South Wales Weekly Post

IENt,M EACK11^0 lølVJ I i< .t,   I t ? t%  I Heavy Russian Thrust. &??A???&???& &?&A???e I DISCLOSURES hi SALONIKA.  I  I PLOT TO ATTACK ALLIES J I FRANCE 1 FRANCE I IPPJ3SS BUREAU, W?ne-?y, 'C4:j P-1"  ?N The following telegraphic dispatch was ?N received from General Hcadq'?i-ters in France io-uight: — II Wednesday, 9.27 p.m. ?N On the southern pMMCM of our fro it be. ?M nrtlUery on both sides more a-(-ti"vl- tha !15U-:J.. ?t Elsewhere there was normal arLUicry. act,vi t ?ariY this mcrning a hotile at.t? made ?t on one of our advanced posts neat ?lan- ?t court was driven off by rifle ure. M ?N A number of our amopl?uies carried out Jj a successful bombmg raid a?icsc the ?N enemy aerodrome at Dous?. ?t German ?r<')pl?ea to-dav flew aver ?M Boulo?e and dropi?d a few bomb. No j damage was done. j ■ FRENCH WRECK TRENCHES. ,.i!rt:bS ASSOCIATION .;¡J.éè:.1  PARIS, v\ eon cs day, n p.m. ?N To-ni.jht's ?ci:.[ c&mn?tuque s?y?:— Between Soisson? and Rhclras our ar.ih • I lery opened hre en the enemy batteries aud M caused spno?s damH.?e M ?h? enemy works j ?t in the region nortc-east c'? V??y- In Champagne we executed 011 various i sensitive points c.,i td-ic enemy s tionfc ae- M strudive tiring, wrecking German M trenches and causing explosion ot mum- tion works.

u- I I "WAR M VICTORY." — —— t uENERAL JOFFRE t JUBILANT. I "BEG1NNING OF I GLORICUS YEAR." (Press Association War Service.") PARIS. Wednesday. General Joffre has addressed to the; French Armies on the occaji m of the New Year an Army Order ^-iewing the, work accomplished during the past yeari and recording 'he splendid results at- tained. The Generalissimo says I In Artois, in Champagne, in the! Woevre, and in the Vosges. you have in- j I flicted great defeats upon the enemy and! bioody losses incomparably higher than i ours. N The C6fTTiL9i Army sees Its effectives M and rescuroes dwindling every day. t Being obliged to support exhausted t Austria, it has had to sook in secondary N theatres of war easy and fleeting sue- j cesses which it gave up all hope of securing on the principal fronts. i All the German Colonies a.re either isolated from the rest of the world or ¡ have fallen into our hands. The Allies, cn the contrary, are ever becoming stronger. Undisputed ma,sters of the sea. they are able easily to secure; fresh supplies, while the Central Empires, i financially and economically exhausted, now place all their hopes upon our dis-1 tensions or our tiring, juet as if the AJlies, being pledged to tight to the end, woidd violate their oath at tho moment when tho hour of punishment for Ger- many is striking, and as if our soldiers, taring fought a hundred fights, bad not the strength to hold on in spite of mud and cold.  While the OMMY talks of peace w-a j I mly th?nk of war 2nd victory.  General JoSre concludes by offering his  a.ffectionat Irishes to the Ia?.1- th,-? ? I beginning of a year which N? I! be glorious N fcr France.

I HORDES OF BAR- j BARIANS." I THE COMING CAMPAIGN IN EAST AFRICA. I GENERAL SMUTS ON THE NEW TASK. I (Prese Association War POTCHEFSTROOM, Wednesday (received Thuracla.y). General Smuts reviewing the troops hene, commented on the arduousnees of the forth- coming campaign in East Africa, the import- ance of which, he said, was illustrated by the fact that the Imperial Government had se-nt General Sir Horace Smith-Dc rri en to com- mand the expedition. General Smuts said he was sorry he per ecnally was unable to go, but Ceatia.1 Crewe would join General Smith Dorrien s staff. This campaign would rest almost entirely w,h the infantry who would probably ret I As. much fighting as would be goad for their health, and ne hoped they would Jrnk:, a good, sure job of it. He was very *4ad that this special task had been allotted ?I South Africa ,md R.hodp?.M, who w?ro versed in this sort of warfare. They were going to fight hord es of barbarians, scienti- fically trained by German officers. He con- gratulated the men for coming forv, ard in a, magnificent manner, and he wished •hem the very best of luck Addres»ii>e the reinforcements For the Overseas contingents, teneral Smuts a.31œ th?m to take a mpss?ge ?D those alrp?y d?&p?t?h?d to the front, jelling them that they should do their OOiot to rid new lustre to thp name of South Africa. General Smuts added that if in the coming Jdonths moie men were necessary no appeal would be made n vain to the Union Govorn- ment or to South Africa.

