Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

Picture Palace, Porttyberem. NEXT WEEK. NEXT WEEK..| Usual EXCELLENT SHOW of PICTUREII. < POPULAR PRICES: 4d., 6d., an < ilt Thursday, Doors Open at 6.45, to eom- icence at 7. Saturday, Daors Open 6.39, d < to oommence at 6.45 and S.io. MATINEl Thursdays at 4 o'clock. Id., 2d., and 3d. r

NODION AR BYNCIAU YR II WfTHNOS- ——'— o I (CAN AWSTIN.") I Yn Eisteddfod Peniel, Caerbryn, yn yr Hydref, un o'r teetynau barddonol ydoedd dfcu benili i'r Hydref ei hun. Dyma tel y canodd Pelagius," a gwyr y darllenydd i arbyn hyn pwy ydyw hwnw:— Gorffwysed y gloywon grymanau Yr haf a ddirwynodd i ben, A llawnian a yd yw'r ydlannau, Ac addfed yw ffrwythau y pren; Fel yna croeeawir yr Hydref Gan gynyrch y flwyddyn mewn llaw, Icha dyn nac anifail ddim dioddef Hyd hydref y flwyddyn a ddaw. Y defaid ddaw lawr < "r mynyddoedd A'r gwartheg j't "(: p.:I" yr i. Fel pe am gyd-ddiolch i'r Nefoedd Am ddarpar eu lluniaeth mor llwyr; Daw'r Hydref a chyflog i'r diwyd, Mae'n dymor bendithion diri; Mi'th folaf di Hydref, obiegid Gogoniant y flwyddyn wyt ti. Weie gyfansoddiad arall a droolliwyd dan yr un to yn ardal y Bettws, er mai Perllanydd oedd ac yw y fffFygfnw dan ba ildy derbyniwyd ef gan Irlwyn," y beirniad.— Derbynia'r Hydref levil)or lawn 0 yd a grawn y meusydd, I A choed y berllan hefyd rydd Eu ffrwythydd yn gawodydd; Dyb. ac anifail sydd yn dod I gysgod dros y gaeaf, A'r biodau gudd rhag gwynt a gwlaw Nes daw y gwanwyn nesaf. Ben dymor talu diolch yv I Arglwydd Dduw rhagluniaeth, A'r cyriog-ddynkm dynn o'i stor Ben tymor eu gwasanaeth; I"r Hydref canaf firuiau don Am roddion dirifedi, Ooroni'r wyt hardd dymor gwyn Y flwyddyn a'th ddaioni. "yn ymadael a'r beirdd am yr wythnos, adgofir fi fod ar fy mwrdd, yn aros am oleuni dvdd un arall o englynion y cyfaill baxddol tragwyddol, Efell Trefor, Coedcae, Treforis. Ei destyn y tro hwn yw Arglwydd Rhondda." Pe bai y gwrthrych, fel beirddion y byd, yn byw, ys dywedai Ceiriog rhwng daiar y doeth a gwlad hud, ar obaith., anrhydedd, a ehlod," yn Ue bod yn wr gwthio a xoy,ned," dylai y canlynol ei eymbylu i fwy o ymdrech droa ei genedl nag erioed o'r blaen:— Ilir wynddydd i Arglwydd RhQndda- Ac anwyl fab Gwalia; [enwog, Llawen ei ddull-llywia.'ll dda, Heddyehol y swydd ucha. Son am Arglwydd Rhondda, sylwaf ei fod yn awr yn cynyg auigau ac aredig tir perthynol i gwmni Glofa Gwgun-cae- Garwen, jh Tairgwaith, er mwyn cyn- yddu cynyrch bwyd gerddi yr ardal. Dywedir, hefyd, fod nifer or gweithwyi j yn penderfynu cymeryd mantais ar y cynyg. Yn nghyfarfod misol cynxychiolwyr gweithwyr y Glo Carreg dydd Sadwrn, cwynid fod annhwch yn bresenol, ac mai am y rheswm fod gormod o ffafr yn cael ddangoe i Gaerdydd a Chasnewydd Barri, y mae glowyr y Gorilewinbarth yn dioddef diffyg gwaith. Ni ddylid gor- fod cyfyngn glowyr unrhyw ddosbarth i bedwar diwmod yr wvthnos fol y gwneir yn awr gyda gwyr y Gk> Carreg, tra mae digon o alw am lo i gadw pob gwaith a phob gweithiwr yn myned bob dydd mown llawn hwyl. Nid fy ngorchwyl i ydyw cywiro cam haeriadau a wneir mown Dewyddiaclurau ercdll, ond annodd peidio rhoi her i'r gwr a ddywedai dydd Sadwrn yn Abertawe, mai anaml yw y glowyr yn jwsbarth y Glo Carreg nad ydynt r dyddian hyn yn enill chwe' pliunt yr wythnosl Yr uxL diwruod, yr oedd frvybodaeth wyddogol r v.i v'r..iru n ngyfarfod y glowyr mai dim ond pedwar diwrnod yr wythnos yw cyfartaledd nilljon y dosbarth, ac fod canjioedd o weithwyr yn cael eu taflu allan o waith gan rai o berchenogion glofeydd! Ar bwnc y caledi a deimlir, da oedd cael ar ddeall dvdd Sadwrn fod Mr. J. D. Morgan a dau weithiwr o IMoebarth y Glo Carreg i ofyn am gael cyfle i ddadleu yr aohos o fiaen y pwyllgor sydd yn rheol- eiddio allforiadaa gl<) dros y Uywodrarth. Ac ar bwnc y rhybuddion i chwynnu allan wfflthwyr o'r glofeydd, fod caw j gae] ei wnoyd at Gynghor y Mynwyr yn Nghaer- dydd ajm rai miloedd o bunau yn ychwan- egol i'r hyn geir o weddillion y Prince of Wales Fund i gynorthwyo teuluocdd ydynt dan y fath waegfa. Gwyr pawb y gwna Mr. J. D. Morgan a Mr. J. Tamps 6U goreu yn y ddau gyfeiriad, y mae y sefyllfa yn un bwysig. Nid rliyfedd fod Mr. Morgan yn cyfeirio gyda gofid at oheb- iaethau dydd Sadwrn. diweddaf fel adroddiad du." Y cyfarfod hwn, er hyny. ydoedd cwrdd fclynyddol y dosbarth. Etholwyd Mr. Thomas Davief,, Yetradgynlais, yn gadeir- ydd, A Mr. Dd. Daniel DaNi, Cyr) p,,or-r Sirol Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, yn is-gadeirydd. Wrth daflu cipolwg ar faterion glofaol do6barthiadau eraill, gwelaf fod y gwyn am ddiffyg llongau, ac o ganlyniad ddiffyg ffwaith yn y glofeydd, wedi bod dan sylw yn aosbarth Dyffryn Afon. Felly redaWYd y mater yn Haw y goruchwyliwr, Mr. William Jenkins. Ac yn olaf, wrth nodi fod Mr. John Hinds, A.S., and Mrs. Hinds, wedi rhoddi eu gwledd flynyddol i blant Cymru Lhin- ckin dydd Sadwrn. dylwn ddweyd fod die- gwyliad mawr ymhlith elfen Gymreig Sir Gaerfyrddin am benodiad Mr. John Hiuda yn Lord Lieutenant (dealla pawb yr 8ft. Saeeoneg), yn olynol i'r diweddar Itr. J. Gwynne Hughes, Tregyb. Ac yn olaf oil, wele englynion i U Tino oidiwrth Brialk>g," Treforie:— | Pe gallwn taniwn ar wir Ma,e'n hen walch digtu'o, Encyd, rhyw encyd i brancio, I bwyut y fall a bant a fo. T twyllwr, un brwnt hollol,—direidue Y dyw-"r adyn beiddiol; Gocaedd ei wagedd ffugioJ- Ddow i lu'n aflwydd yn Ql. Dedi uwch ad dewed ion,—mel eiriau Maluriol yr cetron, 0 wagodd, mwy na digon-argoelion A yrr gywilydd a titori calon. rMad yw'n gwelcd yn gvrylio,—o hyd Hen walch yn pardduo; I Eiye am gyfleu i daro, B fydd hyn wrth ei fodd 0.

