Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

SWANSEA'S RATES. The Swansea Finance Committee met on I hursaay, Mr. Hy, Macdonnell presiding. Ilnee chartered accountants sent in ap- plications for the vacancy arising by the expiry of Mr. Roberts' time— Messrs. A. Owen John (Fisher-street), Tribe, Clarke and Owen and Co. (Wind-street), and T. Ivor Jones (Wind-street).—It was agreed to send the names to the Council. The Borough Treasurer said the district late 5d. k--o- Ire of expenditure on last year and the year before, and the wider ex- penditure was chiefly due to the lug re- duction in ban chai?M. waterworks, and small reduction on other com- mjtteœ, and reduction on light. With one exception the committees are less than last year, and the scavenging department was up, and in spite of the total Council requirements ( £ 112.190) this well com- pared with the ?H4,382 la?t year. A bal- ?ance could not always be relied upon, and it wis undesirable to brin? down the rate too far for the pleasure of seeing it P? up again. And for tLLs reason an item, contingencies," was inserted in II, H?hways estimates, which would, in effect, prove a reserve. lhu worse feature of the report was that the borough rate was up by 3d. Health i took a larger amount owing to health visiting requirements. The Parks esti- mates were up owing to war bonuses, and the Police owing to the expenditure on (0 Specials." The estimates were approved. It was decided on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee that a salary of £ 5lt he attached to the position of Mayor's secretary. This position is now held by Mr. Roderick, of the Town Clerk's Office. Mr. Tutton, in connection with the Burial Board estimate, asked if the com- mittee intended to adopt the German example! (Laughter.) Aid. Miles; We have not sunk so low as that yet!

HOME-GROWN SUGAR. An enterprise for the production of home-grown sugar, estimated to cost £ 500,0110. has now been initiated. A grant has been made by the Treasury of £ 125,000 by way of loan from the development fund towards the purchase of an estate of 5,600 acres at Kelham. near Newark, where it is proposed to grow sugar beet, and to erect a factory for its manufacture into sugar. The enterprise is to be carried 1 out by the British Sugar Beet Growers' Society (Ltd.), the chairman of which is Captain Beville Stanier. M.P.

WELSHMAN'S TALE OF WOE. A Welsh milkman, sued by a dairy com- pany at Bloouisbury County Court on Wednesday, sent a letter saying: My man died in the season. The pota- toes were diseased through the blight, I did not have' a pound of apples on the trees, and the pears wer o good. I have a delicate wife and five children under nine years of age. There is a bill of sale on my gcods, and I have 25s. weekly to keep everyone. I hope for a better sea- Oll." An order for 2s. a month was made.

POTATOES FROM SPAIN. It is understood that a certain quantity of potatoes may be available for export to the Lnirod Kingdom from Spain by l si ecial permission of the Spanish Govern- ment. In accordance with all arrange- ment made by the Ministry of Food, these will bp imported on account of the British Government, and importation on private account will be prohibited.

BUTTER COMMANDEERED. The Government sprang a surprise on the provision trade 011 Wednesday by commandeering for the first time large consignments ot butter. No less than 160.000 boxes of Australian butter, eacli containing 50lbs., have recently arriveil in British ports and the Government have taken over the lot. o J

I LATEST WAR NEWS I THURSDAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. I 11.25 a.m. I There is nothing of special interest to report. t l A GENERAL'S COMMENT. I (From the Press Association Special Correspondent.) FRANCE, Thursday. According to plan," this is the epoch of momentous events and great news upon the Western front, and one hesitates to chronicle anything of minor importaice nowadays, for the world knows we 1 ave come to the period of decisive things, and is prepared to await these rather than have the perspective blurred by a record of incidents of the sort which happen in every war and have been told over and over again in the course of this oic- which is a prelude to saying that, as there is no great happening to write <.bout on this front since my last message of yester- day, I do not propose to paraphrase the official communique. We cannot really give you a battle to J write about every day, but we are doing I our best for you," laughingly replied a distinguished general to my inquiry for news. In bygone days such a tight, lor instance, as that which centred art.uiid Lagnicourt on Sunday last 'ould formed a decisive time-mark in a cam- paign In this war it stands as a mere incident. I have thus far refrained if mv messages from saying anything fur- ther about Lens than that the Germans had set it on i'- ro intelligent anticipation seems to me to b" unnecessary where the situation is so eai tirelv in our favour, and his no greater faith in the propllAts who definitely cap tured Lens some days ago, because they are now explaining that we can take tht1 place whenever we choose. Grand strategy lias a disconcerting habit of discounting the merely obvious. The Germans are apparently very anxious to try and justify their war upon the Red Cross and the sinking of hospital I ships. Here is a passage from their wire- less of Tuesday evening:— For a fortnight German observers had I observed an extraordinary amount of traffic towards the Plas Douve Farm south-east of Mu lverg-hem, over which there was a Red Cross flag. Carts and trench railways which ran to the f;Jrm aroused suspicion. The road was shelled and during this operation a shell hit the farm which was flving the Red Cross f]g. The result was not ?rprisiag 'o anyone who knows England's method of waging war. The hospital exploded! ammunition dump had blown tip. An immense column of smoke was visible far behind the German lines as far as Ga.rdieu and Warneton. I have made enquiries, and learn that no Red Cross flag has been lfown on this farm, the nearest being at a point about 300 yanh away. Tlir exjpW,<m Ciuisgd notfhefff ii««r tTial flag

THURSDAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. I Paris, Thursday, 3 p.m. To the south and south-west of St. Quentin there has een great ac- tivity of artillery on both sides. Patrolling contests have taken place on the outskirts of the upper Forest of Courcy. We took some prisoners. I Between the Aisne and the Chemens des Dames we have continued to progress towards the north of Vally and Ostel. An attack on the Courtecon region was stopped dead by our machine- gun fire. Further east, the Germans towards 6 p.m. yesterday launched a very violent attack on the plateau of Veraclere. Mowed down by our fire, the waves of assault were compelled to fall back with heavy losses, and were unable to reach our lines. During the night there were heavy artillery actions in the sectors of Sapignul le Gouat and La Pom- pelle. I In the Champagne we followed up our usccesses in the Moronvillers I Massif. Our attacks were every- where successful. We captured the High Mount and several heights to the east, including Hill I 227. in the neighbourhood to the south of Moronvillers. In the course of last night's fighting I we captured two pore German batteries. I We have identified on the front be- 1 tween Soissonj. and Auberive twelve new German divisions. In the region of St. Mihiel the enemy attempt on the farm of Romainville failed under our fire. The enemy left prisoners in our hands. Paris, Wednesday Night (received Thursday Morning). South of St. Quentin, after a very lively bombardment, the Germans attacked our positions to the east of Gauchy. The first attempt, which was stopped dead by our fire, was followed by a second very furious attack, in the course of which small parties of the enemy succeeded in penetrating our advanced elements. Immediately counter-attacked, all the occupants were killed or made prisoners. Our line was com- pletely re-established. Between Soissons and Auberive we have vigorously pursued our action at various points north of Chevonne, in spite of the persis- tent bad weather. On the west of the front of attack the operations achieved mos bril- liant success. North of Chau- vonnes our troops captured the village of Ostel and drove the! enemy back for a distance of aj kilometre. I Northwards, Bray-en-Laonnois was also conquered, as well as the ground to the east of it as far as the vicinity of Courtecou. Under the vigorous pressure of our infantry and the murderous fire of our guns, the enemy retreated in disorder, abandoning great quan- tities of material and leaving in our hands his depots of food. One of our regiments alone took 300 prisoners belonging to seven dif- ferent regiments, and captured 19 guns, including five howitzers. South of Lafiaux our troops, covered towards the south by the divi- sional cavalry, succeeded in breaking up the enemy, and in capturing Nanteuil la Fosse. Fina,llv, on the southern bank of the Aisne, a spirited attack gave us the bridgehead organised by the enemy between Condeand Vailly, as well as the whole of the latter place. In the forest ei Yille-an-Bois an im- portant unit, surrounded by us, was compelled to lay down its arms. Thirteen hundred pris- oners and 180 maehine-euns, which were ussjf in the defence of the wood, viere thus captured. About 4.30 in the afternoon th3 Germans launched a very violent attack, with effectives amounting to two divisions, against our posi- tion between Juvincourt and the Aisne. Our barrage and machine- gun fire shattered the attack, and inflicted sanguinary losses on the enemy, who was unable to ap- proach our lines at any point. East of Courcy the Russian Brigade crowned its successes by captur- ing a fortifie,d work and taking prisoners. During the operation in the whole of this region we captured 24 heavy and field guns, Three guns of 150 millimetres in- tact, with 1,000 rounds of ammu- nition to each piece. These were turned against the enemy by our artillery. In Champagne we reduced several centres of resistance, and cap- tured enemy strong points, 20 guns (including 8 heavy pieces), and several hundred new pris- oners fell into our hands. The number of unwounded prisoners sent back to the rear since the f J d l' openiilg of £ ii^ y 5atoie exceedsJ 17,000. Seventy-five guns have been counted up to the present.