At Swansea Police Court on Thursday, J. lbomas Meese, cook. was charged with bøjng <? absentee from H.M.S. on January 1st. j-a wca ordered to be taken te-e-k.

STRGEITHANEVER | I M GERMAN EXPERTS ADMISSION. DOMINATION OF BRITISH NAVY. I (Press As-v>at:on War Sen ice.) LKDAM, Wednesday. I;i a. review of the naval situation in the Berliner Tageblatt," Captain Peishis says — During the past year the significance of sea power was almost entirely eliminated in the  In re-- I itv, eyea of t.h? superficial observer. In rcaJity, hUWe\êr, th?. a,'et.s, though behind the scenes, played many a significant role. In the IN ortli !<ea, without abandoning its strategy of aloofness, British Fleet exercised Domination over the commercial routes, not oniy of Germany, bUL d Holland and th Scandinavian States, and the pressure of this domination made 'fself fdt on cur economic liiand on the pos:-ibiEty of ob{..a.;?m; fc??dstuS? a,nd raw mat-en.J from neutral countries. Our Fleet played a simi- l1r role with regard to Russia by its domi- nt!0n of th-e B??ii'. Referring to submarines, Captain Persiu3 says:— Their acrh .i.ly duri. ng pe rt of the year was followed with great interest. In the North j a and in British water-■ German U beats, especially in the first half of the year, jeopardised the enemy, pa-rcfieulariy British commercial shipping. In the Mediter- ranean during the last few months the com- meree of the Allies has been considerably affected by German and Austrian U boats, and in the Baltic British suluiarines were able to boast of some SUCCf. A ft-er expressing the optokflii that the entire elimination of the submarine danger requires a decisive buow by the hostile fleet whi<'h Ins not yet been attemptEd, and add- j ing,,Ihat iivwiew of the strength c? t'he in -;?h z??t -?' e. wof th-e strengtli- c?,l t-l-ie Germany cannot thKik of provoking a ?. k Dt provoklrp, a battie on the ol)en sea, thy writer ppf-ic -eds Regarding the effectiveness of our U baits j in trade war, one hears frequently nowa ifiys viows that bear little resemblance to vfeiv-s uttered a -eax Then, hopes were qiwi.ivagant owing to disregard of facts wlii-ch the informed expert, indeed. observed, b'lt v:hich remained concealed from the layman. Captain Persiua then gives figures pur- porting to Ix; derived from good authority regarding Losses cau&?M3 to Aiii-ed shipping by submarines and estimating British losses of 5.9 per cent. of the entire British merchant fleet before the war. He rays: must, however, into consideration the freth supply of shins as the result of sedulous British industry in the docks, a.s well as of purchase of neutral and seizure of en.emy merchant vessels. It is well not to estimate too hiphiy the losses of our enemies hitherto in merchant shroping. Captain Persms then refers to lists of war -.es:e1 s- and continues:-— In this respect also '1, "lemy has been able to fill up gaps raprHy. One must", therefore, clearly understand that cur enemies to-day are considerably stronger at sea than they weire at the outbreak of war.

ANOTHER IRjSH ELIZABETH." SCHOONER OVERDUE FROM SWANSEA. Fe-ar" are entertained at Swansea re- garding tho safety of the schooner ihzabeth Alice, which left Swansea on. December 18ch for Fecamp vivh coals. j| Nothing has since been hoard of her. She carries a crew of six. The skipper is Capt. Doyle, who is well-known a,ti Swansea. The crew all hail from Ireland.

JACK'S REMINDER. Swansea Boys with the Grand Fleet. "A Swansea Boy on H.M.S. i (c/O Q.P.O., London)" writes -—Just a few lines to ask if you could find a little room to put this in lo?r paper, which I get sent me j very nearly every week. All F can see is J about "Tommy m the Trendies." Weil, I want to ask a fair question on behalf of the boys. I have been myself on tile saas doing my bit. Not only that; many Swansea, boys are in the Grand Fleet and on mine-layers trawler?. don't ask for anything, only a little thought. Who are getting the Tommies Siifelj across all parts oi tjit-r globe and keèp- ing your shores safe and clear in aJl sorts of weather—rain, snow, or I think this is all now. Wishing you all a New Year.

GERMANS BACK FROM SERBIA. (Press Association War Special). PARIS, Thursday. The special correspondent of the Petit Parisiej; at Petrograd telegraphs under: yesterday's date:— The ops-r.itions on tho south front con- j tinue to develop with success for the Russians. In t-he Bakovina the enemy is strongly organised from a clefensdve point of view. The Germans haw, in fact, dam-iai, !i,vj hastily thither part of the armies of Generals Von Callwifcz and Dewerde, which have been withdrawn from Serbia. In spite' of that, the Russians retain the advantago aid are making privg-ws.

