South Wales Weekly Post

CASE OF THE BARA- LONG. WILD TALK Ur REPRISALS." "Press Association War feervico:. AMSTERDAM, Paturd-ir. The Cologne Gazette" publishes the test. ] of the German reply to Siv T?.. Greys pro- i posal in the EaraJong case. The German Government- protests moft strongly against the unheavo of and un- proved accusation asainst the Herman j Army and Navy which -as observed during the present war principles of international law And humanity; and the- authorities take car6 that all violations thereof will be care- fully investigated; and severely punished. Dealing with the three <:acs brought against Germany by Pir E. Grey, the reply eays they were investigated in due course, And adds that the commander of the sub- ttuvrine who sank the Arabic acted as be did tiecause, in view of the circumstances, he was compelled to the conviction that the ifceamer was about to ram the submarine, tre therefore believed be was acting in justi- Bible self-defence. It Happened This Way," The case or attacK 1w y crermsn torpeuo flestroyer on a British submarine in Danish -waters happened in this way. A fight occurred in those waters between the two war vessels, and the submarine defended it- self by gunfire. The cLargrc of violating Danish waters cannot properly he advanced by England, whose naval forces in a num- ber of oases, have attacked German fillips in neutral waters. As regards the destruction of ttic steamer Buel. the German submarine applied moa- suree 0; reprisal announced by the German Gcvernment in February last year. These measures arc in accordance with inter- national law, since England endeavoured, by illegally paralysing the legitimate maritime trade of neutrals with Germany, to cut cS all imports from the latter and bring the German proplo to starvation. Suitable re- prisals may be taken against illegal actions. In all three cases the German naval forces had in view only the destruction of hostile ibips, and in no way the destruction of help. less persons who were endeavouring to sate themselves. The contrary assertions by thc- British Government must be most absolutely repudiated as untrue. The German Government considers that it Must reject the Ermsh proposal to submit tile unee above-mentioned cases, together with the Baralong ca,e, to a court composed of American naval officers. Tt tabes up tne standpoint that thel occusations raised against members of the German forces tl,.Pir ox,-P. ompe- must be investigated by their own compe- tent authorities, and that thie ofiers every guarantee for impartial judgment and, if necessary. just punishment.' r Germany does- not present any other de- mand to the British Government, in the Baralong case, because she does not doubt that a war tribunal composed of Britieh naval officers would suitably punish such a cowardly and treacherous murder. The de- mand made hv Germany was all the mor. justified, iays the reply, because of the sworn statements of Americans. Thus neutral evidenoe -which was laid before the British Government practically made un- questionable the guilt of the commander and crew of the Barailonp. The British method of replying to the German memorandum, it gays, corresponds neither in form nor in its contents with the e?rion?nasa of thD situation, and makes it impossible for the German Government to diaeu&s aff&irs further w,??li England. The Germa.n Government, therefore, declares that the final regnh of the negotiations is that the Brith;h Government, under i;)ti? pretexts, has left unfulfilled the; just demand for investigation, an,1 thereby made itself 1 responsible for a crime which is a Disgrace to international Law and to humanity. Evidently, says the reply, the British J Government, so far as German submarines are concerned, will no longer observo one of the first -ules of war, namely, to spare j fnraniefe who are ¡pat out of action, hoping thus to hinder German submarines from pur- suing their legally recognised cruiser war. The reply terminates by saying that Oer- many sees herself obliged to .take in ha Dd the punishment of this unexpiated crime and •o devi-f repiisvils to meet the British ehal- lenge.

ESTEEMED BY ALL. I DEATH OF MRS. CATHERINE WINTER, SWANSEA. SUPERINTENDENT OF SAILORS' HOME. The many friends of Mrs. Catherine Win- ter. superintendent of the Sailors' Home, Swansea, will- regret to bear of that lady's death unexpectedly shortly before five o'clock on Monday morning. She bad' only been ill two days with bronchitis, and on Sunday .c.-vemin,g, though confined to bed, was in her usual jovial spirits. Eaily on Monday morn- ing, however, she parsed quietly away. Tho late Mrs. C. Winter. The late Mrs. C. Winter. lirg. Winter, who WM aged V*. was the widow of the late Capt. W. Winter, who di«"i erne year and eight months ago. Oapr.-iin and Mrs. Winter took over the management of the Sailors' Home 18 years ago, and since her husband's death M-A. Winter has carried on the home. Phe was lady well known, and had always a kindlyworrl and cheery.! wile for everyone with whom she was brought in contact. Thp sailors with whom Pbe was brought more directly into contact and hundreds stayed at the home in the coarse of & year—loved her for HER GOODNESS AND CHARITY. C) one ever awealed to her in v&in. 8he Was a daughter of tbe late Mr. John (Ju!1en. of Bridge-street, Swansea, and she leeves three adopted children, Willie, Elsie and ToDUQy Holt; one sister, Mn. Lambert, Antelope Hotel, Mumbles, and two brothers, Gaybain Janle3 Byrne, pilot, and Mr. Thomas Byrne, manager of the Grand Theatre. In her illness, which, as stated, onlv la-st^d two days. ™e -was attended by Dr. O'SuHivar and Dr. Trevor Eyang. The liineral phoe at Da.cyp-e,te on Wednesday; no floverft by request. «—====^S

-=-= t' DARE-DL lDICK." i NEATH HERO AND HIS D. C.M. to -the list of recent war honours appears the name of Pte. R. J. Hughes. 7374, 8th CattaJion, formerly lrt Battalion ot the somertet Light Infantry, who has been warded ■ tl*; D. (j. M. The ferc, ia better known in Neath ar Pte. nick Hu gh-, Ol Pcnydt-e. who v .is about ,Ven months ago recommended twice* for the D.G,M. tor daetinguiisbeU act* bravery. AnHM-fg* Jus comrades in Frnuoe, Hughes iF popularly called "Dare Devii Dick of th880mn(t." He liejajJ1pd at tho outbreak of the war, and.haa been in France eVe" :n« "'l}¡ tlIp ?*«-ptioti of ;t è,hjl <tve" ;r)c.-? -?"' t. p last-, M?.tj ?t 'i;o?' fufk'o?h :r) A?j?u?t. 'a?t, v.hf-Tt he wa? ?-' ?orfM ? mö,t "nt hu.- ia^ic '.?e!?!n.?. 'JT? ?.Mry ot hh da'-in? dcod? h«ve ,¡r j, rea< ? bfSR pnbHs.hed in the "PO$." -u -c_

