Llais Llafur

Christ Church, Woking, gave six I curates to the Atmy, and 204 members of the congregation lost. their lives in the war. I- 11

Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., on the Industrial Situation. VICTORY FOR EITHER SIDE MAY BE PURCHASED AT TOO GREAT A PRICE. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., addressing a mass meeting at Watford, said the next three weeks might 'determine {whether the country, having emerged successfully from a world war, could avoid an industrial dispute which, in its consequences, might be almost as dan- gerous as defeat by Germany. It was, therefore essential that all classes should endeavour to understand the situation, and, without class prejudice or bias, should recognise that they had responsibilities which they could not escape. The war had created a demand on the part of the workers for a higher stan- dard of living. They would never again go baek to the old pre-war standard. Their demands could be summarised un- der four heads-first, shorter hours; second, higher wages; third, share in control; and fourth-, the nation to own those things tliaf were essential to the life of the nation, such as transport and mines. The demands were not un- reasonable, but inevitably there would be differences of opinion as to the de- gree to which they could be obtained. "We have also to consider," he went on, ''that there are industries depend- ent and interdependent one upon the other. Let me apply it to our railway situation. If the demands that we are making aro met there is one of three courses open. The shareholders must have less, the public and the traders must pay more, or the State must sub- sidise the concern and in any case you cannot get more out than is put in. DIFFICULTY IN FIXING PERMA- NENT STANDARD. "But the real dimeulty at this mo- ment is the fixing of a permanent stan- dard owing to the abnormal cost of living. If we were .to agree on a basic rate at this moment, with the cost of living upwards of 100 per cent. a bove normal, you are compelled, whether you like it or not, to fix a standard either too high or too low. Therefore, in order to get over this difficulty. you are forced it appears to me, to resort to some tem- porary expedient 4o deal with the abnor- mal situation. But the facts must be understood and fully appreciated in order to make' a settlement possible. I have very naturally dealt with the rail- way situation, but the main principles of our position are equally applicable to others. I say that also in. view of the fact that the railwaymen, the miners, and the transport workers have decided not to make a settlement or to strike without consulting together. PEACE OR WAR? "This, it will be readily seen, may mean either peace or war. I want frank- ly to face both. Peace should be the desire of all. To fight for fighting's sake would be criminal, and when it is re- membered that the fight would be, not against the employer as an individual, but against the State, victory for either side may be purchased at too great a price. "Peace, therefore, should be our goal, not by sacrificing principles, not by for- getting our responsibilities to those we serve, not by prostituting our power, but rather by the free and full recog- -nition that the State is the whole and not a section." A very grave and perhaps a fatal mis- take would be made by either side as- suming that because the consequences were so terrible one or the other would give way. That feeling might easily pre- cipitate the crisis. Rather let them realise that the stakes were so high that they could not and must not make a mistake.

Race to Save Train. SIGNALMAN'S DASH ON FOOT I DOWN THE LINE. From Bath comes a thrilling story of how a signalman saved a crowded mar- ket train from colliding with a number of goods wagons. Rushing along the j railway line with a lamp and a handful of detonators. he just managed to stop the passenger train in the nick of time. He knew that in the train was his own daughter. The market train was re- turning from Bath to Highbridge and intermediate stations. A heavy goods train had just passed Midford station, on the Somerset and Dorset Railway,^ I when a coupling snapped, and a number of the trucks started Vo run backwards down a steep incline. Just at the time the passenger train ,from Bath was diie, and as the line is a single one, a smash seemed certain. There is a long tunnel near Midford station, from which the passenger train j would emerge. When the situation was realised Signalman R. Payne dashed off on foot in the direction of the tunnel, taking with him a lamp and some deton- ators. Meanwhile the guard of the goods train had managed to bring the run- 'awav wagons to a standstill. The passenger train, when it left the tunnel, exploded the detonators, and these, as well as the lamp of the signal- man, apprised the driver of his danger, so that he was able to pull up barely a few yards from the stationary goods wagon. The position of the goods train was suph that a collision must have been attended by many deaths, as the line in on a high embankment. j) «

DEMOBILISING THE DOCTORS Mr Churchill stated in the Commons on Tuesday that the number of doc- tors in the Armv last November was 11,000 and of nurses 23,000. The numbers now are 9,500 and 20,000. He was not satisfied with the rate of the demobilisation of the doctors and nurses, .and had given instructions that every effort should be made to in- crease the rate. Now that the fight- ing was over they did not want all these medical men in tho Army when their services were so much required at home.