MEALBER FOE SWAN SEA. Sir Alfred MOIKI, M.P., will address a public meeting at the Albert Hall, jjiwansca, Ion Jaauary 14tb, on the present situation.

I RUSSIA I" FLIHICUS I —- FUETHER POSITIONS SEIZED, I CONTINUED RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. I I (Press Association War Service). PJLTROGRAD. Wednesday. ?e Russian communique to-daN7 aY1\ :??uth of hhn Pripet region at Ejccuksot?- i,,uth of t'?i-) Ptiprt reg,.on at l?-oui-,wtz- In the re?mn of the Middle Strypa cur units consohdat-ed themselves on the gro:ddi I they had previously captured. Enemy at- tempts to perta.lae lost fortifications were re. puxsed with hean' Icpses to the efmemy. Non-h-eaat of C?rnowitx tmi.ms fighting '"outumns. <?ur iTOcps have seized lurjhor portions of' the enemy s positions. Hostile counter-attacks were beaten back, and our fire io?icued heavy losses cn the enemy. In this region one of our units ca.ptnd 18 ofnoprs, l,On wldien., and fw?r ma0hiue- guns. Caucasian Front.—In the coastal rrgion, on the River ^Vj'kh:>.ve, oar fire dispersed bodies of Turks concentrated in the nesgh- b'?u'JMod of the village of patadjur. ?'? o(>d o' tlip, vilia,e c)f Plt,,idju.i-. VN?IB honis.es m several districts. I RUSSiANS EiGHT LiNES DEEP. I ispecial.) AMSTERDAM, Wednesaay. j The communique issued in Vienia to-day says :— In Eastern Galicia and on the Buko"\V:na frontier our in^p^ were yesteiday again victorious at all points. j On the Bessarabian front during the fiist; hours of the afternoon the enemy again ooened very strong artideiy fire and once more an infantrv attack was directed against our positions near Tcporouti and at the frontier o; the Empire east of Racanize. The enemy ad vanced at some points in eight lines of attack close to our positions. His columns collapsed on reaching our ob- stacles, and the majority of them e\ea sooner, suSpnr.g great losses. Cr&at?n and | 3m¡th Hungarian regiments distmguishsd themselves by their tenacious resistance under most difficult conditions. i The Russia-n attack agiinst the bridge- head n°ai Uscieczko and in the Jazlowice sector shared a suniiar fate to those near Tope routs. Further north no important event3 oc- Icurred. IBACK ON SECOND LINE, I ENEMY DEFINITELY ON DEFENSIVE. ("limes" War Telegram, per Press Associa- tion.) [Gcpyrirhv. i PETROGRJU), Wednesday. (Receive d Thursday.) Though Austrr. uerman commiwaques claim that there is ro change in the southern situation and announce the impregnability of the defences of the Czernowitz front, the fact remains that we have pieiced the dispo- sitions which occupied the trenches in the immediate vicinity of the town, compelling the enemy to fall back to their secondary line and definitely assume the defensive. The enemy's losses i:1 th:.se 'engagements were enormous, as also in the neighbourhood of Cnartovysk, whore he was pressed back westward lor several miles. Steady advance is 1:5U recorded in the middle readies of the Stiypa.

 ITALY J" —— F-I a 7, tzc 0 a TD 'VE.n nb[jif1iÎlU gsjH I ¡a¡ U i 1 JxP" -————————- DEADLY ITALIAN I GUliS. FRUSTRATE AUSTRIAN j OPERATIONS. (Press Association War Special.) !a- ) Assoc HOlE, Wednesday. The communique issued to-day says :— ) On January 3rd two Austrian aeroplanes ( new towards Verona, but ,ere beaten back by the fire of cur anti-aircraft batteries be- fore reaching their objective. They tied In a l10rthcrh directicn and dropped some bombs which caused no damage. In the z?np of Mont Croce (Val Cornel?) the ocneentrated fITe of ,ur Artiriery in a camp in the valley Fischlein forced al large enemy detachment to retreat in the direction of Moos. In the Caniia zone the fire from our bat- eries demolished some trenchefi and put their defenders to flight. On the Carso pliteau the enemy once more attacked our positions on Monte San Michele, but were again repulsed, sustain- ing losses. Thirty prisoners were captured in the dar- ing raids by our patrols. I (Sign-rd) CADORNA.

PRICES OF SPIRITS AT SWANSEA, j In consequence of the immature Spirits Bil &fi i the comntandeftring by the Government of large quantities of rum for dispakh to the trpops, and the shortage of production, a meeting of licensed victuallers wiill shortly take place "t Swansea'for the purpose of raising the prices.

====-==- Czernowitz. the capital of the Biikorina, I had already changed hands four times since ■(he.war b^gnr. 'The Rnssiars took possession d it. on September 5, 1914, and evacuated it c? tbc 22Dd o? the fo!!owr? month. The Austrians ten h«ld it, to November 24, 114. a.nd the Hn-^i-in tenure which folloaved lasted j until Febniarj' 17, 1915.