THRILLING DETAILS. I PARIS, Thursday. The French Expert Commentator writes: At certain points the offensive continues* with complete success; at others our advance is not overwhelming or decisive as yet, but !le terrain of the battlefield offers dimculties so arduous that the first results obtained, in spite of the hindrance of persistent bad weather, are important enough to satisfy us. The struggle in this sector will assuredly be hard, for the enemy had long been wait- ing for us to attack there, and had made careful preparations, but the tactics adopted by the French Command are a guarantee of the staying power of our offensive, as well as of its vigour. The day's gains may be summed up as follows: The number of prisoners, which amounted to 10,000 on the 16th, and yesterday exceeded 13,000, to-day reac hed 17,000; We also captured 75 guns, mostly (?) pieces, some of which could be imme- diately turned against tlw enemy; On the front attacked from Soissons to Auberive an important position of the German second line was won. Our operations were particularly suc- cessful on the left, between. Condeeur Aisne and Craomio, where progress was, on the contrary, less sure on the first day of the offensive. Our troops captured be- tween Conde and Vailly a very powerful position, a bridgehead established by the Germans on the Aisn<k At the same time the large township of Vailly fell in its turn. Some kilometres further north, a lively action by our infantry, operating in con- junction with cavalry, gave us the village of Nanteuil-la-Fosse. East of Laffaux, in the course of local actions last night, our troops took the village of Chavonne. They then during the day resolutely followed up their suc- cess, captured the village of Ostel, and progressed for a kilometre to the north. They also captured Bray-en-Laonnois, and e.stabliehed themselves in the vicinity oi Fourtecon. The advance in this sector reaches in places more than two kilometres in depth. The crushed enemy retired in disorder, leaving important material on the ground, including 19 guns, five of them howitzers. Our troops developed their gains east of La Ville-au-Bois, which we hold solidly. and chased the enemy from the neigh- bouring wood, where the battalions achieved a fine feat of arms by surround- ing an enemy unit, compelling the sur- render of 1,300 men, with 180 machine guns. More to the east the Germans passed to the attack. In the middle of the after- noon they made an assault on our posi- tions between Juvincourt and ■ Berry-au- Bac with two divisions, which were deci- mated under our fire- without achieving any result. Finally, north of Rheims, the Russian contingents effected a success- ful operation east of Courcy In Champagne the Germans made some violent counter-attacks against Mont Cornillct, but were unable to make us withdraw, and their attempts were very costly. In the meantime, our battalions consolidated their positions and reduced the resistance of small isolated points, while the artillery continued its work of destroying enemy organisations. The enemy communiques continue to be rather verbose. The General Staff is exerting itself to show at great length that our offensive has failed, but it takes good care to give no ts to the localisation of the front. In any case, its statement is of little consequence, for trickerv will "1- -eciiiquer villages or prevent them Trom remaining in our hands. On the British front our Allies progress with the same regularity. By the capture of Villers Guislain, and their advance east of Epeliy, the British are lec-s than eight kilometres from Le Catelat. Their progress south-east of Loos completes the f-urrounding of Lens, and they are advancing along the Seayse towards Douai.—Press Association War Special.

A WEEK'S PIRACY. Press Bureau, Wednesday -Night.-Tlle Secretary of the Admiralty makes the fol- lowing announcc-ment:- Weekly retu rn of avrivals, sailings, war losses, and unsuccessful attacks for the week ending 3 p.m., April 15th:- Arrivals and sailings of merchant ves- sels of all nationalities (over 100 tons net I at and from United Kingdom ports (ex- clusive or fishing and local craft):— Arrivals 2,379 Sailings 2,331 British merchant ves-cel s sunk by mine or submarine (1,600 tons gross or over). IS* Do (under] ,(¡OO tellS) 9 British merchant vessels un- successfully attacked by submarines 15t British fishing vessels sunk. 12** Including one sunk during the, week end-ed 18th March, one during the week ended 25th March, and two sunk during the week ended 8th April. tlncluding one attacked during the week ended April 1st and two attacked during the week ended April Sth. **Including two sunk during the wsek ended April 8th.

0 FROM THE TRENTINO. Milan, Tuesday.—The much-talked-of Austro-German olfensive in the Trentino seems to have been abandoned. Not only have all preparations been interrupted, but the Autjtnaiis are even withdrawing the troops already maseed Daily Mail."

PITWOOD AT LLANDILO. I A largoO quantity of timber and pitwocd was disjxised of at a eale in the Castle Hotel, Llandilo, on Tuesday, by Mr. W. X. Jone-s. About 253 larch, 226 elder, and a number of other trees growing on Carreg Ccnuen Home Farm, Llandilo, were sold to Mr. J. R.ees, Coopers, Bettws. for £ !20. Other lots on the same farm were bought by Mx. J. Rees, for £ 117 lOz., by the Blaenau Colliery for S35, by Mr. Howells, Lla'ndebie, for £ 80, and hy Mr. J. Lloyd, Pontybcri for .?R2 1?. Ahout 470 !nrch, Hi a"h. and other tr??s. growing on Tirywern Farm. were sold to I Mr. John Lloyd for £1:25; and about 79 oak and other treee. on I'lasbach Farm, to Mr. Davies, Llandilo Sawmills, for 9,65.

