The Cambria Daily Leader

.5.30 Edition.

A FAMINE! German Prisoner's Letter. 'Eyewitness' Reproduces Significant D3GUmbr(1. FOOD PRICES HIGH IN THE FATHERLAND. Another dispatch from the lve- JWitness was issued by the Press Bureau this a t ternuon. The most interesting teature of the document is the reference iu a letter found on a German prisoner which contains a comment on the food question in Germany. From time to time we have published reports from relicble sources which have indicated tilP gl-avitv of the situation with which the military authorities of Germany now have to face, but, as tho Eye-Witness points out, complaints of this nature are a new feature of Boldiers' letters. Eye-Witness says the letter '?as found on a Gcrman prisoner. The feiint-I on-i, appeared :— January 12.Here in Germany it is just as if there were a famine. Food is feiarfully dear, and the lack of hands is making itself felt." The "Eye-Witness" adds that the repeated references to the rise of prices and scarcity of food is significant, for it is a feature which has oniy recently made its appearance.

CARNIVAL DAY IN PARIS. -»aris. Feb. 10.—A Granger arriving m Talis to-day would have, been <>urprise<i lo know it-'it. it wd.s Maroi Gras. King .Carnival's reign was entirely suspend* Tha theatres gave matinees, and the streets were crowded, but. the only out- signs of holiday -making were the smtnber ot' children in fancy costumes, Ji..tle girls in Alsatioti dresses and the little boys miniature replicas of Tommy Atkins. Quite a number of children wore Hit!

TOLSTOY'S GRANDSON. Count Michael Tolstoy, one of the grandsons of the late Count Leo Tol- stoy, has succeeded in escaping from the Austrian prisoners' camp at Milo- witz. He was taken prisoner during the lighting round the Carpathians, but had e-wrirn that be would escape. The. autho- rities placed him lIndPT the supervision of a special guard, LEt at the low figure of ;ls. od. th? count broke down the barriers that, stood between him and liberty. A bribo of this small sum pro- cured him his coveted freedom.

SEAMS COMPENSATION. The Board of Trade announce that arrangements have been- completed under which compensation will be pay- able in 1.11e case of all persons employed in any capacity on board British mer- chant ships who may be injured owing to hostilities. A special scheme has been brought into operation to provide for cases which are jjot already covered by the Workmen's Compensation Act. The arrangement, also applies to fish- ing vessels insured under the Govern- ment scheme.

KILLED A FOOTBALLER Charged at Stallerd Assizes with the murder of Frederick Leonard Bunting, a proininei.it' footballer and ci*cl?eter, in fvoveiuber last. Joseph Humphries (12). labourer, was found guilty of maii- flalighter, and sentenced to tllTW) years' penal servitude. The prosecution alleged that prisoner after an altercation, knocked deceased down and stole his Avntch and chain. Bunting died from a fractured skull. Prisoner pleaded feeble health, hut the jjudge said he had been convicted six times of assaulting workhouse officials and a policeman.

SWANSEA'S FLAG DAY. Tn connection Avith the fund opened in Ixndon by lr, Lloyd George to supply the Welsh troops with comforts, the M ayor of Swansea convened a meeting of ladies to decide what part Swansea should fake. In the absence of the Mayor (Mr. L)an .Jones) Councillor Ivor Gwynne pre- sided ovof a, large attendance. It was decided !hat Suan\;i should have a Flag I)ay—that, is. a sale \f flag brooches would 1:1' made in the stieetsS February 27th was decided upon as a suitable date. In every ward there vaill be stalls, each presided over by a vice- president, the Mayoress (Mrs. Dan .Tonc.-O being the president for all the stalls. The vice-presidents will Ve assisted by a num- ber of lady helpers.

DUNVAKT HERO HONOURED. At th? Dun rant Vestry on Tuesday even- ing. a present.ation Avas made to Sergeant- Ifa,ior Cowley, who is homo Oil a few days' leave fropi the front- The meeting war, pro- Bided over by Mr, E. Ei-an- Killan Collieries, supported by the Rev. Glasnant Joues and other-, The sOrh-t,-ma jt-)r was presented with a purse. of money, Rov. Glasuant Jones making the presentation. Sergt. Cowley (suitably responded. A musical programme afterwards srone»through. which con- cluded & most enjoyable evening.