I AMERICA., I I IEXECIJTIDN I DEMANDEBIQ ■I > I I. ——. SENSATIONAL U.S. j REPORT. RUMOUR IN WASH- INGTON. NEW YORK, Tuesday. 1 THE WASHINGTON CORRKSPON-j DENT OF THE "POST" DECLARES II PROBABLE THAT IN DEALIG WITH THE SINKING OF THE PERSIA I THE UNITED STATES WILL GO AI j STEP FURTHER THAN HITHERTO I BY DEMANDING THE EXECUTION j OF THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER j i RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTRAGE. This the correspondent asserts would be in line with precedent, smoe the Go r- ernment of the United States regards the case as one of murder of an American Consular officer. The same correspondent says f-hat President Wilson, in conversation with Senator Stona, told the latter that in his belief it would not be wise for "grave international issues" to be disoussed at present in Congress. I As soon as the facts in the Persia case had been obtained however, the Execu-, tive branch would act firmly and de-II hberateJy and keep Congress advised.

^01 THE MM MS mm 1 STORY OF THE •• NICOSIAN." t" STEAMER" WITH AD- 1 JUSTABLE BULWARKS. ( When the Cheers II j Game. The following story of the sinking of tie submarine, which sunk the Arabic was received by the London Daily News from an officer of -the Nieosian on the arrival 01 that vessel in port. She bore extensive j traces of her encounter w.th the U boa-fc; i At the time the Censor would not aii.i'">w the story to be told, but on Wednesday he released it. Said the informant: — We were within a very short distance oi the spot where the Arabic was sunk when we sighted the .submarine," he said, and as the Arabic had been destroyed the same clav m that neighbourhood dt F-eomed more than likely that the sunmanne wmcn cnaseu us was the .S3.me as that which sank the Whits Star liner. We had litole chance of escape on account of our mfearior speed, and boats were swung out in readiness to lea.ve the Nicosian ;t any moment. The submarine signalled for us to top, a.nd as they vvere firing shells at us a.t very short intervals our vessel was brougnt to and everybody got M?'o the boat a« qukkiy ?s possible. The Genn?n marksmanship was i-?remely bad- They ared fourteen shdis before hitting the NiooS'wn at all. Almost simultaneously wiith the first hit, which struck us astern without doing serious damage, they saw that the boat had slowed down and that We were getting into the boats. The firing then ceased for a little. while, but was resumed again as the last two boats were leaving. Several of the crew had to crouch down on the deck to avoid being hit while waiting for their turn to get into the boat. We had got safely away, however, and ware watching the Germans' efforts to sink 0VL-" vessel, when we sighted another steamer coming up on the port side. It ned as if the Germans must have) seen her too, but either they did not, or else they fancied from the way she approached that she was a simple merchant vessel that had seen us taking to the boats, and was therefore coming to pick up survivors. Most of the crew of the Nicosia,n had the idea that owing to the fact that the submarine lay low in the water, the German view of the aoproaching vessel wa.3 obstructed by the Nicosian. At all events, they confined tfoair attention to the task of sinking our vessel from close mnge. We in the boat had no idea whatever that the approaching steamer wa,s anything but an ordinary mer- chantman. "We thought she had failed to see the submarine, and was therefore unaware of the risk she was running. When she was quite near our boat, however, the stranger suddenly I turned out of her course, and, almost broad- side on to the submarine, with open sea be- tween the two, ?e med: in ? mommt, to Witt. bome ?ohi?'y ,a.l1-,e ?''? hlue.??kets. I Psrt of her bulwarks swung baok I j;lve magic, so that her guns could have free play- Front the irgging men with rifles be- garl to fire almost immediately at the Ger- mans who were manning the guns of the submarine- I cannot »ay whether they shot any of the Germans in this way. It was all I so exciting. "I remember seeing ino mem of the ffjib- m:LOf' rushing bac.kwa.rds and forwardf, along their deck Then lend above the rifle tire there 'vcTe thr? big reports following on? another ?'?'y qmckly. I thmk a.U the shdis allotlie, 'r',Ie 4.,it burst ?f the base of to,,) k o f ,-t- iti-le ".ubm<Mipe'? {or<*??? gun, wrenching it out of P?' and leaving a big hc? in the armour-plate on the near SIde. The second struck the bottom of the conning tower and literally Blew the whole structure away. wa- obviously going down as the third shot hit, and it seemed to burst on the water just where her after end had been, rather than against the submarine it- self.. !Th, who?e affaIr seemed to be over in a minute. A tremendous cheer went up from the British vessel as the submarine dipped, ilnrl our chaps in the boats stood up and waved their hands and Shouted themselves hoarse. One or two fell into the water m their ?- ) citement, but were PICked up, and after -mis h? passed betweMi <?r captain's boat and the vessel that had d<?t.roy? the' ?,bm.inne we ma.? v, 'iy back to the ("()F,: Z-t-ill 'H?.t.mg, though with a slieht ?s'" ?'?' ????'"s ?"rrepdpd in a matter of too hours, in getting her fit to n-?-cl ag?'i. and .?tho?? ?"?. 1 s.nd 2 holds v?]? part,ly'fl1hd ""t.h water Hnd con- pumping .nce.?<iry, the Nicotian [ was brought tafcly back to port."

