South Wales Weekly Post

GENERAL CASTELNAU ARRIVES.  SAYS A REUTER'S ATHENS MESSAGE SAYS THAT GERMANY HAS INFORMED GREECE THAT SHE RvPBS TO REACH SALONIKA BY JANUARY 15, PROM IS- ) ING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE INVADING FORCE Vvi-LI, EVACUATE GRhEK TERRITOKX AS SOON AS ITS TASK HAS BEEN CARfcU&D THROUGH. JOFFRE'S CHIEF OF STAFF. UNEXPECTED ARRIYAL AT SALONIKA. SALONIKA, Tuesday (delayed). General CasteLtiau, General Joffre's Chief pf Staff, arrived unexpectedly an d yesterday had several loner conferences with General Sarrail, General Sir Bryan Mahen, an-ci Ad-, miral Jauchez (?). He complimented the commanders on their remarkable retreat. To-day General Castehiau visited the French front, and to-monow he v. ui visit the British front. It is reported that Considerabie enemy farces -I and much heavy art-m?y? es.j?r?eCt i?y "er- man cavalry, axe coding south from ,Strum-I nitza towards G'hevgeli (on the Cheek fron- J tier, near the Allies' line). The Bulgarians are sending towards Mon- eflfcir two complete divisions supported by Oerma.ii forces. I Two Turkish divisions tre marching from Nevrokop (near the Greek- inikcedonian frcntisr) and Kustendil (south-west of Sofia) towards Doiran.—("Dahv Mail.") BRITISH NAVAL MEASURES. RUiviF., iiiursaay. The latest uncensored despatches describe the extremely powerful position prepared by the Allies, also some naval measures which have apparently impressed the Greeks.— ("Daily Mail."j

PREPARING FOR SUEZ. TU RKO-GE RM AN MIL! TARY PREPARATIONS. (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, 1 hursday. Tha correspondent oi the Temps at Geneva telegraphs t—. All the information received hC1.0 tends to confirm repoits of serious preparations xor an expedition against the Suez Canal. Parties oi skilled workers in steel and iron have left Germany for Syria, where a Turk- ish army under German officers and provided witii heavy ai-tillcry is being assembled. The first forwarding siaiicn for the expedition is •Iiustohuk (Bulgaria), on the Danube. There rails, sleepers, locomotives, and telegraph equipments arc first collected, and thence they are .sent ou via Turkey aud,Asia Minor to Syria. Alouii Bey, brother of Enver Pasha, afbrms that the Turks, led by German offi- cers, will attack the canal towards the end of .j 1Á L FIFUiTUFRUiTS OF THE EVACUATION. AMSTEi-uJA: Thursday. It is reported from a German source that 4G,000 Turks have left Bulair (Northern Gallipoh) ior CofiisLai)<imopie, whence they will proceed to another front.

NEARING THE CITY. BATTLE RAGING OH TEHERAN I ROAD. ALL COMMUNICATIONS CUT OFF. (Router's War Service). PETROGRAD, Dec. 25. A k>Jp;ram from Teheran says:- — Russian troops, which had taken the offensive from Saveh, in the south, and E,hi Imam, in the north, joined battle 24 miles from Teheran, at llabat Kerim, with forces comm??sd by the Emir KhJsohnt.f.t, supported by gendarmes who have joined hiV j gu,)Port,o,i by gc:n d arme.,? vj h o h? t ,e, j,)I;iecL I-rls?'I The fighting is rapidly coming nearer to the.city, telegraphic and telephonic com- munication with which has been shut, with the result that at present no particulars of the ijsue are obtainable. I

BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS ADDRESSES GATHERING AT NEATH. MR. T. J. WILLIAMS OFFERS HIMSELF. ■Brig^dier-Gener-al Owen Thomas ad- dressed an enthusiastic meeting at the Gwyn Hall, Neath, on Thursday evening. Mr. W. B. Trick. J.P.. presided, supported by Mr. T. J. Williams, M P., and a number of leading townsmen.. Brigadier-General Owen Thomas said he knew that Glamorganshire had done very well in recruiting, but there were still more that could be brought in. They were only just, T>2rirtiririg- to reanp-9 their responsibili- ties. He could assure them that before the end of the war the British Army would be the biggest in the field. Thny would squeeze the German army to their knew and dictate their own terms. The man who cried out for peaoe to-day was a traitor to his oountry. (Cheers.) isf". T. Williams, M.P., referring to the tinplate industry, pointed out tha.t since the war there had baen a reduction from 18 million to 13 million boxes a year in produc- tion. The ttnplaters realised their responsi- bilities and he. for one, was prepared to do hi6 share if the country would accept him.

