Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

'Heard's Stands Pre-eminent FOR FIRST-CLASS trFIU,171 VEGETABLES, r and CONFECTIONERY, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. HEARD'S STORES, if7, Station Road, PORT TALBOT, m 67, High Street, ABERAVON, Parade, NEATH, N. 4 13, Windsor Road, NEATH.

"WEEK'S WAR STORY British Tars Attack Sub- L marine Bases. JThird Big German Attack Begun. w' £ Althongh the Freneli Official report on '■Sunday merely referred to local fighting, £ in which, the enemy had been ejected from .their advanced posts, one of the eonnneu- jtiibora remarked that since their san- 'i-na,ry defeat on Thursday in the fierce Ettle of which Givenchy wa? the central $mmt attacked, the (fflrmans had made no further effort, though no doubt th-ey were ^preparing for a fresh blow, either in this for some other quarter of the vast battia- iieldo in Flanders and Franpe. The net result of Thursday's battle was that the (Germans gained absolutely nothing in ex- change for their huge sacrifices of men. .They secured a temporary fc-oting in eome 'of our advanced positions at Giveindhy and Festubert, but on Friday night we,re attacked by the gallant 1st Division and jhurled out, our line being completely ro- established. Beyond some local operations, notably at .feobecq, about five miles north-west of ?'?tbune, whefe the Germans were G:narp- !/• repulsed in in various conflicts on Fri- jdtty, Saturday, and Sunday, there, was no infantry fighting of importance during those days. THE END OF THE LULL. This may be taken as the war story up to the week-end. But the lull did not last long, for on Tuesday we had indications ,of what would 1ft forthcoming, and on ;,¡Wednesday came the opening of the next chapter in the war story, for on that {morning what appeared, and still appears Ao be, a resumption of the German offen- sive was definitely reported. It was not ton such an ambitious scale as the attacks pf March 1 and April 9, but the usual [violent bombardment was followed by in- fantry attacks on the whole British front South of the Somme, including the French troops on the immediate right of the Bri- tish line. Those attempts were all repulsed, but .later in the morning the enemy attacked again, end captured the village of Villers- iBretonneux, about ten miles east of iAimiens, on the railway to Nesle. Aroomd this place a fierce battle raged throughout ,the day, and was still going on when Sir Douglas Haig sent his report on Wednes- day night. Other attacks, seemingly less important, end probably intended as diversions, were mode by the Germans on tire north bank cf the Somme and to the north of Albert, l ut these had no success whatever." On ,t-,al"ce the day went decidedly against the Germans, who, in addition to the re- ■pulses mentioned above, were defeated in an enterprise against our positions east of q, and suffered heavily in British raids near Festubert, the Forest of Dieppe, and Meteran. DRAMATIC SURPRISE AT ZEE- BRUGGE. But thq most interesu^y feature of the Twk*; from & British point of view, was ouratt.ack upon the German submarine s at Zeebrugge and Ostend. The Sec- retary of the Admiralty on Tuesday made 1:: the following announcement:—"Early -this morning a naval raid was made on Ostend and Zeebrugge, which are being -zeo& by the enemy as destroyer and sub- marine bases. Our forces are returning, rrnd scanty information so far iffeceived is to the effect that the raid met with a reasonable moasure of success. Wit-h the exception of covering sh"'ps, the forces consisted of auxiliary vessels and cf six absolete cruisers. Five of these cruisers, ^filled with concrete, were used as block .ships, and after being run aground were, Ton accordance with orders, blown up and .abandoned by their crews." ( It was hell while it lasted, declared a, man who was present; the Union Jack .wae planted on the Mole. It is said the ;-experie>noe« of those on board the old bruiser Vindictive were of a character ,which recall some of the stories of naval cutting out under the guns of fortresses Sn old days. The Vindictive was equipped for a landing party and also fitted with f]a me-prc jectors, bomb-throwers, and other devices to deal with the German garrison. The cruiser is no small target, but she iwas put alongside the Zeebrugge Mole as if going to the pier in her own harbour. Time and again the old ship was struck; her masts and bridge were carried away. and much damage was done to her upper "works, but still the crew stuck it n the • dogged British manner until their job r!9ias done. By bomb or torpedo, a 20-yard b-olt, was nu:de in the Mole, and when details come ,out there will be many tales to tell of the work of the seaplane men in the task of observation, etc. A MARINE MISSION TO OSTEND. And as to Ostend, it is stated, on the authority of some of the 150 men of the Royal Marines and Sailors, brought into Dover, that they were in the Ostend land- ing party, and were satisfied that thev -ihad done a good deal of damage to the enemy. Their own losses had been heavy, ;õut they were in the brightest of spirits. !'Although the weather for miles out in 'the C'hannel at the time of the action was ?4ea.r c,n the B,ri.tjc5b.  t g? clear on the Bnti?h F.'i'JiJP"}U"" f¡ thi?k mist :md di''iz?.ir? ? .n 'in ÜH' vicinity of Ostend, and this caused the Uncertainty as to .whether what was Achieved at Ostend in blocking the ha.r- IJonr was thoroughly effectual. The veil will, in more than one sense, Boon be lifted, and we shall be able to add In any stirti-ng incidents to this chanter of the war tory, not'only in connection with our splendid effort to attack the German wasps in their nests, but we trust to continue the tale of defence and counter-attack by our men on land, prov- ing once more the impenetrable barrier of the Allied Armies on the Western front. Thursday's British Official states:— Her.,vy.flg11ting took place all night in and around Villers Bretonrseux, and still continue?!. Our troops regained ground !bv counter-attac-ks, and have taken a num- Iber of prisoners. Fighting yesterday on the whole of this front was most severe and heavy, and heavy camlaltieq WCRO, in- flicted on the enemy by our artillery, in- fantry. and tanks. North of the Villers Bretonneus-St. Quentin-road the enemy three times attacked our positions, and on raeb occor cn repulsed with lofs. Dur- ing the fighting the enemy made use of a iew bnks." The French Ofiicial states that in the course of exceedingly bitter fighting, in ■which the Germans concentrated the whole of their strength against Hangard. the village was lost and regained and finally P>st again, the enemy suffering very heavy casualties. The artillery duel "was very violent on both banks of the ÄTTP. and the French mnde several suc- cessful -fwprise attacks in de Lar^i-gny end Lorraine doctors. A number of pri- eoneiv were taken, J