= I Hayearly annicersary services were I beld It MozSaih C.M. Chapel, Loughor, on Bsndar and Monday 1.aet. The Rev. Lod- wig Leria, of Crug Glae Chapel, Swansea Oate 0: LivetTool), preached to large oon- frBg»tj»ns, and the nervaces wane j. every pa? a ibib—.

LATEST WAR NEWS .————— ————— THURSDAY'S FRENCH COMMUNIQUE The night was calm on the whole front. During the evening of yesterday, on the heights of the Meuse, after three hours of intense bombard- ment-, the enemy launched in the Bois de Chevaliers a series of re- connaisances, which were re- pulsed with loss by our machine- gun and artillery fire. Paris, Thursday.—The newspapers see in the re-appearance of the ivumanian communiques, after a period of silence, a good omen, and consider the general situ- ation appears to be considerably changed to the advantage of the L'.Biaaniane. Jassey, Tuesdby.-According to latest communique, the enemy offensive has slackened greatly on the whole front, his attacKs being rarer and less furious. BRITISH OFFICIAL. Wednesday, 10.10 p.m.-Thie morning, after heavy preliminary bombardment, we occupied a line of enemy posts south of i>eaucourt-sur-Ancre. The whole of our objectives were gained on a front of some 600 yards with lew casualties. The position gained considerably im- proves our observations in this area. This afternoon an enemy counter-attack was broken up, with heavy losses, by our artillery barrage Consolidation of the new positions is proceeding Important raiding operations were car- ried out by us with oomplete success jes- terday and to-day in the neignioam >od of Lens. Yesterday in the late afternoon the German positions south of Cote Caloune (west of Lens) were entered under cover of a heavy bombardment. Our troops reached the enemy's support ,.) 6. bombed and destroyed his dug-outs, end inflictc many casualties on the eiis my garrison. Our own losses were small. A mine was successfully blown up fcy us in connection with this operation. This morning another very successful daylight raid was carried out by Cana- dian troops north-east of Cote Cakrnne. The attacking parties entered the enemy's trenches on a front of 700 vards, and penetrated to a depth of 300 yards f6 far as his eeoond line. Here, aleo, hear were inflicted on the enemy, "n(! all his dug-outs were completely wreciced. One officer, with 99 other ranso, two machine-guns, and a trench mortaT were captured by ue. Our artillery and machine-guns co-operated very ?ffecti\-ely with our infantry, and our tafu;tltie- were again slight. Artillery activity on both sides ba* con- tinued at various places along our frr nt.