 I p P A rll ¡\ nH"Q'"  ? PAEUA?I r nOL-SE OF COMMONS. Thursday. Mr. Oouthwaite asked the Foreign Sec- retary whether his attention had been drawn to the statement of General Hieseu, former Chief of the Rumanian General Staff, that the Russian Govern- ment compelled Rumania to take un arms on behalf of the Allies last year for tne purpose of securing her defeat by the Central Powers, in order to provide a j reason for Russia making peace, and whether his Majesty's Government had 1; now ledge of the intcntio ii of the Russian Government to present an ultimatum to j Kumania and gave diplomatic -support in '1' -¿f:' Lcrd li.'Cecil, who replied, said lie bad i i,ccidrt of the interview referred to. The answer to the remainder of the ques- tion was in tlie negative. Lord R. Cecil informed Mr. Bliss that he had no official information showing that the Provisional Government in Russia was prepared to agree that the Bosphorus and the Dardanellœ be inter? nationalised. Sir John Lonsdale asked what steps were to bo taken to give effect to the threat of reprisals against Germany for torpedoing hospital ships. j Mr. Bonar Lqw said action had already lx-e11 taken, of which particulars had been made public. Mr. Butcher: Will these proceedings ba renewed if possible at other places? Mr. Bonar Law: I do not think it is d^ esirable to give information on that point. Sir Charles Hcbnouse: Has there been any recent loss of hospital ship's? Mr. Bonar Law: Yes; there has. They will be made public in due course. Mr. Bonar Law said the situation in Greec3 was now under discussion by the Allied Governments. and it would be de- sirable to have a private session for the discussion of this and other maters, and he hoped next wepk to be able to make a statement on the subject. Sir Will iam Bvles asked whether the defeat cf Von Hindenburg by the British and French on the Western Front in Faster week, with huge captures of pris- oners and guns, was regarded by the Gov- ernment as the decisive military victory for which they had been waiting to pro- pose negotiations for pcace; whether his Majesty's Ministers would reconsider their decision not .to approach peace by way of negotiation; and whether the Prime Minister would hot advise his Majesty to enter into a conference of bel- ligerent? and seek a settlement, as we had been twice invited to do by the Central Powers ? Mr. Swift Naeneill: Before that ques- tion is answered, may I ask if it will not be time enough to consider proposals ior when the Germans cease to blow up hospital ships ? (Cheers.). Mr. Bonar Law: The fhipplementary c^estion is a hotter answer than "fjcn is n th negative. Mr. Bonar Low said that the Estimates of the Air Board would be discussed on Thursd ay. Captain Bathurst said it was not at present proposed to make any stringent, restrictions on the keepers of dogs. Keepers of dogs will, however, be rp- minded that fcpding of (bgs with food fit for human consumption was not of f'e,- hiiii)?)n cor.sun]!)" on N%- ,Is not of Mr. Bonar Law said the Budget would be taken on Monday week. It was pro- posed to take the second reading of the Agricultural fill on Tuesday next.

Picture fc-a!ace, Pontyberen* WEEK COMMENCING FEB. 26th. Usual EXCELLENT SHOW of PICTURES. POPULAR PRICES: 4d., 6d., and 9d. Thursday. Doors Open at 6.45, to com- mence at 7. Saturday, Doors Open 6.34, to commence at 6.45 and 8.45. MATINEE Thursdays at 4 o'clock, Id.. 2 d., and 3d