WEARY, BUT NOT BEATEN. A further realistic account of the fight- ing in Flanders is supplied by another letter from one who fought there. At length trench warfare was over. Both armies worked in the open, and Fritz had massed such a number of men against us that for days his pressure re- mained constant. The German, plan of advance seemed always to avoid a frontal attack. This was lucky for them, for we have a good proportion of fine shots, and were also never without machine guns. Motor machine guns were much employed i on either side. Describing some purely personal ex- periences, he says that for several hours he was walking on the fringe of an en- gagement, with the rattle of musketry and machine guns in my ears." At length 1 came out on to one of the great main roads. What a spectacle! As far as the eye could 6-c-an(I tho road was dead straight—spread one long great snake of traffic, all in one direction. At one point we passed a Chinese labour squad, carry- ing huge loads hung on the ends of long bamboo rods, which they balanced on their shoulders. That night we lay out along an em- bankment as an outpost guarding a string of transport. Soon after daybreak the news cdiue through that the Germans were massing in great numbers behind a certain wood., Meanwhile the padre held a very short service and a solemn prayer, with Fritz massing for an advance not many hundreds of yards away! The-wood, however, frightened him! He feared a trap, and commenced pushing round the dges, so that our lines held him up for several hours. We were then marched to a very high ridnge overlooking an important town, where we began to prepare an emergency iifing line. Then a curious little incident <>ccurr°rt. We heard a sudden buzzing L behind us, and turned to find a German, "axsibpi'jme$n WW if" v only a couple of hundred feet up when he was met with a volley of rifle bullets from our fellows which evidently put the wind up bim" for he quickly mounted and flew' right away." At a village some time later this soldier had his first shave for some time. The bard was playing bright marches in the square. He adds: "It struck one as somewhat incongruous, but quite British, for the band to play ragtime in one part of the village, while shells burst on the other, and the great flood tide of the German invasion swept irresistibly on." Referring to another service that was held, the, writer remarks: The Padre held another service, in which he prayed that our reinforcements might arrive in time—a prayer which was answered. You can guess perhaps a little of tjie respon- sibility and solemnity of these days. But how inexpressibly weary we were. But not beaten. Never accuse us of that."

The late Mr. John Redmond foft estate of the value ofi:5,786, of which £1.877 i6 in England. The chairman at the Swansea Borough Police Court on Thursday presented Mr. Fred Bruton, platform foreman on the R. and S.B: Railway, with a certificate for bravery. Mr. Bruton resuced a little boy, name d Willie Home, from the Port Teimant Canal.

SKfWEN DIVORCE. In the Divorce Court on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Horridge granted a decree nisi to Mrs. Isabel Ann Jane Griffiths, resid- ing at Tachbrook-street, London, because of the desertion and misconduct cf her husband, William Wigley Griffiths, who did not defend. Petitioner said that she married the respondent on March 14th, 1891, at Skewen- Parish Church, he being a schoolmaster at the time. In 1901 he was ordtained a clerk in holy orders. In 1913 he admitted improper relations with a lady—a teacher of music —in London, and afterwards had to re- ,4 hi* ew»jkjy. June, 191S, he t rrsed his'Vi^e pwi daughter out of the house. Subsequently li* lived with the other woman. Margaret Frances Cory, of Elgin-avenue, Maida Vale, London, gave evidence, and the petition was granted.

THE PROFITEER. Mr. dynes, in moving the second read- ing of the Defence of the Realm (Food Profits) Bill, in the House of Commons (,n Wednesday, sad that its object was to impose on profiteers penalties which could not be imposed under the »' the Realm Act Regulations. The Govern- ment wanted to deal with exceptionally ftaricus caees. TJp to now there pad been 7,000 prosecutions undertaken by the Ministry of Food for profiteering offences, and in more than 6,600 oases convictions had been 19QCured. The fine that ould be imported at present could not exceed < £ '100. There had bien instances where excessive profits had been made to the extent of several thousands of pounds. The view of the Ministry was that it was not emffieient to impose a fine of £ 100 or even imprison- ment to the extent of six months. The Bill made such offenders liable not onrv to imprisonment, but to forfeit double the amount of the illicit gains. The Bill was read a second time.