HOARDED MONEY SIR ALFRED MOND'S PROTEST. COAL pgliON ONE THAT MUST BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED. ESSENTIAL TRADEi ;t! In the House of Commons last night, speaking on the Labour Party's food amendment. Sir Alfred Mond protested against the exaggerated views expressed by Mr. Snow- .V -M I. don. He denied that the cost of living had increased j] per cent., or anything like it- There had been much misrepresentation, He could not imagine responsible nen niakftg suc h statements. Speeches like they had heard would be welcomed m their enemies' country. He thought however, things might have been done on a wider scale than they had yet been. But he had not. heard from the Labour Party one practical proposal. If the price of food in this country went so high that people could not afford to buy, he cou ld only think of one practical way; that was for the Government to buy dear and sell at a loss. On the other hand he did think that on the question of coal, a good deal could be done, and ought to bo done. Ho be- lieved some part of the ooai difficulty was due to the question of railway freights and detention of wagons. He would ask the President of the Koard of Trade whether he would look into the (question that had been brought to his notice. There were a large number of railway wagons held up by the military and naval authorities, and, he was informed, very often unnecessarily for many months, thereby producing a shortage of trucks and of coal. Question of Coal. He wanted to ask if the Government appointed a committee to deal with the question of coal, that they should deal with the question of industrial coal. Tliis was not alarming, but serious. He was speaking of the question of quantity. not price. Those engaged in the industrial con- cerns found they could not obtain even coal they had contracted for. The reasons given for that were, several. Firstly: There was of course our voluntary system. W J had to take such people into the army as wanted to be Taken, and we had enlisted a very large number of colliers without much regard whether enough men were loft to pro- duce the coal necessary to carry on our industries. One. of these (layt, we might find ourselves incapable of carrying on important works. He said that because he had seen the other day that several important steel works had been faced with the question of whether they could obtain coal. Then, again tiiey heard there were a large number of absentees at (tollieries, causing also shortage, of coa l. The suspension of the Eight Hours' Act seemd to be one that might have to be seriously considered. Then there was the difficulty of rail- way companies getting enough trucks. Here again some organisation might be required. It was obvious when we were conducting a great war we must organise in a very different way to what we had been ill the habit of doing. Essential Trades. Had the Government drawn up any schedule of factories which it was con- sidered essential should be kept going? Had the railway companies any instruc- tions, if they were short of trunks, as to who should have first call on such as they had? Or were we going on in such a way that firms of little importance to the vital interests of the country should be sup- p] i(,d *? Firms which were essential for war purposes must be able to keep going. He asked the Board of Trade if it would not be worth while to moke schedules of the ifriti, absolutely required by the country, and to see their wants were met? He 93.id thl S beca n he knew of fi rm¡,; re- quirro by the country experiencing ^reat difficulty in getting eoa! contracts carried out. All these things Avere not alarming, but they might become serious. Alle had had so many Commissions appointed when we were iu trouble that he would like to see one appointed before trouble began. The Relief Fund. Another point that had not been raisc-d at all was with regard to distress. They had been told of the state of things in Blackburn. Millions had been col- lected for the Prince of Wales Fund, and many move could be had ir required. Resol utions had been passed that there was DO distress in the country, and the money which had been subscribed would be hoarded to deal with the unem- ployment after the war. If distress es at Blackburn, or anywhere else, it should be relieved. Surely, the obvious thing was to see that the money was not hoarded. Nobody had given money for that turd for that purpose. Everybody had given so that nobody should suffer if it could be avoided. If the fund were ex- hausted it could be raised again and agai n. Everybody was prepared to make great sacrifices, but. it was most dis- couraging to find funds like that adminis- tered in that ?ind'ff local jovernment ,(). 1",I f m Way. If he might say so, liurBan ) distress was no! c?icia? distre?. (Cheers).

TURKS LEAVE SINAI. Cairo, Wednesday.—The Turks have temporarily retired from the Sinai Penin- sula, only a trifling rearguard, force re- maining. The Sinai Peninsula includes the terri- tory between the Suez and the Gulf of Akaba and the Turkish frontier.

