South Wales Weekly Post

I uEMPTY AND INSINCERE. 40 /Germany's Sham Peace Proposal. I i t STINGING REPLY FROM THE ALLIES. I I REMORSELESS ARRAY OF FACTS. ——— I PRESS BUREAU, Saturday night (received Sunday morning). The following is a translation ot the ♦<?xt of the Allies' reply to the German peace Note communicated bv the Frencli Government on behali ol the Allied Pewers to the United States Ambassador In Paris :— December 30th. The Allied Covernments of Russia, < France, Creat Britain, Japan, Italy, Serbia, Belgium, Montenegro, Portugal j and Rumania, united for the defence of the freedom of nations, and faithful to their undertakings not to lay down I their arms except in common accord, have decided to return a joint answer j ta the I ILLUSORY PEACE PROPOSALS which have been addressed to them by the Governments of the Enemy Powers through the intermediary of the United States, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. t Af a prelude ut any reply the Allied Pcvffs feel hound to protest strongly --tgabt!t, the two material assertions made in the Xotfi from the enemy Powers, the one professing to throw upon the Allies the reo *jtansibilit y of the war and the other 1110- iairning the victory- of the Central Powert. The Allie s cannot admit a cla-ira which is la iratrue in e,ch and is sufficient alone to r Hile all attempts at negotiation. The Allied nations have for thirty months '■eon engaged in s. war which they had done everything u, avoid. Xhty have shown by •■hair actions their devotion to peace. This sewtion. is as strong to-day as it was in 1914. and after the Violating by Germany irsf her engagements. Germany's promise is no sufficient foundation on which to re-establish the peace which s he broke, i A m-e-ic suggestion without statement or verm* thia.'i negotiations should be opened is net an offer of peace. The putting forward by the Imperial Government of t A sham proposal, iaciarig zlit suDstaaic-f, and precision, '"would 4pneai- to be less art offer of peace than « war nklamuvre. Tt is founded on a. calculated misiiiterpre- tAtMn of the character of the struggle in the past, the present and the future. As- for the past the German Note takes no accoulit of the facts, dates and figures whioh establish that the war was desired. provoked and declared by Germany and Austria-Hungary. At the Hague Conference it was the Ger- man delegate who refused all proposals for disarmament- in July. 1914; it "was Austria- Hungary who, after having addressed to Serbia, an unprecedented ultirmuum. de- clared war upon her in spite of the satisfac- tion which had at once been accorded. The Central Empires then rejected all the ) attempts made by the Entente to bring èbout a pacific solution of a purely local conflict. Great Britain suggested a conference; France proposed an International Commis- pion the Emperor of Russia Asked the German Emperor to go to arbitration, ajsd Russia and Austria-Hungary came to an j, wnderstanding on the ere of the conflict, but ;te all these efforts German} t>ave neither answer nor effect. Belgium was invaded by an Empire which th.a,d guaranteed her neutrality and which has (had the assurance tc- proclaim that treaties were "scraps I) f paper. ,ønd that "necessity knows no law." At the present moment those sham offers tm the part of Germany rest on a "war ma:p" of Enirope alone, which represents Wthing more than a superficial and passmg phaBe of the situation and not the real strength of the belligerents. Peace concluded "upon these terms would "tv2 only to the advantage of the aggressors, who, after imagining that they would Reach their goal in, two months, discovered after two years that thev could tiefver attain it. As for the future, the disasters caused by the German declarations of war and the in- numerable outrages committed by Germanv and her allies against both belligerents arid reutrals demand penalties, reparation, and guarantees. Germany avoids the mention of any of these. In reality the.se overtures made by the Ont-ral Powers are nothing more than a < -llculated attempt to influence the future <■ wirse of the war, and to end it by imposing German peace. I The abject of these overtux'es is to e? c Create dissension in public opinion »n the Allied countries, but that public I opimon, ha? in %pite of all the bac in_,C-?e;? s; e?- ??red by the AUies. already given its answer with admirable ifrmness, and has denounced the empty pretence of the declaration of the en."my Powers. They have the further object of stiffening I V'cblic opimon in Germany and in the coun- tries allied to her. one and all already seveiely tried bv their losses, worn out by economic pressure, and crushed bv the supreme effort which has been imposed upon their inhabitants. TheT endeavour to deceive andintitui- date public opinion in neutral countries whose inhabitants have long since made up their mmds where the initial respon- sioilit.y rests, have recognised the existing responsibilities, 1nd are far too enlighten- «d to favour the designs of Germany by abandoning the defence of human free- clom. Finally, these overture" attempt to justify in a dvance in the eyes ot the world a nein- series of (Times, submarine war- fere, deportations, forced labour and forced enlistment of inhabitants against .■their own countries, and violations of neutrality. Fully CONSCIOUS OF THE GRAVltY OF THIS MOMENT, but equally conscious of its require- ments, the Allied Governments, closely united to one another, and in oerfect sympathy with their neonles. REFUSE TO CONSIDER A PRO- POSAL which Is empty and insincere. Once again the Allies declare that no i ir-a,ce is possible so long as they have not. 0-coureA repa,r--t;,rm 1-iolated -t,nci Secured reparation otviolated ripbts and Hh orties, recognition or the principle ol nationalities, and of the free existence of la',l states, so long as they have not C.i)tight abbot a settlement ea IC111at to: lend (?iiep and for all forcp which have con-1i -etitut,c-d a Perpetual menace to the nations, paitt wafford the only effective guarantee; for the future security of the world. In conclusion, the Allied Powers think it jteeefisary to put forward the following con- eitie rations which show the special situation of Belgium alter two and a, lialf N-eiaii of war: In viitue of international treaties pigned by five great Europea.ii Powers, of (whom Germany was one, Belgium enjoyed Itlre the war a special status rendering her territory inviolable and pJaci-n,g her under the guarantee of the Powers outride all Euro- conflicts. She was, however, in ajftte of these to'caties., the first to suffer the aggression of Gen;i;y. for this reason The Belgian Government I Tr:? '?-f:!y to define the aim* which] E .'<?p!)-t?h<'?'e)'c6?ed to pursue. I :j ? fi??tin!: ?dc by s?Ae with th? Eh- I tente Powers for right and justice Belgium has alway.> scrupulou*ly fulfilled the duties which her neutrahty imposed upon her. She has taken up arms to defend her indepen- dence and her neutrality, violate 1 by Ger- j many, and to show blie i-eiiiaiiis 'aithful to her international obligations. Oji the 4th of August, 1914. in th. Reich- i -fag. the German Chancellor admitted that. this constituted an in justice con- trary to the laws uf nations, and pledged I himself in the Ham", of Germany to repair it. During two aiid a hali )eals thift injustice I ha.s beer, cruelly aggravated by the proceed- ings of the occupying forces, which havB ex- 1 hausted the resources o: L the countrw Ruined its industries, devastated its I towns aiid villager, and have been responsible foi I iimumsn.ble massacres, executions and im- prisonrnen.ts.. At this very monictt wliile Gem.any is proclaiming peace and humanity t.o the | world ihe i, deporting Belgian citizens by j thousands and redticin,g them to slavery. i Belgium before the war asked for nothing t, I c. 1, but to e in harmony with her neighbours. Her Kl!lg a.)(! her Government have ¡ But one aim, if if re-e-Uc ilishmeot of peace and justice, but | they only desire a peine which would assure to their couutry legitimate reparation, guar anteeK and safeguards for the future. —