I THE AUSTRALIAN WAY. I r Anti-Recruiter Tarred and r Feathered. (r: fR?nhM-a SooÓal Service). MEIBOURNE. Wednesday (delayed). A small party of men inVR thè offices of the pedes' Union to-day and tamed and foajtherad the of the resolution passed at the Tra-des Hall meeting on the 17th in- stant reqn-t-ng trade unicriistg to disre- gard the The viotim v,fl"s bundled into the street, where the poli^ Protected him from the crowd. — —<i

LOOK TO YOUR. J FIRE PROTECTION AND TO MERRYWEATHEKS' I rolt FIRE ?XT!NCUtSH!NB SUPPLY Inspections carried out by thoroughly drilled and t.amed Fire Inspectors. Londoi3 Hose, Hand FtM Pumps. 1 Chamic.,g IKI 5dy xor immediate deliver-. j MERRYWEATHER & SONS, 88, LONG ACEB, & Greenwich.

NEW CHAIRMAN AND I CORONER. I GLAMORGAN COUNCIL I APPOINTMENTS. NEATH AND ABERAYON I SELECTIONS. At a meeting of the Glamorgan County Council at Cardiff on Thursday, Alderman j J. Jordan proposed the election of Ald. Hop-1 kin Morgan, of Neath, as chairman. He said Aid. Morgan, had hud long expedience of public work, and was a man of high char-1 ,icter.-Ald. E. H. Fleming seconded. Before the vote was taken Councillor T. W. James, Swansea, said that had not the country been at war he would have proposed that the time had come to have a paid chairman. With regard to the appointment of a new chairman, he wished to protest against the "unneighbourly manner" in which he and other mem bers of the Council had been treated. He had always regarded the introduction of party politics as a most unfortunate thing in local administration. He failed to see why a Radical was better than a Conservative, or a Conservative better than a Radical. They were there irrespec- tive, of party or ereed, and he protested against the holding of a secret meeting to decide upon such an important matter as the appointment of chairman. Aid. Hopkin Morgan was then elected to the chair. A number of members did not vote. The Chairman, returning thanks, said he was not unmindful of the great honour paid h11ll, and he trusted to receive the cordial co-operation of the Council in the discharge of his important duties. Alderman Hopkin Morgan, J.P., the new chairman of the Glamorgan Comity Council, is a native of Neath. He has to his credit a very long record of useful public service, both in strictly local and in county work, and is unquestionably one of the best- known of our local a-dminisfoators. Elected to the Neath Town Council in 1890, he was chosen Mayor in 1894 and again in 1911. He is still an alderman of the anoierat borough The New Chairman. of Castellnedd, and has been a J.P. since the first Commission of the Peace was granted to Neath. His experience as a member of the County Council extends over a Ion", period of years, for be was iirst elected to thnt body in March, 1898. He has been returned unopposed at every sub- sequent election—the >»&t possible tribute to his capacity and to his popularity in the district. Alderman Morgan holds many other ymblic positions. He is a member of the Court of Governors and of the Central Welsh Board, a Governor on the Council of the Xing Edward VII. Memorial, a member t,?e -"?,lrg Edvr-xd mem--b,cr chairman of the Neath County Schools Governors, ancl the chairman of the Ncrth Borough Education Committee. Alderman Morgan's fine services to education consti- tute an outstanding feature of his public career. Uansamfet's New Representative. rir. T. J. Kieharcis, Liianr-a-rinet, was un- animously elected to fill the vacancy caused bv the deatii of Councillor A. T. Williams. Three candidates for the office of Coroner for the Western District of the County ap- peared before the (Council, namely, Mr. David Llewellyn, solicitor, Bridgend; Mr. Lewis Mevrick Thomas, solicitor, Port Tal- hot; and Mr. W. M. Thomas, solicitor, I Bridgend. Before the vote was taken the Council asked each candidate to deliver a short, speech in English and Welsh. Mi'. Llewellyn avid Mr. L. M. Thomas made neat speeches in Welsh, but Mr. W. M. Thomas admitted that although he un- derstood !be 1 I-(, did not feel equal Zile n(,il on it. 'Hep?']ng to questions the three candidates said they had volunteered for service in the Army, and Mr. L. M. Thomas had been accepted n his group under the Derby scheme. On a vote being taken Mr. L. M. Thomas received 47 votes and Mr. Llewellyn 21. The former waa declared elected. The New Coroner. Mr. L. M. Thomas, the IlPW coroner, is a. thorough Welshman. He was educated at Christ College, Brecon, and served his ar- ticles with Messrs. Tennant and Jones, Neath. He is an able advocate, and has had a great deal of experience in various courts inSollth Wales. While at Christ College he distinguished himself at foot- ball, and suhsequently played for the Aber- avon Club and Glamorgan County.

AMERICAN BOOM IH COPPER. 1 Thursday. The only feature of the New York stock market just new is the strength of copper ..securities. This is based entirely on the tremendous sales of the metal at high prices. Foreign and domestic buyers have taken 200,000.0001b. recently, and the pri-ce advanc- ed to 21 cents 3' Ih. The market us practi- callly sold out, and the price of 25 cents (about Is.) is confidently predicted.—("Daily Telegraph.")