WELSH GUARDS' FIRST DUTY. The newly-constituted battalion of Welsh Guards, it is stated, will in- augurate its existence by doing guard duty at St. James's Palace on SL David's Day, March Jst. It is also reported that one of Mr. Lloyd George's sons is to llÐ an officer in the regiment.

AMER10AN VIEWS. ?!?L???? Biil?O. CUTTING OF RED TAPE ALL THAT IS ASKED. WAR ZONE RISKS. New York, Thursday.—In the course of an editorial article dealing with Sir Edward Grreply to the American pro- test regarding the delays in shipping, the "Tribune" s4ys the reply is entirely reasonable and iriendly in tone, and adds: "We do not challenge the free right of search, or a pre cty large discretion on the part of Great Britain in declaring what is. and what is not contraband. It will piobably be conceded by Americans' that the fact of G-ermany taking control 01 all food supplies eliminates normal discrimination between the food inten- ded for German armed, forces, and the food intended for th-e civil population. All food may well become contraband | under such conditions. Citing of Rod Tape. The Journal say* that all the United States Government asks is the cutting of red tape, and the prevention of unxltie delay through search. The Tribune continues, "The issue is not a major one like Germany's war zone proclamation. In Britain's case we are dealing with a power which believes questions affecting neutral rights can all be settled within thc scope of the exrs- ting international laAvs." Referring to the date Avhen the war zone conies into foice, the "Tribune" says: "So 'The Day' dawns at last, and a new phase of the great war is entered upon, it is a phase which brings war closer home to neutral nations than ever before. They must face certain risks on the high seas Avhicli neutrals neAer faoed before, but th?y Avill not be intimidated into surren- dering their rights. With that, certainty in view the nation vrhich risks the most in the unprecedented naval operaLions which are now beginning, is Germany." "The World" declares Great Britain's reply is particularly friendly in tone, and that the facts quoted will impress the readefr with the truth of the. assertion that no cffckrt I-Ls being spared to avoid avoid- able injury to neutral interests. Dutch Government's Decision, Hague, Vredllf"sday.-lt is semi- officially learned that the Dutch Govern- ment, after conferring with the shipping companies, has decided not to issue any instructions to shipping regarding the measures to bo taken in response to the German declaration of a war zone. Welsh Shippers Not Alarmed. The new German menace has causM-, no alarm in the Bristol Channel ports.; There are no alterations in an f" shipping arrangements which haYe 'ftc'i'n! in force during the past few months. At the Cardiff and Swansea freight market j rates are practically unchanged, aiici •ship OAvriers expressed confidence that the blockade would be almost ineffective.

FACTORY EXPLOSION. An explosion occurs foci yesterday in all explosives factory at Chodde (Haute Savoie ) while some new expeiiments in mixing were being made. One building was seriously damaged and several persons Avere killed. The manufacture of explosives is, however, not i-iter-rutptee, Renter.

WORRIED BY WOLVES. Berne, February 17.-A Hungarian officer states in one of the Budapest news- papers that sentries on duty in the Cu- pathians are i'rcouently worried to death by wolves. Th > seventy of the weather and the difficulties they experience in getting food, he adds. seem to have made the nnimalb unusually ferocious.—Ex- change.

AUSTRIANS REPULSED. Marmornitza (Rumania), Tuesday—The Austrians during the night advanced to- wards Czerisovitz, but the artillery was not advanced in support b(K:ause of the thaw and the softness of the ground. Nevertheless, the infantrv attacked the village of Moravia, where they found the Russians strongly entrenched. HaWl-to- hand fighting with the bayonet took place, the Austrains being repulsed.