BALKANS. J-J?LJUJL?.?Y.i??. PLOT DISCLOSED *——— -——- AT ENEMY CONSUL- ATES. ARMED BANDS TO ATTACK ALLIES. PAiUS, Wednesday. ACOOP.njy TO THE SALONIKA CORRESPONIJElNT OF THE MATIN,' i THE DOCUMENTS SEIZED AT THE ENEMY CONSULATES HA YE RE- j VEALED THE ORifiAN ISATION OF A NUMBER OF ARMED BANDS, WIU'C'H IT WAS INTENDED SHOULD ATTACiv THE ANGLO -FRENCH FORCES IN THE REAR. AND ON THE FLANKS .SIMUL- T.?NEO?J?L.Y WITH i H APPROACH OF THE BULC-ARL?NS AND AUSTRO- GERMANS rOVWlRDS SALONIKA. PA RJS, vVedllsday. I A message from Saloniiai to the P,et.it Jouraiai st.a.tes the Headqu.a.rters Staff be- ga-n the pitbilioat-ion yesterday of the first results ot the inventory of the Consular archives. The first, documenta published are of grert lmpoa-tanoe, revealing as they do a great espionage organisation controlled by orders from heriin, Vienna, Consi^utinaple and 8z>Jia. The_ Headquarters Staff premise further seusatioaial documents. "ON THE OFFENSIVE." Austrian Report of Allies' Intentions. GENEVA. Wednesday. The Vienna newspapers announce that the Allies intend shortly to bake the offensive, and also that General Sarrail possesses for- midable modern artillery. Essad- Pasha, with several thousand AJ- banians. is preparing to aid the A-ilies.- C Daily Express. ) MORE TURK S/UUNG VESSELS SUNK. (Press Association War Special.) PETROGRAD, Tiiur&day. In the Black Sea on the 3rd inst. a Russian torpedo boat osptnred near Suimenah eleven Turkish saiiiag ships without cargoes, mak- ing prisunexs i¡.{) men of the crews, some of whom were firmed. King George has awarded eleven orders atnd th irteen medals to seaman of the Rus- "ian Black Sea. Fleet, who have done meri- torious service. This is the second instance of the very gracious attention paid by his Majesty to the Black Sea Fleet during the war. NORWEGIAN DISCLAIMER. PARIS, Wednesday (fee. Thursday). The following Note is ,i£8Ue-d here :— Certain newspapers announced the I air rest of the Norwegian Consul at Salonika. The jieTKon arrested is Herr Seefelder. an Anstoon subject and a well-known mer- chant in Salonika- He was merely honorary | Norwegian Consul; thus he tiis not a Consul (de carri«r«) IW.o has 110 political connec- tion with the (iJhristiania Cal-aiet.

OFFICES TO BE RE- OPENED. CONTINUATION OF THE GROUP SYSTEM. PRESS BUREAU, Thursday, 12.30 p.m. With reference to the announcement by I the Prime Minister in the House, of Com- mons on Ja.nuary 5th that tt,- group svsl-m for attestation was to be re-opened it is I notified that the military recruiting offices will be available for purpose on and after Monday, the 10th inst.

GOOD SPORTS. SWANSEA DOCKSMEN IN EVIDENCE. Swansea docksmen are responding gal- lantly to the, many patriotic calls being made upon them just now, aaid cne gentleman, who prefers to remain anonymous, has disposed of nearly 250 worth of tickets amongst hds. friends ÍGr the -ii, "Daily Post boxing tournament at the Swansea Empire on Satur- day next. Another gentleman, Mr. Charles Clewes, whose continual dc .-is of philanthropy are known to aJl a people, has purchased three whole rows of seats for the tournament, and we understand t.hat two of these rows will be reserved fcr wounded soldiers. A large number of men from the 23rd Welsh Regiment, at Porthcawl are accom- panying their band to Swansea to see the groat contest between Jimmy Wiluc and Pte. Billy Puowlands, one' of their comrades-in- arms. Thanks to Mr. Rolls, the ladies of "The Other Department" revue, at the E^ mpire this week, will dispose of the programmes. Instead of making a fixed charge for tho I programmes, the public can drop any amount of money they like into the boxes, and the proceeds will go to the War Prisoners Fund.