THE LATE SIR JOHN RHYS. THE LATE SIH .JOHN RHYS. :T110 funeral of the late Hight, Hon. Sir John Rhys, M.A., LL. B., D.Litt., principal of Jesus College, Oxford, and Professor of Celtic in the University, took place on Thursday at Oxford, the intenneut being in the Holywell Cemetery. There was a large g,athering of Welshmen from all parts of bl).e, Principality and other pa.rts of the country. A[r. and Mrs. Lloyd George forwarded a. wreath, and the former also eent a special message to the Fellows expressing sorrow that, be could not. attend the funeral. He Kan to be cut of London on Slate brv-inec.s or J be would certair y have been with t hem, Mass Mvvanwy Roys, tht eldest daughter of Si" John Rhys, was in Switzerland at t.he time of her father's death and wa,3 unable to reach Oxford ia time for the funeral

t TWO NEW V.C;S. I FRONTIERSMAN WHO ?II GAVE HIS LIFE. I HOMERIC BATTLE IN THE I AIR. It is announced in a special Gazette" is-j sued on Thursday night that. his Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officers: Temp. Lieut. WILBUR DARTNELL, late 25th (Service) Bn. (Frontiersmen), Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.). For most conspicuous bravery near Mak- tau (East Africa) on Sept. 3, 1915. Dur- ing a mounted infantry engagement the enemy got within a few yards of our men, and it was found impossible to get the more severely wounded away. Lieutenant Dartnell, who was himself being carried away wounded in the leg, seeing the situa- tion, and knowing that the enemy's black troops murdered the wounded, insisted on being left behind in the hopes of be- ing able to save the lives of the other wounded men. He gave his own life in the gallant attempt to save others. Sec. Lieut. GILBERT STUART MARTIN INSALL, No. 11 Squadron, Royal Fly- ing Corps. For most conspicuous bravery, skill, and determination, on Nov. 7, 1915, in France. He was patrolling in a Vickers fighting machine, with First Class Air Mechanic T. H. Donald as gunner, when a German machine was sighted, pursued, and at- tacked near Achiet. The German pilot led the Vickers machine over a rocket bat- tery, but with great skill Lieutenant In- sall dived and got to close range, when Donald fired a drum of cartridges into the German machine, stopping its engine. The German pilot then dived through a cloud, followed by Lieutenant Insall. Fire was again opened, and the German machine was brought down heavily in a ploughed field umr miles south-east of Arras. On seeing the Ger- mans scramble out of their machine and prepare to fire, Lieut. Insall dived to 500ft., thus enabling Donald to open heavy fire on tnem. The Germans then fled, one helping the other, who was ap- parently wounded. Other Germans then commenced heavy fire, but, in spite of this, Lieut. Insall turned ajjain, and an I incendiary bomb was dropped on the Ger- man machine, which was last seen wreathed in smoke. Lieutenant Insall then headed west in order to get back over the German trenches, but as he was at only 2,0G0ft. altitude he dived across them for greater speed, Donald firing into the trenches as he passed over. The German fire, how- ever, damaged the petrol tank, and, with great coolness, Lieut. Insall landed under! great c-ool wood 500 yards inside our lines. cover of a woo The Germans tired some 150 shells at our machine on the ground, but without caus- ing material damage. Much damage had, however, been caused by rifle fire, but during the night it was repaired behind screened lights, and at dawn Lieut. Insall flew his machine home, with First Class Air Mechanic T. H. Donald as a passen-