I WAR SUMMARY FRIDAY. The test of the Allie6 reply to the United States Peace Note which was published overnight, leaves no doubt as to our attitude. In a nutshell it demands the reorganisation of Europe. Hunger is rampant in Hungary, where meat is fetching Is. 5d. per pound., There is no milk for the babies. According to a Geneva telegram, the Ger- i mans are prepared to evacuate Belgium and the occupied French territory, but they want Belgian Congo. The British have swept forward near Beaumont Hamel, and have gained 1,300 yards of trenches. It is officially stated that the Greek Gov- enunent has detinitely accepted the Allies' ultimatum. SATURDAY. It is now stated officially that an Italian battleship struck two mines and sank more tuiUi a month ago. jNearly 7iO iives were lost. The Rumanians have scored a signal triumph, the enemy being thrown back and thtir occupied trenches. A proclamation has been addressed to the German people with reference to the Allied peace terms. It is couched in wrathful language, emphasis being laid upon the aim to crush Germany. j Over S1M,UOO,(MM was subscribed to the new British War Loan on the first day. At the head of the list was an invest- ment by the Prudential Insurance Co. of £ 20,000,000. It is understood that the Allies are not satisfied with the Greek reply, to their ultimatum. There is a tendency re- vealed to play for time." MONDAY. A letter purporting to 'have been written by the Kaiser in October aets forth his declaration that he has the courage to free the world. It preceded his peace move. Two U-boats have been captured by the I Italians, and a third has been captured I by Dutch warships in territorial waters, I Much booty has been captured by the Russians in the Iiiga offensive. Operations something less than aD offensive and rather more than ,a raid j have been carried out by the British on the Ancre. The enemy is being cease- lessly harassed. Two bombers have gained the V.C. One killed ten Germans: the other placed his foot on a bbmb that failed to clear the parapet. Ho lost his foot, but saved his comrades. TUESDAY. A Rome message gives the significant news that Falkenhayn is in Greece. whence he was conveyed by an A us- j trian submarine. j The British have taken a Mesopotamian i j town. From the Tigris boats have been j sunk. and the right bank of the riverl is nearly clear of the enemy. A warning note, evidently inspired, ia being sounded in Germany, where the pablic are being urged not to expect the submarine campaign to starve Eng- land into submission. A Japanese cruiser, which lying in anchor in Harbour of Yokosuka, was set on tire by an explosion in its magazine. The casualties are estimated at 100. A Vienna telegram says that an Austro- Hunpaxian pasoenger steamer was sunk by an enemy submarine. The wire complains that the vessel was sank without warning! The crew of H.g.S. Cornwallis, which was mink by a submarine, have been landed at Malta. WEDNESDAY. A telegram from Sir Francis Elliot con- firms the' news that the Greek Govern- ment has accepted the demands of the Allies in their entirety. The authorities are earnestly grappling with thj problems of man-power, muni- tions and food production. Mr. Neville Chamberlain has all but completed his National Service scheme, and the en- rolment of volunteere will soon begin. Switzerland is to mobilise aa a measure of precaution. The Prime Minister and other --be- of the War Cabinet have had a aeries of important conferences with General, Nivelle and Sir Douglas Haig. THURSDAY. A troop train disaster has occurred near ,A Pari& through the breaking of some couplings. 'the train was carrying Bri- ti&h soldiers, who were returning from leave, and ten ot them were bllOO. I An Amsterdam report says that in one of the most reccnt disasters to a Zeppelin, 11 brothers were burnt to death. The Prussian Minister of Finance declares that though the blockade is being felt, nobody in Germany is starving. Mr. Balfour has seni a iuw-u message to America, setting forth the reasons why we refuse peace. Aftar heavy preliminary bombardment, the British have occupied a line all enemy poets south of Beaumont-eur- I Ancro, In a recent speech, Dr. Roesicbe, presi- dent of the German Farmer's Associa- tion, was positively blasphemous. Our dear old God," he says, has given us I' a hint."

PARKS AND CROPS. _I I Sir Alfred Mond Interviewed. Sir Alfred Mond, First Commissioner of Works, informed a (I Daily (,hrowele re- presentrotive on Tuesday th&t the extent of ground, bo be placed under the plough in Richmond Park ie 100 acres. The area of the park is 2,000 acres, but only this small fraction of it is suitable for corn growing. Another 100 acres in Bushey Park is also to be cultivated. In both cases the orop bo be grown is oats. The work will not in- volve any drain on outside labour. Before embarking on the experiment the First Commissioner took the precaution of having the land inspectf^ bv an exwrt from Rothamsted. Sir Alfred Mood's brother, Mr. ltobert .Yiond, i' .K.S., wh". is farming with great success in Kent, is giving helpful. assistance to the experi- ment. The "Pall Mall Gazette." under its new proprieb4 is making a feature of cartoons from the pencil of Mr. E. T. Reed, son of the late Sir Edward Reed, at one time Member of Parliament for Car- diff, and before that for Pembroke Boros. Monday's cartoon represents Sir Alfred Mond, H.M. First Commieaaoner of Works, ploughing np Rochmond Park.