STRUCK THE OUTFALL PIPES. ECHO OF THE GALE AT I SWANSEA. Swansea Water and Sewers C-ommi ttee met on Thursday, the cha?m?n (Ald. T. T. Oorker) in the chair. ??- A letter was read from Mr. C W Slater the soEcitor to the Ovstermouth Detract ,?1 intimating that uurme the recent P rale a Nc??i?? at?mer came a?hnrp under her c?? ?  ?? <?maged the .ew?e out- f CA extent of between ?200 and  ?'' dJ1lage had br com- menced and the .?P  ? he aTsked: that Mr WvriH, ?? borough en?.? neer, be &]lo?d to in?Psct t? ?m?e as anexpert X?r. T? corutBit-.e^e agreed to the re- Q I wa! s r?orted th?t the contractor* were It was reported that the contra()toT6 were I engageir repairing a water burst in the new 1?, inch ?er rn? on the rentr?uine.- j road.

Young Eddie Davie. son of Mr. D. Clement5 Davies, a well-known supporter of boxinc/ in the Rbondda, is fast mg the champion hoy boxer of tho Meet. j Already ha^ won three championships I m tho XQJÛl Sea Fleet, and recently he ,had the honour of bm,ng ¡)Bfore Admird UJellicoe.

LABOUR & THE BILL V 1 II m mm M PROTEST AGAINST | COMPULSION. TO-DAY'S DISCUSSION AT WESTMINSTER. M P 's Baited. LONDON, Thursday. The sPecaal Labouj- oen^i-ess convened in agreement with the decision of the Bristol tougiess opened to-da.y at the Central Hall, Westminster. It was announced as calleJ for the purpose of om"id.erisg the Govern- ment's (.'ompuJsory iijiitary Service Bill, and the chairman WPU; Mr. Harry Gosling, L.C.C., cliaaxniaii of the Trades Union Con- gress. As the delegates assembled leaflets were handed to them containing a report printed by three Nt;.uoiial Committees, signed by the chauuTAn ami by ^vir. Bovverman, the secre- tary. The Jea.ilt HIIHlllarjsed t-he position aaio. asked the members t,, recogni^ dId there iested npon the a great re-i ;-pousioi!ity in makinc its de-b-miJ. A Non-committal Resolution. The resolution set forth on the Auaper was in the following* terms Tijiis conference rearririns the decision of the Bristol r.rl"ade. lJ nil.n CQngLfs when it ima.ni.monsly protested, inthe mtrna of ever throe million of organised 1-y ger- rice. Jt regrets that the unity ana soli- dfu'ity of the nation have been gravely un- perilled, aaid industrial and political li- berty menaced by the action of the Com- pnlsionists, against wiiich it makes a mc-st emphatic protest. The conference rejoices a,t the magnificent'ancceifc oi the voluntary principle, which in so short a period has supplied this country with an Arim of fonji' millions ot free men, but it is com- pelled with regret to recognise that, in spite of Lord Derby s rcheme having pro- duced nearly three mdlion volunteers, the iiet by the Prime Minister"'s Pistfge to the married resruits, which, m the opiniou of hilt Go-vernment, has rendered necessary the Military Ser- vice Biii. re- sults as not yet ascertained vith suificient accuracy and cc.rtainty to warrant so mq- mentons a proposal passed by Par- liament, but wishes tD leave the Labour members to vote UI;)-i1 it as they indi- viduilly think fit. Other l^soiutions sent in were remitted to the Standing Orders Committee, and t-o tfie (-)I, d er.,7 (. omynit,tee, and ?jt.m- this formahty h3à b!lm disposed oi the chairman read the special circular above referred to. its affirmations were greeted with ie peated cheers. There was a demonstration when the choarman readied the sentence, Unfortun- ately, we cannot, dispose of the grave prcb; lem c,reùJt3d t,hat org<J.18ed labour is in any w'?y b?.nd by the Prime Minister ptati"g "hat Hie p,lN1{ giv°n o-nds ih? Govern- ■ ment. Prom ail