WHAT WASTAGE MEANS. NINE RESERVES FOR FIVE MEN SERVING. The House of Commons sat till 5.30 on Wednesday morning on the vote for 1,000,000 inoi-e men, asking why the Government had always been "too late." During the early morning Mr. McKenna said he did not ex- pect Mr. Asquith to make his Derby recruit- ing statement until next January. Mr. Amery, wearing the uniform of a staff officer, resumed the discussion on compul- sion. He mentioned one illustration of the "IXj.-Dy results" "which had come to his notice—possibly 25 per cent. of effective re- emits, against the 50 or 60 per cent, which might be i,aised; 9d. the unfit, passed through without exan?a.tion, had drawn than- attestation mocney. He heard of re- cruiting sergeants who had made £ 14 or £ 15 a Gay. Important Questions. oil' A. Mond asked if It was a cheap pro- cess to allow the war to drag on for many years because 01 insufE^iit military power. Surely it would be better to suffer a tem- porary set-back in commerce. What steps were to be taken to enable married men of the middle Cla.s3 attested under the Derby scheme to enter the ranks without suffering grave financial loss, if not rui n? The scale of separation allowances was quit inadeq nate. Wa. the landlord to be allowed to seize the furniture? Was the life office to be allowed to cancel the insur- -ice policy because the nian could not pay JJ40 or £;50 premiums? If he had furniture on the hire-purchase system was he to Iiose it because his wife could nt keep up the pay-1 merits ? In other countries no action could lie against a man called IIp to the colours to compel him to fulfil contractual obligations. Couid not some similar act-Ion be taken nere? Wilat was the Go-. ernm<ait going to sa.y to the single men? Would they say to those attested, "You were f;>olish enough to come in and you must serve,' and to the others You stopped out and you will be allowed to stop out"? "You would have a revolu- tion if any such step was taken." (Cheers.) Guarded answers and Clyptic utterances made up Mr. T&nnant's reply. He could not answer Commander Beliairs directly, I can only say that, the numbers of young! unmarried men who have n')t come forward may be the negligible quantity which he in, dicated he had in his mind." As to what might happen in the event of failure of the scheme he virtually repeated what he said yesterday: "The gle.1,t majority of men outside and a very large proportion inside (cheers) -are prepared, I believe, to do whatever is recommended by the Prime :\li11- irf,er and the Government, and I believe. if and when the Government should find it j necessary to resort to other means, that they will have the great hulk of their coun-1 trymen behind them in Asking for such powers. With *he numbers which would be provided by Lord Derby's scheme he was very hopeful that they would have suScient numbers to bring up to establishment strength the second line units and then to! enabl e them to complete their training, which was in a verv advanced, condition, Our Keeds in Men- He had been asked the amount of re- serves we bad to provide to keep the army in the field at strength. "For every ma.n we keep abroad," he answered, "we ought to have at home 1.8 15 per rent, per month is the wastage at the front." [15 per cent, j per month means wastage of Nearly man in 6 every month, or 1.800,000 men required in a year to keep thp total at the front at J,000,000 all the time.] It had been urged 'by the traders' group that we ought to take "Otmsel with our Allies as to the precise part, V'f' should take in the wa.r. Mr. Tennant referred to the War Councils of the Allies, and remarked The House may have confidence that what is being done is being done upon the combined wisdom of the responsible soldiers of the great fighting departments as well as of the civil heads of the States with whom we are »llied. He promised atten- tion to Sir A. Mond's suggestion respecting middle-cla-ss Derby recruits. The report stage of the Vote was agreed to.

X THE NEW LIEUTENANT. It used to be said in Germany that the two most sublime things in the World were the Coliseum at Rome by midnight and a Prussian lieutenant. Not hi the lieutenants of the present rlay in Germany are as sub- Hme as that. Many have received their pro- motion from the ranks in the course of the war. and have never yet entered the dfi, cers' club known as the Casino in every- garrison town. It is related of one of these that when at table in a restaurant he called to the waiter Waiter! bring i-ng atiotl-,ar knife. I am not accustomed to eat fish and stewed fruit with the aa.m.A knife

SUNK wmmi I mmmt I BIG JAPANESE LINER SEVENTY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ABOARD. So little effect have the American pro- tests against submarine outrages had on the enemy that while Austria is considering her reply to the latest United States Note another large liner has been (as briefly stated on Thursday) sunk without warning '(. in the Mediterranean. i The victim was the 11,000-ton Japanese vessel Yasaka Maru. While on her way from London to Japan with 120 passengers on board she was torpedoed in the Eastern Mediterranean, and sank in forty-nine minutes. Fortunately, all the passengers and crew were saved. One of the passengers was an American. The Yasaka Maru was one of the three latest and largest ships of the line, and was on her third voyage. She left Lander on December 7, and was due at Port Said on the day she was sunk. Torpedoed Without Warning., ine tuiiowmg telegraphic report 01 tne outrage was received in london:- The Ya-saka Maru was sunk without warn- ing on Tuesday afternoon. The ship sank forty-nine minutes. All passengers and crew were saved ar i.Picked up by a French gunboat at midnight aad landed at Port Said to-day. Passengers express great admiration for the skill of the captain and officers and the discipline oi the crew. Most perfect order wa,s maintained during the disem- barka-tioai. which was carried out with the greatest proniptitudc. Arrangements foe the comfort of passen- gers and for forwarding them to their destination a-re, receiving every attention. The passengers on board consisted of fifty-one men, lifty-four women, and fifteen children. The nationalities of the passen- gers were as follows:—81 British, 1 Spanish, 2 Luxemburg, 1 Belgian, 1 American, 12 Chinese, 12 French, 2 Italian, 6 Japanese, 2 Swiss. All the officers and crew, numbering 162, were Japanese. EXCITEMENT IN JAPAN. Keuter s War special). TOKYO, Thursday, Dec. 23. Reports of the torpedoing of the Yasaka Maru have caused excitement here. c BRESLA lJ SUNK." UNCONFIRMED ATHENS REPORT. CONVOY OF ARAB TROOP- SHIPS DESTROYED. ROME. Thursday. AN ATHENS DISPATCH TO THE SECOLO STATES THAT THE FOR- MER GERMAN CRUISER BRESLAU HAS BEEN SUNK IN THE BLACK SEA, AND HER SISTER CRUISER, THE GOEBEN, PUT o u OF ACTION. (Note.—Little has been heard recently of these notorious cruisers. About two months ago it was rumoured that the Breslau and Goeben had gone to Varna. A Times message from Mytillene on August 16th report.ed that the BresLau on July 18th ven- tured into the Black Soa to escort trans- ports from Zungaldak, when she was. tor- pedoed by a submarine. She got back to the Bosphorus in a sinking condition. On October 23rd a Russian official dispatch stated that near the Bosphorus two destroyers exchanged shots with the Goeben, which was damaged. There is no official confirmation of the Secolo" report.) ARAB TROOPSHIPS Reported Sunk in Red Sea. I ROME., Thursday. A telegram from Alexandria to the Messagero states that light warships of the Allies have attacked a. convoy of Arab ships frill of troops off the coast of Yemen, After a brief engagement all the enemy's veesdi-s were destroyed. MACKENSEN'S MASSES HURLED ON FRENCH IN ALSACE. ("Times" War Telegrams, per Press Asso- cdation.) (Copyright.1 PAJUS, Thursday (received Friday). The heavy fighting ha.s not yet terminated in Alsace, where, if the reports ae to Mar- shal von Mackensen's presence in command be true, the Germans may possibly be pre- paring an offensive of more than a local nature. For many days past sound of guns have been heard at points 50 and 40 miles on the Swiss side of the frontier, where no previous cannonading has been heard. This would point to the use of heavier artillery than 11a.S hitherto been employed on this section of the front. Swiss reports show that during the Ia,st few weeks the activity on the German side I has been very great, and them seems to ba no doubt whatever that the Germans have received Vary heavy reinforcemcnte in Alsace. Meanwhile, along the rest a? the front there is growing artillery activity, parti- cularly at Ypres, at Fricourt, and along both 'banks of the La Bassee Canal, on the British front. Since artillery fire on a big scale is of no use unless followed up by infantry attacks it would seem to be giOwing,>more and more cprtain that the artillery preparation in progress is i..he herald of .a. big German of f ensive.