't "V .I-&XW' LET IT BEGIN! | Kaiser: "Is all my high seas fl^et I| safely locked up?" Admiral von Tirpitz: Prac- § tically all, Sire." | Kaiser: Then let the starva- tion of England begin." g -lirom Punch." I

LIABLE TO SEIZURE FOOD TO BE TREATED AS  CONTRABAND. SIR EDWARD GHEfS REPLY TO AMERICAS NOTE. GREAT BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE. An important statement as to the British Government's intention to treat food on voyage to Germany as contra-) band, or liable to seizure by British • cruisers, is contained in Sir Eciwarci I1 Grey's reply to die Lnited States Note. Sir Edward Grey states: No country I has maintained more stoutly than Great! Britain in modern times the principiei that a hciiigercut. should abstain from; interference with the toodstuíls intendetJ for the civil population. The circum- stances of the present struggle are causing, his Majesty's Government, sonit anxiety to whether the existing rules with regard to conditional contraband (articles liable, to be seized if they are intended for the: enemy s armed forces), framed as they! were with the object of protecting so far a-s possible the supplies which v.ere In- tended for the, civil population, are effective for the purpose, or suitable to the conditions present. .1 The principle which I have indicated above is one which his Majest"v's Govenr ment have constantly had to uphold against the opposition of Continental Powers. In the absence o; some cerrainty that the rule wnuld be respected by botr I)a,-t-.es to this conflict, we feel great doubt whether it should be legarded as ar; established principle of incernationai law." Bismarck's Statement. It is recalled that in 1885 Prince Bis- marck made this statement to the Kiel Chamber of Commerce when Great Britain discussing with France the question, of the right to declare food < rice) w-hich i was not meant for the military forcetS, contraband: Every war is a calamity, which entails evil consequences not only on the (xrm.. batancs but aiso on neutrals. These evils, may easily be increased by the interfer-1 ence of a neutral Power with the way in' which a third carries An the war. to .Lp disadvantage of the subjects of thp. inter-j tering Power, and by- this means German commerce might be weighted far heavier losses than a transitory prohibi- ti. of the nee trade in Chinese water*. The measure in question has for its object rhe shortening of the war by increasing "he dii?cnltipf. ef ^nemr. o^rj j- a tillable step in war if impartially enforced against all neutral shirks." No Defiritc Pledq, Sir Edward Grey concludes: His Majesty's Government are dis- posed uj think rhut the same view is still maintained by the German Government. "Another circumstance which is Ulw coming to light is f-bat an elaborate; 'machinery has be^u organised by 1 h< enemy lor the surply ef food-stuffs for the i use of the German army from ove.r-sea«. Under these cireiitristaneos it would be absurd to give any definite pledge that iu cases where the supplies can r" proved 1:1) b" for the u-e of the enemy forces be givjn complete immunity by 11* simple, expedien: of des.patehin-r the. tr, an gpnt in a neutral port. The reason for drawing a disiiu^ti^Ti between food-stuffs intended for the oivj) population and those for the armed forces or enemy GoA-err,merit disappears when- the distinction between the civil pnpula-i tion and the armed forces, itself dis-, appears. In anT country in which there: ovists such a 1 re-iendous organisation for war as now obtains in Germany, there is D" clear division he'iwv-an thoso whom, the Government is responsible for feeding and- those whom it is not. The Military Cnmes First, Experience shows that the power to requisition will be used to the fullest ex- tent in order to make sur<Athat the wants of the military are supplied, and how- ever much good s may h imported for eL,i,1 use it is by the military that they will be cotifurijed if military ex igencies require it. now that, the German Govern- ment have taken control of all the food- stulls in the country." The despatch concludes as follows,: The announcement by the G-erraan Government of their intention to sink "merchant voxel s and their cargoes v it}.out verification of their nationality or character and Avithout making any provision ior the safety of non-combatant creAvs or giving* them a chance of saving their lives, has made it necessary for hi>> Majesty's Government to consider what measures they should adopt to protect their interests. It is imposed for one. belligerent to depart from rules and tor the other lo remain hy them.