I LORD MONTAGUES II ? TRIALS. STORY OF A WONDERFUL EBUAPE, I i T¡m" War Telegram, per Pr&r-s I I I- .A&sou&tiion? ?p.yn?m. l'^s iftnday. Lc?.d 'Mort?jc of Beai?ieu, who b<bd a. vOn?.?riul escape from the torpedoed 1'. and 0. liner Pcj?i?; has reached p?ns, Mtd is staying wth h3s cld friend, Lord iJertie, at thi British EmbaBpy. Re :?s ?Ui suffering a ?,c?d deal from ia?k of sleep and pa?'? n'om wounds. He b progressing favciL7- a.b?y. and, if well enough, he will leave for London to-morrow. ^jealving of his experiences while drift- j ing tibout the Medit-arraaean he said During my last Twenty-fouj- hours In the sea, I thought, as u reaenmaDif. man, that it. was aJi over. A)., the end of the second day I was resigned to my fato. but determined to tight, to the end. Curiously enough, 1 suf- fered very littJe from hunger, but a great deal from thirst. The coid at night. in-teaae, though probably the temperature did not descend to freezing point. Being wet all tho tLmo was a source of incredible discomfort. When the Persia sank and I was suckt-d under I was knocked against the ship and bits of wreckage, and when I c-anitf to the surfaoe J was badly braised through colliding with all kinds of debris. It was -1 ,>- Heart-breaking to see I two ships go by fairly dose arid both ignore us. J mink it was extremely courageous of Captain Allen, of the Ningaiow, to pick us u.p, because he was taking great risk in slopping to do :0, This last New Year 's EK*e was the dreariest I ever spent, but it closed with the happiest experience of my life—my tJ II miracu l ous rescue. I realiy owe my life to the fact that T wearing an inflatable waist-ooat, for 1 kept slipping off wreckage to which I' was ciinging and then it was only the waistcoat j that kept me afloat." Lord Monta.gue retains among 8Ouvenir of his amazing adventure a water-stained paissport and a five pound note which were in the pocket-book all tire time he was iu the water.

GOING THEIR BIT. I SWANSEA CONSERYATIYES' i WAR WORK. The report of the Executive Committee of! the Swansea. Conservative and Unionist 4\S. sociation for tlie past year za-vs The great world war against Kaiserism if. still raging, but we venture to think it; hos already passed the turning point that leads to a glorious victory, and when 'The Day' arrives, it wiii undy be aid '?hati Swansea has done her share. Ou' organisa- tion has been used effectively 'n rai-ious j ways iu f.?-U.cri:ig the country s c?uae, but] the question of recruiting for the Army and i Navy has, of course, been foremost. Figures j are not available from the authorities, but we feel eertairr that considerably over lo,000 of Swansea's !10DS have donned the khaki and blue, whilst 10,000 have beeu att-ested under Lord Derby's scheme. Our association b. a-irrnan at the commencement of the war. Com- racdore A. VV, FTeneage, C.B., .\LV,O., ha.s i already received two distinctions, viz., pro-] motion and the Order of the Companionship of the Bath, and we feci that all &wo.nsea will unite with us in offering" him our sin- cere congratulations. Amongst many others, t hree of our ward secretaries are ably serv- ing with the colours, and we "ish an of them a speedy and safe rettitn. It is with great ?ride v'e learn Lha. pxdusi?piy of those at- tested in Army Reserve B, over 180 mem- bers of the Salisbury Club Are serving their country, whilst about 120 of their members I are connected with the Volunteer Training Corps. The Junior Imp-eriai L'jgue mem- bers are practically all in the Army doing i then- bit for the country. The Primrose! League Sewing Party are doing admirable work in making comforts for the troops. During the year we have removed the as- pocaattOn 'Offices into most commodious premises in the new Prudential Building. We have lost by death several kind friends of the association, and would especially wish to refer with Borrow to the lamented death of Mr. J. K. Leaver, who was for a score of years our esteemed honorary treasurer."

SWANSEA DRUMMERS." NINTH ANNUAL MEETING: I I NEW OFFICIALS. At the irinth annual meeting of the Swan- sea and district branch ot th^ U.K. C. T-A-, Mr. A. Mvmday presiding, after Mr. B. c. hoatcroft (auditor) and M: A. T. K;m (treasurer) had submitted their reports, tiie hon. secretary, Mr. E. T. h¡)fha.nrb. 8,9.:(\ I had been on ml led in the year aud kx had joined R.M. forces. Ma-nj bers, he ment.ieiied, had be-en badiv hit a,s a result of tinj war. < far A. Mona was re-eJectcd prc.-ideiit Messrs. D- Viiliei-S Meager, Deiiuis Phitliiw, S.dsi^y Prace. and Joseph vice-prcu- .-knt,s; Mr. VVr. J. Bryant was elected chair- I man for the ensuing year; fr. A. T. Kai, -ice-president; Mr. E. T. Hu»b:uids wj rc-eie<'ted vios-president; Mr. J. R. Jruncs J v as treasurer; Mr. Edward H-irrics,' hon. solicitor; Met.sr»' Lloyd Davies Hon. audi_tors;' Messrs. J. E. Own r, R. James, and A. T. K.a.rfc:. tmstees; awd the Executive Comni,ittee -Tas olvcted as 1'01 lev*: Messrs. A. Mmid^.y. P. H. Vicary,. J. G. Thomas, H. Com vail. LL Griffith- /•yd. Norman. J. K. Owen, D. (y, Robert.) J" H. Bishop. A. B. Francis, D. M. Jjevoii- :lld, J. P. K'fwnij! J. S. Ko!i;Tlgt, J. F. Hosier, D. B. Hir'ie, A. P. B-;n«k. 11, K. Howell. ( F. Corbeit. C. E. Tayior, auo V;'heateroft.

DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION] I Swansea Council and Lease I Renewal, Requests <« further information aie likely to arise at Wedne!da."z Swansea Counc'l meetmg, in connection with the decision of the Lstates Committee regarding the application for r'enewal of lea.se madt by the Royal Cambrian Institution for the LVaf lind Dumb The Estate Committee w-iJl report that the. Town Cls-rk read a •etter, dated t.hc lltn Dt-oember, 1915, from the honorary secretary of the Institution, requesting to know j v.heth«r the Corpc:ration would now grant let new least* of these premises. The coin- mi-itrf<- rcaolvod that they wore unable to recommend tho grant of a new loas-u.

KtDWELLY ASAUL,ï CHARCE DISMISSED. At Carina..men Assises on !)M?a.v, ?t. w?d aoott (29)' ia.bourerj w?< < barged with wounding Cla;?c? O?bot'i?, ?t Kid?Gjh-. ?T' ??n.-tT'yli.?. 0?-)t'i'?f.'jL i ? that pri» soiier ??e.ip?'-d to h:b:. ;Ùn. ¡¡n<:JLe (wit- !i?.? ) /t?o.? him bac? m .?)f d- ^uce. Sc.,?t t ilt; l\ 1 '1:i, I h?d -i?'. A ?-M !-Kj.?, h"' cil'H fmmd not a??y 3n.? discharged-

BIG GERMAN "HOLD- LP." RUSSIAN INVASION PERIL OVER. (Press Association War Sp-ecial.) I PARlS,-Sa.ta,rJa)-. M. Claude Anet, correspondent, of the j I Petit Parisien with the Russian Army, had a conversation with General Radko Dimitrieff, in whiolr be learnt some instruc- tiyeamd reassuring tacts. General Dimi- trieff ,a,k The German farces opposed to me ha-ve been depleted of almost half therr full strength during the course of the offensive, and their tanks liai-e not- been reinforced, "This is striking p-roof of the fact that the, enemy has no longer sufficient men to per- mit him to bring up new foiv,-s to those. parts of the front where they axe most needed, and where he is anxious to bring about a decisive action. 1; He is ¡, Not even capable of filling the gaps I ? I m ms ranKs caused by tne sevei-e. campaign. The On-mans cannot take Riga; I have sufficient forces t-o defend my positions, and T 5-hall defend thsm. S?t?ment? of prisoners wh;A we cap- ture each day, and .letters found on them, clearly show that the Germans are very weary. They lia-v-e been too I 1 Disappointed by assurances I that the war would end 00011 tiiey are urgea on to desperate efforts each time, with assurances tjia-t they will bring about decisive victory, and that they will soon be able to take rest. As a matter of tact the Germans would have been better off in Prussia than here, where the country is in an abominable state. There is water everywhere; beeides the' cold oi winter hem is much more severe than it is with them, ajid they suffer more beca1.L dothing and food reaches them move slowly than they do to us."

I "NO MANDATE." [ENGINEERS CONDEMN ANTI- COMPULSION VOTE. The H;wtlepool branch of the Arnalga- mated Society of Engineers have passed a itaolutiori pmtesting against the action of the, Executive Council in self-electing them- selves to attend the recent Trades Union Congress. The resolution adds "In voting against, the Compulsion Bill, their conduct we 'consider very arbitrary, as the Executive Council had no mai) date, to act in such a manner, more especially when it is known that thousands of our members are defending the country on land and ,-a.,

ITALIAN "APOLOGIES" I FOR AUSTRIA'S BIGGEST I VICTORY." BLAMING THE TRIPLE I ENTENTE. ROME, Sunday. The Italian Pj ass is full of apologW for and explanations of the loss of Mount Lovchen, which an. Entente diplomatist describes as the greatest Austrian victory since the war began. Signer Barzilai, t.he Tries tine and Irredentist member of the Government, has been put up to explain that- the fall of Tvovchevi was inevitable after that of Serbia, and that it was an immense delusion to imagine tha,t Mount, Lovchen could he saved without savinz all Monte- rro. Gioinaie • [ d'Italia publish columns to prove that the capture of Mount Lowhen is of little per- m?n?nt importance, and that .'? any c.-?e the re?ponsibHity for its lo.% does not rest J on IbTv, but ? due to the mi'itary and pob?ca.! ?rors of th? Triple Eut?nte in the Baikana. against tb? warnings of Italy, and ?pecmUy to &r Ed-xrd Grey's b!ind and childlike fMth dn Bulg&ria and his delay in helping Serbia. After Serbia was sacrificed the sacrifioe of Montenegro necessariilv fol lowed. Therefore, thoso who were respon- sible for the former are responsible for the latter. The" GiornaJe concludes bv pointing out. the dangers of sending an expedition across 'the Adriatic to relieve Montenegro, and of provisioning it on its I arri val. The CoiTiero della Sera. .remarks that I the Anglo-French criticisms on Italy's I Conduct towards Montenegro oo not enhance Italian prestige, but depress that portion of Italian opinion, which desired all extension of i Italy's military operations. The "Corrierc" blames the Cabinet for not caring sufficiently what foreigners think of Italy, and for not informing the pubHc about Italy's real situa- tion." The Government, conclude* the Milanese journal, does not provide materials for its. defence. Colonel Bairone, the eminent military critic, deprecates pessimism, but ur^e? more vigorous action on the part of the Allies. Independent journals like the •' Massag- pero" remark that-Sienor Bai-zilai's jnstifi- ri.t'ons may serve to atimnish the Oabinet 's responsibility. Vat cannot 'destroy the hard fact that Austria has scored fj, valuable sue cess on the other shore of the Adriatic. "No one," gays the MMMggpro." "nd rlipriii the illusion that Montenegro can he saved W mvjst now think of Albania, which is t'l-, C., "eXt N p,