  FLASHED THROUGH i THE FLEET. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FOR; SWANSEA BOYS. There being so many Swansea boys serv- I ing in the Fleet, Lieut. John Hodgens, hoar, I."?,?itinkg officer, with !?is usual thcughtful- I ness? despatched a !?t?aag.e conveying Christmas greetings to them. A reply has been received from Admiral Jellicoe, Somewhere on the High Seas," stating that the kind expressions and good wishes are much appreciated by himself, officers, and ship's companies. It is not generally known that FIKJI messages, as sent by Lieut. Hodgens, are flashed throughout the FJe-et, so that all those for whom it is intended may know tbtl they are not forgotten.

BARROW GRIFFITHS. AberaTon Headmistress Married. A quiet wedding took place at St. Mary's Church. Aberavon, between Mr. John Bar- row, master mariner, Port Talbot, and Mies Magdalene M. Griffiths, headmistress of the National Schools, Aberavon, and daughter of Airs. M. Griffiths and the late Mr. W. Griffiths, headmaster of Nantgwynant Schools, North AValos. The bridegroom was attended by his bro- ther, Mr. Barrow, of Aberavon, and the bride, who was becomingly attired in navy blue silk, was given away by Mr. Bert Bro- kCll;:Î:a\ printer, Higih-street, the brides- maid being Miss Gladys Brokemsbaw. After the reception, which took place at [ Mrs. Gribben's, Snaresbrook House, the happy couple left for Bristol. There were 1 numerous good and useful presents.

MORE RIOTING IN BERLIN. I CHARGES BY MOUNTED! POLICE. AMSTERDAM, Thursday, Dec. 23. Fresh reports of rioting in Berlin, more violent in character than before, have been received from a reliable source. Thousands of inhabitants, the majority of whom were women, traversed the streets, uttering hostile cries against the Kaiser, and shouting, "Give us back oi r "Give us work or bread!" "We want peace 1" A strong police force prevented them from proceeding to the Chancellor's residence, and the whole of th-a Wilhplmstrasse was barred by police. After several charges bv mounbed constables the crowd wa? dis- persed. riots are feare d OFFICERS CHASED FROM CAFE. I CROWD OF INFURIATED WOMEN. AMSTERDAM, T,iur,-day, Dec. 23. The Telegraaf learns from a person who has recently returned from Berlin that the recent demonstration: Germany were, in fact, much more serious than would be thought from the reports that have so far leaked out abroad. During one of these street demonstrations in Berlin, several thousands of persons, mostly women, marched to the Wilhelm- Etras.se, where they gave vent to their feelings before the palace of the Imperial Chancellor not only by expressing their indignation and dissatisfaction in seditious language, but allso by throwing stones into Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's windows. Then the mob turned onv, some officers who were sitting in a neighbouring cafe, and forced them to leave, the place pursued by the yells of the infuriated women, who cried, Our men are at the'front. That is also your place." At first the police were completely power- less, but after a time they drew their ol-ds, and charged the women, who finally dispersed. i ii II.