Mr. Henry Williams (42). builder, of Cwmltynfell, passed away on Thursday after a long illness. He had served for five years on the Llanguicke Parish Council and on the Ponturdawe Group of School Managers. Mrs. Williams is left with three1 children. (

I SWANSEA NEWS, The Week's Doings in Town. The Tawe Lodge YTieiting Committee is considering the question of closing the tramp ward. Joseph Marie, a member of the crew of a ketch lying at Swansea, died sud- denly on Sunday aboard another vessel. Forty-two eases of wounded soldiers .arrived in Swansea on Wednesday, and they were oonveyed to the Brynmill Hoe-" pital. During the week ended April 20th, Swansea invested X5,550 in National War Bonds, making a total for 29 weeks cf £ 2,460,030. Stephen Grimehaw, who assaulted a special constable, in addition to being drunk and disorderly, was fined n at Swansea on Monday. At the Swansea and District Bird Show on Saturday, Mr. F. Edwards, Swansea, secured no less than 10 first prizes and one second out of 11 birds. We regret to announce the death of Mr. J. Griffiths, 17, Lewis-street, St. Thomas, Swansea, which occurred at his residence on Wednesday morning. Charged with purchasing a tin of corned beef. value lis., knowing it to be stolen, Frances Ackerden (married) was bound over at Swansea on Tuesday. Albert Haymore, John Beddoes, Wm. Beddoes, and Thomas Gordon, labourer, were each fined 10s. at Swansea for caus- ing an obstruction in Victoria-road. The operative bakere of Swansea nd other parts of South Wales and Hereford, are seeking to obtain one uniform plat- form oi wages, hours and conditions. At Rliyddings Park C.M. Chapel, Swan- sea, a lecture was given on Wednesday evening by Capt. Watcyn Williams, M.C., on Sidelights on Tommy Atkins." On Monday evening Mr. W. H. Summers, Landore, delivered a lecture on his experiences on his visit to France, at the Old Siloh Schoolroom, under the auspices of the Refuge Lodge I.O.G.T. At the Swansea Police Court this week Thos. Barfoot, commission kig)cnt, and Wm. Doherty, commission agent, were fii,ed-Burfoo-t ClO (9,5 in each case), and Doherty C5, for sending through the post betting circulars. Arthur Hill, 4. Beaufort-place, Swan- sea, and G. Roberts. New-rood, Pwll, Llanedly, were eaoh fined A5 at Llanelly Police Court, on Wednesday, for having a match apiece in their possession at a West, Wales factory. The names of two Vivians figure in recent dispatches. Lord Vivian, who is a major in the Yeomanry, is awarded the French Croix de Guerre, and Captain Gerald Vivian, R.N., Lord Swansea's nephew, is mentioned" for strafing U-boats. After a prolonged illness, Dr. J. L. Davies, Llanelly, nat; passed away at a Swansea Institution, l or some years Dr. Davies was an assistant to Dr. E. Evans, ratdioai ofiBocr of buo&h £ or 4ia, Llwmll,4 Union, and also the Rural District Council. The Langland Bay tragedy inquest was resumed at Mumbles Police Station on Monday morning, but no fiirther evidence was forthcoming, and after hearing a statement by Inspector Davies, the coroner (Mr. R. W. Beor) adjourned the inquiry until May 6th. The marriage took place at St. Matthew's Church, Swansea, on Thurs- day ,of Mies Gwenllian Prosser-Evane, daughter of the Rev. T. C. Evans (Vicar of St. Matthews"), and Mrs. Evans, and Mr. A. J. Woodman, elder eon of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Woodman, of Yetalyfera, On Thureday, at Mount Pleasant Chapel, Swansea, the marriage took place between Mr. John Sa-unden. Lowjf, Roberts, only son of Dr. J. S. H. and Mrs. Roberts, Picton Villa, Swansea, and Miss Hilda Daviee, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rees Davies. 47, Maneel- street. Swansea. The man who would save his ekin at the expense of his God and his country, has fast in his not the 30 pieces of be- trayal silver-with manhood gone—gone—' and unredeemed." So spoke Capt. D. J. HHey C.F., in his stirring sermon at Mount Pleasant Chapel, Swansea, on Thursday evening. At a meeting of the Swansea Parke Committee this week it was agreed that certain workmen had been doing work for private individuals, but had not been paid by the Corporation, as was inferred by Aid. David Williams. The matter will be reported at the next meeting of the Council. Under the auspices of the National Ser- vice Ministry, an exhibition of official war films was given at the Swansea Empire on Sunday evening. There was a crowded at- tendance. The Mayor (Aid. Ben Jones) presided. Referring to the seriousness irul solemnity of these days he said that before this push had commenced Swansea had sent 15,000 men to the Services. A hero of tlie\ Old Brigade. who is still serving King and Country in an im- portant role, was decorated by hi? Majesty at Buckingham Palace on Saturday. This was Acting-Divisional Officer R. T. Nichols, of the Coastguard, now nt Mum- | hies, but whose home is In Pembrokeshire. The story of his heroism is vet another proof that the old spirit of Brib:,n diC" hard in her sons. At Swansea on Tuesday, Messrs. Allen, Payne and Co., Cardiff, were charged with selling to Mrs Rachel Ann Griffiths, Union-street, Swansea, a barrel to which a false trade description was fixed, it being invoiced 434 gallons, instead of 37), gallons. There was another charge res- pecting another barrel Deciding that de- fendants had taken due precaution, the lkneh dismissed the eaee. A deputation of Trad es Unions con- nected with the linplate trade saw the Sugar Commission oti Wednesday and made representations as to the necessity of supplying tinplate workmen with extra sugar for the purpose of making home- made drinks largely used by men in the trade. Hie spokesmen were Mr. Ben Tillett, M.P., Messrs. Wm. Pugh and Ivor Gwynne (Swansea), while others present were Messrs. D. Bowen and Tom. Griffiths (Neath). The committee promised to give the matter consideration.. The marriage took place on Monday morning, at Pantygwydr Church, of Miss G. Symonds, B.A., only daughter of Mrs. E. Symonds, of the Mount. Mumbles, to Arthur Bullock (jeweller), Swa,nsea, now of M.T., A.S.C., younger son of Mrs. Bul- lock and the late Mr. W. Bullock, 44, Gwydr-creeeent, Swansea. The service was solemnised by the Rev. A. Beynon Phillips. The bride, who was supported by Miss Essgie John and Miss Edith Bul- lock, was given away by her mother. The duties of best man were performed by Mr. | 1 '"nfiord Davies, of Iiosehiil-ter.rac*. c