SWANSEA'S ?500,080. I I Town Council to Subscribe £ 125,000. The Swansea Corporation contribution to the War Loan will be £ 125,000. This decision was arrived at. at a m- ing of the Council on Wednesday. The Mayor (Aid. David Davies), who presided, pointed out that the Loan was the greatest on record, and those most competent to judge felt that if it was a success it would be worth more to the country than the winamg of a great battle. The Loan Wa6 to be the last voluntary loan to be raised in Great Britain, for if the Government fell phort of money there would be a com- pulsotv loan a.t a low rafo of VTitprffit. They as a Corporation, he add, had a duty to perform, and they proposed to subscribe £ 1-25v)WW to the loan, £100,000 to be entirely new money. In addition, the Corporation Mid 218,000 of Ex- chequer Bonds, which they did not in- tend to convert. Thus they were setting a good example which others, he hoped. would emulate. The Mayor expressed the opinion that achievements of thie kind did more good to a town than anything else, and the Swansea Council effort, at all events, com- pared well with whal- had been done by other municipalities throughout the King- dom. A gentleman in the town, whose name he was not permitted to divulge, 'had also siibecribed 919,0,000 to the loan. Other contributions from Swansea townspeople were:— Messrs. J. B. Pascoe £18,000 Messm. W. W. Holmes and Co. 10,000 Messrs. J. S. Brown 12,000 ( £ 10,000 to be a conversion). Messrs. Ben. Evans and Co 5,000 Messrs. J. C. Woodii 2,000 Messrs. J. R. Down and Co. 2,000 Swansea War Savings Association 2,000 H In this liet alone," concluded the Mayor, U we have 9486,000, which, I think, is an excellent start." They proposed, the Mayor explained, to erect a huge barometer at the market to altow the townspeople each day how the response was progressing. Councillor Laugharne Morgan moved approval of the action suggested by the Mayor. Councillor Hemmings seconded, and it was carried unanimously. New York, Thursday.—Messrs. Morgan announce the flotation of a British Loan on 2-50,000,000 dollars in the form of Five- ,ind-ahalf Per Cent. Convertible, dated February 1st, 100,000,000 dollars to mature in a year, and the remainder in two years, -leutør.. To a Press Association representative Mr. Laud or said he thought he was doing the right thing; there was no better in- vestment existing in the old country.

WELSH TINPLATE. Messrs. Sim and Coventry, Lpndon and Liverpool, review WTelph tinpialm; market for 11116 in their annual report, At the commencement of the year the works became controlled establishments, when they were suffering seriously from shortage of supplier and labour, and as the year progressed these difficulties be- came more pronounced, due to the action of the Ministry of Munitions. The an- nual output, which was calculated to be only about 40 per sent, of normal, was largely taken for Government purposes, and the exports were confined to the Allied countries. With regard to exports, the makers have rNm one outlet a?r another out off, and the dislocation in trade accentuated an adverse balance of trade, th<n?h ? i? resognised that thœ is due to restrictions introduced under pressure of national prohibition in the American States as an important factor in the struggle for efficiency, and maximum output going on I in the American market. The prices were naturally affected by the condition of trade, and fluctuated from 37K. to 23s. 6d., and then to the agreed 276., at which the year closed. Exports, which were largely to Allied countries, totalled (tinplates, and black plates), 186,933 tons, which ex- ceeded 1915 by 36.453 tons. AMERfcAN COMPETITION. The most lamentable factor in this has not been the lose of trade, but the makers have seen a large transfer of trade to American makers, who have laid them- selves out to beoome keen competitors in the trade, and rivalry and, cuttiDg are obviouely before the Welsh makers after the war. The report adduces the fact of ( necessity.

A WEST WALES DIVORCE. 1 I On Wednesday, in the Divorce Division, before Mr. Justice Low, Mrs. Kathleen 1 Edith Jones petitioned for a dissolution of her marriage with her husband, Captain Jones, an ofiteer in tfce Canadian contin- gent, on the grounds of his desertion and: misoondnet. I Mr. Bayford represented the petitioner and the suit was undefended. His Lordship granted a decree nisi, with oosts. and the custody of the child of the marriage.

The total number of enlistments in I Canada since the beginning of the war is I 387,1KM. I

Count Plunkctt ie to coatcet the vacant Roscommon seat. i

TROOP TRAIN CRASH. Paris, Wednesday.—A railway accident, involving, so far as is known at the hour of telegraphing, 10 deaths ard injurit* to 30. occurred shortly after eleven o'clock this morning at Massy-Palaiseau, about 20 miles from Paris, to a special train carrying British soldiers returning from leave. So numerous were the coaches that it took two locomotives to pull them. When the train was descending an incline be- fore entering a station the couplings gave way and the train Va* divided in two. The first section conti-uufd-on its way, the driver and stoker being in ignorance of what had happened. The second half seemed to stand 6till for a moment and then, sitarting down the declivity, it gained momentum and eventually dashed into the tront hatf. Several carriages were overturned and smashed to pieces. From the numerous soldiers caught under the debris rose heartrending cries and appeals. Help was soon forthcoming, and the inhabitants of Massy-Palai&eau. aided by railway em- ployes, did their best to rescue the vic- tims. Several soldiers were killed by the col- lision. Others died later. Twenty minutes after the accident Red Cross ambulances arrived and rescue work quickly proceeded. The inj ured are be- ing attended to in the station waiting- room and in houses adjoining the station. M. Claville, Under-i>ecx-eu*xy lor War Manufactures, and M. Autran, the Pre- fect, proceeded immediately to the scene. Two ceaches suffered particularly, being nothing but a shapeless m-asff —————