FORD'S FOLLIES. I A NOTE OF TRAGEDY. I JOVIALITY THAT FELL FLAT. CHRISTIANIA, Wednesday. Mr. Ford has earned some temporary popu- larity by making a gift of c-7,2 OW to the Norwegian students on behalf of their university buildings, says the Christiania correspondent of the "Daily Express." While the newspapers warml y praise his generosity, however, t-he public generally re- gards. it a,s being in the nature of a bribe, and says that had there been no interested motives behind it the present would have been mada earlier. Much bitter feeling has been developed owing to the sudden death from pneumonia of Mr. Lloyd Bingham, a popular American entertainer, who accompanied the party in order to keep the delegates in good spirits. His joviality, though perfectly harmless, seems to have offended some of the more strait-laced delegates, who ostracised him during the greater part of the voyage,, and many of the newspaper eorrespondents in Ford's party openly declare that his illness was due to his public humiliation by th ese persons. I' Let the Squirrel Starve. They even go so tar as openly to accuse them of the indirect responsibility for Mr. Lloyd Bingham's death, and liken their con- duct towards him to the fact that the squirrel which was sent on board the "nut" ship when she sailed from New York was allowed to starve to death in its case. Mr. Ford's party has been entertained at a banquet by the Norwegian students, but it is generally understood that Ford himself paid the bill. The managers of the peace party have made strenuous endeavours to suppress the fact of Mr. Lloyd Bingham's death, and have ev&n my. Lio y -,l Bing refused to provide for a religious service lest the news should "sadden the delegates." Mr. Bingham was a successful theatrical manager in New York anc1 +Iiol hus-riand of the popular actress. Ameli. ilmgham.

WELSH TINPLATE WORKS. iTO BE UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL. ] nforma-tion goes to show that as from the 1st of January all tinplate works in Routh Wales and Monmoutnshire will be taken over by the Government as com roll*- establishments. There are already three works under Government control; also severa,l of the Siemens steelworks. All the hitter class of works will elso be taken over, so that the whole of the departments comprised in the Welgh tinplate industry will bo under Government oontrol at the beginning of the New Year. It is roughly estimated that 7Q per cent. of the present production of Welsh tin- ylate3 is talten up by the British Govern- ment and its Allies.

BRITISH LOSSES UP TO DATE. OFFICIAL TOTAL UP TO FORTNIGHT AGO. OYER HALF A MILLION CASUALTIES. Mr. Molteno asked the Prime Minister what were the tcxta. J casualties in the mam Held bi operations resp?c'tively, d?sHngL.L.sh- ing betWE*D killed, wounded, and mjssing, as weU as thB total casualties in a;U the fields of operations up to December 9th. In a written answer in Friday's Parliamentary debates the Prime Minister supplies the following ifgures — FLANDERS AJND f KAJSCE. Officers— Killed 4,829 Wounded 9,943 Missing 1,699 Total 16,471 Other ranks- Killed 77,473 Wounded ..241.;)53 Missing 52,6S5 Total 371,517 DARDANELLES. Careers— ?. 1, 667 I?Ied 1,667 Wounded 3,023 Mi&smg 350 Total. 5,045 Other ranks— Killed 24,535 Wounded 72,781 j Missing 12,134  i  n Total 109,510 OTHER CENTRES. C)fb,cers- KiUed 871 Wounded 694 Missing 100 Total. 1,655 Other raiks- Killed 10,548 Wounded. 10,953 Missing 2,518 Total 24.019 GRAND TOTAL. The grand total £0: all the theatres are as folio v: — Officers and other ranks Ditto wourded. 338.758 69,54c Total 528,227

FORD FIZZLE. j EXPEDITION GOES I WRONG. PEACEY,i-AKER'S "SCOOT" FOR HOME. Reuter':= Special Service.) I COPENHAGEN, Thursday. The National Tid^ade reports from Christiania that Mr. Ford ha.s left Chris- tiania secretly for Bergen, where he is expected to-night to go on board the Nor- wegian-American steam-er Bergenhus in order to return to America. The official reason for Mr. Ford's sudden departure is said to be that his doctor has ordered rest for his tired and overworked ordered rest for b-,is tii--d aii?-?e .p,diti. nerves. The remainder of the expedition, which the journal eays is ignorant of Mr. Ford's departure, left tc-day for Stockholm. COPENHAGEN, Thursday. According to a priva,te dispatch received here from Christiania, Mr. Henry Ford's pea,ce mission is to be abandoned. Mr. Ford is said to be keenly disappointed with the lukewarmness of his reception and the complete lack of encouragement from influential quarters in Norway. He will return to America with the most prominent members of his party as soon as possible. GERMAN REGRETS. I BASLE, Thursday. I Several German papers, notably the l Cologne Gazette," refer regretfully to the lack of success of the Ford Peace Mission in Norway. They state that many mem- bers of the party have refused tc continue living at the expense of Mr. Ford, and have decided t-o pay their own hotel bills, return- ing to America at the first opportunity.