NODION AR BYNCIAU YR WYTHNOS. I (CAN AWSTIN.) ,0 I lJrma gan arali a ddarllenwyd a r gyflwyniad y "silver truv i'r CynghoTwr John Lewi6, High-street, ar tiv.-I v .n 15 mlynedd fel arolygydd Ysgol 8ul Capel Gomer, Abertawe, gan Mr. Dd. Jenkins:— Mewn am bell le 'does glod i'w gwei byddwch weui marw; Ond wedyn, 0. mae pawb yn hael Yn canmcl, a gwneyd twrw; Adroddir eich rhinweddau i gyd, Fe'u gwneir yn dorf afrifeel, 'R() i ohwi fyn'd i arall fyd. Ac yn rhy bell i'w clywed. Hen arfer gan eglwysi'r eaint Yw anwybyddu'r ffyddlon, Tra'n fyw. gan addaw gw-obr draw- Y delyn aur, a'r goron; Ca Mr. Lewis arian dray v 1 Ein parch i'r arolygydd Cyn iddo fyn'd i'r wiad ddidrai A chael Da Was ei Arglwydd. Am bymtheg o fiynyddau maith Bu'n arolygydd medrus; Ptry bynag bwdai wrth y gwaith, Dal ati wnai John Lewis. Ni chefnodd ef ar stwr ein plant Ar Suliau teg na diflas, I aUu gwncyd, rhaid fod y sant I Job yn rhyw berthynas. Tra yn y eywair llonn, cvmeraf gyfle i longyfareh fy nghyfeillion, y Cynghor- wyr J. Evan Jones a David George, ar eu hetholiad fel cadeirydd ac is-sadcirydd Cynghor DosBarthol Rhydaman. Dau Gymro o 'waed coch cyfan" ydynt, dau o'r cynrychiolwvr goreu allasai gweithwyr y 010 Carreg a threthdalwyr y dosbarth eu sicrhau i rldal awenau llvwodraeth Ileol ar adeg mor brysur yn hains v hyd a'r Bettws." -4- Diddorol, er nad oes yn awr gymaint « son i'w glywed am State Purchase," ydyw darllen llyfryn newydd y Parch. J. T. Rhys ar Y Fasnach Feddwol yn Nghymru-Bdh i'w Wn(,ud? Atebion i wrthwynebiadau v rhai ydynt am ymwrthod a phob cynllun heblaw llwyr- waharddiati ydyw y rhan fwyaf o gynn- wysiad y pamphlet, a thra thebyg cawn yn fuan eto glywo(I am ail-ymgai6 i rotldi eynllun Mr. Lloyd George mewn gryin. Yn y cyfameer, ceir liyfforddiant am sefyllfa'r faisnach a gwahanol ag\n.ddau y pwnc dvrus hwn ym intirn a rhesyman Mr. Rhys, a gvhoeddir gan y Welsh National Campaign Committee. "Wrth derfynu," medd yr awdwr, "ran- iataer i mi ddweud yn eglur a phendant nad wyf fi nac arall yn henni fod y cynllun yn berffaith. Ond nid oes perffeithrwydd mewn unrliyw gvnliun arall ehwaith. Mae yna Nvy o am'ierffcithderau mewn Llwyrwaharddiad nag y mae llawer yn ei sylweddoli. Dywedaf gyda pharchedig ofn ac argyhoeddiad svdd yn dyfnhau bob dydd n'n bywyd nad oes end nn ffordd berffaith vnglyn a'r drwg hwn fel pob drwg aralI-fi adael yn wirf-oddol yn nerth gras. Yr hyn wyf yn ei honni am T cyiilhrn 'ItwiT-yw" mat dyiftanf goreu o fewn ein cyrra^dd. Credaf m derbyniwn hwn ac y gwnawn v goreu o hono y hvdd inni gyrraedd pethaii gwell yn fuan, a ^•neufl yn llawer haws i bobl arfer h'inan-lyv.oflraeth o'u gwirfodd ac yn nerth gras." YMSON AR Y RHYFEL. Beth yw'r daran glywai'n rhuo Sydd yn siglo cvlfpcyi gwlad ? Plant fu'n anwyl yn y teulu ] Heddyv. 'u gorwodd yn eu gwaed. ] Swn magnejau sydd yn rhuo j Yn y gwiedydd tra mor draw; Plant anwylaf sydd yn syrthio Ar y tide' a'r aswy law. < Llawer ealon sydd ar dori; Dagrau'n treiglo dros y rudd Am anwyliaid fu'n y teulu, Hcddyw'n gorwodd yn y pridd. Llawer tad a mam 8v'n wylo Am rai anwyl fu'n eu co l, Weocli myn'd i faes y irwydr I ddychwelyd bytli yn ol. Llawer brawd a ehwaer sy'n gruddfan Dan eu gofid yn ddi-hedd, Am eu holl berth'nasau ydynt I' Weithian yn y dystaw fedd. pwy a wyr na welir eto. Lawer yn en plith cyn hir Wedi 'u taro lawr a'r fagnel Neu trwy ariboll picell ddur. Torcalonus ydvw'r meddwl, Mawr cw'r griiddfall,-mawr y lief Ond er hyny, ni obeithiwn Cant gyfarfod yn y nef. William Jones, 3, Bennett-street, Landore. Dydd Sadwrn diweddaf ennillodd Alfa I gadair dderw ardderchog Glaramman, am y bryddest oreu i'r diweddar Barch. Rhys J. Huy.'s—cadnir gwerth S10 10s. Cystadleuodd deg o feirdd am y dorch. Fel hyn y canodd Mrs. Richards, ei "briod, idlln ar y llwyian:— Wei done, fy anwyl Alfa, Gwnest yn ardderchog iawn, Ac yn y gadair hyfryd hon, Yn wir, wyt. arwr llawn. Ti genaist gan fendigaid Ar ol y sernff mawr, Ti wylaist ddagraii trwy y r-M Ac wylaist yn y wawr. Parch. Khys J. Hhw6 aiifarwol Oedd testyn tlws dy gan, A gwelais i dy ddagrau di Ar ol dy gvfaill glan. "FiTyt bedd1. w yn dy gadair, A iriül iawn 'th fri; Os ti a hi a'r gadair hon. Y fi a'th bia di! Dr. Gwylfa Roberts. Llanelli, oedd y beirniad. W-1 done, Alfa.

