price of milk on and from January 4th to 5d. per quart. This is due to the advance in price of feeding meal. There were dealers present from Cilybebyll, Llanguicke, and Gelly- onen.

A GOWER CHALLENGE. I Mr. Wi. Jeffreys, Sunnyside, Three Crosses, writes reaenting a question alleged to have been asked him by a mem- ber of the Gower Rural Area Tribunal. Mr. Jeffreys, admitting that the member afterwards declared that he meant to joke," offers a £]0 challenge, the money to be paid to the Swansea Hospital, if any allegation of the eort he declares to have been suggested by the question can be proved against him.

I No fs are "paid to recruiting officer* if or tuen attested owier the group eastern, I said Mr. r "ejniai ua Wednesday

r AT THE COUNCIL UNEVENTFUL AFTERBOON ENOS MYSTERIOUSLY. THERE were openings for a pun a B the Swansea Council's own heart af Wednesday's meeting, but no one ventured to make it apropos the refusal of the Local Government Board to allon notice to treat to be served upon Lor Swansea regarding the acquisition oi a Singleton site for a cemetery. A verj grave question indeed! Danygraig A iilhug up; the last plot in the Catholi?c portion was being occupied that day. It two years, or the cemetery will bq lull. Cwmgelly is far away. What thenj Councillor Lee estimates that it will tak. about four years before negotiations eaij bo completed with regard to the new Singleton Cemetery. Thus, unless h4 gentlemen at Whitehall relent, we shall be left with No Room to be Dead in! All the councillor said mournfully, it will b, a very critical position, and the Local Government Board is going to hear mor^ about it from the lips of a deputation. FREE GARDENING. The Mayor was in very good form a:4 Wednesday's meeting. He kept the roeUl; bers walking along the straight line o| order, ruling with a firm hand agaioa? digressions and all 6uch luxuriee indulge in by the Swansea Councillor. Also h4 had one interesting proposal to makej arising out of Lord Selborne's letter urging the necessity of increasing the p"^ duction of the land. ITiere are ten acred of land behind the Garden City. Convert them into allotments, said Mr. Merrel1 Give the land free to those who will culA tivate it; thus it will be immediately available if and when it is required f°* building—which will not be for a g-oo time to come. The Council liked the idea- and gave it its benediction—all but -Vr" Powleslaud who was frankly a sceptic about working men having the time avail* able to till the land what with shorta^ of labour and overtime. Mr. Powleslau d, notwithstanding, the scheme is going -In-, and a committee is to draw up the neces* sa.y regulations. CHANCE FOR roUNCILLORSI An excellent step, capable of great tension. We talk of waste in connection with the war, and the tieed of conserving our resources; but there is no waste mora patent than that of our land. There are hundreds of acres in and around Swansea which might be utilised for the growing ot marketable produce—back gardens de- generated into cinder tips, and cpeu i-paces over which the rubbish 4 the neighbourhood is spread. The new COIn. mitUie has a great chance. If it canii-Il make Swansea blossom as the rose, it reeti in its power to make Town Hill odoro;i< as the cabbage. As the Great Western train run £ } through the outskirts of Bristol, the tr;w veller sees acres upon acres of allotment^ and, if it b«a Saturday afternoon or a light evening, the pleasant (Sight of working men among their potatoes and peas. H the Mayor's idea works well—and there .1", no reason why it should noL- Town Hill ought to supply the Market ficxt your villi a great deal of home grown." The Coun. cillor for Caebrieks offers a further aug* ge-stiou. W,hen the allotments have made the ambition of the tenants might be aroused by Council prizes. Therj might be a Municipal Vegetable Show, at which the champion cabbage and potahj could bo suitable dtcoratcd. The sugges* tion was also offered, with bated breath, by a brother councillor, that the com-, mittee should set the example oy taking allotments thmsel,es; Portiv members bending over the unfilled soil" of Town, Hill would be an inspiring spectacle. "BRINY OLD WATERWORKS." The minutes of most of the committees went through with little or no discussion.* No one was curious c-L)oiigli to inq,,i;i,et' why the renewal ot the h.- ül tho Ik ? and Dumb Institution was held up. Even the water ttrms to Mum bles Council weroj subjected to but brief consideration; Aid. Colwill sought to open a debate by arithmetical demonstration that thq terms violated the law of equity," and by chaVges that iliey constituted a sub- sidy for the benefit of their briny old waterworks at Caswell." But the Couik-1' refused to be moved. and the minutej went through. THE TEACHER'S SERVICES. It would have been a tame meeting luid not a question been raised on tho Lducation Committee minutes involving a perplexing decision. For clearness that decision had better be set out: Letter read from Major G S, Haniee, the Military reprt?ntatht; the Advisory Committee, asking for t; assistance of a teacher who had reu. dered assistance under Lord Verb, Campaign. Resolved that Major Harries be informed that owing the (It- lation of the male staff the Committer regret that they are unable to acotxni to his application. Letter rea.d from A..J. Cooze, C.C.T., Morriston Boys) School, inti- mating that he had been appointed ok the Advisory Committee and asking for such leave of absence as is necessary to enable him to serve on the Committee, Resolved that the application be noti acceded to until further information is given." Two points of view disclosed themselves at the Council. There was, firstly, that of the members who are concerned ovet the depletion of teachers which it seriously affecting the work of th.) schools. One and all disclaimed any idea of handicapping the recruiting work j but they took the stand that the assist: ance Major Harries wanted did not neces- sarily require the services of a teacher. The other section took broader ground. fPhey thought the resolutions dis- courteous. They urged the requests net paramount. Anything and everything t.t beat the Germans. Better close a school if that will help in even the smallest direction. With the latter view thil majority prevailed. THE CLINIC. What promised to be a piquant discas* 8ion over the premises in which the clsnis is installed in Grove-place -was stopped down by the Mayor. Subject "Was a very old one. So many hundreds of pounds have been spent—^ £ 800 said an alderman. iind the tenancy was quarterly 1 Was that so ? There was a. conference amonq the officials, and down came the Mayor with a ruling. Prior notice of euch que* tione as these must be given- Then thosn concerned could be prepared with the in- formation required- It i's good Parlilt. mentary gfocedure; it may work to thf advantage of Swansett- Council went into committee immedi atelv following- The Pressmen wera turned out. Subsequently it transpired that the had pledged themselves to secrecy upon the subject thus talked of behind closed doors-a matter of very great interest to the tows, J, D, W.

3IRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. MARRIACES. BURLEY—McKEAN.—The wedding wag sol- emnised iL Wesley Chapel, Swansea, of Mr. Thomas Frank Burley to itiss Ar- leen McKean. The Rev. A. W. Wardle (Wesley) oSiciat&t. FOWU5E— BENNETT.—On Saturday, Jan. 8, 1916, Lilian, only daughter ef Mr. and Mrs. T. Bennett, SingletDn-"reat, to Benjamin, third 80 of Mr. David Fowier, ILanfiei-rooa, Bonymaen. HARRIS-MEA,80.NL.-At English Congrega- tional Church,. Sketty, on January 13th. Gwladis Eva, only daughter of Mr. Goo. Meason, Hadley," Sketty, to Herbert John, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. ffm. Ilarri-, Kimberly-road, Sketty. DEATHS. COOK (ne' Howells).-On January 13th, at her parents' residence. Old School House, Ode-street, Sarah, the beloved wife of W. 11. Oook (Cambrian Dry Dock). DALLY.—On January 11, at his daughter's residence Mrs. Webb, Eryn-terrace. St. Thomas. James Dally, late of Pembroke Dock, in his 96th year. I)A"ilE:i.-Ort 15th January, at 9, Bay View, St. Thomas, Edgar Richard, the dearly- boloTixl only son of Mr. and Mra, Wm. Davies; aged 15 years. EDWARDS.—On January 15th, at Glen View, Parkmill, John Edwards, late of Soathgato HARRIS.—On .the 15th inst., at Glanrafan, Upper Lime-street, Gorseinon, Rachel Ann, the beloved wife of Henj. Harris, in her 23rd year. HONEY.—Died, on the 15th inst., llary Jam, the beloved wife of Henry Honey, of 77, Oolbourne-terrace, Swansea. JENKINS.—At Xjpuinds, Pontardawe. Janu- ary 17th. Mary Jenkins, widow of late Mr. Daniel Jeukins, Auctioneer. JORN.On January 17th, at 11, Jersey-ter- race, St. Thomas, William Jeremiah, the beloved husband of Lucy F. John, and eldest nor- of William John. Penvilim, Brynteyfrytl, in year. JONES.—On the 8th inst., at 7, Arthur-street, XeaUx, John Jones, ex-Sergu-Mejor, Royal Garrison Artillery, age 56. MORGAN.—On January 17th. at Bryn Demi, Morrtstoa, Mary Morgan (mother of Mrs. Dyiodwg Dairies}, aged 89. 'lXOMA.On Saturday evenrnt;, at 19, Cradoek-st roet, Swansea, Mrs. idary Thomas, in her 62nd year. YGRATK.—On January 17th, at 12, Bernard- street, Swansea, Jane, the beloved wife of Thomas Yoiath. Aged 72. WESTER.—-On the 17th inst., at the Sailors' Home, Swansea, Catherine Winter, widow of the late Oapt. W. Winter.