f- NEARLY EIGHTY MILLIONS FROM EXCESS PROFITS DUTY. —————— j A Traawr v xtatefnent issucvi on Sauuxlay t night snoni that the Krial revenue of the United Kingdoiu from April 1 to December 19.16. was £2913,140.611, or a. net increase of £ 135.883.337 <-oir.pared with the wrres- j ponding period of las: yeai. Customs showed an increase of £ 12,419,000 I whilst Excite decreased by £ 2,941,000, and f estate duties deureased by L2,090,000. Piopefty and Income-i-as (includiri? super-tax) at £ 52. 95,000 showed a.n incre&se j of £ 26,498,000. The exce' profits dutv ?in- clud?ug Tnunit.?on? !e?') amounted t-o £79,8,OüO a? compared with nil ia?t year. By Treasiuy hills of suppiy jei,708,580,000 was raised, and the Six per Cent. Exchequer Bonds (19W) brought iri £ 159.204.000, and war ,wings certificates brought in I £ 40,250,000. The total expenditure chargeable against revenue is £ 1,565.919.345. I The People's Savings. According to a. return issued on Saturday I relating to the Post Office Savings Banks for the year ended December 31, 1915. the balance amounted to a sum of £ 249.331,508. Of this sum £ 54,528.429 was received in cash from depositors from January 1 to December 31, 1915. The balance due at the close of the year 1915 to all depositors, inclusive of interest, was £186,327,584.

I DEAD MAN FLYING. I j GERMAN AIRMAN'S AMAZING! EXPERIENCE. • Captam Boloke, the German airman who was killed at the end of October, described an amazing occurrence in the air in a letter which is published in the book of his Field Reports just issued in Germany. He describes all encounter between English ajid German ait- squadrons near B- on September 27. "My antagonist," he says, "tried to get. away/ but I stuck to him | ap- parently firing all the time at point-blank range]. But I couldn't help admiring his endurance. "I must liave settled him long ago. but iviund and round he kept on flyihg as well as ever. It was too much to stomach. I said to myself, 'The fellow's dead lone ago, but the plane keeps un the lever because he's got, rubber bands keeping the steering-gear right. So I flew close in a,nd there I saw the Englishman slightly toppled over to the side sitting at his wheel stone dead." The number of the machine, savs Bolcke. was 7.495.

LATE MR. JNO. ROBERTS, J.P. I Tributes from the Swansea Bench. I Prior to the commencement of the busi- ness at Swansea Borough Police Court on Monday. Mr. Richard Martin, chairman of the Bench, moved a vote of condolence on behalf of the magistrates and court gener- ally with the family of the late Mr. John Roberts. J.P. Mr. -Martin said deceased was one of the senior members of the Bench, and also chairman of the Licensing Committee. He was a man sturdy in character, and of strong personality—a man who ha.d attained the front rank of the district after s heer hard work. In his death Swansea had lost one or its brightest jewels. Mr. J. H. flosser, J.P.. Mr. Henry Thompson, solicitor (on behalf of the mem- bers of his profession ), Supt.. Roberts bll I behalf of the Chief Constable, Capt. Alfred Thomas), and .rr..1enklll Jones (magis- trates' clerk) associated themselves with the I chairman's remarks, and the vote of con- I dolence ,,s massed. th* tzunerai. The funeral of the late Mr. John Roberts will take, place on Tuesday at Mumbles Cemetery, leaving the residence. Gwyn- fry a." Eaton-grove, Swansea, at 2 p.m., gind not 3 o'clock as previously stated.

TOOK THE JbKE SERIOUSLY. i it is reported by a news agencv that the hairdressor fit Mailing Workhouse, near Maidstone, 11:1." applied for increased par under jilea that tlie inmates' hair grows iriuch faster now tha.t the institu- tioll is heated by steam. The Avorkhouse ii(,- woz-k l iotise master denies the runiour, alleging that the reputed statement t-hat hair crows fas-tei- in artificial warmth is based ou a joke of his that is now long-haired itself being live years old. -—- -—

RHONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY I RAILWAY. .Warrants tor tfee lialf-year's interest on I fhe above company s four per cent, deben- ture stock were posted oa .Dlcc^l-er 30th