TOWN TALK. To snoke lem-or pay more? —: o; — rr The brush in the Bight was Reatty's broom. —: o: — The three ha'penny letter will be the lazy man's excuse to write still less fre- quently. —ton— It was stated at Neath Court that an old age pensioner was earning 93 a week. A sign of the times! -;0:- There are more CardJs" in the Glam- organ force than the total number of men in the Cardiganshire force. _0;- Neath Socialists have had their violin recital. It's not their policy to -bow and scrape for anything—except music! — A.— An innocent thing of twelve years wants to know why cats sing" in the night and not during the day. We, too, have often wondered! -:0:- This world is a bad old place, but Lon- don Opinion" says that at least it im- proves a bit every time the Germane in mass formation offer themselves as a target. Every other smoker we meet to-day vows to give up the weed. They all did at the time of the last increase in price-M.i some of them kept to their resolution for over a week. -;0:- W, b--m I come home from India." writes a Weet Wales soldier, I will have to go to the Museum at Swaneoa t- sit on th*; stuffed elephant in order to keep up my riding pructioe." 0: Heard after the visit of the collierv medical board to Ammanford. First col- lier: "What were you passed in?" Second collier: C 3, What were you?" C Fritz," was the laconic reply. -;0- There is quite an epidemic of varicose veins among Pantvffynon and Pontardu- lai* mem since the military recruiting ege has been raised beyond the too-old limit of 41. Is it a cause or an effect? -:0:- A Mumbles man, lean, spruce, sprightlv clean-shaven, has been so persistentiv pesterod with the remark, Your torn has come to be called up," that he has begun to cultivate a stubbly grey mous- tache—to prove that he is over 51. -:0- Mr. Tom Griffiths, Neath, secretary of the British Steelsmelters' Union, has a very fine collection of old Swansea china, antique furniture, and paintings. But one of his proudest possessions is a phots- graph in which he is shaking hands with the Prince of Wales. -'0- In the Maesquarre grounds at Amman- ford, among many foreign and other orna- mental trees, is a very large monkey puzzle," one of the five trees brought ■ to this country by Darwin, and one of the largest in.Xke: arr in Kew Gardens. -v r— The brfozine.% of Swansea Sands would appear to develop wantonness of thought, to judge by the outpourings of an orator there, which ran like this: Who built the chapels? The devil. Who made the preachers F The devil." Yet no preacher and no chapel seems a penny the worse for the oratorical diatribe. -:0: The methods used by some allotment holders at Neath to keep the birds away are amusing. Tin windmills, rap", leathers, and, in one instance, an old corset, are fluttering above the small seed beds. Boys, however, have pinched the windmills and left the sticks behind. A rod for <heir hacks when discovered! — to The usual garden 1)a:ties niiite the most delightful secial functions of the •season—held on the spacious lawn of a popular St. HelenVroad medico, will not take place thie -tiramer. Titi, i" fine to the lawn being converted into a vast stretch of the fragnnt Onionen Nelsonius at the special desire of I.c-d Rhondda. —: o: The new chairman of the Ammanford Council is a collier who has worked fifty years underground, starting ei a ooy of ten years. I don't promise you (said he in returning thanks for the hoaour) that I shall conform to the rules of etiquette and be very polite, but I hope always to possess a respectful feeling towards Qvery one of you." — If my friend wouldn't interrupt said one solicitor to another at Amman- ford Court. "If my friend only conducted hi* case prûperly-" retaliated the other. My friend said the defendant was desirable to be called up any moment." quoth the second. I ghould DC. r have been guilty of such an un- grammatical expression." retorted the first. Oh. the lawyers! — XI f— There was a great argument in a local hotel on Saturday evening between two soldiers as to their war records. But they were completely put in the shade by a quiet individual, who threw some povm ,a to the table which proved that he had been discharged from the Army with wound*, after having served in tlt different regiments, and al«o from the Navy after twelve months' service I — -O:— & SWanGC2.-L. A gentleman called at a Swansea- l-.v teller's house the other day and asked for the master." whereupon the mispus said, He's practising his scales." "Oh!" epid the inquirer, T didn't know be was a musician." He's not." said the wife; there's no music about him just now. He's simply judg- ing fivepennyworth's, and those kind of scales take a lot of practice. I can t.;ll vou. -:0.- The kindergarten had been studtinrtita wind all week—its power, effects. eto- until the subject had been pretty well ex- hausted. To stimulate interest, the kin- dergsirtner said, in her most enthusiastic manner, Children, as I oame to school to-day in the tram car the door opened and something came softly in and kissed me on the cheek. What do you think it was?" And the children, joyfully answered, The conductor." -:0: The Right Hon. W. Brace, M.P., once told Awstin" a yarn showing Capt. Hi ley's ready eummiilg up of the Radnor- shire farmer. Mr. Brace was going to preach at a country Baptist chapel, when Mr. Hiley met him and drily re- marked When the secretary asks you what your fee don't say theN is no Î: or you'll get nothing. I know; I I ve been there. Don't say 10s. or yon will shock him. Say you will take a øheèp. and he will agree; for they have plenty of gheep to epsre-but they don't like to part with money."