NODION AR BYNCIAU YR WYTHNOS. (GAN "AWSTIN.") O'r Brifddinas yr wythnos hon caweom nodyn yn llongyfarch tref ac ardal Cas- tellnedd ar lwyddiant rhagorol Miss Tes-sie Thomas gyrÎ.t'r crwth yn y Queen's liall, Llundain, a theg yw i ninau uno yn y gymeradwyaetli a llongyfarch y ferch, •euane, 17 oed, a'i rhieni cerddoro.1, ar yr tu-graff ffafriol a grewyd ymhlith craff- teirniaid y newyddiadu*on Seisnig. Sylwaf, hefyd, tod Mr. John Hinds, j ■ A.S., Arglwydd-Raglaw Sir Gaerfyiddiii, wedi hod yn treulio gwyliau'r Pasg (ymhlith ei eiholwyr, ac yn anerch cyfar- fodvdd ar bwnc Gwasanaeth Cenedl- aethol. Un o'r papyrau Cymreig cyntaf i ddioddef yn uniongvrchol oddiwrth brin- der papyr gwyn ydyw Celt Llundain." Y mae ci gyhoeddwyr wedi penderfynu ei wneyd yn gvhoeddiad migol, am dymor y rhyfeh gan addaw dychwelyd at y tfurf arferol nior gynted ag y bydd modd. Rhiiyn llawn mor bigog ag arfer, a dweyd y lleiaf am dano, ydyw yr claf tam y fpresenol) a ddaeth i'm Haw rai dyddiau /yn ol. Diddorol iawn, er hyny, ydyw erthygl Mr. T. i'. Lewis ar Richard Roberts, Manchester," dyfcisydd rhai o'i- peirianau gwau ydynt wedi ehwyldroi, ei- gwell, weithfaoedd brethyn Manceinion. D.ywedir fod Roberts, fel llawer gAvr tt-byg. wedi gweled tlod; cyn diwedd ei .oes, ac er fod cyfoetJwgioll y dref pan ddeallasant hyny, wedi casglu swm dda o arian iddo, bu farw cyn i'r rliodd gael ei throsglwyddo iddo. Prin y mae Fglwysi Rhyddion Cylch Abertawe wedi llwyddo i gychwyn eu mudiad pwysig gyda Chyiiideithas y Cymro Bach cyn tod League arall i noddi a defuyddio yr iaith Gyniraeg ymhlitli ieucnctyd ein gwlad yn cael ei thraed odditani. Syr Owain M. Edwards, mae'n debyg, ydyw tad bedy.id, fel tasa," y gymdeithas newydd gencdl- flethol hon. Cadwed Abertawe yn ti bhen ac ar y blaen. Y mae erthygl amsero l Mr. Rhys Phillips, yn y Library World, wedi cael ei hail-argraffu, ac o ganlyniad ) n "OThaeddadwy i rai nad ydynt yn cael y fraint ° weled cyhoeddiad y byd llyfr- gellol. Gwyddom ui yn Abertawe ryw- betli am olygiadau Mr. Phillips ar bwnc Tnawr a phwysig llyfr-fiychau'r ysgolion dvddiol, a chydnabvddir tod ei tefyllfa, ei broiiad, a'i aiddgarwcli yn ei wneyd yn awdurdod ar bwnc o'r fp-iii. Mewn adolygiad pwrpasol a roddir yn y Welsh Outlook," gelwir syiw at debyg- olrwydd cri Seisnigeiddwyr y v.lad hon i let' y Germaniaid-" Deutschland uber Alles "oiid mai yr "iaith tain" ydyw gau-dduwies y bob] uniaith ydynt am godi carreg-bedd Seisiiig ar y man He carent, pe medrent, gladdu'r Gyniraeg. Betli feddylia gvryr arfog y cenedlocdd bych- tin" am eiriau Cr^mb, » jfyflwjum* .«»<»«.J yMb dyledus batch, i rai Cymry, f81 pwnc dwytj how one could describe in a sentence the general aim of English Imperialism din- ing the last two centuries and a half, I should ahswer, to give all men within its bounds an English mind; to give to all who come within its sway the power to took at the tilings of man's life-at the past, at the future-from the standpoint of Englishmen." Nid wyi am amcanu unrbyw fath o gvfieithiad o'r Ildwd. gan ty mod yn teimlo Illai yu nootli Ivmyn," fel yr ysgril'enwyd v nwl-bri gan y Sais ttrocn- uchel-tiri o ajiostolion y gyfundrefn Brwtsiaidd yn Lloegr—y dylai y difyniad gael yniddaiigos. 