Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

i Heard's Stands Pro-eminent FOR FIRST-CLASS FRUIT, VEGETABLES, and CONFECTIONERY, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. HEARD'S STORES, 17, Station Road, PORT TALBOT, 67, High Street, ABERAVON, 10, Parade, NEATH, 18, Windsor Road, NEATH.

NEATH LtID DISTRICT BILL-POSTING CO. ADVERTISING CONTRACTORS. Owners of all the Principal Hoardings in NEATH and District. For Terms, etc., apply- MANAGER, 45, LONDON ROAD, NEATH.

Minor Operations and I Counter-Attacks. On the Eve of a Big Thrust. I I • Although we begin this week's war ) sfory with mere explanations of the con- tinued lull, for efforts on the part of the Germans to reconstitute their deci- mated units, and although the closing portion of the present chapter brings us to the evident opening of another attack by the enemy, there must be recorded, for the purpofie of, as far as possible, making a consecutive narrative of events, [some of the miner activities on our own ieide. We may also point out .that the result of the fighting 6ince April 25, and up to Friday's dispatches, was only a gain of a mile and a half to two miles on a front of seven miles. OF LITTLE AVAIL. I Notwithstanding his capture of Mont Kemmel, which gave him elbow room in liis preparations for new attacks, it is satisfactory to us that he had evidently been foiled in regard to his main objec- tive. He had used up five fresh divisions from general reserves, in addition to esven or eight which had been previously engaged, and thus helped us by wasting his own men. Friday's message from General Head- quarters described local fighting to our advantage-on the previous night, in the neighbourhood of Villers Brctoimeux; successful raids on our part south of Arras and east of St. Venant; and artil- lery activity on both sides during the night, between Givenchy and Forret de Nieppe, in the neighbourhood of Locre end south of Ypres. MINOR OPERATIONS ALL ROUND. I From the East we heard of steady British progress east of the Jordan, and again, on*Saturday, came from France a report of an improvement in our position ■—a slight one, 'tis true-by a successful minor surprise north-east of Hinges and 'another in the Locre sector, in which several prisoners were taken. > On Monday we were further cheered by an account of a successful minor opera- tion-you see, there is no attempt at exag- gerating events out of their true perspec- tive—between the Somme and the Ancre Rivers, west and south-west of Morlan- court. The main feature of the com- munique was the statement that our line in that locality had been advanced on a considerable front in spite of strong op- position from the enemy, whose losses were vary heavy. We there took over 150 prisoners and captured two machine-guns and a trench mortar. Next day's version of the lull only eMit with the prospects and possibilities at the coming blow, which seemed to be hnminoot., OUR NEW MINEFIELD. I We may, therefore, glance at the an- nouncement of the laying of a new mine- field, of a very extensive and elaborate character, in the North Sea, as a barrier against and a trap for German sub- marines. Taking this in con-junction with the definite figures showing the great fall in the tonnage sinkings by the submarines for the past month, the sea side of the week's story, without going into details, may be regarded as more than usually interesting and encouraging. Therefore, we may return to the indica- tions of another German push which .Wednesday's late news brought liB, and which was confirmed and commented upon during Thursday. Writing on Wed- nesday, Mr. Philip Gibbs gives a graphic account of the situation. He says:— I GRAPHIC TALE OF THE PRELUDE. I In spite of great gunfire Tmt night and early this morning, there seems to have been no infantry action of any large scale along our front, though I hear of a Email enterprise by the Australians, who have again pushed forward their line near ijrlorlancourt, and also a hostile attack on about a two-mile front south of Dicke- thch Lake, where, according to early re- ,ports, the enemy has gained a footing in «JUT forward defences. The continual rumbling of great guns, a loud, persistent, thundery beating of -the air from various sectors of the front, was last night so oppressive to the nerves that it was impossible to avoid the. thought that it was the prelude to another immense battle. And again this morning, after dawn, those awful guns Were at work, as they had been murmur- ing for hours through one's sleep, and one wakened with the belief that this day was to be one of terrible conflict. Yet no news came over tho wires of anything. Ques- tions were asked along all sectors: Any- thing doing with yon ? Any attack in your parts?' And from these centres of Information came back the ap-fwer i Not guilty.' Quite quiet about here to-day.' Quito quiet, but with the loud noise of fire from many of our heavies doing their usual routine work of strafing the Ger- man roads and assembly places and ammunition dumpg and batteries." CLEARING THE WAY FOR A NEW THRUST. As the developments were brought about, however, we heard of air battles, one at Douai resulting in the bringing down of 12 German planes, and '0 Router's" with the British Army in France gave us this account of the H Scherpanherg thrust ":— Following upon a heavy and con- tinuous bombardment along a wide-front in Flanders, the German infantry this morning launched an attack against our troops south of Dickebusch Lake. It WM not a very big affair, being apparently in no more than divisional strength, but, of course, there is always the probability that it) may develop into a battle of major importance. The enemy seeitts to have got into our front line between the lake and Ridge Wood, and. some parties of Germans have been reported in the eastern fringe of the wood itself, although the greater part of it is held by us, and it is likely to prove very costly to the enemy if he attempts to push on. W6 also hold Kleine Vier- straat. Fighting continues in fine weather, with good visibility, so that the airmen of both sides are very active, with our own, as usual, rendering splendid service to our artillery in addition to swooping down and engaging the hostile infantry. The tactical objective of the operation would appear to be an attempt to clear the way for a thrust towards the Scher- penberg from the north-east, and it may prove to be but the beginning of further tierce fighting in Viis region., TWO GERMAN DIVISIONS. Then we come to the British Official issued on Thursday at 11 a.m. Successful counter-attacks launched by British and French troops yesterday evening in the La Clytte-Vormezeele eec- tors drove the enemy from the positions on the Allied front line in which he had gained a footing during the morning, and re-established, the positions originally held by us. We captured several pri- soners. This morning the enemy again attacked north of Kemmel, and succeeded in pressing our line slightly at one point, where fighting continu. Troops of two German divisions took part in the enemy's attack yesterday morning. Heavy casualties were inflicted on them by our artillery fire as well as in infantry light- ing, both during the attack and the sub- sequent counter-attack. Local liglitin-r, took place also yesterday at Bucquoy, in the course of which we captured 30 pri- soners. During the night further pro- gress was made by us between the Somme and the Ancre. Our new positions in this sector were improved, and several prisoners were taken by nis. Hostile raids were repulsed in the neighbourhood of I/ens and Merris. The enemy's artillery developed considerable activity during the night in the Albert sector." ENEMY FORCED BACK. The Press Association's Special Corre- spondent in France., writing on Thursday, says:—Before sunset yesterday the Ger- mans had pushed themselves to a stand- still. They had suffered very heavily, and were dog-tired. Yet they had gained ground of some tactical importance, for the Ridge Wood is a distinct step towards that much-coveted point of vantage—the Hcherpnbrg. Just before dusk \e I launched our coumcr-attack, in conjunc- tion with the French, and the Alliede troops went forward with magnificent dash, covered by a terrific bombardment, and yard by yard the enemy was forced to yield the ground which he had occu- pied at such cost. At the time the fight- ing died down for the night we had re- stored our original line, practically every yard. leaving only one OT two pockets of Germans to be marked 01T. It was a splendid termination to a strenuous day I fighting. Further south I hear that the Australian troops around Morlancourt have further gained by their very useful advances north of the Somme Canal