ESSAYS ON KAISER. .Amsterdam, Wedrxisday.—The "Frank- furter Zeiiung publishes a number of essays abortt 1 jw Kaiser, .ritten by youth- ful members of the (;iJol<Hi;h School in Frankfurt..All the girls consider the. Kaiser brave. A number of them f-ay he is clever. L'ji^c is sorry for the. Emperor. She savs he has a poor tiroo (der Kaiser hat os gar nubt grjO. She eonhnll: His birthday passed this year Aery ouely. Only wore hung out. She thinks the Kaiser> best fighter is Mar- shal von Hinderburg. The imaginations of Elinor a.nd that of, her schoolmate Else arc captivated by tie Kaiser's goings to and fro. I-I'lijicr v-r-it,, The KairT often comes to the regiments and sees if all i6 in order, ii all i6 in order, tnen he goes jjff to other regi- ments" Else: Our Kaiser ie the best ruler. He travelled about visiting his Iroops. When one tkiuks how the Czar sits m Petersburg (German children apparent!?' have rot yet learned the alteration iu the name of the Russian capital), and lets- his troops run mad, then one peroeivee tha our Kaiser is the befct Xaieer in the world." G Ir d, who seemg to give her imprae- sion^more candidly than the EnroerorV journalistic confidant, Ixdig Gansrhcff. writes: Noav is our Kaiser no lon-cr bright. Noav he is very thin and pair,. He lias always said we must win. and are going to ve il. He is much more g; nvp than formerly." Oniy oik, ilma, has a bad word f. the English. Tiiev are. she sa.vsi, vdvkid enemies.-fPress Associativa. i.

•5VATEBLCK) CUP. Happy Challcr-jo bsai L;s-derd-j :h Win- ning dumber beat Bruinruaj-ru; te-it '"ior.ysiufl. FRENCH CFf ICIAL C0V^JWICUE. FARTS, Titni-day. ThE French official issued thi" afternoon, wt;s a m-l: J— From ihe tea to the Lhso nothing new during the Ii i< confirmed tLat the fortunate- eo-Ji^do-miu A-r.eb madt- us masters of the iices of German treneh'-s to the n-rth of Ar.-ss (north-west of Rocaineco;) 'Y'Ú"n' ,1 the enemy serious b"< TVo how* taken a fortress and several h'J-drvcIs pt bombs, In tue vaiey ol tiie Ai- ur\ a sector of Rhif, there havo boon lerv duels in v Lieh our baHenet clearly gained the adAUntage. In the cham- pagne. in the region of I'erchei, all th« grounl compered yesterday and the. day before Las been held. Among the numerous piisoe.ers we took end 11..19 161 h ti.:uJ :7t1 Sgurc ethers and men 01 the btli and Sth Corps tiio act;vA* at ay, nd of lite Mh and l-th and Uth Ariuv b' 2,tr-e Corps, -c-— we have also maintained the ridin rer.ioed i h e Bois-de-la-rrurif to th* s iiitk Fcr:t i'iie-aus-Caarmes. 1Vo ,-Ie Lbit progress in-the region ot tn rhe llill 2a \r.\ een the an cd in Jhe evening com- *;us p1t "cs in d "o t 1-e sout h of the Boi3-de-Cheppv. Elides 1 his, wo metres to th*. norte cwr Malincoari ild about as much to the so-j. th ui ihe ixUi.-de-x'crge.si and these gains are uiaintained. Froa: ,ae linzo to "lie 2:g hce ic ItL.L.

GERMAN GARRISONS REINFORCED. Jn consequence of the British air raid on the Belgian coast last week the Ger- man garrisons at Hey&t a.nd Knocke were reinforced yesterday by 3,000 additional marines, and more are due. Wireless apparatus has also been erected near Zurin, close to the frontier. A number of German guns which were damaged during recent attacks in the neighbourhood of Ostend parsed through Bruges yesterday en route to the arsenals to lie repaired. Thp entire garrison of Salzaetc was moved to the coast to-day, beang replaced by irfth troops.

DE WET'S DREAMS. TALKED OF THE FLEET THE BOERS WERE GOING TO HAVE. "ACT LIKE THE GERMANS." Eloemfontein, WedDesday.Tb De Wet case was resumed to-day. Mr. Steen Kamp, who visited De Wet with Mr. Joubert to endeavour to dis- suade him from 'tibfllion, iTa-vo evi- der o -0 a t-pe. • o of De Wet to his burghers, in which he said the Germans had always been their friends, and that when the Republic was restored they would acknowledge its independence. They would only have to give Walfish Bay to the German*, and it would be very useful when the Boers had their own fleet. Evidence was also given as to De Wet's proceedings at Winburg, and as to ad- dresses delivered by him to a commando near Ventersbur, and also at Vachtkop. At the latter place he was reported to have said that when they got to Johan- nesburg they would j-t, like the Germans and make the capitalists, pay. The Court adjourned.