VITAL- LINK. I low BAGDAD RAILWAY BOMBED. TURK COMMUNICATIONS CUT. The Admiralty makes the following all- nouncement On the 26th inst. a squodroii of naval aeroplane- bombarded enemy camps at Gal- ata (Gallipoli) ion the Darda-nelles, "below 6:3 UipöE Town) with successful l'esulte. On the 27th inst. a squadron of naval seaplanes attacked and destroyed Chikaldir Bridge, 18 miles east of Adana. tN,lot-e.-The gleat Chikaldir. or Jackal Dere Bridge across the Djihau River, the tiilcient Pyrarno?, which already some months ago was the object of an Allied attack from tlirc ali, tonus one of the most; mportant links in the eastward course of the Bagdad Railway. This bridge constitutes a vital link it*Turkish railway communications..It? effective de.-truction would cut off not only the Bagdad main line extension proper, but the Syrian hints, iront railway connec- tiun with Western Asia Minor and with its cmie? of supply for the Turkish afmie? in th< Caucasus, in Mesopotamia, and in pale5l-i tine and Arabia.) I

1918 u NATIONAL M TO BE HELD AT NEATH. STRONG CASE: SUBSTANTIAL GUARANTEE. Neath is to have the National Eistedd- fod in 1918." h8,ing secured a majority of! the votes cast by members of the Gorsedd Excmtive Committee and an equal num-: her of representatives of the ?:<Hona! I)Pt- ()I,- Barn" 'nmc a j goo(i tili I-(] AD(i F.i,te(idtofi and PortJwawl TIR"I.Y ('Ollie R la t. ?Vtth th? (un?m of the three lOwn:- &pp!vin?. the df-ci?un was left to the ioint (-ormcittee. in order to an) Ü'aH\l- ling expenses. The personal advocacy which has been used in previous years was. therefore, avoidt-ft. On Monday the three provisional com- mittees received a letter from the sec^e- taries (Sir Vincent Evans and Eihonydnt a(?n6w!?ping the eistoddft)dje z"] they ct Ispla-ve(i ;it 4: ti,ving tn<.l hRve displayed ?t 8 tr'mg and (truest ? Neath made out a strong case tor tlie Eisteddfod. It a robust Cymreigy- ddiun Society, ami the support (II the j surrounding districts, as e?;presse<l by all manner of public bodies, was quite re- j m'arkable. A legal guarantee of £ 2,945 j accompanied the memorial, and assurance was forthcoming that the subscriptions; would be ample. It is re-call ed that when the most critical spot was sought for holding the! Eisteddfod v Cymrv in 1866 the votes | vent overwhelmingly in YaN-o-Lii- ol Neath; in competition with all the towns of South I Wales. But the National Eisteddfod has; never previously been held in the town, though within a radius of 36 miles of it. is more than half the population of WJe. So that Neath's claim was almost llTè- sistible.

PATIENTS DEFEAT j NURSES. INTERESTING SWANSEA HOCKEY MATCH. A very interesting and enjoyable hockey match was played on the Swansea Trainihg j College ground on Thursday between the nurses and convalescent wounded flom Pare Weni Red Cross Hospital. The teams were: Nurses' XL--Goal, Nurse. Cook backs, Nurses J. Holmes, and L. Cook. half-backs. Nurses O. Gee, J. Davies, and K. Llovd; forwards, Nurses C. Daviep;I>. HNwke11, — .Reid, T. Hodgens. and N. Williams.. Patients X I.—Goal. Pte. Johnston; backs, Sei-gt. Johiistoji and Gnimei* Casey;: half-backs, Pte. W. Jones, Lance-Corpl. Jea- coke. and Corpl. Arnold forwards. Sergt. Channer, Sergt. Piper. Lance-Corpl. Basker- ville, Pte. Mills, and Pte. Bennett. The opening stages were of a give-and-take nature, eac h end of the field being visited in turn. Afterward s combined plAy by the soldiers' quintette enabled Baskerville to score two goals in quick succession, after some quarter of an hour's play. The nurses were not a bit nonplussed a,t this early set- back and played up doggedly. Just before half-time the game was hotly contested near the soldiers' goal, and, foiloVing a penalty. Nurse Re;.d scored a well-merited aoal. HALF-TIME SCORE PATIENTS-Two goals. NURSES—One goal. < 111* second halt opened with several strong I attacks on the nurses' gCal, but l'ound defen- sive play by Nurse Holmes prevented a. score. Nurse Davies was also conspicuous for getting smartly away on two occasions when the soldiers !ooked like adding to their score. At last, some good dribbling atud passing work by Jones (Llai-elly). Piper, Channer, and Mills culminated in the last- j nameik finding the net. The soldiers re- turne to the attack and again scored through Baskerville. Towards the cloae the nurses rallied and played extremely well, Nurses Hawken. Reid, &nd Hodgens each in I' turn having hard lines for a score. FINAL SCORE: I- PATIENTS—Four goals j NURSES —-One goat

HEAD IN GAS OVEN. I Double Dornestic Tragedy at Double Domestic Tragedy at I Portsmouth. Tilt: disuoverev was macte at ort:siiiouth ou Thursday night of what appears to bo a double gas poisoning tragedy. Nothing having been seen for three days of Mrs. Mainie Hayes, wife of » quarter- master sergeant of the Royal ArMUcrv on foreign Hetvicp. the police forced all entrance to the house apd found li^v dead ill night i attire with her head in the gas oven, and her eight-year-old.daughter dead by her .side. It is stated that Ali-Li. Hayes was ri'centlv disappointed of the prospect of .jc,¡¡IÍ?lg her husband. .„ ) — _——

ON THE MIDLAND. Extensive Nature of Train Alterations. Owing to the extensive nature of the altr- atiotis in the passenger train service arid thp difficulties caused by the shortage of labotor, the Midland Railway Company regret to m- uouuee that their January time-table books, instead of being issued as usual a week ill advance, will not be out, of the printer's hands until early in the New Year. Pending their publication intending pas- i sengefs are advised h) consult, the sW-t time-tables, which will be found ,bosted it various stations and offices cf t-lii corii- pafiy.