Not One Escaped. I SOUTH AFRICAN BRIGADE THAT REFUSED TO YIELD. A story of the South- African Bri- ) gade's gallantry during the great Ger- man offensive on March 21 is now told for the first time. The brigade occu- pied a sector east of Heudioourt, the number of men in the trenches being 1,600 to 1,700. After two days' fight- ing the brigade's casualties were esti- mated at 900, and they had been forced to make- several retirements. On the 23rd they occupied a ridge I some six miles behind their old line. Their new position, they learnt, was to be held at all costs, the brigade being orderod that they should not re- tire whatever the troops on the flanks might do. The Germans advanced 'from a ridge. to the east, and soon worked their way to within 200 yards of the South African position, but for some hours they could get no nearer, though the South Africans, being very short of ammunition, could use their rifhis very little. When the battle began that morn- ing the strength of the brigade was 478, plus a few men of the brigade headquarters, plus a detachment of the 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, or roughly 500 men in all. All ranks had been three nights without s leep, and were in a state of exhaustion from their physical exertions. It was about noon that the troops on the left and right of the brigade retired. An officer and 30 men of the brigade, thinking a retirement had been ordered for it as well, fell back simultaneously, and in a very gallant and successful attempt to stop them Major Cochran lost his life. By 2 p.m. the scattered survivors of the brigade were completely surroun- ded. The hopes of support from the 35th Division had proved vain. Am- munition was all but exhausted, and the position was being held by isolated groups of men who had been under fire for five hours. Of relief there was no hope, but it was thought possible that the position might be held until dark, and that those who still lived might make their way to safety. At 4.30'p.m., however, even this hope was shattered, the enemy launching a new attack from the E.N.E. in thick formation with three battalions of fresh troops. It as calculated that the number of effectives on the ridge at this moment was approximately a hundred. Not on escaped.

Bodies Recovered after 38 Years. At the Clatterley Whitfield .collier- I ies, near Tunstall, Staffordshire, on Monday, the bodies of George Dale (33), married, and Joseph Dale (22), single, of SmaHthorne, victims of an explosion which occurred on February 7th, 1881, were recovered. Twenty- four lives were lost in the catastrophe and all the bodies except sit were re- covered. It was supposed at the time that the explosion was caused by a boy throwing some lighted cotton waste from a blacksmith's shop down the pit. The mine was flooded, the water extinguishing the fire, and has never since been reopened. It was during the development of the work- ings of another mine that the bodies were found in an old roadway.

HULLO! NEW YORK. I Experiments in a new type of wire- less telephony are so advanced that engineers hope in a few weeks to speak between London and New York. f It is understood that the Govern- ment is taking sjeps to compel com- mercial airships and aeroplanes to carry wireless telephone or telegraph installations. The larger machines of both types may have to carry both wireless telegraph and telephone in- stallations, the former for accurately fixing their position at night or in fog by communication with long-distance "compass" stations, which give the pilot his angular direction, and the telephones for speaking to passing air- craft and making arrangements with aerodromes for landing. FLYING THE ATLANTIC. America is putting forth strong efforts to cross the Atlantic by -tir at a nearly date. The flight will be tried in the largest American seaplane, called the N.C.I. It is equipped with three Liberty motors, is designed to carry 31 people, and has a speed of from 80 to 100 miles an, hour. Its radius is limited by fuel 'capacity to 1,200 miles. Navy vessels will be sta- tioned in mid-Atlantic to replenish.