ZEPPELIN DESTROYED, GERM DIRIGIBLE ON FIRE AND CREW ARBESTED Zeppelin activity is reported from Denmark, possibly indicating Germany's reply to the rooent British air raids. Telegrams from Copenhagen yesterday stated that sevegal Zeppelins had been observed flying northA»ard oyer the North Sea. COJ-xmhagen. Wednœday.It is now ascertained definitely that a Zeppelin has been destroyed by explosion on the Fanoe Island. The vessel stranded near the famous ku.r-hotel of the island. Fire broke out and an explosion followed, which destroyed the airship. Fourteen men and two officers on. board Avere arrested by the Danish mili- tary guard and conveyed to Nordby, where they will be interned. The oiffcers explained that the motor went wrong and thus caused the disaster, The name of the Zeppelin is unknown.—Exchange. Flying Northward. From Northern Jutland German air- ships are reported to have been seen fly- ing northward. A Zeppelin at as observed last night, its searchlights being used all along tho route. Another was seen tnis morning' passing low over the North Sea, four miles west of the Danish coast. Three Zeppelins were observed to-day off Bovbjerg, on. th« Danish west coast, going northward. [The island of Fanoe lies close to the western coast of Denmark, opposite the well-known port of Lsbjerg.] Dutch Vessel Inspected. Amsterdam, Feb. 17—The Dutch steamer Helena, which has arrived at Rotterdam, reports that yesterday when about iorty miles from the Haaks lightship, a Zeppe- lin flew over the vessel, but notieing that the Helena was a Dutch one, the airship changed its direction. The transport of goods and mails to Eng- land will take place by means of the freight steamers of the Zeeland Company, which will run four times a week to Til- bury Docks.

CARMARTHEN MAN WOUNDED. Mrs. Sophia Jones, of 22, Woods-row, Carmarthen, has received a letter stat- ing that her son. Private J. O, .lones, 3rd Welsh Regiment, has been wounded in the shoulder, and is now lying at the Duchess of Westminster Hospital, i-la-t-il Another son of Mrs. Jones, Private D. Jones, 2nd Welsh Regiment, has been missing since September 26th.

KilLED BY OWN BOMB. Lieutenant II. S. Keating, of the Irish Guards, whose death was announced recently, was killed in a bomb accident. The Aeroplane" says that he was appointed bomb officer" to his batta- lion. and a few nights before his death led a most successful attack with hand grenades on the German trenches. When instructing his men in the action of throwing grenades, one which was supposed to be a dummy exploded, and he was killed ou the spot.

ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE Liverpool, Wednesday.—The Pacific liner Ureoma. which docked at Liverpool to-day after an adventurous voyage to South America, is now known as "The Submarine," because more than once she has bpnn officially sunk by the Ger- mans, and yet is still afloat. Her latest obituary notioe was in a Berlin Avireless message circulated during the voyage just cxmcludfd, bU1 the Orcoma was not even attacked, although she narrowly missed miming iufco Von Spec's squadron off Coronel on the even- ing of the Chilean coast battle. Those on board cOfLld sea the smoke a.nd flashes of the guns while the action was proceed- ing. Tha passengers learned on arrival at Valparaiso that the German colony 1%7 .-L l para-' there, OIl receiving information that the Oreoma was on her way. confidently expected her to be overhauled by the German cruisers, and even engaged four steam launches lor an excursion to see her soak.