.L SKETTY VOLUNTEER BAND. The band of D ( ompany. Sketty. of the 3rd Glam. Volunteers, sat down to a sub- stantial dinner-ft the Central Hotel. Swan- sea. generously provided by Lieut. \Y. T. Turpin. at which Capt. C. E. Poole pre- sided. supported by Lieutenants Harold Per- kins and H. A. Ellis. The hand. nuder its conductor. Mr. T. H. Jones, played se'veral numbets. and Miss Mildir Edwai-ds gave a pfelio solo and played accompanim^itts to I the songs of Miss Doiothy Ilatton Iscpranipf).. Mi#s Edna Jones (contralto). SergI..1. H. Morgan (bass) 2nd Private J. J. J enjj¡\s (haritone). Miss Hattoii and Seigt. J. H. Morgan sang a duet Corpora] K.1. Thomas rendered a flue solo, and Miss Eva Brown t'ite-eutèd a ,sp.¡ ,.¡¿Jing number on the piano. Lieut. II A. Ellis--Brought the house down wit.h his humorous ditties. Vigorous s peeches were delivered by Messrs. F. Mau- ley, T-1. R. Hatton, and others, and thanks "ere accorded Lieut. Turpin and the at- tist^s: J

Is CA N D IN A VIA N GOVERNMENTS JOINT NOTE TO I BELLIGERENTS. i j ON I THE LINES OF MR. WILSON'S. (Reuter Foreign Special.) f -91 COPENHAGEN. Thursdaq. The Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Governments have addressed a Note to tho belligerent countries, adhering to President Wilson's Note concerning the measures to be adopted for facilitating a durable peace. The Note states that' the Scandinavian Governments adhere to the Not of Presi- dent Wilson concerning measures to be ad- opted for facilitating 4 durable peace, other- wise they would consider themselves as fail- ing in their duty towards their people and the whole of humanity. They cherish the hope that the initiative tbken by President Wilson will bring the result worthy of the generous spirit prompting hi* action. SPAIN SPEAKS OUT. THE ABANDONMENT OF CRIME. FLOUTING OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. I (Press Association's War Special). MADRID. Thursday. (Received Friday) The Government ha*, published a Note reviewing the action the 'Government bus taken in regard to the ubrnarille warfare. from the torpedoing of the tiist Spanish steamer, the fsidoro. to the sinking ot the latest victim, the Marques etc Crquijo. The Note points oat that the Uovernment; has always maintained the inadmissibility of the Destruction of naval prizes, <I. cHined oct by German submarines, any | has demanded the observing of the Dt- clar8ti<»n of London of February 26, 1909, notably Article 50, which has been disre- • carded bv submarine commanders. who have j Left crews of sunken ships exposed to the mercy t»i..thfc wa\ es lyr trom j any coast.  t'hc d?st<'u-;tt"n "t p:ixf? it has curit?nde? is contrary to Article 31 of the Declai-ation j (,I London, tut this question will be settled 1 by direct negotiations between the Govern- rnentfe concerned. The. Note emphasises the energy with.] vdlichHII the Government' s demands ha.f! been made, an energy, it is remarked, which had on occasion evoked the statement that the German Government was astonished at the raoieal attitude ot Spain, which was Adopting a more insistent attitude than any other rieutraJ, including even North A in erica. The -.N-otp. textilali- tilat what the Spanish Government does not admit i, tile interpretation given by the Central I Empires to International Law in the de- struction of ships.

1impEN-DING BREAK." AMERICANS GET- TING NASTY. I 1- GERMANY "PLAYING WITH THEM." I COPENHAGEN, Thursday. The dissatisfaction over the German an- swer is growing here, and there is a some- what bitter i-e.alisatioii in. official quarters that Germany ilt attempting to play- with, this country The knowledge that the sub- marine Situation is likely to become more 1 critical m the immediate future. increases the anxiety of the President and his advisers to learn the position of the Allies. 1 was told to-day on the highest authority that the President's Note Nvas intended as a warning that America was left to face an impentiihg break In the relations with Germany, and theretol-e believed tnat she was entitled to know the belligerents' aims. It is also Ltted. that because Count Bernstorff reported the imminence of such > a break the German. Chancellor made his announcement regarding the peace proposals a fortnight before the time arranged for doing fo. He did this in the hope that the proposals would cause a revulsion of Ameri- can feeling towards Germany.—(London "Daily News'' correspondent). FRESH TERMS. ANOTHER WASHINGTON VERSION. RESTORATION OF BELGIUM I OONCEDEQ ? I XEW YORK, ThllT'daY, I Fhe \\oild'.s Washington correspondent h;ls good i??on for heHev'Ttg that President WiJ?-on knowp in a general way Gdma?y's pMce tcrmq. It is id that, approximately, these are;— The restoration of Belgium geographi- cally and economically, including payment I for all damage to persons and property. This Would carry m admission chat the Raid on Belgium was Illegal, i but also 1 cortention that it was abso- lutely -RA.itial oii t,roijnds of niilita,i necessity. The complete e\,a(,.uatioii )f Frai ce. The evacuation of Russia,n territory held by the Germans. It is understood that if antagonism proiv&s too great Germany would abandon her de- mand that independent kingdoms of Poland and Lithuania should bê set up. In return Germany in<31" that all her n.Mies shall re- tain what they possessed at the beginning of I' the war. and that the German coloni es shall be restored. Modified Terms. The "W<?r)d" points out that the?p tct'?f 'repr??t A muffin! in?j'?c.u.Hou of <)i?? originally r c I" f d b- r.,?fn!ajl in Washington (" aily h?pn'? ( OTJ'epc,n c!en?.) THE TWO VOICES. DIVERGENT YIEtfrS OF I GERMAN RESS. AMSTERDAM. Thur.dav. TM "Frankfurter Zeitung" "To the Entente Government* th^ con- clusion of a peace such as tllev wish and have announced as their aim since the be. ginning of the war would certainly not be undesirable, but they know weU that such a conclusion of pealce in the present condi- tion of the NVi r it. not to be attained The Dardanelles. TM Vossiscbe Zettung 'P:Yél ?haU ?ive in, far as we c&u. without en- dangering our future, but will reject afiy demand which jeopardises otlr prospects. We believe that the question of the.. Dardanelles' •rn be Sbhed satisfactorily for tfussi*, with- out continued fighting. Tliis merely de is iiiei, ] de, pen-is on Germaiiv. Austria, Turk* and Bulgaria, but it C., bL- achieved^"

iiABT EDITOR OF THE STANDARD." I The late Mr. \Vitham Hesritirie Mud/ord. I fcrrraej'iy the editor and roan»g^ of the vi Stdhdarti," has left eitifb" valued at I making various hequefftfc, dCêetl left t-hrj-e-twentieth? of the. residue uf his property tn the News.parer Fund.