ANTHRACITE MINERS. i The monthly meeting of delegates repre- I tenting the miners of the anthracite dis- trict was held on Monday at Swansea, -when 61 delegates represented upwards of J,400 workmen. The chief agent presented report upon the now comb-out, which ,:wag regarded as satisfactory. Instruc- tions were issued to the colliery commit- tees, which will now be the colliery tribu- • f-xials, to- see to it that single mea under :forms 1 and 2 are to be dealt with before finv marrIed men, under form 3, are re- quisitioned, and then if the quota cannot JI >e made up from the lists of single men only..

SWANSEA'S SUNDAY MILK. Among the questions not orally an- swered" in the House of Commons on ..Tuesday was the following:— Mr. T. J. Williams asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the hardship on the daprymen of Swansea and district, Neath and other commer- cial centres of the Great Western Rail- .v,ny by reason of the discontinuance of the 7.30 traiin ex-Neyland on Sunday (mornings. Sir Albert Stanley writes:—Inquiries are being made in regard to this matter, and I will inform the hon. gentleman of the result.

Postage to 9oldiers abroad is to remain z

A TRIP TO CRAY. I ) Several members of the Swansea Water Committee visited the Cray Wai?,?=i"?c"l valve house and other portions of the Cray estate on Tuesday, with reference to certain works which have to be under- taken. One of the tasks is the building of a retaining wall near the valve house to prevent erosion due to mountain tor- rents.

I bOEDFFRANC COUNCIL. t At the monthly meeting of tlio Lw: ffranc Parish Council, hold at Skewen, Councillor Fred Curtis in the chair, the resignation of Mr. James Wells as a member was accepted, Mr. Tom Price, of Jersey Marino, being co-opted to fill the vacant seat. Councillor Sloe again called attention to the question of increased rents, and alleged a lot of profiteering went on in Coedffranc on house property. He knew of tenants who had done three parts of their gardens who had been given notice to leave the houses on the pretence that they had been sold. The Council decided to investigate. Two overseers and two councillors were then added, making six in all. More drastic action is to be taken in future. A vote of condolence was passed with the family of Mr. J. Thomas, of Neath Abbey.