parts of the hall came a shout. But, Not Us! Not Us! Another sentence in the circular was: The Government Bill is limited in scop? and time: it terminates with the restoiv- tion of peace." These word^s, as they fell from the Oh-linnan's lips, were pror-tc r) witb deridvo iknig hter, and s houts oi tJ ,Ü f' '(' II t ion Mr. ,J. Hodge,. M.P., in moving the m-o- la tion on the jfeper, declared (lie vobniUii-y system had not failed. A-n army of. three withi ) iijt-.en mootini w*w* un- paralleled an the \wvld's lvistijry. The Prime Minister should have taken account ?ot his own dictum, "Wait and see. of !),is 4)v.-ii d,ct,uji), Wiit ;iiid st)c, Crsat marrisc? mrn would nor. n o • '•.•me forw;;r-:i bnt jl. Mr. Asquith's pledge. (" Qv.fsP.ifn,' j that wa« the general opinion. But for tl, pledge and the Derby :heme *'■>,»%• -j:• hav- til) ruptiou.) The resoiutioo he was proposing represented the views of the moderate man ldt frredojn of opinion to C-m Lab'mr mem oars i-n the I-Iouse oi" (.i.-Tunton-?. Y" ojees; We say ro. Mr. Will Thome, M. P. We say yes. De p:??? ? We say i ?. :.l.pg;;tt' hj:(I.:("1 ru'" "éI:i;¡: Labour ][?Tbera diSerentiv from the way t-hey have been treated in the past. (Mors interruptioTi. ) The Chairman (intervening^: If the Blil re A Gen-3re.1 Election, ard that would be the worft possible day for the Labour party. The issue would then be compulsion lull and complete. Wh-en askci if tlif Bill would be used for oppressing labour the Premier acknowledged it wo-ild not by nodding his head. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Hodge: We" -his head inti- m-fiig that Labour. \)Ulri be protected. Mr. James Sexton (Liverpool Dockers.),- on rising to .second the resolution, was .ccevtd with soine hostile cries. This reception drew from him the reproof "This is a ,*erioua mat-le.r and ought not to be the subject of jeFs," A Delegate Put !t down to their "Vulgar abuse," said Atr. Sexton, is no argument." Ho went on to recall the cir- cumstances under which the Bristol resolu- tion was approved. The Prime Minister's pledge was a silly pledge, but it went by default and was not challenged. (Voices Challenge it UOF.") Blt silly as it was, I without ;t they would not have reached Loi-d I Kitchener's requirements. The Government j proposals were the flabbiest he had ever heard. If they did not amQUDt to limited conscription the conscientious objector wonbl so grow that everybody would have a. conscience. He warned the conference that; a general election would result in the re- turn of a House of Commons pledged to conscription (If" worst character. Mr. Havelock WHsoB heartily supported the resolution, and spoke amidst some noise, delegates sitting in his vicinity now and again raising vocal objections to his re- marks. Ml". Ben Turner reminded the conference of the Trade Union pledge and hoped they would not a.dmit the thin end of the wedge to-day. Were they going to bow down to tho House of Lords? ("No.") It was said the Labour memWs might lose their seats at the General Election. Let them go down defending justice and right. We must win I his war, but not by means which would ic h v?ou l ci bring about ?g'g<? wars. At this stage the Stindin? Orders Com- mibt?e reported amendments from represen- ?t,at,i,vq groups had been sent in. Adjournment Proposal. [ Five members of Parliament, vaz., Messrs. Whitehouse, Llewelyn WIlliam". Holt, Pd. Lambert, and Joyn-son Hicks, have given notice to move on the second reading of the Military Servioe Bill that it be read a second time upon this day three months.