I SPRING PILL FOR RATS. A correspondent writes that to kill rats and mice he invented a tallow pill containing a. powerful little spring I which, being released when the tallow had melted, woud kill the animal in- stantly. He applied for-a patent, but the Patent Office replied that the use I of the invention would cause un- necessary suffering and' "auld be an offence against the Protection of I Animals Act, 1911.

Insurance of municipal property I against damage from riots, strikes, and civil commotions is offered by a firm of insurance brokers. j

A. 4wll, FIAMS, Phrenologist, I dan he cor.rsulted daily at the Victoria Arcade (near the Market, Swansea). ) "Civvies" III V « I D. L. DA VIES, 19, Gower Street, SWANSEA. Gentlemen returning to civilian life will find THE" BON" fully equipped with every-, thing smart in Gentle- menis Wear. Highest Grade Goods without High Prices. Raincoats & Tailored Suits a Speciality. _ø To the Demobilised Geilleiiien. For eaclt SS/~ spent I 7vill present them with a useful article. ?????0??? ? ?O????'c'?? '???'S)?'?<??? ?  COAL COAL COAL! $? ? —? — ?. ? Abraham Morgan? ? GURNOS MILLS, YSTALYFERA, « | Wholesale and Retail Coal Me?cha?t. | Noted for the BEST House Coals. T v BEST Tirbach Large and Cobbles, Blaencae- ? JUP gurwen Cobbles, Red VcinLar?e&Cobbics, ? also the Best Bituminous Large House Coa Is, ♦> y always in Stock and delivered at shortest, notice.£. ?  ❖ ♦> All prices in accordance with the ? Coal & Fuel Control Order. i G .(. *'(.ík;9 IiIiOVD'S ELEGANT FOOT WE AII Ladies' Gents', and Children' s Boots and Shoes )of all kind at the Lowest Possible Prices. Large Stock of War-time Boots, in- cluding Women's, Children's and Miners' Boots. Prices marked on soles. A Good Stock of Fire Cones, to save Coal at Is.lid. each. Special line in Clothes pegs at 7d.. per dozen. Good stock of Ga lvanised and Fencing, Wiio and Staples, Paints, Paper, Linoleums, Floorcloths, and Matting,. Spades, Forks, etc. for Gardening. NOTE ADDRESSES- D. Lloyd & Sons, Ystalyfera, Ystradgynlais and Pontardawe. Before Buying Furniture it will be to your advantage to pay a visit to DOWN & SON • The Oldest Established Firm (over, 60 years) of Manufacturers in South Wales V Enormous Stock to Select from. QUALITY — THE BEST; PRICES THE LOWEST HIGH ST. & KING'S LANE, = ALL GOODS DELIVERED FREE. TEL. CENTRAL 433 I 1 I I —

The Wheel of Fortune. FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH AND WEALTH TO POVERTY. A romantic career has just ended in the death of Mr. W. Brear, three time" Mayor of Halifax. Born in humble cir- cumstances, he assisted as a carter in the erection of the Halifax Town Hall. where later he was presiding head of the borough. Similarly, from being draymnn for a brewery firm, he became ,head. with a partner,' of a brewery of his own. The brewery flourished wonderfully, and in the full tide of its prosperity Mr. Brear became mayor for three year, and dis- pensed hospitality with a lavish hand. The brewery firm—known as Messrs. Brear and Brown-was floated as a company, the selling price being £ '200,000, and for some years earned- good dividends. Then came the slump in' public-housqs; the company failed; and Mr. Brear was left practically pen- niless, ending his days in the humble dwelling wherein he first saw light.

In February Vg 15s. 6d. was paid by the Leicestershire County Council for 7,502 dead rats-3d.. per head. Printed and Published by "Llaie laafur" Co. Ltd, Ystalyfera, in the County of Glamorgan, March 8, 19191 S t