THE MAURICE CHARGE MR. ASQUITH S VOTE OF CENSURE Mr. Asquith submitted to the House 01 Commons the following rolution:- That a Select Committee of this House be appointed to inquire into the allegations of incorrectness in cer- tain statements of Ministers of the Crown to this House contained in a letter of Major-General Maurice, late Director of Military Operations, pub- lished in the Press on May 7. In moving his virtual vote of centure on the Government-, he said the motion was rather absurdly described as such. He thought when he put it down the Gov- ernment would have accepted it. He had no privity in the composition or publica- tion of tne letter, nor had his colleagues. A tribunal of judges had no power in Par- liament without a special Act. He thought a Select Committee would be far better. Any statement by the Government now would anticipate any such tribunal, and would be ex-parts. He moved for a Select Committee. The Premier said ths demand for a Select Committee was without precedent in that House. General Maurice, while in office, never challenged statement* of Ministers. The Premier said he had been badly treated. (Loud cheers.)' It was the general's busi- ness to have come to the Cabinet and to say that he say that lie hllrl noted a mis- take made in the, House on an important statement of fact. But never a syllable till he saw it in the papers. He would ask the House to that day on the wetter. A judicial tribunal was the best for ex- amining the facts, and it would be short and sharp, and they would get a decision immediately. He had thrown himself into the vigorous prosecution of the war and had been judge-d in the Cocoa. Press slop. (Loud cheers.) The figures he gave as to the Army's fighting strength were from the War Office record. They were not inaccurate. He had inquired since, and he quoted from a document from General Maurice's depart- ment, nin* days after he had made his speech (that the strength of the British Army was greater in January, 1918, than January, 1917). With regard to the dif- ference between enemy and Allied fore1?? he was charged with misleading the pub lie The whole of the figures came from General Maurice's department. The state me n't regarding three British divisions i-r Egypt was made at a Cabinet meeting iv General Maurice's presence, and he did not correct it. The extension of front wp.s never dis- cussed at Versailles Council. It was an accomplished fact before that Council met. The Firlc}-\[n,rshal was reluctant to ex- tend: so was the War Cabinet. But it was done in response to great pressure from France. THE PEOPLE'S PREMIER. A message which created a deep :m-, on among members was addressed, in the form <;f a tflegnull, from Woolwich Arsenal workers to the Prime Minister, tt ran:- This public meeting of the workers in Woolwich Arsenal send you hearty greetings. Hold fast. We are with you, because you are the people's Prime Minister and our symbol of vic- tory. The Germans want you to go; the pacifists want you to go; the pro- Germans want you to go; but we. the workers, do not want you to go. Your enemies are our enemies. Damn them all! G-cd save England! The Army Council have sent General Maurice a letter asking him for an ex- planat.ion of the move which he made. The reply has pot been received, but is expected without delay. When it is re- ceived it will bo a question for the Coun- cil to decide whether to bring him before a court-martial or to take other measures. Although General Maurice had vacated his post, he was assisting his successor to become thoroughly initiated into the work.

COLLISION SEQUEL. At Nefvth County Court on Wednesday Judge Lloyd Morgan, K.C., resumed the hearing of the claim, partly heard a month ago, by Samuel Williams, collier, Cornelly, Pyle, against Evan Evans. butcher, Taibach, Port Talbot, for 5:85 damages for personal injuries and to a motor cycle, caused by an alleged col- lision on the Margnm-road at Margam on September 22nd last. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for £55.

I RUMANIAN PEACE —— i ——— Enemy Report of Signing Ceremony. Wednesday's Bulgarian official (received Thursday) says: Peamwith Rumania was signed to-day at the Controceni Palace, near Bucharest,—Press Association War Special. -Kar"t.- P Aesocial,-ion War A Bucharest telegram says that Herr von Kuhlmann made a speech after the signature of the Peace Treaty with Rumania, in which he said: "We hope this peace not only corresponde to the political and economic interests of the Allied Central Powers, ';ut that it will also enable Rumania to re-osiablish her- eelf and heal the wounds inflicted by the war.' M. Margjuloman the Rumanian Premier, has sent the following telegram to King FerdinandIt is with great satisfaction that; I inform your Majesty that peaoe has been concluded. The Treaty, which towards the conclusion of the negotiations/underwent some changes favourable to Rumania, was eigncd at twelve o'clock. rider your Majesty's leadership and the protection of your dynasty thll oontry will be able to be- gin useful wort for its. future re-estab- lishment.Rer.ftr. I au EEN MARI iE'S THREAT. j Amsterdam, Wednesday (received Thursday).—German papers state from Bucharest that Queen Marie of Rumania has publicly announced the will never recognise peace with Germaii-, and would rather-abdicate thiin reign over a country I I under German rule.—Exchange.

r CONTESTS AT KENFIG. I Brass Band competitions were held at Kenflg Hill on Saturday. Principal awards: Slcction -1, Gwaun-coe-Gurwen; 2, Kenfig Hill muic--I. Gwann- cac>-Gurwen; 3, ..Ivrnfig Ilill. There was also a male roice compfetition. Five choirs entered, Neath being placed first, and Cwmparc second. Cwinparc won a t'.ig-of-w§r.