I SKETTY'S SHARE. I REFERENCE AT CHURCH HALL I CONCERT. SOLDIERS' CHEERS FOR I LOCAL HERO.  The soldier's concert in Sketty Church Hall on Thursday evening was quite equal in Quality to those of previous weeks, though, owin? to its coming in Xmas week, when so many of the men are on furlough, the at- tendance was not so large as hitherto, but the enthusiasm was as hearty and encores frequent. In the unavoidable absence of Major Huntbatch, Mr. Richard Hodgens presided, and called uppn Mr. Alf. Thomas, Swansea, the popular comedian, to open the pro- gramme he had arranged, which he did with ",Follow the Soldier," and subsequent! gave the Cwmscwt Fireman and other side- splitting productions in character, proving quite a host in himself. Mr. Griffith Charles in "Rullo" and other happy numbers wa« a great favourite with the audience, as was Miss Iris Thomas in The Bugler Boy," etc. 1.fr. Geo. Partes sang as sweetly as ever, and the duct between him and Mr. Griffith Charles evoked loud applause. MesErs, A. J. Ea-st and G. W. Murton excelled on the phono-fiddle and mandoline. The accom- paniments were shared by Mrs. Colebrook and Private G. W. East, home from the front en furlough. In moving: the vote of thanks, Rev. H. J. Stewart said they would all be pleased that. Corporal Tom Eutchins, a Sketty boy, who was wounded in Flanders and had been in hospital, was present that evening with his father and mother. He looked forward to speak at length in that hall whnn the Sketty boys came home after the war, but there would be no room for the public as there were already 150 of them in Fla-nders. and an. equal number ready to go. (Cheers.) Mr. Richard Hoagens seconded, and invited three cheers for Corpl. Hutchins, which were vociferously given. —— ————————————————

DANGER." j SHORTAGE OF YAKS AT WORKS. MR. HODGE'S QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. In the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr. Hodge (chairman of the Labour party) asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade wh ether he was aware that the tin- j plate manufacturers of South Wales and MonmouthshiM, with the Harbour Trust, met Major Glasier, oi the War Office, on the 14th inst. with regard to the great shortage of vans and the serious congestion of traffic, which was seriously embarrassing the tinplate trade in meeting War Office requirements, and might cause a tempor- ary stoppage; whether it was decided to adjourn the conference to Wednesday, the 22nd, and invite the railway interests con- cerned to be present; I WHETHER THE RAILWAY INTERESTS REFUSED TO ATTEND. and the conference proved abortive, and whether, as these efforts at the conference were in the national interest and as rail- ways were now gemi-Government controlled, would he take action to inquire into the gravity of the complaints, with special re- gard to their removal. Mr. Pretyman I have not heard of any refusal on the part of railway companies to take part in such a conference as my hon. friend mentions, but I will look into the mat- ter. Mr. Hodge also asked whether the hon. gentleman was aware of the fact that some of the steelworkers, as well as the tinplate workers, in South Wales, had very great difficulty in carrying on, not only because of the shortage of coal, but of pig iron and ether materials, and that that state of things was a grave national danger. Mr. Pretyman replied that he was quite aware .^of the congestion and difficulty there were on the railways, not only in South Wales, but in other places. The Board of Trade were trying to deal with the matter in the best way they could in each indi- vidual case, based on the result of inquir- ies they had made.

I "GRAVE CAUSES OF COMPLAINT." FRENCH PAPER AND THE I SUYLA FAILURES. I (Press Association War Speoial.) I PARIS, Wednesday. In an article commenting on the announce- ment of the retirement from Suvia- Bay, the Journal des Debits says :— The operation had long seemed to be de- manded by the circumstances. The troops were, valiant but. powerless. The expedition, secretly planned and executed, might have r,- g h t ha-;e, given great results if certain precautions had- heen taken. Unhappily, there have been many grave causes of complaint.

SALONIKA BUDGET. KING AGAIN CONVALESCENT. (Press Association War Special). PARIS, Thursday. The Athens correspondent of the "Petit Journal, telegraphing under yesterday's date, says the King is conva-iescernt, but has not yet resumed audiences. He is much af- fected by tine difficulties of the situation. It appears, according to information from a, good source, Greece did not receive from Germany a favourable reply when she as>ked Germany to prevent the Bulgarians from continuing their offensive on Greek terri- tory. The special correspondent of the Peitit Parisien says new movements and concentration of German-Bulgarian forces are reported. At Salonika all is quiet. The inhabitants have been reassnred by the statement made by General Sarrail to the Serbian Consul- General, who a::tked that he might have a steamer to take t-h? archives 01 the Con- sulate to the Pirseus. General Sarrail re- plied he considered such a precaution need- less, Salonika being at present ir no danger. Th^ "Petit Journal" publishes the fol- lowing from Salonika under yesterday's date:—Tt 15 not quite correct to say con- trary to what has been asserted that the Greek railways have been handed over to the Allies. The truth is that all facilities which the Allies asked for as regards the Greek railways have been granted.