► v NEATH AND DISTRICT J BILL-POSTING CO. ADVERTISING CONTRACTORS. ownwe of all the Principal Howdimp j in NEATH and District. For Terms, etc., apply- z. MANAGER, 45, LONDON ROAD, NEATH.

AGE GROUPS. I Position of Grade 1 and 2 I Men. An important statement relating to the call-up of men under the new Man-Power Act—that is, men up to 50—was issued on Wednesday by the National Service Ministry. First of all, it is essential that men affected by the new age limit should note that it is not proposed at present to call up for service or even for medical examination men of the new military age who are registered as engaged is one of these occupations:— Agriculture, Munitions, Aerodrome con- Railways, struction. Transport, Mines, Shipbuilding. Next, it is important to note that no man will be called to report for service until after he has been medically examined, and every notice calling up an older man for service will give 14. days' notice before he is to report. For the time being, however, men of the new military age will not be called up for service unless in Grade 1 or Grade 2. and then Men will be called up for examination by age groups. I The first group will include the plen born in 1874 and 1875. "FULL TRIBUNAL RIGHTS." Every man of the new age will have full opportunity of exercising his tribunal rights," says the Ministry, and the tribunal will have work of the utmost importance to perform in determining the indispensability of men engaged in busi- new and industry." Particular are will be taken by National Service representatives ap- pearing before tribunals to see that full consideration is given to cases of direct- ing heads of businesses, and key men of working staffs. I WHAT THEY WILL JOIN. I The units to which men tit for com- batant service will he posted are;- Home Defence Infantry. Garrison Duty at Home and Abroad. R.F.A. and R.G.A at Home. While the auxiliary services at home and abroad to which they will be posted are:— R.A.M.C. and A.S.C., such as Motor and Horse Transport, Remounts and Supplies. A.O.C. and A.V.C. Inland Water Transport and Docks. Railway Troops, Roads and Quarries. Recruiting officials have been instructed that the nece.s.sary men of the new age are to be recruited so as to avoid unnecessary disturbance in essential industries, pro- vided an adequate flow of recruits can be obtained from among younger men new exempted or protected. I B2 MEN IN GRADE 2. Men who have been placed in medical category B 2, and have not been regraded; ,may, it is stated, regard themselves as belonging to Grade 2. Hitherto it has been generally assumed that they b- ¡ -longed to- Gratk> ,3, l>H,t it i» that the experience of the National Ser- vice medical boards shows that B 2 mon approximate in nearly every caee to Grade 2 requirements. When called lip they will, of course, be graded. C 2 is still equivalent to Grade 2.