SWANSEA TSNPLATERS. I Large numbers of tinpmte workers from Swansea «^id the eurrounding dis- tricts are joining the Navy. It is eta ted (writes our Trade Correspondent) that, owinj to their i&xpcrionce of working in the hot atmosphere of their workshops, they are regarded as eminently suitable for the task of stoking, and aTe being urged and invited by those who know the conditions of their work and train- j ing, to become naval stokers, —5—==5=

ECHO OF A COLLISION. I -? I On Thursday, in the Admiralty Divi- sion, Mr. Justice Hill'hed before him cross-claims for damages arising out of a collision betweeft the steamship Main, be- longing-to the Main Colliery Co., Ltd., of Bristol and Ncjtth, and the Hull steam- ship Borre, in fhp Atlantic/on September 16th. last. Both reseel s were damaged. Each side attributed the collision to neg- ligent navigation of the other vessel. It | was stated that since the collision the Main had bfren-lost, and that the master was the only rnlrvivor. His lordship, in giving jiidgment-, said that iilie Borre was unquestionably carry- ing no lights, and was j ustifie-d in not carrying them, under the Admiralty in- structions, but was under an obligation to exhibit them to avoid immediate danger. As to whether the Main was carrying lights, that WP8 the priniepal question in the case.

FORGET AND FORGIVE. In the Divorce Court on Tuesday, ib,orothy Xatharin, Lady Kennard, was granted a decree nisi on the ground of de- ieertion and misconduct by her husband, ;Sir Coleridge Arthur Fitzroy Kennard, of the Diplomatic Service. Counsel stated that the marriage took place in •1911 at Teheran, and there were two children, boys born in 1912 and 1915. In the latter year Sir Coleridge formed an attachment for another lady who, coun- sel explained, was an actress. Petitioner end respondent having returned to Eng- fland. Sir Coleridge went with a. party in a car through Cornwall, and at Tintagel stayed at an hotel with this lady in the aiame of Mr. and Mrs.. Kennard. Subsequently respondent confessed to this wife the attachment for the lady and ■Opft petitioner. Respondent said "Blot me out of your life; forget me and for- give. Good-bye, Roy."

( APPEAL FAILS. ^rising out of a Neath a,ppeal a decision of much interest to miners was given in the Divisional Court by Mr. Justice Law- rence on Thursday. Justice Lawrence, in his judgment, said the Conciliation agreement did not deal with boys, but when one looked at it closely that was not an answer to the r- spondents' case. The only clauses his lordshin could see that applied to them were Clauses 77, 30 and 32. Those misht possibly apply to boys, but in this case no evidence was given that the youth had signed any agreement under Clause 32. He did not think Clause 11 meant a person doing the work of a surface workman, and he considered that the county court judge was right when he found that this youth was not a workman within Clause 11. The app"al would, therefore, be dismissed. j Mr, Justice Avorv agreed, and the appeal with costs. Leave to ap- peal ynp g&y^$» -aycfyjiyS*

VALLEY "CONCHY." The" was a scene at the sitting of the Ystrndgynlais Tribunal on Saturday, when the case of a conscientious objector came on for hearing. The Tribunal de- cided tp adjourn the ease, as the quota of men required bad been obtained from the colliery where the man worked. Mr. W. A. Leys hon, the National Ser- vice representative, submitted that as the man was a conchy he was indifferent as to quota, and for that reason should hare been <k-s-.it with that day. I Mr. Lewis Thomas (a member of the tri- bunal and a prominent member of the I.L.P.) tlisagrefod with this, and urged that the case should ba adjourned. Capt. Wilson (Posting Officer): In what capacity a.re you speaking? Is it as a member of the tribinal? Mr. Lewis Thomas: You have no right to speak. Mr. Leyson is the military representative. This was greeted with vociferous cheer- ing by the men in court, and a soldier shouted his protest, saying, "Yon won't win the war by cheering, boys."

CWMBWRLA FOOD CASE. Last December the Cwmbwrla Co-op- erative were fined PLCO for an alleged breach of the Food (Cnditions of Sale) Order, and the case and the amount of the fine attracted considerable attention at the time. The prosecution took place at a time when the present distribution schemes had not been put into operation. The facts were admitted (in the expec- tation that the matter would be leniently dealt with under the circumstances) brtlt the magistrate.1- imposed a fine of £ 100. Mr. W. D. Francis, fhe solicitor who appeared for the Society, then took steps <<) approach the Home Office in regard to the case, and the services of Sir Alfred Mond were enlisted to assist in submit- ting the matter to Sir George Cave. In response to representations made by him. Sir Alfred Mond received the following letter from Sir George Cave:— "I have considered carefully the ease of the Cwmbwrla, Co Operative Society, and have been in comrcnnication with the Min- istry of Pood in the matter. Having rexa.rd to all the circumstances I have felt justified in recommending: the remission of EBO of the fine of £100 imposed upon the Society." 11, may be added that the reduced fine J?..h s«gd by. Six j^ted k