A ?y STOP PRESS. 'J I 4

.c:< RUSSIAN FRONT. WHERE THE WAR WflJE BE DECIDED. ACCORDING TO PETROGRAD EXPERTS. (Renter's War Special.) PETROGRAD, Thursday. liie "Russky Invalid," the Russian mili- tary organ, says that everything points to the probability that German activity during the winter campaign will not be confined to what is known as a "war of position." "The enemy," the journal declares, "is making energetic preparations in anticipa- tion of our offensive, and it is possible that, important events may take place on the Russian front much sooner than is generally anticipated. From the beginning of the war the Germans, t msidering Russia their prin- cipal enemy, have accorded the latter parti- culiir a-tteiitioil. if, evident that the srreat war will be decided an the Russian fi\t. "No successes in the Lalkans, in Asia. ',1' i,o- or the other European fronts can h-f.e my preponderating ehect so long as no (ai. :t-?it nas bt".n obuii.ied citiler by ?. .H Russo- G erm&n ix at. "Anything the enemy may undertake in the Balkans or on the Franco-Belgia.n front can only be considered in the light of lemporary events, showing that the time for the solu- tion ol tiic great problems of the war is not yelt."

FAVOURABLY RECEIVED NEW SWANSEA HARBOUR RATES. Opinion at the docks regarding- the increase in Swan sea harbour rates is that as the Trustees deem the increase a necessity there is little to be sail. The rates are temporary, and are not expected to interfere with trade to any extent. Mr. H. Marshall, the secretary of the Swan- sea Chamber of Commerce, states that prob- ably a meeting of the Chamber will be called after the holidays to ccr.-ider it in all its bearings. From this it is not to be gathered that the docks' traders are in any way ad- verse to the new imports. Rather is the idea to co-operate in every possible nay with the Trust. Mr. C. Cleeve-3 told the Fos:" that he thought the new rates would have very little effect upon trade, ard asked what wag a small increase compared with 17s. to 25s. freights for France, and from 20s. to 65s. for Italy in a month. The only thing to do, he said, ,vas to pajr them, and as they were only of a temporary character he did not antici- pate any serious results. "C.I.F." FREIGHTS OFF. No one is quoting c.i.f. freights now ahead, and consequently the charges will be added by the merchants to the cost of shipments.

2JD. ON A LOAF. WHAT HIGH FREIGHTS MEAN. In Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Peto and Mr. Goldstone gave striking ngures oi shipping freights. For grain from the Argentine these have risen from 12s. 6d. per ton before the war to 120s. a ton to-day, which works out. at 24s. a quarter on wheat, or 2td. on the 41b. loaf, the price rising from 5^d. to 9d. There wa.s a story of a horsf-ship a.t Car d -° E which was  .g recon- horse-ship at Card"I which was being recon- structed as a collier, while a collier at Avonmouth was being reconstructed as a a. horse-ship, together with the more historic case of ten oil boats which were turned into transports, left un- used,, and then turned bark into oill boats. In one voyage, said Mr. Goldstone, a ship of 10.000 toils, chartered at San Francisco, earned £ 80.000, or more than its first cost. It was bitterly complained that owners have sold tonnage to neutrals, and especially to Greece and the United States. Mr. Balfour listened to all this with sym- pathetic interest, bnt hie answer was nega- tive. After alii, 3<8 he said. the crux of this business is in Mr. Holt's brief question to M-r. Goldstone u Can the hon. member tell iir w here the Government will finei more tonnage?"

SWANSEA'S SPELTER FUTURE. CHANCE OF A GREAT EXPANSION. The proposal to increase the production of spelter within the Empire with the saft-guar4 of a bonus is being favourably received, an4 as Swansea, is the centre of the industry ia the United Kingdom, the matter possesses considerable interest locally. There are six spelter firms at, Swansea. A meeting on the lines indicated has been already held, and the smelting companies' representatives are understood to meet, again on January 11th, when a report is expected to be presented. It is pointed out to the com- panies that the acceptance of a suitable scheme would really mean that Australia would assure them all the supplies they couid Deed of the raw material, a.nd that the Imperial Government by the bonus system would insure them against the risk of aJiy possible loss. No Mors Dependence on Cermany. Suggestions are being made that spelter works after Thursday might double or treble their plant, and there is an impression pre- valent. which no doubt is not without ineUE- cation, that if absolutely necessary an ad- vance might be made by the 8ta.te on new buildings. It has been estimated that the increased cost to this country since the N,ir began of theirise in spelter prices has been anything between £ 15,000,000 and £ 20,000,000. But far more important than the cost is the fact that. never again must Great Britain be mainly dependent on Germany for a metal essential to many industries in peace and vital in war. There are at present many thousands of tons of zinc concentrates a.t Swansea Docks diverted from German destinations. Swansea has the whole of the spelter works of the United Kingdom with the exception of one.

—— A CONTRAST. Major Winston Churchilii, who went to the front on November 18, visited Prime Minister at 10, Downing-stre^. on Thurs- cav. He was in mufti. Askei in ia ment if the men who went, l^ough the battle of Mons. the men of thl. original Expeditionary Force, could not be given < long ho'iday, Mr. Tennant replied tha, Sit John French had said he could not sparg them.