NEWPORT AND THE ) MANNESMANN. j THE TUBE WORKS EXTEN- SION. An interesting noint 113,13 arisen at, in regard o tVe rcistion of the United Tub- CL-rl)oi-iitioi.i to the Brit Mi JTannesroani Tube Company, who S'-e eourtrueting iarg- ,A,orl,s near t.hr> River Usk, wili,b will 111;; wately afford employment to men. The Town Council hare entemi •'erta<n asreoments with the JIn.'inefcrawir Company for the conotruntioa of road^ tveis, and outfall works. Duiii!. wv unon the 00TQTn5tte«> o1 the ichjk.ii:.ibjo for the negotiation#, said th, rTnjtpfi Tn 1. <Jorporation ol British, aoii W) controlled by sneo IN Colonel Wricht Mr. Htsinlny Bitlriwir. nt Baldwin' (Limited1. The MItJ11Fnn:;lln Corn p')'y w by tbr G6v«. -nmeni. li- the making of rrjunitions Sorco "bjection Usm boen raised :i: the Town CouneH hv Councillor F. p jent. Mho the United Corporatior) only came into c?st?cf; ? t?.. mo'Th.H .?'?. and proposed to work a p??: -Ah?'h a.t pro?nt bd'n'?? to a, G?rn??-om puny. They -ould not fiffht the ener,. l h( t1'hcs and allow him to come m at the I airl ?)-liow bir,) t?o c,'M (I a t bci Company was. he added. 90 per ('I'Uf, an C'f)T)pa!?' va?!. b? .?dd?!. 90 pp?- ?.p?t ?? Councillor John Mo:?" -?'"t-rM.n ot ?j. :tc:al cùmmjt (' who are ''si?inc- on t.h? negotiations, said it was lamentable bui none the less true that these particular munition* C011]d be turned out by » fiemjan patent. The pet riot if ni of the United Tub; ('orporatfon ws beyond Cjiiestion.

BOTTLED BEfcRS UP IN LONDON. The priiiripa; Lon.-ion brewers on jt'on n;or:ing, intimated by circulars to their '<<.mct.?;?t.a!-f.hc)'M'u!tcf?c,nt'??? ?e!d:t?CfitIy,thep''?"?of ?bc-i'.?.d beers \ouH be raised from MoHday. Enquiries n?.'n;-o{ t't.-T?t?i! df?tti". ?!?;i?d the' ''?ct that they v.C!<'r:!i?-?? th? price of h-uttied beer one penny'on the quart bottles 3d. per dozea on the pints, The rea- sons gi ven for the advance is dearth of labour and increased cost of production.

WHISKEY PRSCES AT SWANSEA. in accordance with Ik- STi>ri:-oa Uc«ns.?n Vict-ualkr?.' 2cl. nips of spirits h^cn 'aholi.h^. ;:¡,r.¡d no trhiske* is now obt&inabte under M'. a .^ias.s. At tbfi large lo^yj iiotcls ca )1 ön- day morning tbc pric& Cn -id. Oniaiwum) was htiil m operation.

THE BRITISH STAND AT KUT. OVERWHELMING DIFFI- CULTIES FOUGHT. A l'eport of the recent opera- ti_ ons in Mesopotamia- reads:—The Turkish main position was situated on both sides of the river at Ctosiphon, though they had other minor entrenchments farther down the river toward ? K.iUAe General Towm- hend'? force a.n t?'ese hend's force advanoed northwards all th ese much diH.ouitv, t.h? Turks ret-?mg Jn most smaller positions wci-e captured without C66 too precipitately to allow us to get to clORe quarters. AribE hung shout the Hanks and sniped from A ?a.fe distance, but wo knew that this was only their way of showing the Turks tbA<. thay l'Mllv wee ?? eir bMt, and we aJso krt?w that t?. hardest nm "vc have had to crack wcuM be found in the errtrenohmevnts at. Cittsiphon. The areli at Ctesiphon, ail that remains of the Takht-a-Kasra. the winter pa-laoe of ancient Parthian kings, stands out well above the plain, the. only pmminerut land- mark for many miles. Built some 2,000 years atro, 120to. high, it remains one of the wonders of tlie world and a lastcng t-eafeiraony to the skill of ancient engineers. Bound this bJia Turks had constructed their position on t-he, right bank of the river as well as on the leit. The foreground for miles was As flat as a billiard table and devoid of cover of ahv description. A network of deep and narrow trenches stretche d back almost to the river Dialah, six miles in rear, vhich flows from the Bast into the Tigris at this point. The earth from the trenches had been carried far to the roar. Thev had no parapets as such things a,re understood in military text- books, and the only thing visible to the at- tacking force Was a thick fence of barbed wire which ran along the entire front. romingof the 22nd found the troops in readiness for attack, stretched out on the wide plain facing the Ctesiphon position, the troops detailed for the frontal attack nearest the river. The left of the columns march- ing against the enemy's flank were faintly visible on the horizon. The gunboats opened the battle against the enemy's trenches close to the left bank. The Field Artillery drew in and pounded the ground wher e they (imagined the trenches must be, but there was no reply, nor any sign of movement at Ctevphon until the lines of advancing infantry got within 2,000 yards of the wire entanglements. Then, by signal, the wnoie or Ille Turkisn lIe broKe into 0. rop.r 01 fire, and v,-e knew that the struggle had commenced. Under heavy artillery fire t.he attack pushed in towards the enemy with a steadi- ness which could not have been beaten on parade until effective iifle range was reached, where a pause was made to baild up the strength. Die fight for the trenches from now on until the British succeeded in reaching the first, line baffles description. The gallant advance across the open grourd, the building up of th firing line, the long paime andei, murderous rifle fire while devoted bodies of men we.nt forward to cut the wire, the final rush, and the hand to hand lighting in the trenches are t-borico which have been told before. No descrip- tion could do justice to the gallantry of the men -who carried it out Meanwhile t,he flank attack bad already crushed the enemy's left and driven it h-ick OD to its second line a mile or so in rear. Courage and determination carried the day and. by the afternoon the whole of tht front Turkish pusltion. szdik-art of the second line, was in the hands of the British. Tiio intensity of the fighting, however, did not abate. The Turks. Numerically greatly superior, t i ftressed in counter-attacks at several points from their second position on which they had fallen back. Twelve Turkish guns were captured, ti'ren aC,, iiii by the enemy, re- captured again by tJ, and retaken finalh* by the Turks, and so the fighting went on until a, merciful darkness fell a-tid as if by mutual agreement, the fire of bClth sides, too weary for rni'id, died away. The r-old of the night, want crt water, the. collecting of the wounded gave little rest to the men, though Snanv snatched a few hours of sleep in the trenches among the dead. Dawn of the 23ord broke with a tear- ing wind and a dnst stortn whioh obscured the landscape for some houri; and allowed us time to take in the soene of the light. Whatever loss we suffered, the Turks must have suffered more severely. They had fought stubbornly to the and, knowing that to attempt to escape over the open ground was to court instant death. The trenches were full of therir dead, and every here and there a little pile of men showed where a lucky shell had fallen. Ctesiphon Joomed through tlie dust behind n: still intact for ali the stream of shell wlich ha.d passed it, j for our gunners had been asked to avoid J hitting this ancient monument. The early part of the morning wae occii pied in clearing to tbe rear the transport! which had come up to the first line diiritic the night. At about if o'clock the air cleared and the enemy's artillery began to boom fitfully. Their trudz from across the riwr began to throw heavy shells over us. and as tho light grew better this developed into an artillery duel, wbieb lasted throughout the day. General Townshend during the atter- noon parked his transport two miles to the rear, and while hoidinf the front- line of the Turkish position swung his right back to ¡ -over his nark. In the, late afternoon the artillery fire brisk^ned. and long lines of Turkish infantry conld be seen in the balf light adva'!cin? &?ain&t the Bntish. The first attack was delivered against our left I just after fittrk with a heavy buret of fire, ind from then until 4 o'clock next morning (tie Turkish force, leinforced by Fresh troops from Baghdad, I Hung tnemseivci) agiiinst ns m tneir a-iempt to break the line. 01) three separate, ooca- ions during the night we-e intautry columns ■hrown right iip ago-inst the position at different, points, and ea-ell effort her- aided by wild storms ot artillery a.nd infantry I Are. The line held, ami before d&wn had 'iroken t-hr Tnyhp ha? jthrlrawn. ?Mb?o- -»«erit.h' to reform on their third position on o .n tiieir fhi, ihe hanks of -"he Dialah River. By the 24th the casualties had been evaou- itffl to the Ships t'gbt miles iu .rear. The fore remained on the position which hey bad won for another day, then vitbdrewy to Kut-el-Amara to await rein- ?oreemeuts. The troops, t,b..)ivh wearied with uuoh fighting, turned to hay 011 December Mat, and repulsed with heavy loss a. Turkish force which, a. forced march, had suc- I •eedod in etching them up. In v ie,- of the reinforcements rccHTcd by he Tn~!sf< before end during the battle, he British advance cu Baghdad had to be ban Jon ft! for the time. A ya'Iant attpm^t ,ad been made to c-nsh Kur-fid-Din's Army before the reinforceUJents, known to be com- tng fro-fl the north, could reach it. Bvt t-he •Jelars oaused by the difficulties of navigation JUjc to the ahporrnol low-ns&s of the rivrr were just too gj", for the succ-gsf of this bold strategic plan, and the small British force, which throngbo"t the past, year baa hoe a '.ttccc&stuily ?trusglir.? against ditSenitiee in one of the most trying climates of the world, *.«■• Ifrst to re'eogfl^ that the edde ajain^t :t v, ere too great.