1 gyhoeddiad Gadig, o'r Alban, y niac i ni dalu diolch am weled yr oi;ilUp] i-hyfedd hwn o fym- pwy pelt cliwyddedig y Pan-Anglo-Saxon Ond yr wyt' yn rhoddi hyn o esboniad, am y rheswm fy mod wedi derbyn L llythyr, yr wytlmo? lion, o belldcr ael bryn uchel yn yr iudia, yn dannod, yn ddiprifol. i mi iy mod weithiau yn beio ereill am eu Ixnl yn m ixio'r Seisnig (ys dywedai Ceiriog) ac ar yr un pryd yji euog o I' un annhrefn. Cofia rhai i mi gyfeirio, rai misoedd yn ol, at y ffaith fod fy nai, L'rivate J. M. Rees, yn ('ynlyg cyfi'eil'ian meddygul yn ysbytty milwrol yn ardal Deecan, a than fy mud, yn fy yin^uis i wneyd popetli' yn ddealladwy—fel y medro'r sawl a redo, ddarllen — wedi defnyddio y gair chemist "—a'i ildesgritio fel gwr icuanc i profiadol yn ei swydd—dantona ataf yn awr i ofyn paham na fua,wn .) n dweyd mewn Cymraeg pur llla i fferyllydd oedd. Pan fo "lief o Macedonia" yn dyfod i'u clustiau, beeligyn o Abertawe yn ysgrifejiu atom o wlad Canaan, a dar- llenwyr y golofll yn swn a baldordd teud Indiaidd yn ein hadgofio am liwysigrwydd ffyddkjndeb i Gyniraeg, rhaid hod yn afalus i eslionio pan fo'r nodion yn cynwys amryw linellau fel y ùifyniad uchod. Gofyna tin o'm goliebwyr i mi ym mha le y Diae yr Ystumllwynarth yr wd wedi bod yn cyfeirio ato yn ddiweddar, a'r itebiad yw mai dyna (meddai fy nghyf- lill, y Cyiigliorwr Bell) ydoedd hen cnw f Mumbles— pan oerld Adda'n grwt." irchydig yn nes ymlaen yn lianes y byd 7 daeth yr enw rhyfedd presenol i ddef- lydd mor gytfredinol rei nad oes nemawr aeb yn gwyhod am enw arall ar beutref iiyfryd ac iachus trigolion glan y mor, rmhlith pa rai yr wyf finau (fel un o jysgotwyr glan mor (Jalilea gynt) yn trig- anu, Ond dywed Mr. Morgan llopkin vrthyf fod g-nnddo cf brofion ysgriiencdig dull a'r medd y torfynyglwyd teitl lesgrifiol y pcntrcf o'r gwreiddiol, y tfynydd Moel." i'r Mumbles." O'r mor, noel yr olwg fvddai'r bryniau a gan- yddid, a diau ma i'r pyegotwyr a'r mor- vvr a ddyfeisiodd yr enw nêwydd-ym nhell ar ol amser Adda—a'r Mynydd Hoel v jralwent y rhan hon or wlad. Daeth i'r ardal bobl na alleiit ddweyd yn rroyw Y Mynydd Moel," a dywedent 'Y Mammel," a clian fod mwy nag un HTn yn yr ardal, aethant yn The iammels," ac wedi hyny yn The tumbles." y(lyw'r Can vn 01 y dvdd ydyw'r penawd ithaf priodol a rodda t'y nghyfaill, ^IJ. G. D- i'r penillion difyr canlynol: Mae genyf bal a wliilber, Brynais oddiar dydd Iau; 'Rol cael eto ddarn o dir Mi weithiaf yn ddi-drai. Yn fuan mi brioda Bhyw ria.n deg a glan; Cfcdwn gloron. bresycli, maip, A chasglwn goed i'r tan. COdWD hefyd foclnn bach Neu ddau os cawn ni le; Yfwn gawl o ddydd i ddydd— "Rhy brid fydd yfed te. Penderfynu 'rwyf yn wir I wneud fy Little Bit "— Ond i bawb i wheud 'run peth Ca Kaisar William ffit. Ellweh cluvi fy helpu, syr, I gael plot bach o dir? (Fa wntt innau fiindo gwraig) A hyn heb fod yn hir. Os daw balian i iii'n dau, Caifl shar o gawl ei fam, Rhannaf finnai ngliawl ag ef Cyn caiff ef oddef cam. Wei, dyma fydd Paradwys, Hen fvwyd Cyrnru Fu; Pob un fochyn ba-cli a'i ardd, i A chadw bwyd yn ty. Am, dear me, dvma'r ffordd I fyw a bod yn iacli, Gwraig a j)!ilant a gardd yn li;:v. n A chadw morbyn bach. Yll ngliymanfa ganu Methodistiaid Cal- finaidd Sciwen am eleni, gynlialiwyd yn Gorplnvysfa, caed darn nodedig o effeith- iol ar don newydd o waith y eerddor ieuanc galluog. Mr. Matthew W. Davies, B.A., Bac.!tfu5.. Castellnedd, sydd yn awr yn y fyddin. Yn ystod cyfarfod y pryd- nawn 'j-oedd yn bresenol yn ei khaki," a chafndd arwain y gynulleidfa i ganu ei don. Yr (x-dd y dyianwad yn ii- di Ei henw vir Dulais," a chyfansoddodd hi i emyn tarawiadol o waicli Mr. J. Gethin (loan lJtilai,). Maent vn deilwng o k yn y golofn hon:— Plyg fi'r awrhon, Iesu tirion, Plyg fi nis ty nghael i lawr, Dyma vdy"; cri fy nghalon, A iy ngwcddi daer yn awr; Hyn ddymunaf, Llanw ti Ddwyfol ras. Plyg fi bellac'h, 0! rwy'11 euog, Tyn hon gelyn dan fy nliraed, Gad im' ddyicd 'nawr yn ffyddiog A ta t Ti er mwyn Dy waed; Boddlon fyddaf, Cheisiai' ddim ond hyny mwy. Plyg fi'n awr cyn daw y gelyn Gyd a'i demtasiynau ffol, I fv rhwydo gtm ei ddilyn Nes yn llvyr fyn'd ar ei ol; Nid oes gallu Ond Dy ras a'm deil i'r lan. Plvg fl, Ic-ii, nes y teimlaf oes neb all w ran daw ngliri, Ond Tydi. fu i'arw droswyf Er rhoi lawn ar Calfari; Os gwnei Dvnnv. Gwnaf Dy ganmol fyth am hyn.