DOCTORS DISAGREE. I At Neath County Court on Wednesday -before Judgo Lloyd Morgan—Wm. Lane, nailor, SViwen, sued the Cape Copper Co., Jf.-sey Marine, for an award under the Workmen's Compensation Act in respect '?f the d?th of his son Philip Morgan I?ne. aa?d 1C .vrg. who met with a fatal accident at the respondent's work on Oftober 30 Jatand died on February 7. Dr. D. L Jcufs (Skewen), who attended the lad after the accident, said that with Or John Evans. Neath. he conducted a post-mortem examination and found that the causs of deatli was acute mi-lary tuber- culosis, due to the accident. Dr. John Evans said that both lungs were affected by tuberculosis of recent date. He could not say that it was due to a local blow. He also found the brain i'-f?rtf? ???;??<! '<ay th?t the tuber- culosi s wa'* ca!a?e<t )y the accident. His Hononr found in favour of the re-S 'pondents with costs on Scale C. 

MR. i. WILLIAMS, M.P. I A conference of "delegatas from all Trades and Labour Organisations and in- dividuals favourable to the Labour Move- ment" was held at the t)rckew Hall, Swansea, when 40 delegates attended (re- presenting over 12.000 workers, and in- cluding some Co-operative Societies). Mr. D. J. Williams presided. The principal business (writes our Mining Correspondent) was the r>c-lect:on of a Labour candidate for the Grower Parliamentary Division. The proposal of the Miners' Federation that Mr. J-ohn Williams, M.P., be the Labour candidate at the General Election was submitted; Mr. Meth. Jones gave a report upon "The Labour Party and its new basis of organisation"; and officers were appointed. On the motion of Mr. T. J. Richards, C.C., Llansamlet, on behalf of the Trades Council, seconded by Mr. W. Bowen (a membe rof the executive of the Tin and Sheet Millr.len's Association), and suppor- ted by several speakers, the decision to accept and support the candidature of Mr. John Williams was unanimously adopted. The proposer remarked that as Mr. Williams had faithfully represented all sections of the community, and been ready at all times to render useful ser- rice to any who asked him, it would be a graceful thing if he were now allowed to lie returned unopposed. In regard to the representation of Trades Councils on the War Pensions Committee, it wag decided to support ttie nomination of Mr. David Davies (P<?-y- bryn. DrHvant), and Mr. W. Lloyd, ciieci- w?T ?T??rn???.

LANDED FROM U-BOAT PACIFISTS AND WAR LOA" HOUSE OF CO-Al- Thura¡. ItOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday. lr. Honar Law &aid the total of War Ix?n paid into the Exchequer during the week ended May ?th was £ 12,590,000. Mr. Mp!lfm50n said an arrest had been made on the weat of Ireland of a ir-an who had been put ashore from a German submarine. The prisoner was now in the Tower. A charge had been preferred against him, and he would be tried by court-martial. Mr. R. McNeill asked if the hon. mem- h-er would tell the House on what charge the man would be tried. Mr. Macpherson: No sir, I cannot. Mr. R. McNeill asked why secrecy had been observed in this matter, and would the hon. member give instructions for the 'Press to be allowed to publish full detaiI.. Mr. Macphr6on Eid it was most im- portant in the public intere6t that tecroe-y should be observed. Sir fi. Carson: Is the hon. member 2\War9 that a full, account has appeared in the Irish papers? Mr. Macpherson's reply was inaudible. An earlier report of this matter anyis:- Awaiting court-martial at the Towor of London is a mnn who is believed to have landed in a small collapsible boat from a German submarine on Crabbe Island in a sheltered inlet of Galwny Bay. Cir- cumstances surrounding the arreet of the prisoner are related in the current issue of Notes from Ireland," published by the Irish Unionist Allianoe, which states that when the man was arrested on April 17 he told the County. Clare police that he had escaped from an American ship sunk by a Garman sub- marine. The ship mentioned was not sunk. He wore civilian clothes, with a frieze overcoat. He said that he got 245 in silver at an Enniotymon bank. He is a man of some education and claims to be a native of Munster. The collapsible boat was Dot of the ordinary type but had cork stays and could be rolled up into a small parcel. Mr. Outhwaite asked whether the Prime Minister assumed sole responsi- bility for the rejection by this country of the proposal made by the Emperor Karl of Austria, for the initiation of ne- gotiations for peace. Mr. Bonar Law said he could make no statement on this subject. Mr. Outhwaite asked if the right hon. gentleman's attention had been drawn to the fact that references to dccxoneirts re- lating to thia matter were being pub- lished in the French Press, and was it not very essential, therefore, thttt the House should know the whole facts? Mr. Bonar Law said his attentioi- had been called to what had appeared in the French Press, but at present he had noth- ng to add to. the reply he had already given. Mr. Outhwaite: W, hen will he be able to make a statement showing the attitudv of the Prime Minister to the letter ? Mr; Bonar Law: When we consider it in the public interest to do eo. (Hear, hear). j Mr. Outhwaite, hadngbeeJa informed I by Mr. Bonar Law, in a statement wbnoet inaudible to the Prees Gallery, tai-at the amount subscribed last week to the National War Loan showed a consider- j able decrease ae compared with the 1) e: vious weekly average, asked how the right hon. gentleman accounted for this. Mr. Bonar Law said he was told it was partly due to certain pacifists who were trying to discredit the Loan. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Outhwaite: Is he aware that the only efforts of the pacifists in that direc- tion are to show what an incompetent, corrupt Government they have? ("Oh!" and Withdraw- ") Mr. Bonar Law: However bad the Government is. money is necessary if the war is to be continued. (Hear, hear.)