weLSH CENEPAI-'SI SON KILLED. I ,(' fia-5- vc-e-ytij at, ijiy; lout the ;oi; of General Owen fhoinas. of the Welsh ?ri-ade, ha« bisen killed at the front.

SWANSEA THEATRE LICENSE. Swansea ('miucii o-a We-duesday- v.ii GOIl- sidev an application for the tvennfor of the !ic?nse for (ta;, plays of tfye Theatre Royal, Wind street. ftwaiise.i, irom Mr. John Francis li«i'Vv»y, to \11, Horry Thomas 'Jnderwood. of 5, Great Newport-street, I London, • V)nuo!), f_'

NEW SWANSEA VICAR. Tii.? Rov- £ •. n. Henry p??hcd his f.lr(:.¡ well sermon t:! the congregation of the. Par- ;,h Church, Lian?'?'-?.o?SMdaLytu??r. rrior to his <fcpartuic for Swansea., where! 6 for I. !Ü ha.? b?a ?p'?'n?'? ? ??? !?-in? of Hc'v T'in?y Church. <)UUII" nls fou!' t("lr' atay it Lhnd::nl he 'i-Hected large J;u¡:; I ¡f rron.-y tc.vc:\rils •K- a tu\g tMch::rch :uv'i .,hr' n?.'?i?n'.?'?''?'?'?? h?cru?. \.1 ¡! {l.. 'I- li-j i> p'opuiai ]'■-S ior. Mj. JJanry .mpiv t'?t'nn? t. ??'?"'?1': of bis: ?:.nner ?ph<:r?., for ''n'?L ??' ?;i?Dt,.tn?t fo t.h« ? vic?n-);jt<: ?i LA?'?;=' '? ?'? w? c?.t!<. of St. ?

THE FREIGHT FAMINE. I A MENACE TO THE ALLIES. I AND A SUGGESTED REMEDY. We received the fojlo^-inff dociuiiciat, drawn up by ifr. T. McLeod. director oft-be Modern Transport Co., Hull: During- the present v-ar the Allies arc beimg made to pay very excessive prices for evei-ytiiing, whether for war or civil require- ments. The impression in France, Italy and £ a<&ia is Bri.. sh shipowners arc reap- ing great- profits While this may be cue in isolated cases, the real truth i? that the neutral nations, such as Norway, Sweden. Tien mark, Spain, Greece and Portugal, are gaining tieasnre undreamt of in any of the wildesi, dreams of advance France, Jtaly and Russia, as well as England, arc being bled by the neutxals. Every pound of ex- cessive profit paid to neutrals is a bullet fixed in favour of the German?. How long will the Allies permit tob; England boasts she rules the sea. With her mighty Navy, with her port? and ing station# in every L,.ca. and clime, her boast, is true. With the great aid of France. I Russia, and Italy it is doubly true. Thu Allies rule the seas, and only by the good- will and the permission of the Allies the neutral ships continue to make voyages. I A TONNAGE POOL. ,I -? l he remedy is m tne Allies hanrH. net them combine the whole of their merchant tonnage; let each nation send their repre- sentatives to London and work not only their military requirements, but, also their mercantile requiremenths together. Let England take a representative from their Admiralty Transport Department, one from their Board of Trade, and one prominent shipowner, with one representative from each of the following trades, import a.nd export: Coal, iron, cotton, grain and timber. Let the other Allied nations send similar repre- sentatives, and let one strong man be ap- pointed as dictator, who will act indepen- t dent of this committee, but with the advice of the committee. Use all the ahipbrokers' and shipowners' officers as staffs, but under ) the orders and direction of the dictator. Let centres be fixed up in London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, Newcastle, Paris, Havre, Bordeaux, Marseilles, Genoa. Naples. I Venice, Petrograd, ^nd all.other chief places j of importance to work under the head de- paJ-tment in London. This department shall fix freight rates, so as to allow a maximum profit of 10 per cent, on the capital value of the ships employed. If the neutral nations refuse, closc every British, French. Italian and Russian port and coaling station to the neutral nations' I shipe. Neutral shipowners are not. fools. They will pftrefer 10 per cent. on their capital to hang their capital lying dead aud depre- ciating. They may kick and object, but if the Allies wish to win they mati be iirrn and inirist upon their own conditions. I PUNISHING HIGH FREIGHTS. only from the point of view of tne national requirements of the Allied nations must they he firm on this point, but for the proteotion- of Qrery English, French, Russian or Italian man, woman and ohild, the nations must stop the neutrals' aid to Germany at the cost of the treasure and life blood of their people. Italy is to-day paying per ton lor it3 coal; France- is paying in proportion as much. England is paying 3d. per 41b. loaf of bread before ehe pays for the grain in the making into flour and bread. High freights are punishing all the Allies, and the Allies 1l.&1un take a firm hand to end the exploita- tion. Let the AHies move together in this matter and co-operate their military and civil re- quirements, because -L--e -uiei-chant and civil needs are no less import-ant than the military, and upon them depend the ¡ ultimate military success of the Allies. If the commericial trade of the Allies is handi- capped, the capability cf financially main- taining the war is also jeopardised and en. dangered. French and Italian politicians 1.obt raise their voices to coerce their Governments to take control of shipping as well as the British Government. Then only will the sr-andalouP exploitation be stopped, and the voice of the people be heard in contentment that all is being done to lessen the cost of Mi" war and the satisfying of the needs of Ii the people. I 1 mmmmm

'STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE TRENCHES. CASTICATION FOR MR. JAS. WINSTONE. The following scathing denunciation of the ) attitude of Welsh miners' officials towards compulsion may be taken as typical of tlie entire feeling m the tiviiclic-s r have read in your paper the speech ?'hioh Mr. -lame!- W?t-tou.? mode at Ponty- poo! regarding conscription. What, the ix'?s out here want to knQw is, What hAs he got  to do with conscription? We hove a Gov. ernment that can look after things lilee that. lie said in his sposch thai, if 6 the politi- cians were not careful tilcy would stop the I Welsh coalfield. We may say that if he wa.s out here to-night he would Have his breath stopped. That 16 tho way lone boys teel after reading I iiis speech. He raid that if politicians wore not caro- ful they would stop the Welsh coalfield, nnd then there would be no coal for the British Navy. I wonder how ho would be looking tc-day if it. was not for our gallant I am ftfraid that Jimmy would be un under- ground agent now, not- a Tnuwrs' agent. The man who talks about the coalfields stopping or the Navy going without coal iu ( thif. serious time is not fit to be celled a mam. He talked ill his speech about the Xorth- •. si., ii.nd that the politicians were I hoping for office. We know what, he is look- ing for, and what he would get if he was I ooiL here—talking such rubbish. What we, sa.y is: Let the Government I on vuth thr: work. Give us the men to back us up, I aiw we will g-et or; wswi t»ic cu;ngs. I B?i-nidth?yi'o?idriddtc?)i.T\vit.hbDiien llle woüld IHLv¡;cQJIc.ril'ti(Jll, \y,n, .,imn\ ycu had better cc<rae out here; wé hav-e got a few guiio that will <ire j9C and 700 romid? R rnlj'Jiilirn- give us a chance. We would as scon riddle a :uau who i? tr.li.? topun the go'?J old flag down %voiild a (?1,Driiian. We arc not very good talkers, but, by ? we art- good wliotft, though cowards flinch and traitors sneer. Yours smoereiv Private J. EKES, Sec.. W. R. Machine GUtl Section, B.E. F., France, onco Welsh, muiers. p.fj.—Well, Jimmy, a ehj ,3 in our section had three nights' defaulters r king word. Gcodne&s knows what ycu would have had! if you had said, that lot out here, I aas—SJfti—i'J. —. L =.-

I 88 SUBMARINE* SUNK." j in a. spwob at- the a.nnnai dinner Ol tne British Hoeei. Re.st.auram and Ciub E-m- pYoyes' Socieiv. held at the Holboni Restaurant. London, on Friday, Mr. Hor alio Bottom'ey &aid that out of a hun drfed German suhnmrines which set out 10 months aco to harass our Ntrvy a i Aniea cantilo marine, 88 lay now at the botton. of the "I, The Censor seemed to think that if they taiked about the** tbintf« they were giving inforniation to the enemy. I

I NEWSPAPER PRESS FUND. I At a meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire branch of the Newspaper Press on Saturday. Mr. William K. Pegg presiding, Mr.. C. Polden, "South Wales Daily News,'7 was appointed chair- man, &nd Mr. G. F. Hill, Western Mail," i eeretarv. The following were elected ¿n the committee :—Card?' 'Mf<-?. J. Smurt:t< waite, William E. Pegg, J. Kemp Fester, R. Stoohenc and H. A. Dr. vies. Newport Menses. Charles I. -dills and J. Hopkins. West Wales Messrs. r, Shuttiewood and P..F. Smith. It was reported that the dis- trict contributed Jell 18 in 1914 to the fund, I a record figure. During 191.4 (he fund dis- p?T?? no less than A;7,06? HI grart,? and perifion?. this being ai.-o -i record. C?'d?i ;?'prf??.?r) ''??? <'X?r''?ced Tt)r th? k;t'idnl"1 .fth?f?Jo?in??x? <*k>i:'or.»: Sir .1('hn 'L'?-.< ?b-a. Si- ??;rd H"i'd, ¡', L.ùMrdl ?L!?y?,Pu-A.M?.i?.B?t..M.P..Mi-i ?- E. JoMt, ?ud other ? ?

