The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

PUBLIC MEETING. Barmouth and the Prince of Wales Relief Fund. As announced, a public meeting was held in the Assembly Rooms (kindly lent for the occasion by the Corsygedol Hotel Company) on Monday night. The object of the meeting was to enlightened the people of Barmouth as to how the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund was to be administered,and to aspire, the young men of the town to answer their country's call by enlisting in the Army or Navy. A good attendance came together, but not such a goodly crowd as one would expect. The awful calamity of this War seemed as yet not to have dawned on residents of our town,but the time was not far distant when distress was sure to be felt in the town, like in all places. For God's sake, men and women of Barmouth let us be up and doing now before the day of evil and suffering bad reached us so that we would be prepared to help and succour the needy and sorrowing. The star item of the evening was a speech by Sir Osmond Williams, Bart. (Lord Lieutenant of the County),and by lesser lights it was presumed but as it turned out they all shone out in their full glory. The accademic language and fervour of Sir Osmond; the eloquent, plain, unvarnished facts of Dr. John Jones, J).L. the concise, eloquent and appealing speech of the Rev. Father Wilcock raised the audience to a high. pitch of enthusiasm which gladdened one's heart. THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. Mr Rhys Jones, J.P., who ably acted the duty of Chairman, was brief and lucid in his opening and introductory speech. He said that they had come together that evening to listen to His Majesty's representative in Merioneth- shire (Sir Osmond Williams, Bart), who was looking so well, to deliver a speech full of concise and lucid thought on the administration of the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund, and appeal to the young men to rally round the flag in this dark and dismal period in which we new find the country. He questioned whether the young men of the town had fully realised the position we were in. The Germans are nearer than we think, there is only a little water be- tween them and us, and any day a German airship might be seen over us. Let us be ready he said, to answer the country's call and stand to arms and ready for the foe."—(cheers). We have been dragged into this war owing to us taking compassion on gallant little Belgium England always comes to the rescue of the weak nations, and means to fight to the end and to win, but we must have your help. SIR OSMOND WILLIAMS' ADDRESS. Sir Osmond Williams, in raising to speak was received with much cheering, he said that the Chairman bad put the situation in a nutshell and the reason for the meetings held in different parts of country was to form local committees. He was glad to say that on the 18th of August, when a strong County Com- mittee was formed, over R300 were pro- mised at the meeting tewards the fund. He wished all to clearly understand that there are two associations for relief in the county—the Prince of Wales National Itelief Fund, and the Soldier's and Sailor's Association, but that they will work concurrently and that there will be no fear of their over-lapping. The Soldier's and Sailor's Fund was inagu- rated during the South African War by many good men a lot of whom have since departed this life for a more peace- ful region. At first he was uncertain how the National Fund was to be ad- ministered, so to relieve his doubt be wrote to the Organising Authorities asking whether relief would be paid out according to county subscriptions or according to distress. The reply was hat relief would be paid out not accord- ing to subscriptions but to prevalent distress.—(cheers. For distress in quarry districts such as Bl. Festiniog, Corris, etc., was bound to be more ap- parent than elsewhere. The Soldier's and Sailor's Fund would only go to the wives and families of soldiers and sailors who would also receive a little in aug- mentation from the Prince of Wales Fund. While the National Prince of Wales Fund would not only go to de- pendents of soldiers and sailors but also to relieve social distress. Local Com- mittees bad been formed at several towns in the county and house-Lo-house collections had been made. He had re- ceived from Mr William Owen, J.P., Bl. Festiniog,a letter that morning stat- ing that a house to house collection had started there in earnest by the leading citizens themselves and he was glad to state that over k200 was collected there alone. That spoke volumes for the patriotic feeling of the county at large. The subscriptions received were from a id. up.-(clleers). The backbone of this fund was going to be the working- man's sixpence, and persistence in giv- ing-give what you can even if ib be only a penny, it is false pride to keep away what you could give, because you could not give more. All that we have to do is collect, the Local Government Board is to distribute through the County Council and Local 'Authorities, helped by the representatives of the people themselves who ought and do know where a case is in need of help or not. A good example is given us by a dog owned by one of the Barmouth citizen's (Mr M. E. Mobley) which has already collected the sum of ell 18s. 8d. We can follow suit and do our best so that the soldiers and sailors who go ont will know that their wives and whom they hold dear will be well looked after at home during their absence. It will also help recruiting and encourage our soldiers and relieve them from unneces- sary anxie"uy.- (cheers). Recruits was the next point which Sir Osmond dealt upon. He referred to the eloquent ap- peal of Mr Asquith for men, and said it was important that men should under- stand the situation clearly. He was a little surprised at our Cabinet Ministers not coming out to enlighten the men a little, and that as far as he could gather not one of the other 600 M.P.'s had addressed meetings with a purpose of enrolling new men for the Army. He was sure that if Mr Lloyd George would come and address meetings in Wales hundreds would soon enlist. There was no man better than he in the world for the job, and if he came down side by side with our leading Conserva- tives it would do untold good to recruit men for the services. He had written to him and was anxiously awaiting the reply, and hoped that it would be f avourable.