U.S. AND U-BOATS. I Washington, Wednesday (received Thursday).—In Washington the decrease of the submarine menace is officially re- cognised. Mr. McAdoo ie announcing sweeping reductions in the n-ai risk in- surance. Rates of the United States steamers passing through the war r.one between the United States and British porte are to be reduced from 3 per cent. to 2 per cent.

FIRST COUSINS. At Swansea, on Wednesday, Nellie White summoned Rees J. Thomas (shearer), Pontardulais, to shew cau?e, etc. Mr. David Clarke prosecuted, and Mr. Edward Harris defended. The parties had known each other for five years, said Mr. Clark, and were first1 cousins. He mentioned a letter sent by defendant referring to the rumours that he had got the girl into trouble, and de- manding an apology, because the fact? a,nd dates g-iven proved that he was not responsible. That. Mr. Clark held, was an admission that up to May there had been intmacy. Complainant said the defendant had visited her at. Burryport in May and Jiine, 1917, and they came on a visit to Mr. E. Harris, for tbffe defence, admit- ted there had been intimacy up to a cer- tain date. but .not during the period necessary to prove the paternity of the defendant. An order was made for the payment of 5s. per week and costs.

LLANSAMLET COUNCIL. A special meeting of the Parish Council was held at Peniel on Wednesday evening, to deal with the smoke question. Councillor T. W. Watkins presided. There were also present the District and County Council members. Councillor J Morris gave a report of what the District Council had done. and is doing, in the matter. Councillors D. R. Evans and J. Jenkins supported. Mr. L. Lewis read correspondence passed between him, on behalf of the Llansamlet Trade and Labour Council, and the various bodies, who bad power to deal effectively with this nuisance. The following resolu- tion, proposed, and seconded by Council- lors Dan Griffiths and J. Morris, was carried: That the clerk, on behalf of this joint meeting, send a letter to the Board of Agriculture, and the Minister of Munitions, demanding an immediate inquiry; aloo that a letter each should be sent to Mr. John Williams, M.P., and Mr. T. J. Williams. M.P." 1 .L

A convivial evening was spent on Wed- nesday at the Mermaid Hotel, Mumbles, when the special constables of Mumbles met to do honour to Police Inspector John Davies, who is leaving the district for Penartli. The chair was taken by Mr. T. C. Nash-Leibrandt, supported by Mr. J. II. Rosser, J.P., Capt. Alf Thomas (Chief Constable of Swansea), Mr. J. W. Thorne, Supt. Letheren. Mr. P. W. Pine (solicitor, London), Councillors John Harris. C. P. Bell, F. E. Beer, "'dd Ed- ] EAund Bevan.