MUST DO MORE ON I LAND. IVvE CANNOT WAIT FOR; RUSSIA. FRANCE HAS HER HANDS FULL. w* aluet resolutely face the fact that the British Empire, which was not prepared for wa; on land in 1014. and could not adequacy support its Allies during the firM. two :ea¡'S of the war. must play a more conspicuous part than heretofore in the final operations of the campaign (write* OolOnel Repington in the" Times"). The Armies of France are still at full strength and in grand heart, but except the successive annual levies, each under 200,000 strong, and th- recapei,e! the. reserves still existing are not. so numerous as we could wish. Russia ha sliil great reserves of men. and will bring fresh armifs into the field in 1917. but all depends upon their provision with an adequate supply of heavy guns, mechanical transport, and aeroplanes, for armies so badly provided in this respect i as the Russian armies l;av» been in the past are not one-half the value that thev mij-ht I be. A rlefe<'tive internal organ; tiu;i. tud a, comparatively pnor railway system, militate! against the rapid deployment bv Russia of liel. full strength, and though Russian dl"- termination a-coiupluhes njji^cles must not exaggerate what Russia e.» do. Italy j doe? not find it eisy to inciease appreuably the number of her H?d di\'i?ions. and though the mobilisation of her industries procl"eds he ilifiti?,?, a- v)ace, ati d be- sup-,)I-, of fa?t. th? cbaracter of her frontier makes offensive war a g lofw .snd iahorious operation. 1 From Rumania. Belgium. Serbia-, and Montenjgro no more h'1p can Lie gineil iiiar .).t? been ??pu ah'ead'. and from Portugal \'? <"<Min?t expec; a tar.?e contingent of tr-wps. Tt. therefore devolve upon the Brit- t Ernp i Ti. 'Bi-it- i,h ,u?IPIV t?f I'f'- serve manhood th"!) an v (.-f its AUi.p? ex- cept Russia, and hotter facilities for equip- ping and officering them, to takie a much more prominent part in the war on laud.

PRIVATE TO COLONEL. CARMARTHEN SOLDIERS FEAT. Joining tile break cf the war. Captain J. M. Wightman. M.C.. of the East Surrey Regiment. Has bee*; promoted to the temporary rank of Lif-ut. Coio.iel rrnull(,! a bdft,a))on in I'Yano?. Hi" wwinanding officer—Colonel Irwisi. D. k. O. -was wounded in the Somrht- operations in November, arid Captain Wight- ma ri. who was acting second in coauruiiid. r),7 !i tk tou). over the command of the battalion, a pot-f he has held ever since. iie student at j he Sonth Wales Training Collect-, Carmarthen, am- is married to a daugl.tCr o? Mr. and Mt>. in. Morris. Tal'ema/le- terrace. Carr-ai'then. was :i tea' her uridrr the Me:t,hyr Authority when he enlisted as a private in the Irish Guards when the war broe ont. A native of Whitehaven, he is a kè-NI athlete, and captair.(.d the Carmarthen College Soccer team, and was also a member of the College Ri-.uger team ar.d cricket team. He Avon the Military Cross as a captain in charge of a company, in severe hand-to-hand fighting oil September 30. The enemy made a vain attempt to surround his company by str.mg bombing attacks on both flanks.

BAD START IN LIFE. THREE NEATH LADS HAULED UP. At Neath on Friday. Robert hHie (19). labourer. Gnoll Park-road Cecil Ketowskv (16)'(alias Haiti, Bo wen-.street and J. E. were charged with stealing a quantity of old: | Iron, value £ 2, frOrn the Mil la rids Yard. the, tJropetty of Thomas Williams, metal mcr- chant. t" Robert Reed, watchman, dep"os;d to see- | ing defendants loading the old iron 011 a truck. He went for P.C. Budge, who took the lads into custody. The Chief Constable described Davies, the eldest, as a bad boy who had five previous convictions for theft at Neath. Aberavon, and Swansea. The other two boys had pre- viotisly been in trouble for theft. Chairman said it was u. pity lo see such young boys setting out on a career of crime. Each of the hoys had been in the Navv but had been got out by the :jarent« because of their age. Ketowaky's mother said her husband was interned in the Isle of Man and her bov wat her sole support. Each were fined £ 2 or one month's hard labour.

SCENE IN COURT. SEQUEL TO NEATH DISTURBANCE. The disturbance at Neath Police Court 011 the 22nd intf, had its sequel at the same court on Firday, when Owen Harris, collier, Bonymaen. Llansamlet, was charged with assaulting thps. police. P.C. Higginsou aid he was ou duty ut the main door when defendant attempted to force his way into the court whilst a case was being heard. He was a.sked to remain outside until the case was finished, but lH" came abusive and violent and struggled to get inside. He struck witness in the chest and abdomen, and threatened his wife and child. With the assistance of P.S. Davies and others defendant wa.s removed outside, w here he agai n became violent, striking find kicking 1 he constables. Defendant alleged that the police assaulted him. Clerk You were behaving like a mad- nlail and disturbed the. whole court. P.S. Tom Davies (headquarters' clerk) said defendant bit him on the hand and tore the tunic clean off P.O. Jones' back. De- fendarit held on to thfr rail on tnt. steps and his head came in contact with the in-all and the steps. Supt. Evans corroborated all that had I e&n said. Deféondam was fined 30f. nr 13 days.