GERMAN RAIDER SINKS MANY SHIPS. The Secretary of the Admiralty makes the following announcement:— For some time paot it has been assumed that the following British and French merchant vessels, which have been over- due, bad been sunk by a German raider;- British. Dramatist, Radnorshire, Minieh, Netherby Hall, Mount Tempole, King George, Georgic and Voltaire. French.—Nantes and Afeuieres. Definite information has now been re- ceived from Pernambuco ooaoerning this assumption. On the evening of January 15th the Japanese steamship, Hudcoii-Marti, ar- rived at Pernambuoa having on board the masters and 237 men of the crews of some of the lost vessels, which were sunk on various dates between December 12tli and January 12th. In addition, the steamship St. Theodore was captured, and a prize crew put on board, and the steamship J-arrodate was captured and sent away with about 400 men of the crews of the sunken veaoek, who were to be landed. No further news has yet been remiw of their whereabouts.

ELEVEN BROTHERS PERISH. Amsterdam. Wednesday.-In one of the most recent disasters to Zeppelins which visited England eleven brothers were burnt to death An aged man recently here from Ger- many told how he brought up a family of eleven sons, every one of whom Entered the air service. The eleven young men formed part of the crew of one of the destroyed Zeppelins, and when this fell in lames in England they all perished. My only consolation," said the father, is that they died for the Fathwiand."

LOCAL MAN MENTIONED. I Among the local soldiers mentioned m I dispatches is Corporal R. E. Button. Royal Engineers, whose home is at Prince if Vbift Horoe, East Dock, Swansea.

MINISTERS AT 960. 1 A meeting of the West Glamorgan Welsh Presbytery was held at Bethany, Port Talbot, on Thursday, the Moderator, the Rev. W. W. Lewis, Swansea, presid- ing over a good attendance, supported by the Rev. E. P. Hughes, secretary, Swansea. The Rev. Thomes Bo wen at-: tended as a deputation on behalf of the Central Auxiliary Fund. He explained t that the aim of the scheme was a fund wh" would yWd 440.000 a yeaar to mute grants to the weaker churches to enable j them to remunerate ministers at what they considered to be a mimimum of R40 a your for paoforal work, and SOs. for a Sunday. That there was a crying need for such a fund had been shown bv astound. icst revelations made to tM Association during the lost three years. They had appniling disclosures from different parlfz of Soe&L Wales of the wofftdly poor pay- ments made to mrnieitere that would make their hearts bleed. There were douene of ordained ministerg who had never eeen as mwih as -M all told: of excellent men had never received and M20 was & hWh 6)??. Many m-, 'afb- parim their railway fares and rmt, had no more than .æ35 *o liv-eon, and <mno as little as 15e. Several minor JiMifcteTw were afterwards, dealt wiéih, and it was decided to hold the I, next Presbytery at Rhyddmgs Chapel, Swansea.