TURNING POINT OF WAR. I n .L- -1 11 It appreciation 01 me t'nrry ot the United States into the war for the freedom of the world was expressed in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. Mr. lkn lr Law: The accession of America is the turning point in the war. The long night of sorrow and anguish is drawing to a close. Mr. Asquith: America's action is one of the most disinterested acts in history. Fortified by her comradeship we here re- new our fealty and devotion Lord Curzon: President Wilson's speech summoning his people to arms is a trumpet-call which will live through the ages and be accounted one of the historic declarations of mankind. Iwj-

LA FAYET TAKEN. PARIS, Thursday. A special messige from the front to the "Echo do I'a.-iq c-ays:-Fi,-hting con- tinues with great ssveritv on both British and French lines around St. Quentin. The fortified village of Fayet has been carried at the point of the bay on t. Th, Boscjies- matte -a resist&iiee and suffered enormous losses. The onslaught of the assailants was marvellous. They took 400 prisoners.—Exchange Special. Note.—Fayet is About H miles north- west of St. Quentin.

WITHDRAWING. Pefrograd, Wednesday.—News has been received from Jassy that the Germans are burning Braila and Focsani. In Rumaniar military circles the fact is considered as symptomatic of an im- mediate German withdrawal.—Renter. Braila is the grain port on the Danube, about 12 miles south of Galatz.. It had a population of about 00,000. North of Braila Mackensen's advance was checked, anal the Russiano recove:ed some ground alongi the railway. Focsany, an industrial town of 25,000 population, is in the lutiia district, and was the last place of importance west of the Sereth to fall into the enemy's hands.

TANKS IN BATTLE. I We are still hearing many stoiies about the tanks (says Mr. Percival Gibbons, In the Daily Express." The German ex- perts spent the winter devising ways to combat their destructiveness, and thj battle of Arras gave them the first oppor- tunity of testing rheso inventions. It may be fairly said that the tank is still un- conquered by the eneany's ingenuity. In some places the German infantry managed to get to grips with the tanks, which roamed around destroying small redoubts, but could not prevent these mobile batteries completing their work. So many ot them were helping to clear the battlefield of concealed pockets of Ger- mans that it was inevitable that some should suffer from chance explosions. Even when they were put out of action the tanks' usefulness was not wholly at an end. LANDSHIP ON FIRE. I have heard of one crew which con- tinued to kill Germans long after their craft was tilled with flames. The com- mander and one man opened the steel door and took their Lewis gun into tlie opea. A detachment or twenty-one Bava- rians who advanced and tried to mak.' them prisoners werb all killed. The officer end his companion afterwards made their way back unhurt. Another tank toured the Scarpe marshes for nearly two days, and, having exhausted all its ammunition in this deadly mission, amused itself by bursting in little concreted shelters, and then came contentedly home again. A group of tanks arrived in one enemy-held village nearly two hours before the infantry, destroyed all the machine-gun emplace- ments, killed many of the enemy, and then fat down in the High-street until the supporting battalions came up.

BASE AND HYPOCRITICAL. PETROGRAD. Wednesday, received Thursday). The Press considers the semi-oiffcial Notes by Germany and Austria-Hungary, concerning the possibility of conciliating their war aims with thofie of Russia, as a base, treacherous and hyprocritical man- oeuvre.

I WM SUMMARY IV H !¥ 1i*i n. FRIDAY. The British attacked last night in the region between St. Quentin and Cain- brai, capturing enemy positions on a wide front. A successful ra d has also been carried I out eouth-weet of Loos. A Washington report says it is known there that not only Bulgaria but also Austro-IIungary is making efforts for peace. There is, the message says, an apparent anxiety to negotiate direct with the Entente, and not through the medium of Germany. The French have captured several •.of trenches between the Somu-e and tv road from La Fere to St. Quentin. Pri-j soners and numerous machine-guns wire brought back. SATURDAY. bacK. The British last night captured Feyet, ■ which is one mile from St. Quentin,! after a sharp fight. Our pressure have compelled the enemy to yield futher ground north of the Seatpe., We have seized V:my station and other: important German positions, and our I captures include four 8-in. howitzers. An enemy raid attempted during the night | east of Looc was driven off- j Bolivia has given the German Minister his passports, together with a Note de- claring the severance of diplomatic re- lations. r.iaHDAY. The British have taken the little mining town of Lievin, near Lens, and are pressing the latter city, the fall of which is imminent. The booty taken at Lievin is very con- siderable, and includes a long-range gun, much ammunition, tram lines and trucks, and large quantities of engineer- ing and»ot'uer tools. A tierce German attack on our newly- won front was beaten off, the enemy I leaving 1,500 dead on the held. President Wilson has issued an eloquent appeal to the American people to enter heart and soul into the great conflict. He emphasises the need for keeping the,! Allies supplied with food, and the urgency of the sl?pbuilding programme. Col. Roosevelt reiterates his plea for the almost immediate dispatch of a volun- teer expeditionary force to France. 1 TUESDAY. A great assault has been begun by the French on a 25 mile front. The first hours brought over 10,000 prisoners and great quantities of material. UnoHiciallY it i6 stated that the British are about to enter Lens." Sir Douglas Haig to-day reports further progress despite bad weather. As a reprisal for the sinking of hospital ships. Allied air squadrons have bombed the German town of Freiburg. The Germans have raised a great howl of ejecration at this action. Fresh progress in Mesopotamia ist oS}c-iirf'y"ie;x)/te<i'to-day^ J ""j' The Food Controller has taken over all stocks of barley except kiln-dried, and fixed maximum grain prices. Russia is to have an early election of its new governing body, on the principle of universal suffrage. WEDNESDAY. Further progress has been made by the British, who this morning captured the village of Fillers Guislain, together with some prisoners. Our position has also been improved in the neighbourhood of Lagnicourt. Wvting of the French offensive which /?gan yesterday, the Expert Commen- tator says the foe was overwhelmed, )tire clivisic:iis being swallowed up. THURSDAY. /jtfeording to to-day's British Official from Franca there is nothing of special in- terest tQ report. Further }rogr(>lS.s has been made by the Frenc'; whose captures now number 751 guns And ovei 17,000 men. With the It,000 prisoners taken by the British, the total in about ten days is now 31,000. La Fayet, about g miles vi^'h-west of St. Quentin, has, according .'&? a Paris mes- sage received this iii *jiig, been cap- tured by the Allies. Von Bissing, the Governor-General of Belgium, is reported to have died last night.