IOTES AND COMMENTS On the one hand we are told that our 8e8 bkxxkade is a sham, that we are feed- ing the Germane, and that some malign spell has paralysed the arm of the Navy j so that, instead of Gerinany6 foreign sup- phea being cuffc off, they are in some vital respects more abundant than over. On the other hand we are warned tIrA if Greact Britain had barred the trade of America to neutral countries in the old hemisphere to which objection is taken, we might have bean now either at war with the United States or unable to get from her the vast supplies of munitions of war we are now getting- And not only with the United States was there protective danger, according to the class we will call the moderates its opposed to the class who would impose a blockade policy sticking at nothing. There is the case of Sweden, with whom wo cannot push ??ntrov?xrsy beyond a certain point without considering what the political and military—let alone the com nie real— results mikh? be to Russia. Between the two sets the average man can be par- d-oned for finding himself in a state of' absolute confusion. What he wants is to see the N-avy put the strangle hold upon Gemany-lie remembers a good many flamfcnoyant speeches upon this subject by Minister-and if we cannot, without detriment to other vital iii- terests, beep this strangle hold on all the time, he thinks he is entitled to be told the full bearing of the problem. When Lord Lansdowne, a meulbpr of the Gov- ernment, speaks of the desirability of tightening our grip, he wonders why on farth it is not tightened. The facts that have transpired from America are disconcerting. In the first tan months of 1913, America sent 31,000,000 I bushek of wheat to Germany and neutral countries; in the same period of 1915 she sent 50,000,00° bushels. Maize, of which I the export was 19,75(1,000 bushels, now shows 28,965,000. Flour has risen from 1,557,000 barrels to 5.100,060 barrels; bacon from 3tWO,OOO to 9?773,OWtb.; boots ¡ from <?,0(K) pairs to 4,M),Ofo pairs; and automobiles and their parts from 2,075,000 dollars to 20.090,000 donar. Even in cot- ton, which wae ro solemnly placed upon the contraband list larst spring, there is, although a decline on the grand total, an .enormous increase in the trade with thesw neutrals through whom Germany is sup- plied. The earlier figure was 53,000 bales. and the latter 1,100,000. j Therefore, shouts the loudest in the party which wants to stick at nothing, let era stop it immediately, and have a real blockade. Germany htw been try- ing to starve our people, and our Govern- ment ha v been still further raising prices by allowing these enormous sup- plies through," they argiib. The British people are willing to pay mors for their food; they are willing to accept the little loaf at the big price as part of their sacrifice in war. But is it fair to oiDk them to pay more for their bread in wrder that Germany may pay lees? But wkai is the alternative policy to that now iOÜGwed ? Apologists for the Government declare that the critica ignove the essen- tial difficulties of the blockade, which lioeg not extend to neutral countries. A newtral ship carrying goods from one neutral country to another is engaged in a legitimate trade, and it* cargo canDot lw seized unless there ia evidence that it is being coaveyed to an enemy destination. Aad as this is most difficult to prove the Cpownment entered into general agree- usevas with Dutch and Danish traders to prevent goods from reaching Germany that can in any way assist her to prolong the war. Similar agreements less general in character have been made with Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. And, so it is contended, the blockade is getting tighter every day, and the gradual process of tightening it has been brought about without raising the host of difficulties that mifht have arisen with neutrals, and perhaps have driven them into the arms of Germany. -,Pie Government is said to have private (Jf information which point to the ^rftclnsion that Germany is reuily suffer- ing great privations, and that owing pri- marily to the failure of her imports, and ssoondly to the difficulty of distributing auppü- from ??ek of labour, and the re- q?r&mtats of the Army, want and hUDr ase boing felt in Germany far more wHely than is generally realiwd. And asqjn all the revelations which have been made lately there is the fact that the Government, a short while ago, sent a very eminent man of business to the Scandinavian countries and to Holland to fo,e whether the blockade was working effectively. He was requested to note par. ticularly whether our Legations in these ooantriow were doing their work thoroughly, in supervising the agree- m?ntM, for they have right to look at all ?hook? a?d contracts withm the agree- ■ aad whether it wm many way l- n- that laree <-<?n<igT!mpn? ?f p?od? w?T" rca'-h'nK ?rmanT. He camo ha^k "with the Mport t"t t? agrema.ts were A working and that the Legations were doing t Loirwork efficiently, and that we were certainly not feeding Germany, as the phrase gees. Here, it is pointed out, was a very acute man of business who would certainly have reported in a dif- I ferent sense-it he had reason to believe the contrary. And he had quite adst-iarp eyes as, and very much better means or examining the situation from within than, I any correspondent sent out to make a case against the Government and write sensa- tional articles. In fact, the Government has been assisted in all its transactions with Danish and Dutch traders by busi- ness men in this country. The problom of freights, dealt with by Mr. Runciman in the hoilge of Commons ¡ on Wednesday evening, comes close home, in its practical effects, to every citizen. It is freight charges, and not so much food shortage, which have sent the prices of commodities bounding up. The root cause- is the normal operation of the laws of supply and demand. There is, the President of the Board of Trade pointed out, a serious shortage in the world's ton- nage compared with the world's require- ments. Out of every 100 ships trading in the United Kingdom during times of peace, only 67 are now available for or- I dinary commerce, and out of these 21 are foreign-owned. The reduction is due ic I a small measure to the losses of war, but much more to the demands of the Admir- alty on the mercantile marine and the I elimination of every Gorman and Aus- trian bottom from the world's carrying trade. Remedies, as Mr. Runciman showed, are not easy. He stated that the Govern- ment went fully into the <luesytion of com- raandeering tho whole of British tonnage in order to regulate freights, and came to the conclusion that this particular remedy would only aggravate the short- age of tonnage available for the United Kingdom and the Allies. It would, in short, make things wwrso. The policy! adopted in November and endorsed by the Cabinet was, that the whole of the British mercantile marine should h(> available for the Government and its Allies and should be withdrawn alto- gether from neutral trade. No British ship can go into foreign trade without a License, and these licenses are not now being grunted. I Meantime the shipowners are having a wonderful time. A Cardiff line reports that its profit on trading and interest on investments, etc., reaches tha sum of £ 71,392, and the directors in addition to paying a dividend of 10 per cant, as during the past few years, are giving their share- holders a bonus of 15 per cent., thus mak- ing 25 per cent, for the year. The profits, etc., of jS71,392 arf, in fact, twice ae high as the hfvt return in any previous year, ho that it will be seer, that tho company can easily meet the exees6 war profits tax and still do handsomely. More remark- able is the case instanced by the Times." Tho steamer El- moor, of 3,744 tons, built in 1910, he- longs td the Moor Line. Her original building cost may be estimated at £42,000, which, allowing for depreciation at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, would give a present value in normal circumstances of £ 33,280. She has jut been chartered. to Italians for 12 months at 30 shillings per ton deadweight per month, yielding a gross hire for 12 montha of £109,72R. R.nn- ning expenses at the rate of tf'OO per month, together with 'war insurance at the rate 01 X250 per month, would amount to SUM per month, or £13,R0ij per an- num, leaving a yield of I:95,928, or, after allowing depreciation representing .tl,f.80. a net the average profit before the war was .),OÜO pAr annum, the excels profit would 1 k* £ 89,248. Of this excess amount the Siato would lake under the excess profit taxation of ;)1) per cent., £ 44,624, leaving tho owners £ 48,024 per annum on a pre- sent estimated value of £35,280.