TDEATP""O O?" ,n  MA?ES 8Ht8.?E MB. BAJ?mSLC? ?SSAE? lu L..tj; ut i? A?L??A ? An important dosputch from Mr. Bai- ;c, lut- ciuu-u IliUl' L?, States Government, in which are sot Ívrtl. the conditions lor a durable pt-ace, vat issued on Wednebtidy eveiuug. Air, Lai- four points out that while the Briton Government share President Wii,n peace ideals as elaborated in his reciuv Note, they fcei ftrougly that the dura- bility of the peace that must follow the present war must largely depend on its character, and that no stable system of international relations can be ijuiit ou loiindatioiift are essentially atill: hopelessly defective.. Mr. Balfour proceeds to point out that the main conditions which rendered pos- sible the calamities irom which th world ifc now suffering would be greatly miti- gated if the Allies secured the -manges in the map of Europe outlined in their joint Not. That was manifest, and he need not labour the point. It hag been ar- gued," he proceeds, "that tbe.,c-xpiikion of the Turks from Europe forms no proper or logical part of this general scheme, The maintenance of the Turkish Empire was during many generation regarded by statesmen of world-wide authority as es- sential to the maintenance of European peace. Why, it is asked, should the cause of peaoe be now associated with a complete reversal of this traditional policy? The answer is that circ umstances have com- pletely changed. The Turkey of Union and Progress'' is at least as barbarous and is far more aggressive than the Turkey of Sultan Abdul Hainid. In the hands of Germany it has ceased even in appearance to be a bulwark of pea<??. and is openly used as an instrument of con- quest Under German oiiieers Turkish soldiers are now fighting in land;s from which they had long beon expelled, and a Turkish Government controlled, sub- sidised, and supported by Germany had been guilty of massacres in Armenia and Syria more horrible than any re*x>rdod in the history even of. those unhappy countries. We hope that the expulsion ot Turkey from Europe will contribute as much to the cause of peace as the restora- tion of Alsace-Lorraine to France, of Italian Irredeutenta to Italy, or any other territorial changes indicated in the Allied Note. So long as Germany remains the Germany which without a shadow of jus- tiiication overran and barbarously il1- treated a country it was pledged to defend, no State can regard its rights as secured if they baV* no better protection than a solemn treaty. Belgium was not only a victim of cal- culated barbarity," proceeds Mr. Ballour. "it was an example. Neutrals were in- tended to note the outrages which aooom- panied its conquest, the reign of terror which followed on its occupation, the (le- portation of a portion of its population. the cruel oppression of the remainder and lest nations happily protected, either by. the British Fleet or by their own, from German Armies should pupposc them- selves safe from German metb. the sub- marine has within its limits assiduously iini-t-ated the barbarous praoti ceq of the sister service. The Waf Staffs of the Cen- tral Powers are well eon-tent to horrify the world, if at the same time they can terrorise it. If the Central Powers ow- i ceed it -will be to methods like these that they owe their success. How can any re- form of international relations be based on a peace thus obtained ? Such a peace wrmld represent the triumph of all the forces which make war certain and make it brutal. If existing treat ies are no more than scraps of paper, can fresh treaties help ys r If the violation of international law be crowned with WUOCPSS. will it not be in vain that tho assembled nations labour' te)- imnrove their .ood? None will profit by their rules but the criminals who breax them. It is those who keep them that wili suffer. i Though, therefore, the people of this country share to the full (he desire of the President for peace, they do not be lieve that peace can be durable if it is not based upon the success of the Allied cause. For a durable peace can hardly be expected nnlees three conditions are fulfilled. The first is that the existing causes of inter-, national unrest should be as far as pœ-4I sible removed or weakened; the second is, that the aggressive aims and the unscru- pulous methods of the Central Powers 6hould fall into disrepute among their own peoples; and the third is that behind international law, and behind all treaty aiyangements for preventing or limiting hostilities, some form of international sanction should be devised which would give pause to the hardiest aggressors. None of these conditions can be satisfied,: even imperfectly, unless peace be eecused on the general lines indicated so far as Europe iiwconeerned, in the Joint Note. Therefore, it is that this country had made. is making, and is prepared to make sacrifices of blood and treasure unparal- leled in its history. It bears theee burdens not merely that it may thus fit, ita treaty obligations, nor yet that it may i secure a barren triumph of one group of I nations over another. It bears them be- cause it firmly believes that on the success of the Allies depend the prospects of peaceful civilisation and of those inter- national reforms which the beet thinkers of the New World as of the old dare to hope may follow on the cessation of our I present calamities.

ABERAVON COUNCIL. 1 Aberavon Town Council met on Wednes- day night, the Mayor (Councillor T. S. Goslin) presiding. Dr. Hellyer (the medical officer) re- ported that 29 births and 20 deaths were registered during December. The new Land Cultivation Committee reported that they had inspected several sites suitable for allotments in Velindre, the centre of the town, and Sandtields, and are securing a number of plots for cultivation. Several applications have already been dealt with- The Council will supply sned at cost price, and Mr. Milner, formerly head gardener of the! Margam Estate. is being invited to advise allotment holders. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, it was decided to increase the war bonus to Corporation employes to 10s. a week. The Council ended in 13 minutes, which constitutes a local record for dispatch.

A Scotch clergyman, fifty-three years of age, who naturally consented to being kissed by a family of girls, was ordered, in Edinburgh Court of Sessions on Wed- nesday. to pay J6200 damages to Miss Dorothy Maclean. a war hospital nurse, for breach ei promise.

i APPEAL TO FARMERS. Series of SViestings in South- West Wales. An important meeting wa held at Thrc-o Crosses on Wc-dnesWay undov the ausv»ic»•« of the Glamorgan War Agricultural Com- mittee vWeotern Division j, und was or- ganised by Mesers. daicuce A. Webb, J" .S.I., and C. Herbert Ierkirts. the joint secretaries to the Executive v- m-wt't) which has charge oi" the ;• a w^t The aim." of the meeting: ,Wt forth in the circulars sent to a, farmers with the invitation to \11" mating. The President of the Boao; Agriculture directed to be &ci up tbrcugi. the County Cuoneih an organisation "Ül have as its object the increasing o: production of food for humau consump- tion and for the maintenance oi im 's'-oek, a,d the* Executive commenced their work the Thrv- Croats district by the meeting. Mi. 1. E. Gordon pre?i<d. and Iho Fpeakcv were Me-ssrs. H. L. Priohard, Wm. JanjO F. F. Mason, and Rev. J. C. Lloyd. The appeal by the speakers had two de- finite objects in view—the increase <■ spring sowing in 1917 and 'th? preparation of the were further apvaled to bring a larger acreage under tho plough for the culfiv: tion of wheat, oa- barley, and potatoec In this eonrioction it was pointed out tha wheat was m urgent necessity;, oats are of the utmost i mportance, and barWy i* of the greatest value for grinding, OTI 1 potatoes might be a source of porentia' wealth in the future. Forms were piveii to the farmers ,ing for particulars of who-i aoreagc had been put under these in past, Vea-T-, and. what could be ppt u^de: sueh ere- s in 1917. If the farmer" find that thfy can do no more under pre:* at condition they ars asked to state they can d •*f tho Government, rrrant assistance in labour and implements. A large nnmlx-r of filled-up forms were recdved from the farmers. The committee are satisfied th- there will be a good response to their appeal. Meetings are to -follow iu rapiv succession at KeyonVisies. Llantryfelach. Clydach, Ton tarda N't'1), Port Talbit and Pyle.