-(Cheers). Mr Asquith said the other day that the issue was such that no self-respecting country can let go by. How do we answer ? We have heard it said that the British workingman does not care whether he be under the rule of Britain or of Ger- many. If that is true, which I know it isn't, we are in a bad way for to be under the heel of the Kaiser would mean that we would loose our Colonies, our best trade would be taken over by Germany, our workshops would be run solely for the benefit of the Germans. It's a frightful idea to think of- Accor- ding to The Times all students who joined the colours will be looked after when they return so that they shall not suffer in the'least by curtailing at pre- sent their Varsity career, but the an- nouncement he would like to see would be one that all our Colleges had closed down for the period of the war. (cheers). How many of the men, now at the front with Sir John French, will be question- ing whether there is anything else but sport to stir the blood of our youth, who lie-abed and hold their manhoodc heap while they pour out their life blood for their sake. Only last week be had noticed in a daily paper a whole page full of football fixtures at which thou- sands of young men would attend en- joying themselves while their brothers across the water were at death's grip with the enemy. What they should do was not to kick football but kick the Germans out of | their arrogance and pride. Truly sug- gesti ve was the report in The Times j that peticoats were wanted for alJ able-bodied young men who had not joined the Army. At our s,easide resorts were hundreds upon hundreds of our young men and women flirting, boating, and amusing themselves in various ways unconcerned while this Country is at war-the bloodiest war that Europe has seen. The very last man in Ger- many, who can handle a rifle, has been called up, and they new have an Army of 10,030,000. It is only that I am past the age, or else I for one would be at the Front, but I have one of my flesh and flood with the fighting force.- (Hear, hear). This is a time for as to do something. All our young men should have a rifle at their shoulders, while our young women ought to be home prepar- ing for the distress that is sure to follow this devastating war. We are fighting for our existence, for this is an English as much as a French or Russian war, our freedom and independence at home, our liberty, and our bread and butter is in the balance. We must all fight or go under, and, what is more, we must win or go undel')-(cheels), and pray to God that it will be the German that do go under. We must remember it is a life and death struggle with an armed Napoleon. Victory is bound to cost us dearly—defeat is unbearable to think of; and now when crises has arrived our Nation and Colonies are as one in backing us up. There are now no classes we are all Britons now, we have not lost our heads in silly song singing, but we intend to see this War through, Only the other day be had passed about a hundred youths sitting on a rock sing- ing Rule Brittania, but they should re- j member that Brittania will nob rule unless they do something better than sing patriotic songs to help her.- (Hear, hear). He had also heard others sing- ing The March of the men of Harlech but the difficulty was to get the men of Harlech to m,,ti-eli.(Laugb ter). To arms Citizens, to arms, so that the taunt of the enemy will be answered by our children.—(Cheers). Sir Osmond closed his address with an appealing piece of poetry. DE. JOHN .TONES, who was next called upon, appealed to the men and women to do their duty so as to see this, the greatest war that has ever darkened the pages of history, through to its bitter, and let us hope successful, end; he could say as John Bright did," Thafthe Angel of Death was abroad in the land, and that he could hear the flapping of its wings." It was enough to make ones blood boil to hear of the barbaric atroieties which is carried on by the army of this bounder of a German Emperor. Bounder is the word that just suits him (great laugh- ter). He talks of God Almighty as if they were twin brothers, in fact it is shown to us that they, the Germans, are a nation of canting Humbugs. Their day of reckoning will come, vjhen after the termination of this war, and peace is proclaimed, the men who are fond of war will be taken away for ever. Our future is in the balance, let us now give a blow to the common foe that will down him for many years, so that Britain will still remain the best and greatest King- dom, and so that men shall feel again the benefit of the British flag. Let me remind you that all can do their share in helping their coon try in this time of stress and strain, more urgently appeal- ing to the young men, money is not all we want, our greatest need is men. Our best and ablest men who are with the army would never think of asking young men to join if it was in any way deter- rent to their morals, instead of demorali- sing the young men it would make better citizens of them and better equip them to fight the battle of life. The day will soon be when every young man will be able to shoulder a rifle, and let us not forget that the saying, that the hand that rocks the cradle. rules the world." Mothers with their influence and power can do much to help to keep the flag of the Old Country flying. Finish- ing his speech with quoting Nelson's famous dictum. "That England expects | every man to do his duty," he sat down to the accompaniment of hearty ap- plause. s The Chapman next called upon FATHER WILCOCK, who on rising was greeted with great cheering. The Reverend Father said it was a most important matter and duty for him to be present. He said that be was no speaker nor politician, in fact we knew no parties or creeds just at pre sent, and said that public speaking must be a natural art. He was glad that others were lecturing on the need of having more recruits for the army. It would be laudable if a battalion could be formed in Merionethshire. Our young men should not flinch nor desertandnob avoid their duty to answer their coun- try's call. It is a noble duty to fight for our King and country. All are called up to do their duty. Let every man this day do his part, for Britons we claim to be, and as Britons we intend to see this war through. Let the young and brave I buckle to and fight for our homes and fatherland. The danger of invasion is great, let us prepare for all emergencies. There is a further duty laid upon us all, whether soldier or sailor, in the army or navy, let us think of them in the brunt of the fight, in our supplications to God. The horrors of war, the suffering of the wounded and of the dying, brave young men who have left happy homes and sorrowing iiiothe4, of husbands who have left their wives and little ones at home is enough to make one's heart break. How many homes, poor in the extreme in our big towns, and even little Barmouth, witi 'nave to do without any help save from God. It is true they get an allowance at the rate of 10/5 a we e k but they have to wait a month before that is received. Would the rich people of Barmouth feel it to part with a sum of money, which would not be much to them, but would mean a great deal to the poor homes, where the fathers and bread-winners have been called away to stand between them and the enemy Think of this matter and help the needy and if you don't get paid in this world God is sure to reward you in the next (cheers). Alderman T. Martin Williams pro- posed a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Osmond Williams, seconded by Dr. J. Pugh Jones. On the proposition of Mr T. W. Piggott, J.P., seconded by Mr Edward Williams, a similar vote was accorded to Dr. John Jones and Father Wilcock. The meeting broke up with the singing of the National Anthem. A collection in the meeting realised over £5.