FAREWELL, CRUMPETS. The Food Controller on Wednesday issued an order dealing with cakes and pastries. The making of any light pastries, muffins, crumpets, tea-cakes, and other light articles of food is entirdy I prohibited. Cakes, buns, 6cones, and bis- cuits, which alone are permitted, must conform to certain requirements as to the amount of sugar and of wheaivn flour which may be used. The percentage of sugar allowed is in the case of cakes and biscuits 15 pM cent., in the case of buns 10 per cent.: in the case of scones no sugar may be used. With respect to the WI?,?,-a-t:. flour, not more than 30 per cent. is al- lowed to be used in cakes and 50 per cent. in buns and scones. Under the order all teashops are I rationed in respect of breadstuff's and cakes.

POTATOES FOR GERMANS. Mr. Stanton is asking the Government why, when 200 German prisoners were received dt a place in South Wales, all the local potato stocks were comman- deered for the use of German prisoners, and were not the people whose 6ons were fighting entitled to receive greater con- sideration than German prisoners. (,. r In Parliament on April 4tb, Sir T. Courtenay Warner raised the question of potato rations supplied to German pris- oners, stating that while London and otiier towns had to go without, the exist- ing regulation.^ allowed potatoes to he supplied German prisoners. Mr. Macplier- son, replying for the War Office, said it had been decided to limit the potato ration to four ounces a day.

A LIVE STOCK CENSUS. Two important orders with regard to the taking of a census of mules and horses and of cattle, sheep, pigs, and agricultural implements, were issued on Wednesday night by "T letit.-General Sir John Cowans, Quartermaster-General to the Forces, in a special supplement to the London Gazettt." Hvcvy person who owns a horse or mule in Great Britain on April 21 is directed to furnish certain information with regard to it on a form which, if not delivered to him, mu^t be obtained at a police station. Forms are to be returned by May 1 at the latest. The form of re- turn includes a section in which the owner is required to set out the weekly amount of grain used when horses are not at grass, and it is stated that ponies and cobs under 15 hands, riding horses and hunters over 15 hands, and carriage and trap horses wiH be assumed to be used for pleasure purposes unles-s it is otherwise stated. The giving of false in- fcrmation will be an offence. The return of cattle and of implements in the possession 0f their owners on April 21 is also to be made by May 1, and any person failing to comply with the order, or attempting to evade it by destroying, removing, or secreting any animals or goods to which it relates, may be pro- ceeded against for an offence against thr Defence of the Realm Regulations.

VON BiSSsNG DEAD. AMSTERDAM, Thursday. According to a Brussels telegram. Gen. Von Bissing, Governor-General of Bel- gium, died yesterday evening at half-past øii:11t.-Heuter. The German papers state that Von Biss- ing died yesterday in Brussels through overwork. His death has caused considerable satis- faction in Brusseks and in the whole of Belgium, where his government will al- ways be connected with a great number of unforgettable crimes The Belgian papers in Brussels are nr)t allowed to make any comment regarding Von Bissing's dfath.

HOME RULE. A London correspondent makes th, -iideenient tliit t.ic (-il)in,?t has settled the general principles of a schcuTe con- ferring immediate Home Bule on the parte of Ireland which desire i t. Thp main outline of the proposals wai agreed to unanimously by the Cabinet bev.ire Mr. Lloyi George left London '01 his tour on the Continent. I am al so able to say, odds the corres- pondent, that Mr. Lloyd Geoi-ge will him- self outline the sch%<ne in the House c4 Commons on Thursday of next week.

S,1,030 GIFT TO HOSPITAL. The Swansea Hospital has been pft- (5 per cent.) new War Loan by Mr. and Mrs. C. Pond, Bloom- field House, Mon.. in affectionate remem- brance of her aunt, the late Jeannette Phillips. St. David's Villa. Uplands, Swansea, to endow a cot to be named the Jeanette Phillips oot t