çÂEÁf fLOO6S UP NdtiTH. I At C.ij lisle on Friday morning there wa* a great, flood if-, i-he River Eden ;md its tribu- taries. a used 'by long continued rain, Thoil- sands uf acies of grayiii. land are submerged, and at ten o'clock the water wa* still rising. r ,)

I The d&¡tth i- reeaii'd^fl of M,r. John H. .)f'?pf. y.??)'?'?? son of Hip late ?Ir. WUuam .r(i. On<prf??-t.p:r)A{" Jkit6n F?rry. aftcr a h'H?f inn??; deceased, who wAj' eMPI-OVed as chief clerk Ht the l'ontwalhy Brick Works. Glyn Ntsith. well ktkSwn ifii the town and was chairman 01 the local Rugby Football Cilib ( OTbmittoe. The remains of the litte Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, wtf^ of Mr. John Davies. engineer, Cecil-road. Gors-einoii, were laid tb rfest fit Kingsbridge Cemetery on Saturday. The bearfcrfc were Messrs. Titus Jdfifes, Wm. Stltton, J. Jcines, and Gabriel Morgans. cin es a I -i- b r i el '-N I o r Chief mounters Mr. John Dhvies (hus- hand). StirgEtlht and Mfs. Sutfon (son-in- j law and daa^httir), Willi#, Ivor. Ernie and Arthur (sons), Mrs. and Afr. Lewill I sister iind brother-in-law), Mr. Jeaikins and Mrs. Jenkins (brother and sister-in-law), Jfr. Thomas Dayies father-in-law), Mr. (rrifHth iXivie§ (brother-in-law). Mr. Rd Ijewist and Mr. T. Marks Davies (nephe\vs). Mr. | a tid .'P?oiiias (hephp?' and niece), etc. TJ? R, M. J. Jones (ZWII), assisted by thp 'rjit RcN- i(I'll). assi.tod bv the IleN-. Thp ircril tii- '"ji-ned ?ut bv Mr; Jo?pHh Jenkins and ?icn )h.üond Jo))?, A.R.C.S.. B.Sc.. F.C.S., a Bvifiiant Llariellyit^. who occupies a bijh positirm in the scholastic profession in Birminghifti. iielivftr^d H Cin Switzerland," the Jtavcir nresidirt^. j

SCOTTISH WOMAN < SOLDIER WOUNDED WITH THE SERBS. MANGLED BY BULGAR BOMB. 111 a clean and comfortable bed. amidst; comfortable and quiet surroundings, lies comely, mother-looking little lady. Her bed is in the nurses' ward of Militaiy Hcs- pital, Camp No. 41. Macedonia, and.the! little lady is a vatient-the tõnly patient of her sex in a camp that has accommoda- tion for 1,600 sick or wounded Serbian men. A few days ago a Royal Aide-de-Camp came to her bedside, and, on behalf of the Prince Regent of Serbia, pinned to her breast, with much ceremonial, the goid and silver Cross of Kara-George—a rare badge that is given for cons; i juous bravery on the field of battle. The whole right side i.f her body, from the shoulder to the knee, was lately a mass of Tern flesh and shattered bene -tlie work of a Bulgarian hand-bomb that chanced upon hev as she was helping the Serbs to clear out an enemy t:?och. JJut now it is healing as satisfactoiily as am surgeon could wish. Miss Flora, Sand.—that is the little lady s name—is Scotswoman. Working in Serbia as a hospital nurse since early hi the pre- sent world-war. her sympathy so keenly aioused by the sufferings and heroism of the people that, when the hospital units we;.? broken up during the great ret rent of Octo- ber-November. 1915, she joliciteci and obtained permission to enlist as a private in thp 1 earguard that protected the v. ith- drawai of the retve-ting army. Before the army reached the Adriatic shore she had woji promotion. Become Sergeant Sands, she stood high in the regard oi both oiffcers and men of the cra« k regiment to which she still belong s. On the Macedonian front she went through the wboie^of the arduous and uecétul offer:j-'ive campaign that began on Sei'tembcr i2. ¡ Over the Tsra. It was in the. decisive ash«:,H on tht highest c.ftsf of Id:" a-ti\c i-areer was t-emp^'rariiy cut snort. ikw thi happened let her rekie in her own words 'We had I'eevi t >i>ucbii:g jll em fh¡¿1>\ pits for houi's. Wiitior jjnpatiefii'y fc.r ;.he of; der to attaci: It was snowing, and ertp .v lay the ground. r w»: ,u: (,f tn. pit in ).¡àj¡ ¡t';l:'ëGl\L ¡,¡cII'Vi!' King as fast as my legs could move-. I -am j always the firet. to leave cover. It is my 'duty a lici-soniii!isjoic/ico offk'er. Put. i unfortunately, 1 ;iltl iriy ine. So it happens that I am generally among the last to ro<h an enemy trench. i Well. had uiarly }•(•:• '/bed the brink of the | Bulgarian trench in ■which our men were a lready at snps v.-jth the defenders. I was 1 one of a, small group of laggard s--perhaps half s dozen—when a well-aimed grenade fell ift our midst. A couple of befides 1 myself were in the radius of its explosion lId fell wounded, but 1 seem to have got most of the. scatter. "Yes. the shock wa.? awful. YMluout think 1 lost consciousness for more than a lfiitjat c,. Nlid 1 was not left long untend- cs d. A yuung officer of my battalion had seen nie, diop. He d iip. towards me on all fours over the snow, and, seizing my | hands, pulled me over its smooth surface to kthe -belter of the rock. "Ye*, the torture of beii.a Dragged by the hand of my broken arm was acute. 1 et it was not very much greater than what I had already been suffer- ing. It had to he brmle, siid the strain was soon Over. Wonderfully doft, iiid teiidei- art, Ssrbiau soldiers in dressing wounds on the field. A co 11 pie of the hl. men of my own company, did me up i? t!i? quid:st time imaginable, and I was goon ]ll1g on a stretcher un ItJy way to the uMrest field bos- ?pit?." time, tO it6;t1 t-?m?t'?'. Thà 3?' Sb'T?"2S' .of them. Mttd- <.? ?t-\?o !'?Hnt?'? hate;ei'to-5 be exhaled. But the ?arge?tis t<'U her she may rMy the- Ije. of her i injured. limbs. She yields to rnne of her fellow-I)at-ionts in hospital in impatience to return to the fight.