DEATH OF A FAMOUS WELSH LADY. News comes from America of tho decease and funeral of Mrs. Rachel Davies (Rahel o Fon), a Welsh lady who, many years ago, becunie famous in the Princi- pality and afterwards in tho United States as an evangelistic missioner. Rachal o Fon was a member of the well known Welsh family which included the great divine, the Rev. John Jones, Taly- sarn. Her son, the Hon. Joseph E. Davies, Washington, is a member of the U.S.A. Cabinet, and a cousin to Mr. J. Vanghan iklwartl:, chairman of the Swansea Munitions Court, and Dr. Lloyd Edwards. Raehel o Fon died at the residence of her distinguished son, having reached nearly 70 years of age- There was a very large assembly of friends and relatives at the funeral. The coffin was covered with a bunch of purple and white <-hrysanthemums, given by President Wilson and his daughter Margaret. The deceased lady was born at Taly- Foel, Llangeinweu; Anglesey,, in 1846. She commenced to pveach when about J7 years old, and bofore reaching the age of 20 had grown inutKmseiv j>opuJar as au evangelist, not only in Anglesey but throughout the Principality. She went over to America in 1R70, when about 21 years old. and during one of her subsequent visits to Wales preached at Swansea.

CORRESPONDENCE. I To the Editor. Sir,—In looking over your paper, the Herald of Wales," which we have sent out to us every week, I happened to notice my nephew, William Pearce, amongst a group of young local men who have joined the R,.A.M.C. As his name is omitted, I felt I should hke to write to you to ask the cause..We all feel very proud to see a photo of our own flesh and blood who are serving our King and country, but we also like to see their names published. I may state his father served his King and country up to within a few years of his death, and was a sergeant-major in the liovai Scots Fusiliers, which were stationed at Ayr, | Scotland, where my nephew was born. ¡ Of course I know you cannot publish the pedigree of all the young chaps, but I felt rather hurt at hid name not being mentioned. Besides, the other young fellows I know very well, coming from the Mumbles myself. Good luck to all the boys.—Yours, etc., Lulu Wintan. P.O. Vox 5, Kpiglits, Transvaal, South Africa. P.S.-Yotir paper is dated Saturday, November 27th, 1915.