HARPIES AND THE ANZACS. -I. _+. "r" A corresponaen c w n u eases have recently oome to my knowledge in with Australian soldiers from oonntry districts, entirely ignorant not qll N, or London but of any large town, have been' gioated by w omen whose hospitable de-i n.eanonr and fashionable clothes gi-eatly, impressed them. P"ortiinatelv before accepting the women's invitation to tea, they hapjiened to mention thq matter to a j lady v'ho is interested in tlm welfare of i soldiers on in Lonclon, and she bad > no difficulty in h-orning that those women j are well known to tho police a.s possessing the worst priii-i reputation. j

SERSmAN SLUMP IN, GREECE. ——— A ——— MORE THAN ONE SEASON. GROWING STRENGTH OR ALLIES. ¡ Writing to Ule Daily Mail from Athens. Mr. J. M. N. Jeffries says. The last ten days nave seen the biggest, drop in German prestige in this country since the war began. And this despite Ouy evacuation of Suvla and Anzac during tha. period. A month ago this would have been* thought a disaster here and would have had a v ery bad influence on puMLc opinion, whereas now the Greeks have regard-ed it placidly as an incidental backward move in the chess game. The causes of this German slump have been external and internal. The exter- na!l causes have been the failure of the Ger- mans and of their henchmen to advance irt Macedonia and the oategoric declarations 0 General C'astelnau on the impregnability c>? the Allies' position there. Then the pap.rj keep the public well informed almost daily of the arrival -at Salonika, of nlPll- muiii. Lions, guns, and aeroplanes, and this, w: t. our RECENT FORCIBLE DIPLOMATIC ACTION, has made the public realise our increasing strength. The internal cause, or, rather, the causo native i-o the Greek people, is the knowledge that the Greek Army would ask the reason why if the Bulgers or Turks came over the border. In a previous t-elegram I have allurled to an intimation by General Mosohopoulos to the Government that 11' a.rmy corps could not be trusted to ha quiescent in case of an invasion. Since then three heads of army corps in Macedonia, the 3rd. 4th, and 5th Corps. have again informed the War Minister and the General Stan that they could not hold -in their m-i if the Bui gars or Turks appeared. Proofs of their owu feeling have been forthcoming from the men, too, without the intermediary of the generals. There lms been a mutiny .at Kavalla, ^hen the men cried. LET GS FIGHT OR BE DISBANDED. There ha e been any amount of frontier incidents, and iu Athens the soldiers, when certain officers wished to influence them t vote for the Government and its supposed.v passive policy, refused, and when the oflt- ers tried to use pressure the men replied i; We shall vote with our Mamrliche.i (rides) and vote against voii ifrst." On December 27 the King. in conversation witii M. SkoulouOis. the Premier, said to him that- the situation was no longer the same and that the, tilt-iniate Victory Stnd slipped from Cerman handa, t?f?sh.h?nd?'L he thought t\ wo'd be ?.b)?t"p,ti]'ir prestige and much "t ihei" interior. ,"i ove (I by these t j Cabinet ;ue to a great extent farced :.o acc pt thr inevitable, and through the V ai4 Minister .'Cu-rals commanding the troops near the frontier have been ordered t., their i.v.,ops so as to be prepared ? r j action against tlie Bulgars if necessary. Tiie I importance of this step will not be miss; i, ami the. bnowbidge of it may be takell to oe the prime factor ;.i-(i cause of the present ioi. ge' ing of tb, 4 lermans and their allies In the:e n:. •'oi'' i ;ii le position north of &•' ika. Letters from Queen's Sister. I t:m r-.varc .:li, and otiier itatern' ois iiiav oe d'.m eo.. b..o ceitain official deuo ts are in reality only confirmations. With gaud to Itiug Gonstentinto 6 attitude, it m t be remembered that through t.he Queer, learns the real condition of things in 4; many. aud it is known that her Majesty ). )s recently ha d letters from her sister, Priin ( b:jrl«n'. Saxe-Meinin^en. which « | o» i. r hi depressed her.

E M WHO MISLED THEM 7 SWANSEA WORKHOUSE it!"MATES' <4 STRIKE." Air TSRMATH OF THE MAKOrARINE DEBATE. i. -wo Lodge Visiting Commi- j ut.'t .,D "luesdii?, Mr. Harry Willi. '5 presudi?rg. As a i"so!; of the dBCiÛoJl of a for :1' .:e'->o cii.1 margarine shott'-d be givt 1 the institution, the inmates loider the inuiession that it would s it from Monday last, conseqoieatly quits number cf fie women reiused to eat H --t.-i' au ureakf-ast un that mori; believing it to be margarine. For thu; breach oi discipline they v re ?ro??!j before the committee and q s- iioiii but confest«ed it was only bee.' w e t;, i told by one of the guard -n.s it was to b-1 margarine, but on tlie assura; -e of the -,i, that it was butter and m« rgarin-> '.hey ate it for the next ir .1, exnirf-'ning that th. thought it was he suostitate on accou.0 of iu :I'l' v 5-»»ir. I lie said ttiat wa-s it .i(a.,i n-w e.tract, the Ittst butter being ot a <\ pt i colour. Th Chairman deferred the matter, so that it mfight be discussed when the guardian mentioned could be present. Two vacancies occur for probationers, and it was decided to take the next on the rota. Dr. Lloyd Edwards suggested that a dozen might be taken on in view of the War Office taking possession of part of the iasti- -11 | Mrs. Perkins gave the report of Graig House, which was saiisfactorv. LOST COMMITTEES. Kev. t. O. E\ans asked what had become of the eommitteo that Dr. Stephens had asked to be cabled months ago for economy all round." matters of impoitance, :.t was explained, bad postponed it for a time. Mrs. PerkuiB asked also w ila t ha.d become of the weeding out" committee. Mr. Abe Freed ma n thought this Wél,3 opportiuie, and related an instance of com- ing across a man who had been in the institution for a number of years, and the S008 were never asked to contribute to his maintenance.

BUCLER OF SWANSEA'S OWN." Bugler C. Jones, who lives at orfolk- i street, Mount Pica.s- ant, is lying seriously I in at the military hospital, Winchester, where he has been j detained. ugler Jones' only r-igret is that aft or 15 months' training his illness prevents him doing his share at the front with the rest of the boys.

THE HOUNDS IN THE LARDEI:. During tile meet of the Braiuharn Moor I Hounrls at Butterayke Bar, the hounds, after hunting their fox aox-oss the railway at Church Fenton, lost him at the Laurels, While the r-?'den? were at the front of th« houa? awaiting f'yMtt? th? hounds cnterei at t? hack .md found the ',rb ef completely cleared it. consuming, amonf other thing*, half a. ham. a number ot mince pies, end a Quantity of butter.