"RELIGIOUS DUTY." CULTIVATION OF HOME PLOTS. SKETTY VICAR AT IMPRES- SIVE CEREMONY. On Sunday afternoon, despite the miser- able weather, Sketty Voluute-cr; with their band, under the command of Captain Chas. E. Poole and Lieut. J-í A. JCllis. together with Sketty Church Lads' Brigade, under the command of Lieut. Percy Morris, paraded the streets of Sketty and attended cerviee in the- were joined by Swansea Y.A.D. (7õ) of the British Red Cross Society. in charge of Hospital Com- mandant Charles E. CIEYeS arid Detachment Commander Arthur Andrews and Quarter- master F.d.^ar PowfH. also by the Pare Werri sisters and nu'-se?i. Major and 3li's. H. Perkins, and a large and representative cou- 4r&gatiou. The impresiive iervjee opened with the XaUohai A?thpn). and the singing of "Sol di?'s t<f ChriM. A)'?< S(Til?'')6' }e-ün.and lee. (-I.?j- F, a))d prayers, after ?hich t)? Rev. H. J. Stewart. B.A. (vicar), speaking on St. Paul's proud boast. "1 run a citizen of 110 tnejjfi city." said that was the position of every true patriot. They were all prGuci of the town they belonged to or village they lived in. which had done so much in the- public in- terest during the last two and a half years. That year h;d been one of great trial and 1 agony and he liked to think of it as tl.p period of a iiaticjjj in its travail giNiiig birt,b something groaK and grand. It was wish and will that it should bo brought about, and it entirely jependrd upon pvery individual of the nation to which they he- longed. They were faced with the possibil- ity of shorta g e of whéat, next year. One of the ways suggested w;u.- that, everyone should take a plot of land, cultivate it. and put it to the best possible me under the guidance of "xperts. ill' order to avert h catastrophe < .vfiic.h'would plunge that country into a fear- fuI e^nditicvu. It was a religious dtity. hr- l1!"p. as hI" verily believed, they were m-ed as instruments in i- hand s to go forth nation filled with strengtii. ^nd^wed with power to do away with som">thiiig tha.t struck at the very rot of riviHsrftion. honesty, and 1 "hrifc.tiair.ty. A hymn having sung and the bene- a>tiOlî pronounced, th ■> vieir left, the church ftnd pro. eeded to dedicate thb fifth shrine, which has been placed at, the oorne'r of De- 1 1 Beehe-road. and contains the names of Albert Frtir.<t, Robert, F.Jst' ii. ander Donild Olsfscodine. Ernest Cleeves, George Penco^d Hawk«w. Harry Rcjliinsor; Alfred Shackl-r >rd, and He-rewMrd ^ak^ had hefen killed in action, and 96 others scrvisig. The Vicar *aid that those werft the names of some livirifr ;b the otitlyin,g parts of the parisiij, and the remainder werfe those •,( re- lative or friends of worshippers in Sketty Chareh, r ot living in that parish. The nb- ject 'va* to p coitstanfly before their rfiihds thft fact that, those men were prepared to SacMfiCfc themselves for them, and they were never to forget it. A few prayers followed, and "God Save the King" "M sung.

WAMHtPS 6? TH? FUTURE. An analysis or naval battles during the wal,.Ieaag a. ))a\-al ill E.,iigineeriiig' to the conclusion that battleships must be at Itastj#^ large and probably larger t-hn any c-xis,tin Yes-elz of this (,lass. -,tiid all batHéships ?ro t)i<? !t once ru!?d out. The d?cu?iftn ho" mor?'?'. thAtis.r?erj ship?., quite apart f)?'. ?h?h greater ?):-y- ihf capacity, possess inherent nautical, tech- ui?aj. military a?d ctmomio .tdraui.ag? which rndh th?m ?t'n'in?IcjUv ?uppr?')t' to sfrialU-r.

HAle A FIELD- MARSHAL. WAR OFFICE HONOURS. WELSH NAMES AMONG PROMOTIONS. The AVar Office honours iiicltidesi tht, Col lowing Tf be Fieid-jMarsh il.—"General Sir D(H1,gL,. Haig. G.C.B., G.C.V.O., R.C.I.E., A.D.C Lancers. To be Ceiieval.L] eutei,.ant-Geiieral (tem- porary General Sir H. S. Rawlinson. Bart iX.C.B.. K.C.Y.O. To be Lieutenant-Centrals. Maior-tTcricral (temporary Lieutenant Goners)) S:r L. E. Kisge!). K.C.B. r )'.h.jcL'-e!:E'aI (temporarv (eneran H. S. Hovne. K.C. B. Major-General (temporary General) Sir R. De !a P. Gough. K.C.B. Majpr-G-enerai (tempaia: y Lieutenant j General) G. F. Mitue. C.B., D.S.O. Maior-Gene; al (tpllll)or Lie ntc 11-2 nt- General) F. R. of Ca.;in. C.B., M.V.O To be Honorary Liei tenant-General-— Major-Genera] (temiiorary L leu tenant-Gen e- ral) the Honourable J. C. Smuts'. Officers Gonnenteri with Wales. K.C. B. --Colon",1 .temporary Brigadier General) Ifc>n.s>W Campbell. He n)ari?ied tl-.c, eldest daughter of the iate Lord Swansea. C.M.G.-—D»-pui y-Chaplaiit-General Sight Rev. Bishop Llewellyn Henry Gwynne. h)rl' at Swansea, sjud son of Mr. Rhharc. Gwvnn. of Kilvey. Bishop of Khartoum, To be Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.—-Captain and Brevet-Mkjor temporary Brigadier- Oenerai) H. C. Rees, D.S.O., Welsh Rcgi- mcnt. At one time lived in the U-nelh- i district anu assisted the Scarlets in many games. A.S.O. -Ma.j<-T Codfrev Opn?nt Wa.U<? H?M?p. M.V.O., R. ol 0. A nMr r??tiy? "f th? Vivia;) f«mi!y. t?p hc?i of which 16 Lord Swansea.