I GIRL'S AMAZING STORY LANBLAHD LOVE TRAGEDY A tragic story was unfolded at Mumbles Police Station on Monday, when Mr. R. W. Beor resumed the inquest on Wm. Ernest Burllett, a signaller in the 15.F.A., who was found drowned at Mumbl es on the morning of April tlth. Mr. W. A. Davies appeared for the re- iative.s of the deceased soldier; Mr. C. W. Slater (Messrs. Aeron Thomas and Co.), watched the interests of the young girl concerned in the case, and Lieut. H. R. Collins represented the deceased's com- manding officer. Councillor Harry Davies was foreman of the jury. The Coroner said they had adjourned the inquest in the hope that the girl, Elsie Smith, would he present. She WM, however, still unable to attend, and be now proposed to call such other evidence as was available. It would then be for the jury to say whether it was Fiifficient to enable them to find the cause of death. P.S. Thonia? Williams said that at 1.30 in the morning of April 6th, in conse- qivfnce 01 a telephone message received at Mumbles Police Station, he went with P.O. Bailey to Langland Bay. A t the Osborne Hotel he saw Mr. May, the manager, and as a* result of what he told him, witness went upstairs to one of the bedrooms. In bed he saw a young woman named Elsie Smith. Her hair was very wt and full of sand. When witness entered the bedroom, she said: Where is Will? I love him, and he loves me. He told me if he could itot have me in life, he would have me in dentil. He tied my hands together, and oulled me into the water with him. I afterwards found myself on the sands. I got my hand s free, and ran up here, but I think he is down in the Bay now." Witness immediately went to the Day, accompanied by P.C. Bailey, and at 2.30 a.m. found the body of the deceased lying faeo downwards in the sand. He was fully clothed in uniform, with, the excep- tion of his cap. The body was about 60 yards from the refreshment rooms, and was lying where the waves would just cover it. The tide was OIl the turn. He tried artificial respiration for some time, but without avail. He then telephoned for Inspector Davies, who was soon on the scene with Dr. Marks, and the latter examined the body. Continuing, witness said he searched the body and found papers which en«bl«d him to identify it. There was a telegram dated April 4th, calling him back to the Colours. 'rh<>r. was also one from Port Talbot from Tom," stating W ill wait for you; call or wire." This was dated .\prjJ 5th. There were al"" a numlter of letters couched in very affectionate terme from Elsie Smith. Witness added thqt he was present at the Osborne Hotel when t-.hQ girl'6 clothing; was searched on the same morning. On the clothing were the deceased's parse, containing lis. llid., c.nd also a note-book, the leaves of which were torn but which witness had since pasted up. He had deciphered the mes- sage on thoie leaves (produced/) as follows: Shalt be gone for ever with the man I love. Onr wifch is to be burifxi in the j sanva grave.—Good-bye, love to all, F-. zie. Another letter read: Dear Aunt Lizzie, —Ail I own, which is not much, I leave to -.11 The Coroner pointed out that the letters were evidently not complete. In reply to the coroner, witness said that the clothing of the girl was very wet. By Inspector Davies: He had compared the writing on the notes with (the letters signed Elsie Smith found on Bartlett, and in his opinion the handwriting was the same. Sergt. Williams said he removed the girl to Swansea Hospital at 4.30 p.m. on the same day. She did not speak then. In reply to a juryman, witness said the point where the body was found was a long way from the cliffs. He had heard Mr. May say at a previous hearing that the girl told him that iihe had fallen over the oliffs. Dr. L. Freeman Marks said he examined the body on the morn- ing it was found. There was no trace of fracture or hemorrhage. There was no external mark6 or injury except a &hght abraeion on the right side of the face. Death was due to drowning. There I were no traces of poieon or alcoholic liquors in the stomach. P.C. Frank Gould Paid he was in Swan- 6a Hospital on duty last Thursday watch- ing Elsie Smith. H*r father came to see her, and remained an hour. After he went witness asked the girl if she knew who he was, and she replied Yes, it's father Smith." He asked her if she knew where he lived. She did not tell him, and witness said He Hvew in the Mumbles and came up by the Mumbles train." He repeated Mumbles train" for about three-quarters of an hour. Then the girl sat np in bed, struck her hand against her head, and shouted. Thank God, my memory is coming back to me. How is my boy? Is he alright? I remember everything now. It was on a Friday night. He said he was not going back to France. He was ¡eel up with it. He was going to Mumbles to oommit suicide. He told me to go back home. I said, If you are going, I will come with you. You are the only boy I love.' We went down on the last train to the Mumbles, and we went IRP A very dark road to England. We sat down wk the grass. I told him not to be silly to do such a thing, as it would worry his mother. He eaid Yes, I am going to do it.' I said, If you go I will go too. We will die together." He tied out hands together with a handker- chief, and we weat down together to- wards the beach. He said: Look, there's a light down there; perhaps it's a police- rran. If he asks what we are doing here say we lost our way.' I ftid I'm not not going down, I'm afraid.' He said: Alright, you go back home.' He untied the handkerchief and I put it in my rocket. He ran down towards the sea and I ran after him. I fell down the steps and knocked the back of my head. went into the sea after him. and I could not see him for a long time because it was so dark. I saw him at last and caught him by the arm and tried to get him out, but a heavy wave came over us and I let go and I was washed up on the beach. That is all I remember." Mr. W. A Davies observed: "It's an amazing piece of evidence to be tendered by the police. That is all I can say." The jury, after a short retirement, re- turned' a verdict of Suicide whilst tem- porarily insane." and said they preferred no charge whatever against Eteie Smith.

A Milford trawler has landed a catch of fillh which realised the record gum of £ 4.069. It is reported that a new works is to be built on Crymlyn Burrows. Swansea, bv Messrs. Baldwins. Ltd. The works will, it is understood, be used for smelting ore for the Port Talbot blast fumetcew.