JW%VW«WWA'WdWWAVWWWWWVWWW  BEECHAM'S PI LS might be me??oned as a striking example oy those who believe in the ? saying that old things are best". Certain ;t Is, that although this ? ? ???'?parat?on is on? of the ofd€st prapnetary m?dic<nes In u?, it Is stln ? C everywhere regarded as 0?3 of the best tor th? treatment Gf derans. at? ? me?? o? the livsr. stomach, kidneys and bowets. BNcham's PiH$ am nr t always popular; they are never out of date. Whenever a fair trial M <' C Mt?nned to them Ee&oham's P<Hs win continue to  GIVE I ? the required relief in cases of digestive trouble. The popularity of thM t ? famous mec;¡ci is not centred :& one class nor ?o cne country. The r 5 ^J^tlon #a wo?'!d-?!d&? Thera Is good reason fw this. BeeohMn'? IT ,ood reuon for this. Beecham's 3s n«JiS ^T6 PiePare? ?tt? care?Hy selected ingredients, of vegetable origin < ? r oombination has the highest value as an aperftt, cC[ 1\ GOrr-e1Hlve, and '??- As a grat and fa?!y medicine Beecham', J ? ? Pili. afford the most complete  SATISFACTION. 5 '-iIri iii .4> -:>I

BOTTLES, DISHES, HTMEHA. SHINDY ON THE SWANSEA < STRAND. TWO MARRIED WOMEN FINED. I At Swansea, on Monda>- Catheriue MaJoney and Mary Ann Rafferty, both ruajr- ried, were charged on remand with assault- :ng and wounding Mrs. Aimer. Mrs. Buck- j ney, and Thcma-s Dailing, by striking them with a poker vid a bottle, at No. 6l, Strand, Swansea, on January 10th. | Mrs. Airpor e&id that on the afternoon in question she sent for bv the next I door neighbour, Mrs. Buckney, to attend to a child, who was ill. When she was there defendants came in, and threw a bottle at her, cutting her head,* and also broke some C i LI h eF oti i-eati dkhes on her head. She went downstairs, and when she got to the bottom Maiuney struck h?r ,dth the poker. ??Argiijf?t B?ckney ?d s he had besn I qua;neU:ng with defendant RaCerty in the mOMliog, and about 3.30 ?n the afternoon, I defendant, came a?d knœked at her door, and a?ked h?r to come and fight. She refused, and defendant said she was not afraid of her, and struck her on 'the hoad with a. bottle. DaUing aid he could" not say who struck him, because it was so sudden." P.C. (34)sJon«s gave evidence of arresting defendants. Both defendants denied the charge, and Mauocev said her children were n danger of their lives with Mrs. Aimor, and they could "get no peace." Moloney \YQ." fined 20s.. or 14 days, for assaulting Aimor. and 20s. or 14 days for assaulting Buckney Rafferty was fined 20s. or 14 days in each of the &-1e cases.

SWANSEA BATTALION. THREE MEN WOtlTOED IN LATEST LIST. Three fn6re c&&ua!tK?6 in the 14th (?M?- ?ea) Battalion. We!sb Regiment, are ?otifiod I on Mond:„v. They are :— WOUNDED. 17496 J. Bos well. 17929 D. Hughes. 17221 D. J. Rees.

SWANSEA LICENSING RESTRICTIONS. FIRST PROSECUTION SINCE THE ORDER. At Swansea on Monday, Robert Edwards, lioe-nsed victualler, was summoned ior un- lawfully permitting tbe sale of intorioating liquor* on his premises, the Exchange Brewery, St. Mary's-etreet, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 &.m.. to wit. 10,3 p.m., Janu- ary lflt. 1916, and also with unlawfully per- mittios gurains to be carried O. Mr. Stobo Andrews applied for a. remand on behalf of defendant for a fortnight—The application was granted. iNote.—The above is the first prosecution I since the new local lictensin? has come into force), I

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. WARRANT OUT: CHILD NEGLECT CHARGE. At. Aberavon Cbonty Police Couit 0n I Monday, Annie Nash. oi Cymmer, the wife; of a soldier new in France, was charged on i remand with neglecting her children. De- fendant failed to appear. Mr. Lewis M. Thoniaa, N.S.P.C'.C., who i prosecuted, aid that the woman had been; before the court on several occasiorip., and at the 1af.t hearing the Bench held that she had neglected her children, but gave her an op f-*»rtunity to reform. Inspector Best. N.S.P.C.C., said be had called at the house wif-rc defendant fcr- mcrly lived at Gclti Huts, Cymmer, and had been informed that pile had gone to Tie- hfrbert. A v.-a-rrant- for her arrest was issued.

I THE SALONIKA ARMY. I AT ONE TIME IN SOME I RISK. I A^ociation War Special.) PARIS, Monday. The Tetit Puvisieu" publishes an account of the state of tiling.- at Salonika by M. Bousseuot, Deputy for Reunion, who was sent with two colleagues on a mission by the Army Committee. M. Boussenot declares that one ought to realise to-day that w&s lucky t.ht "he enemy in the ùfInsiv b d?voJ<j{''?d ?he? we Abandoned the posi- t)tM? should have Abti?d4ned t,h?c p?),;I- tic4i.c. Fho?ilt'I at,, tile How- 0\"E:1' a.droit OIU' q.(,lH'.rals ',v(,1'e, hOWè'd"i" ¡ valiant our soldiers, our Army wOL?d have b.?n in, a &?n'y pUgbt with only dt'ooth e3 ¡ ,wd only b? nun.' .v., oar f!i?pcs!!l. i At the p'??-?'tt; time t-hin have ch??gpd, j s;vs M. LousEenot. and I think 1 mu say that the country ha?, no Ion,-cr ?ny ground foi, entert?.'&nxr apprehension reg-u ding the dcf'2H:i\'(- 1,°'(1' d (>\{\'  .\r¡n\ dcf?Ri? ?owo ol our trisfen, Army. |

"WATER COMING THROUGH." LLANELLY'S GARREOFACH SCHEME MOYING. Gxatifving was conveyed to the nitieting of the Llanellv Ha-rl>our Trust on Monda*v with regard to the Garregfach M.-heine. whkh has been engaging the j attention of the Tiustees for some years. The scheme has for its chief object the deflecting of water from the river Loughor so ItS to provide a greater depth at the Lighthouse. At tbe meeting th- Cier.< (Mr. H. W. Spowart) explained that it had been Ha r b uur  d ent re:ported by th? Har,llr Superintendent "\it John Hees) to the Finance and General Pttrposes Committee tliat day that at low water some water is nov; coming through from the new channel to the navigable channel." ad that the committee desired to cvoreis their satisfaction with th? j'rp?f?fs d. U. "j.s ¡k'idtd k. ??it W;th t,ho ixtog day. sushoi'i*«d to th d?'? d"<? r.h?j-??' ?n oti;*r ?o?t!' *?'?<' po.? i'b t h. v k ''? ? i'?-?'? rAvi& '? t¡ .:7 ,t:L; ï: ¿'ib; j tl? Tr?.t. j