[, BOROUGH TRIBUNAL. I The delivery of tea, wholesale and retail, may be forbidden altogether before long," remarked Ald. T. Merrells, chair- man of the Swansea Borough Tribunal on Thursday to the representative of a tea firm who appealed for their salesman (40), married, Class C 2. It was stated that the, man was the last of 12 male employes. The appeal was not acceded to. An assistant manager to two important colliery companies, C 2, married (39), was given two months.

South Wales bre'vets at a meeting at j C.'rf!'?. decided not to alter the prices of i [tor. |

NEW CONSTITUENCY I — —— LIBERAL-LABOUR ASSOCIATION FOR SWANSEA EAST A Liberal Association for the Swansea East constituency was formed at a well- attended meeting at the Swansea Liberal Ciub on Saturday aftrnoon. Mr. T. J. Williams, M.P., was present, and, there was aleo a sprinkling of ladies among the audience. Mr. E. M. Lovell presided, and briefly alluded to the necessity for being pre- pared, after the Germans were hapten, for beating evils in the home cam/ Mr. T. J. Williams, who was called upon to address the meeting, pointed out that this was not a political meeting, but was called with the object of formag a Liberal-Labour Association for the constituency. As they knew, Swan- sea, on account of its growth, was now entitled to two members, and ft had been decided that the seats should be known as Swansea West and Swansea East. The latter, in which they wtre concerned, consisted of Morriston, Lan- dore, St. Johns, Cwm. Pentrechwyth, Foxhole, and Bonymaen, to which the East Side Ward had also "been added. It had been his (Mr. Williamas) privilege to represent the majority of the electors of the new constituency. St. Thomas was well organised, as far as Liberalism was concerned, but the other districts were not in such a good position. They did not know when an election might come, and it was but right to put their house in order, and that was the reason for his presence. During the war the two great parties had sunk political differences, but now, he wafc more confidence than ever, we were on the road to victory. (Ajprplause.) He hoped his presence would not interfere with -the unfettered rights of those present, and of the liberal electors, of selecting their candidate when the time came. Whoever it might be, he hoped it would be the best man. The best man would hare his (the speaker's) support. In conclusion, he ex- pressed the hope that the new Liberalism of Swansea East would be on a high plane, and of such a character as to en able the town to maintain its high place in the British Government. (Applause.) Mr. W. T. Morris bavins: been appoin- ted secretary of the meeting, The chairman mid a letter from Mr. W. G. Crocker (Liberal wmt) expressing the hope that the meeting would be very successful. The new constituency, would, he was sure, have the good wishes of every elector of the West- ern Division. While he would have liked to have been present, he felt that he might be intruding as not an elector of the constituency. Any help he could ren- der they'might count upon. Letters of apology were read from Mr. W. J. Lewis, J.P.. and Councillor David Matthews. On the motion of Mr. James Matthews. seconded by Mr. Samuel, it was decided to form an association, which is to be known as the Parliamentary East Divi- jti; n of the Borough of Swansea Liberal and Labour Association. The constitution of the new body, and the rules for its government, were then decided upon. Mr. Dd. Harris was unanimously elected president of the association, on ithe pro- position of Mr. W. Clement, 8ec<!»ded by Mf. James Matthews. Mr. Harris, responding, said he was pre- pared to accept as a temporary measure, but it was to be understood that if a more suitable name occurred to them, he would not stand in the way. He would gi va every possible assistance to the new asso- ciation and to anyone who might succeed him. The following vice-presidents were elected':— East Side Ward: Councilor Geo. Hill, Messrs. G. Grocker, A. Smith and J. Owen. St. John's Ward: 3Iessrs. Dd. George, Rees Edwards, James Matthews, and H. C. Jeffreys. Landore Ward- Councillor W. G. Lloyd, Messrs. J. E. Getting, W. W. Jeremiah, and W. Clement. Morriston: Councillor Dd. Matthew-a, J.P., Councillor D. J. Da vies, J.P., and Mr. John Meredith. On the motion of Mr. John Meredith, it was decided to mark the meeting's ap- preciation of the extension of the fran- chise to women by including four ladies among the vice-presidents. The follow- ing were accordingly elected: Mr<s. Cunniffe (East Side), Mrs. M. J. Griffiths (St. John's), Mrs. Richard Abraham (Landore), Mrs. T. J. Davies (Morriston). Mrs. David Harris withdrawing and seconding Mrs. T. J. Davies's nomination. The following officials were also ap- pointed: Treasurer, Mr. John Lewis, Plas- tnarl; secretary (pro tern), Mr. W. T. Mor- ris, the permanent secretary to be ap- pointed by the executive committee. On the motion of Mr. J. Meredith, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman for the excellent manner in which he had conducted the business.