TOWN TALK. Things from aercfs the herring poml are usually taken with a grain of salt. But this baoon- -30:- A tank is coming to Neath. If it at- tracts like Egbert did we predict street collections." —!OC — With the threat of railway restrictions in the air, Gower will doubtless be dis- covered this summer. — :o:— She pulled my hair on the door step!" exclaimed an excited witness at Neath Police Court. And the yell rang! -:0:- Neeth Rural Food Control Committee has decided that farmers must register for butter and poultry. It's just a matter of form." —• O: — The newest economist is the Swans«i young lady who let the gas jet burn from breakfast to dinner time, in order to save a fila tel; —: o: — Although the 6tove in the window of a Swansea shop i6 described as a Match- less Stove," it doesn't signify that it lights itseli! —. 0: The police allotments at Neath stated to be the most advanced in th, town. Quite natural that they should "arrest" attention! -:0:- If bread is to be rationed, some peopl. would like the opportunity of taking a smaller quantity of flour and having it a little mearfr the old white variety. :0:- We agree with the famous query Why shouldn't we sing" but we do ob- ject to warblers who at 1 a.m. invite all and. sundry to Keep the 'ome fires burn- ing. — :0:— A Swansea soldier serving in Ireland added the following postscript to a letter to his mother:—" 1 am sending you 5s., out not this week! Not bad Irish for a Welshman. :0:- An observant nillotment holder at Neath states that the Welsh hawk is the l&st device for keeping the birds away. It's n suspended spud with feathers stuck in it. Why Welah hawk P — :o:— A man applied to the Swansea District Tribunal for exemption on the ground that if he were taken into the Army JiL- would suffer hardship. The tribunal with commendable pro rapt nude collapsed. — :Or— A query from Neath: Why should tlrj Gnoll infants' School be converted into a military hospital, and the youngsters allowed to roam the etreets, whilst tlil- Unoll Mansion remains untenantedf Give it up! -:0:- At half-past five the other evening c'f of the largest tobacconist'6 sh^ps Swai'sea wae shut, and the folior-. notice was etuck upon the door: "Ciu.: 1 o'clock till 2 o'clock for diniu', Some dinner-hour that! Neath people are inquiring win the untenanted Gnoll Mansion is not vertel into a military hospital. Ann a Bryninill man writes to ask what's the matter with Singleton, and thinks it ought to be used before utilising the schools. Nine years ago to-day—May 7th, 1209— William Foy was hanged in Swansea Jail for murder. Foy pleaded so hard with the executioner for one last fag that he eventually gave him one, and he puffed vigorously at it while walking to the scaffold. 0: What are we going to use in future to greet our newly-wedded friends? Rice has long been taboo, and now the Papor Controller is going to prohibit the use of oonfertti. We even have to wear our "boots to such a degree of shabbiness that they wott-ld disgrace any bridal taxi. — :o:— Sometimes you have to go a long way back to get at the origin of even a local squabble in Ireland. Viscount Morley, when Chief Secretary, inquired into the cause of a faction riot in Cork, and was told, Oh, it was something to do with the affair of the Two Earls in the time of Queen Elizabeth." -:0- The Skewen Charlie Chaplin (one of the best imitators yet seen of the little comedian) created no end of fun for the naval recruits at the Docks on Monday, morning. There was no music of any kmd to play the boys to the station, but they were none the lees cheerful becau-se they were headed by their Chaplin." i -:a -A nl,&mi)Ar of the Swansea District Tri- bunal gave this brilliant thought an air- in*: We who sit here are not ordinary mortals, you know." Mr. H. P. Charles, the National Service representative, may or may not have agreed, but his oommerit No, you are very extraordintt.ry, I cer- tainly deserves an equal amount of ozone! — -Or— The visit to this office of a participant in the ghostly experiences at Manselton, who brought the actual peg which "moved ia" so mysteriously last Sunday, recalls th* otory of Mark Evans about the con- suming capacity of a baby. He ended hia story with the observation that if we doubted his stery, he could produce the child! -.0 Queues broke out in Swansea again this week. But they were not for food this time. The queueists were mostly young men awaiting their turn to fee the recruit- ing sergeant (beg pardon, National Ser- vice representative) in Mond Buildings. As usual, when district men are down for examination, they are accompanied by many womenfolk, who promenade the neighbourhood until the men are graded .0: An Ammanford lawyer, who at the local court championed the cause of a twentieth century feminine product, seriously con- tended that the refinement of her age placed upon her a severe handicap in waging wordy warfare with a product of the nineteenth century! Her tongue moves nimbly enough, but the seventy and pungency of an older generation are not there," said. he-of an older genera- tion himself, we may presume. I The Hon. Violet Douglas Pennant, who has just relinquished her work in Wales M an insurance commissioner to become commandant of the Penguins," belongs to a family which probably holds a record for the number of female names it has contributed to the pages of the Peerage. Lord Penrhyn. who is tie third baron, has 32 relatives, of whom no fewer than 28 are females. Twenty-four of these fall into groups of equal numbers—six sisters (of whom the Hon. Violc-t 15 the youngest), six half-sisters, six aunts, three nieces, and three widows of sow 01 the first and second baroM. ¿.. -p.