I j SWANSEA TECHNICAL COLLEGE. MAYORESS DISTRIBUTE: PRIZES. The Mayoress (Mrs. Merreils) on Mon- day evening distributed the certificates won by the students of the Technical College (evening classes) last session, the ceremony taking place in the assembly liaii of the Swansea Grammar School. The Mayor presided, supported by Mr. Ivor Gwynne (chairman of the Eduoation Committee) Dr. Varley (the principal), j Mr. J. C. Kirkman (master pftysics de- pa.rtment), Mr. W. James (secretary), and Mr. Arthur Evans (the most suooess- ful student of the year). in opening, the Mayor, who was cor- dially rocel-c-d, urged the students to remember that the education that was being imparted to them was not merely for their own benefit or s^ll-gloriifcatioii. Evervone had a part to pky in life. and j it seemed to him that we had to ha.ve a world-wide war to emphasise the reei 12ecessitv for the technical education in this country. Until the present war broke out it was not forcibly brought home to us the real value of such educa- t-ion. The enginee-r and the chemist, for t example, were playing a very great par., it h. war, and but for them the sol-diers, j would not be able to do such effective work as they were doing. (Hear, he&r.) He wanted the students to remember that. Jthey had to rely upon the assistance of others in life, a.nd so he hoped they would not say of anything alone I did it." At ail times they were I At war- with Mother Nature, iana it. was, up to the engineer And I ehemist to still further overcome or harness those forces for the benefit of the Îlaman race, so that future generations might have more leisure to enjoy to the iuii the gifts which Nature had bestowed upon them. The Mayor in this connection saw no reason v hy the chemist should not be able to over- o-rie the noxious fumes, that injured life destroyed the beautiful landscape. Moreover, there were forces that were et-ill unknown to science, and it had been said that there we.s enough power m the rise and tall of the tides in the Bristol Channel to carry on the entire industries of the cotua- trv. and so he hoped the day would ooine | when the necessity would br, obviated oi men going down into the bowels of the 1 earth to dig coal. {Hear, hear). He t,ruste-d the students would not go through life just as mere copyists. There was no glory in that, nor could there be any real interest in their work. Enthusiasm and Initiative a.nd t.no desire to arrive at something which no on?? else had been able to accomplish ould bring more pleasure and joy than ail tho wealth they might command, and if thov succeeded in that he was sure they would feel proud that they were at one time student a ot the Technical College. (Ap- plause). Dr. Varley then gave a report, on the worK of the college. The day students, he said, had done splendidly, and soine of the successes had never been excelled in tbe historv of the colloje. One lady student, Miss Macdoiuiel], was the first Swansea lady to gain her B.Sc. degree, and he took pure mathematics, applied mathematics and physics. (Hear, hear). They also had an honour's degree in engineering-the first to be secured in Swansea. (Hear. hear). Nearly the whole of last year's students were either in the Army or doing munition work, whilst in p:tr of the war ther was a Record entry of new students. Dr. Variey pointed out that.the day courses were open to the evening students, auu regarding the work of the latter xwSR they numbered 602 for last session, and that 464 came from the borough and 1>8 from the country. The evening schools < t.he town sent 89 out of the 371 new students. The hours put in numbered 43,304. or an average of 72 hours per stu- dent. a.f against 66 in the previous session. fllear, hear.) Having said that over 300 of their student? were with the colours or On Government work. Dr. arley quoted Mr. R.uncima.n as paving tllit in whatever other respect economv would have to be effected, vastly increased sums would have to be spent on technical education in this conntiy in the future. (Hear, hear.) In closing he pointed out that the number of students under 19 YMr of age had steadily risen every yea- since 1910. In that year there were 146 male Ftndnts under 19. as against 280 laat year, whilst those over 19 had come down from 360 two years ago to 182 last year. The number of female students under 19 had risen from 6 to 59. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ivor Gwynne commented upon the fact that, lie before him a Younger body of students than he had been accustomed to see at the prize distributions, and said that he w" pleased to see the young women taking an interest in technical education. In his opin- ton the college had never had a greater future before it than at the present time, And this vras the result of the war. (Hear, hear.) The Mayoress then distributed the certi- ficates. On the motion of Mr. Evana, seconded by Mr. Kirkman, both the Mayor and Mayoress were thanked by means of three hearty cheers from the students, and another special oue for their three boys now at the front. In responding, the Mayor said he would like to fee the day when a specialist was employed to go through the elementary schools and pick out the brainy scholars most fitted for higher spheres in the educa- tional world, and in that way put them in the grooves most euitda for them in life. (Hear, hear.) Because th) were not suffi- ciently practical some of the best brains of the community were allowed to run wild and waste- (Applause.) A cordial vota of thanks was also passed io Mr. Ivor Gwvnne. and the, proceadinp then terminated. (The prize list, will be found in another column. )

BRITON FERRY v. CONSCRIPTION. A crowded meeting was held at the Pub- lic Hall, Briton Ferry, on Sunday evening, under the auspices of the local Trades and Labour Council, atgfiinst oonooriution. The chair was occupied by Mr. E. C. Hutchin- son, and the principal speaker waa Mr. R. C. Wallhead. Upon the vote Iheinig taken against conscription the motion was de- clared carried with four dissentients. A vote against conscrintion WM; taken at the Jerusalem Baptist Chapel, Briton Ferry, at the Sundav evening service and declared carried. The mover was Mr. George Jones, and the seconder Mr. Chris. Way, while the pastor, the Rev, R-ees Powell, also spoke against the measure.

A trooper In the Aoottigb 116TA6. _6 the -■ SootMiiari," writing to his pajfeuts 18, Perth, mentions that Brigadier-General the i..rqnj. M TuHiha^'Ue a tit eartd to hold the l.nf *.nd t'htr -6r6 th8 last resrimeilt to leave G&llipoli, setting = ■am.