ROTHERMERE RESIGNS. I Lord Rothermere has written to the Prime Minister relinquishing his post as ^erefcaur of .state for the Air Force. The Prime Minister, in his reply, -ay«; 1 have received your letter tendering your resignation with the deepest regret, but 1 feel I cannot press you to stay, much as. the Government must suffer from your retirement."

LANSLIDE SEQUEL. I At Swansea Police Oonrt on Thursday, On behalf of the Swansea Corporation, Mr. J. R. Heath (bourcugh surveyor) summoned Charles Gustavus (64) builder and contractor, for failing to comply with the notice ernt him by the borough surveyor on March 15th of this year, res- pec ting the repairs to certain buildings in Prince of Wales-road, which were in a ruinous and dangerous state. Mr. H. Lang Coath (town clerk) prosecuted, and Mr. C. B. Jenkins defended. Mr. J. R. Heath (borough surveyor), said that if any more sliding took place the houses would collapse. The Bench made an order that defen- dant is to comply with the Corporation's demand, and to oommence the repairs in three days, and that the whole work is to br, completed within three months. De- fendant was also ordered to pay four Sfuineas costs.

THE NEW TAXATION. What We Have to Pay. j r The Chancellor wf the Exchequer. Mr. Bonar Law, introduced his new Budget in the House of Commons on Monday. Deal- ing with the new taxes, he laid down the principle that it was our duty to bear as much taxation now as would not weaken us in the conflict. TH-E NEW TAXES. I The new taxes were as fouows:- Letters.I,etter rate to 'be lid.; poet- cards to be Id. Increased revenue irom Post Office rates expacted to be £ 3,400,000. Cheques.—Stamps on cheques to be twopance, instead of a penny. Expected increased revenue for the year Excess Profits Tax.—No increase, but leakages due to aale or winding up of businesses to be stopped. Income 'Tax.-Increased by Is. in the higher grades to 6s. in the pound. No in- crease on incomes up to £ 500. Su per- T ax.-To be 4e. 6d. instead of 38 6d. To begin with incomes of J>2,500, instead 0( jC3,000 as at present. Income- tax increases would yield in full year JC41,400,000. Parmers??-To be taxed on a new basis— viz., on the assumption that a ;farmer?a profits are twice as much as his rent. Farmers would have the option of paying under Schedule D on the actual income. The Board of Agriculture would assist farmers in making their accounts. Beer and Spirits.—Increased taxes on beer and spirits. Spirits would be raised from 146. 9d. to 30s. Spirit prices to be fixed by the Food Controller. Beer duty to be doubled from 25s. to Sjfis. per standard barrel. Children's Allowances-To apply to incomes up to £800, instead of 9709. Tobacco.-I)uty increased from 6s. 5d. tef 8s. 2d. per lb. The effect of the new duty would be an increased price of 2d. per ounce. Matches.—An addition to the tax to bring in £ 600,000. Sugar.—An increased tax of lis. 8d. per cwt. Luxuries,'—A new tax on luxuries. There would be a tax on luxury proper and on articles above a certain prioe and on establishments for the provision of luxury. He proposed to set up a Select Committee to prepare the schedules of luxury taxation. The luxury tax would be 2d. in the Is., or one-sixth of the amount, to be collected by stamps. ARMY EXPENDITURE. I He estimated Votes of Credit for the coming yow- at J2,550,000,000, as against an actual empenditure of last year. The estimated Army expezwliteure for the coming yew was XI,861,000,u- Balance-siieet for oomins yo.&r,- lifetimetlbd Expenditure, M,972,197,000. Estimated revenue:- OJti tfifces £774,200,000. New takes. ^667,800,000. I He did not admit that they ought to regard the t due to us by Russia was a bad »» j$ Our (mat National Debt at the end of last yehr X-5,8,50,000,000. The new taxation waft well over 6e per cent, of the pre-war taxable revenue. The financial position of the country at the end of-the current financial year would be fqT better, then was anticipated at the beginning of the war. The dallr German expenditure was 6i millions, tJrKbioaRybh e same as our own, but the.ir I estimate did not include ewparation al- lowances aijd other oharges borne by the State here. THE GERMAN WAR BILL. The total German Yotew of Credit amounted to 6,200 milMone. The new t taxation which had been imposed in Ger- many wae not sufficient to pay the in- terest on- their war debt. If our case were the tiIIl as that of Germany in the sphere of war finance he -*oW. d eay that bankruptcy was w>t far from the British Government. THE LUXURY DUTY. I The Select Committee of the House of Commons on the new luxury duties is to be set up immediately (says "The Times. ") The Committee is to be small in numbers, and its deliberations may be governed by a time limit. The Committee will have no power to report on the desirability or otherwise of the imposition of a tax on luxuries. Its function will be strictly limited to the preparation of a schedule of luxuries, to bo placed in the Finance Bill. It is unlikely that its sittings will be open to the public.