CAUSE ANI) EFFECT. FREIGHT LIMITATION SCHEME. NEUTRAL TONNAGE SCARED AWAY. The arriva's oi tyuinagc. Hi bwa/isee, th;f w't-c are siight-ly but riot suiffcient* t.-g lnrfueuce either the coal or shipping market-^ 1 most invejfsting question a*, t-ho just bow i whether the limitation of freight* to France fta-lv will-be iiba::duneo, The irv ? nwny is t?!?»r. thij is t-ht- only course w; attract nvu'cral tomiage. 11". Marshal! [secretary of the Swansea Cham- ber of (. ornrrierct?1 having recs; ved a report from the Exports Comnvittee in Loudon. iti response to his qut-rv as to the exaet posi- tion of the respective (governments con- cerned. and not having the position clear!v | esiabr.shed. is now in telegraphic communi- ,1-fition with the Central Ii?;ecutive in Lon* elnn. arm is seeking to ascertain both the Irench Italian Governments intentions, Nothing df?n?t" i? known in &an?M. "tt. The podiun must be viewed from our for;gI Allies point of ie»r. Anuthe question with them would seern to lie between sup- plie and priet". j The controlled prices have been of eon- siderabie benefit till round—except to s hip- Owners—and as the majority of the latter iu the cargo trade at the present moment are neutr.iis who escape excess profits little $ym- pa thy will be felt in that direction. But with the curtailed supply of tonnage the question is presenting new aspects. IN h iAi ] other mean?, (it is being' asked) can tt, hi ought into play to attract the neutrals, but the elimination of the maximum freight.-? The Swansea Chamber of Commerce have taken recently every step possible not only to attract shipping but to jjeep down rates and freights, and now .that the Government have gH oyer the control of shipping jt if !-pro^abUr-tkajt, with a-more even allocation ol j toaniRge, there will be an improvement In • the Bristol:Channel ports in the New Y^.r. j While this .ontrol is effective, it does-not hind neutrals in aliv way, and is it to be wondered at under the circumstances thai they Prefer mere lucrative freights i to opam and fortucaj than, say. Noithc-rn French ports? Control of neutea's by tbe coal supplies at the world's coaling station* may not. unlikely, however, be a solution U; the shortd^e of freights. AS flhowing the net effect of the liinitat Icit) scheme so fai- as Swansea is concerned, it. is interesting to note the present fixed freights with the highest previously during the W¡H i and the normal peace-time rates. ? P?pnt Highest Pre-Waj Freight Pmiouslv. A'v's«. (Fixed). Swa??Cr) to Rouen (f?r ton). 246 42 6 56  Gelioa 59,5 100/- ?"I TheFe ai,et-plcal eNa-iiiple! aiid ehow at that shipping is now being remu- Juerated on a very liberal scale. What (it is being asked) will be the posi- tion of purchasers to bo.its to ensure coal and other exports? Will they be placet} at the service of I rivals'!

PRINTERS, FARMERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS, LLANELLY COUNTY TRIBUNAL CASES. j The County Appeals Tribunal met at Lhineliy Tow 11 Hall on Friday, M-r. IN. Griffiths in the chair. Capt. Cremlyn and Lieut. Ingrams represented the military. A tailor (19). for whom his employej appealed, stated that he had passed C3.— Ordered to tiiul work of national import- ance. A niastcr printer was allowed two months in order to wind up his business. The appcai by a farmer was dismissedr the man only being partly employed or the farm. A doubler, Class A., who appealed on personal grounds, was unsuccessful. There was an appeal against the d. cision of the military hv an attested Class A man, who stated that he was a. con- scientious obieotor. The Chairman Why ahctuld he go to the medics 1 h(-mir(il v Mr. Jennings: MY". Dan Griffith*. qí:' a ennscientiaus objector, and I Keliev« hf ,i-ent. before the medical horf.rd and wa-v passed Class C3.—Dismissed. A photographer rlas granted exemption on condition that fit, takes up work ot national intlini-faiiee,

OUlk OPTItAlgTS. '■ good yarnr which on* 'has heard,at many dinner tabl^ in the lest i two jeArs, but it. will be a long tin\e..before any one beats this. one,, w hich Mr. Coleman, in ''With Cavalry in 1915." tell? of a sub- allern who had long been in the trenches at PJdegsteert and then paid ;i visit to a Pthé-j officer who had been }í')!lg marooned in the earth at Kemmel :— You will notice," said the Kemmel man. "mv men are blantina daffodils on the parapets t4 hide hope to have the line quite invisible in oours- of time."—"Humph!" said he of ploe,&, steeri. N-ot, are a lot of blooming opiim- ists. My men havi planted acorns in front 1 of our ditch."

On Saturday afternoon the the late Mr. Edward Johns, of ''De-Ia^Beche- j-oad, Sketty, were laid at re^t in the family grave at Sketty Churchyard, the vicar, Rev. H. J. Stewart, B.A.. reading the oommital passages. In the funeral procession were irs. E. Johns (widow), Miss Maude John? (daughter). Miss Rosser, Messrs. Arthur Savage, Abraham Rosser. Daniel Davies, Alfred George. John Wat kins. William RoSKef- (Gower-street). Graham Qriffitlul A. Jam Is (relatites), and several Sketty rt- dehts. Blinds were drawn on Uto iine of route, from t,bii hoyae to the churchy and Air. "Philip Gwyn. Dillwyn-road, carried ou* the fuceraj arrangement*.