NEATH GUARDiANS. Ai- a meeting of the Neath Guardians on Wednesday, Mr. J. Thomas presiding, the suggestion of the Board of Trade that the Guardians should meet once a montn owing to the unavoidable increase of railway fares, was Dt entertained. An acknowledgment of'thc G:-Lrd's tele- gram of congratulation to the Primo Minister was received from Mr. Lloy I George's private secretary. The Clerk (Mr. Edward Powell) sr.hi he bad received a le,t-? from Fairhaven. offer: n g a splendid t"1:bt;t;itnte ior kailiM. I The Chairman: But there is nothing like leather. On thernotion of- Mr. J. Davies, a v- t-n of thanka was passed to Mr. and M' Levi James for their kindness in enter- taining the children of the Cottage Homes to tea, anfl alfiO to Mr. and Mist Studt for givhig the prizes. Supporting it. Mr. G. Harries said the entertainment provided by the childnn was magnificent, and the Superintendent and Matron must have worked exceed- ingly hard to obtain such results.

O.C.M. FOR AMMANFORD MAN The D.C.M. decoration has been won by Corpl. TlioF. Rainford, of the R.F.A., an Ammanford man, whose homo is in High-steret. lie has alffi been mentionfd in dispatches and holds throe recommen- dation cards from different officers for gallantry in the field. The first of the,o he secured at the battle of Loop, when in spite of great personal danger he volun- teered to repair a wire which had been cut. He is in charge of a number of sig- nallers. Corpl. Rainford enlisted in August, 1914, and bfe.6 seen service in France for up- wafds of eighteen months. He is well known locally, having been in business as a cycle dealer. He took interest in f«oo- cer football, and was for a time secretary of the Ammairfqrd Association Club.

C3 TRIAL SENTENCES. For conspiring to defeat the provisions of the Military Service Act and forgir.y medical history shc.ets. T.ucien Stokvis and Frederick H. Donaldson wore at the Old Bailey on Wednesday sentenced to two and Everest -T. Martin to eighreen months' hard hibonr. Th^ias H. Gautray and Frederick A. !>;1d. who both pleaded "i!ty on Wf j nesday, were given nine months in toll" second division. Mr. Justice Darling -aid he regretted li could not\°er>d Stokvis and Donaldson tr. peiM servitude. If fchf Legis lature hnd known that there were such men likely commit a crime so monstrous especially in the present time, it would have ordained much heavier punishment for that kind of "tr"r1".

GRAVE CHARTS AGAINST M.P. At the Mansion House, London, on Thursday, Mr. John George Williai* Gruban, ex-managicg director of Messrs. W. B. Haigh, Gruban and Co., Oldham, appeared toO answer a summons issues by Messrs. llaighs (Oldham), Ltd., accusing him of conspiracy with1 one Fell and other persons to falsify declarations, and there- by defraud the Commonwealth of Aus- tralia and the King in respect of preferen- tial customs duties. The caae was men- tioned on Wednesday in the High Court, when application was made concerning a pending special jury action instituted by Mr. Gruban against Mr. Handel Booth, M.P., it being alleged that Mr Booth, by false representation, had obtained from Gruban his holding in the company pre- viously known as Messrs; W. B. Haigh, Gruban and Co., Ltd., and now known as Messrs. Haigh (Oldham). Ltd. The application was allowed, and the hearing of the summons fixed for Mareb 29th.

LAND CULTIVATION AT LOUGHOR. At a special meeting 02 cue i>juguov. Parish Council, Mr. M. J. Thomas (chair-j man; spoke on the question of land cuiti- i vafcion with especial regard to the potato, question. Offers of land were reoenved frcm i P. Davies, W. Lewis. W. Williams, W. i Clement, T. Morgan, D. Hughes, Rev. H.i Roee. J. Owen and Nir. M. J. Thorna-s, with a t<?t? acreage of ? acres. The Cae-Duke j ColU?ry offered three acres for ?uitimtdon J by their employ*& j <

 •HOME FROM THE F80? H u ¡YIE F 11 ti ri i -I f i1 Reception Meetings to Lo. Heroes. Quito a large muubor OT Wesr Wai-T ool.-jiers arc at present hcn from the batle areas, a .id hearty reception meet ings have been held in the districts. SKEWEN. A4 Gorpliwysfa Chapel Ve-rry. en Wed nday evening, Mr. Jam-as pre ided over a crowded raoHiiii- to welcome hcuie n:a their iuri,il,-I. iron, the ;1"nt. l.>cpl. Tom Faulkner, Sapper E. Tre» £ i*s!ns. Pte». Daniel Thomas HoE'E>S and Dd. il!i>iiris. There was a line miscellaneous programme provided by the following:— Misses A iiie and Elsie Davies, -vii.'S May Ivy, Miss Tristam. Mr. Jelf. J ■•• JU«(.:tutioni>: Mrs. ^i> TV illiaia# utirejgroye), Ada Tosseil, iiisB Doris Davi-c*». Miss Petherick, Mr. Tout John. Vioiin dnett: Mr. Pliiiip M. Lane and Mr. Brynmor Francis. Sir. Arthur Onen was the at compares:. Presentations o:i be hah of tho Reception Corauiitcee were made by Mr. David A'crahsm, of the joint secretaries, th-" Rev. j. Evi.ng Jones and Mr. Henry reason also speak- ing. Driver Wia.*Davies (absent through death of his loorhe-). and Ptc. Wm. Jones were privately presented. TYCPOES. Lce.<pl. Wm. J. TllOm, who is home on furlough from Frarn c. was entertained at lisg-ah Schoolroom by the I'envbank Eeoeption Committee, feongs and recita- tions by local amateurs were rendered, and a substantial donation was handed to tlic- hero of the evening. He has returned to the front. FFORESTFACri. A public reception was held at Saron Chapel to Pte. David J. Williams. and Dr iver Benjamin Williams, when Mr. W. G. R. John ^Cadle SK-h-oo'), pre!Eid" Driver Williania was unable to at lead owing to a bereavement. Pie. Williams went out to cli3 western front with the Weisrh Regiment, and has pa.-iid tlirougn thrilling evperiences. witliont a scratch. His two brothers, however, have made the supr- m^ sacrifice. lie was in the terrible* fighting M&rnetz Woods. An excellent program; was gone through., the fol- lowing contributing.:—Soloist: Mr. Wm. Evans \choirmaster, St. Peter's Church). Elocutionist: Miss Hilda Hodges. Stir- ing adries^es were made by the chairman, !<ev. J. J. Lewis, and Mr. Ben Jones (ove? aeer). On behalf of ùw Exception OJ. niittee and local inhabitants, Mrs. Walter Thomas presented the heroes with suit- ably iascrilxx! Bibles. Privau Williams i-e.spwided. Rev. D. Jerkin Jones pro- posed, and Mr. Thomas Evans ((" thorns,") seconded, a rote cf thanks b> the chairman. COCKETT. A public reception to Driver D. Brayley was held at Upp^r Cockert School- ie-am, when Mr. W. 1). Wiinams preside 1. following eoiitvs nn<-d L. a good pro- gramme:—Elocut ion i»ts: David Kobert >, Rees Warren. SiAoists: IlaT.v Rees and Willie D. Williams. Accompanist: Miss Alice Williams. Mr. Thomas Harris d- livered an address. On behalf of the in- habit.ants and deception Committee Miss Jane Harry handed Driver Bray ley a suitably inscribed Bible and wallet. The hero responded. t PORT TALBOT. At a social held at St. Agnes' Mission Room. Port T-ilbot. on Tuesday night, a presentation silver cigarette, case was made > Cpl. auley Evans, a church- workc-r. now home on leave. The Vicar U. E. Jones), preside<l. aixl the pres- a was made by Mr. Morgan Cox (ch L2- warden). On Monday night Cpl. Evany was given a wclcoaae home -11,1 St. Theodore's C.E.M.S. LLANSAMT. A well attendedv meeting was held at to w,-If -)mo sick leave Ilte. Dawkine, K \.l, Cn h, haii of Lc Reception Comm.:ttet' Mia Watkins preeent^ed Ilte. Dawkiris with a Treasury note; Mr. n. Eosser handed him a Bibie. The following contributed to an excellent programmeSongs: Misses Nora Niel, Sims -in(i M-Yrg&Ti, and Mr. Wm" Morgan. Recitations: Mr. Dart Mr. Wie (Bethel), Mr. Yaughan R^V D. I'll-OLq.LLS ei-ts, Mias?6 Ivy t?r?s. M. Mime. E. Roseer. Speeches were delireied by Con ,cill,ar Morgan, Mr. D. W. Krsse.r and other*. AT. Thomas S occupied the chair, and Miss Linda Morgan accom- panied.. LLWYNBRVVY &&A L'. A crowded meeting held at LrLener# Chapel on Tuewlay evening to wcleome Pte. John T. Rees, K.A.M.C., who is on short leave after having been for some time at Liverpool Hospital recuperating, after his experiences in Fra.; oe. Before joining the colours he was employed ac the Dyffryn Works, Morrieton. He ako tilled the positions of superintendent of the Sunday School and chapel organist. He was escorted to the meeting by the lccal company of Boy Scouts, under the direction of Scoutmaster Miss Ayhrin, Brynawel. The Rev. T. C. Lewis (pastor) presided.

T.landebie, with its fine contribution of men to the forces, has now secured a Military Medallist, with bar added, in Corpl. Frank Potter, R.F.A.. who, in civil life was parcel porter at the G.W .R. sta- tion. The hero is wounded, and iies in hospital at Graylingwell. Chichestei. Writing to his parents, who reside ac Tiverto he says that a shell burst c to his side, and a piece entc,-red his "ieft leg cloee to the thigh. After an X mys ex«mi•nation at Rouen, the dot tor marked him Blighty," and bp considered him- self "having gtruck lucky." All opera- tion may have to be performed. In. a con- gratulatory letter to Corpl. Potter, his officer states that he thoroughly deserved both Military Medal and bar, and wished him a y recovery, after which he should 88k for Potter to be eer-t back to the..

BABY BORN IN NUS'.C HA1.L. An unusual incident at on" v- the largest mut^e-kalls iu Glasgow OIL Tuesday aagi»t, wdken a young of Leeds, gave birth to a eon. The wasnun was en route north to visit her husband, wounded eoldier. but nxisaod her train, f -id proceeded! t i. -entertainment in tbe neTVal. She was fKc-ompamed by a son tender yeare. The mot'iw' anri hw family were taken care of.