THE WELSH BILL. L,LANSAMLET MINISTE hn$s STATEMENT, OBJECTION TO WASTING TIME ON SIR HEliRY LilNN. CONCHEGAJIGAL MEETINGS At the quarterly meeting of the West Glamorgan Congregational Union, held at Tabernacle Chapd, Mor- r let on, on Thursday, the Rev. J. Ilowei Parry, the secretaxy of the Union, drew attention to the fact that some endeavour was being made by the Opposition Peers to introduce legislation in the House of Lords, especially with re- gard to tho Welsh Church Bill. He moved the following re&Ol u tion That this meeting of the West Gla- morgan Congregational Union pro teste against the attempts which are being made in a time of political truce to alter the position and prospects of the Welsh Church Act and th Suspen.sory Act, 1914, as a proceeding which tends to endanger Welsh national unity in a grave crisis; calls upon the Government not to tolerate the efforts of Opposition Peers to introduce legislation in the House of lords which no private mem- ber of the Hou."e of Commons it; per- mitted to introduce in the present ses- sion; and to insist, if the privileges and opportunities of the. representatives 01 the people are curtailed for patriotic rea.sons, that, the same rule should be applied to private members in the non-representative Chamber; and asks the Government to see that the pledge which was given by the Prime :.1iuistor and endorsed by the Opposi- tion of February :Vd last that no legis- lation of a party or contentious charac- ter should tie introduced during the session shall be faithfully carried out. Secret Understanding? The rev. gentleman said he feared very much that some terms had been arranged between the Opposition Peers and the members of the Government which the Welsh membei-s were not cognisant of. The Duke of Devonshire had attempted to bring in a Bill in the House of Lords, but for some reason which was not known that Bill had been dropped. Now it was clear that the Opposition Peers would not have dropped that Bill unless f-ome terms had been arranged between them and the Government. The reports, which had appeared in that morn ing's papers of the proe-eediugs in the House of Commons latt evening gave one to think tha. H,* Home Secre- tary was weak. That gentleman, in reply to Mr. Joseph King, had failed to give, a proper answer with regard to the question of the Welsh Church Bill, and Mr. King had asked him, "Why can't you give a straight answerr" The Welsh members of the House of Commons, continued the speaker, were also afraid that there was something being kept in the background. Rev. Penar Griffiths seconded. The resolution was carried unani- mously, and it was decided to tõcnd copies to Mr. McKenna and the chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary party. Time and Labour Wasted. The Rev. Penar Griffiths proposed a re- eolution regretting the attitude of Sir Henry Lunn, who had been trying to alienate the sympathies of the Welsh people against the Welsh Church Act. The Rev. D. M. Davies opposed the passing of the resolution, saying that too much time and labour was being watted over this man, who was not worth any attention at all. If they devoted too much of their time to him he would become obsessed with a false idea of his impor- taDOO. The resolution was carried unanimosuly Pessimistic Review. The Ry. William James, in his report with regard to the Welsh SUstntatiou Fund, gave a very pessimistic review of the position. He said that 35 of the churches had done nothing, and some of these were the richest churches, not only in the district, but in the Avhole of Wales DUKE'S BILL-OFF. Withdrawal' of the House of Lords Measure. The Duke of Devonshire's Bill intro- duced in the House of Lords, designed to suspend the operation of the Welsh Church Act, has been withdrawn. Before news of this move, however, had been circulated, the Welsh Liberal mem- bers had met. and passed a long rseolu- ticn protesting against any attempt to alter the position of the Welsh Church Act and the Suspensory Act "as a pro- ceeding which tends to endanger Welsh national unity in a goran' cri,is." The position is still full of perplexity. The London correspondent of a Unionist eonteniDorary says that the Duke's Bill has been despatched from the Order Papers of the House, "though, of course, he will be able to revive it again withouti any difficulty if there is any hitch in the j negotiations which, it is understood, are! to be immediately commenced." What are these negotiations abrjut? The Bishop of St. David's was seen in lobby of the House on Wednesday, chat- i- iig with some of the members of the Church Parliamentary Committee. His lordship was not prepareo to make any statement on the new situation which has arisen. "Agreement, Possibly." There are not wanting Wel^h members! who hold the opinion that the Bill has I been withdrawn finally, and that we shall' hear no more of it, because the Govern-i ment has intimated that no facilities AvilU be given for its discussion in the of Commons. One such member, asked i if that did not involve concession of some sort, and also agreement, replied, "Of course, possibly," with an emphasis on, the "possibly,"—"there may be an agree- ment in the future, but I think the. C'hurch party recognise they have made a great blunder, and that we lla-Il hear no more of the Duke's Bill." Sir Henry Lunn's "memorial" has &e-i cured 1,390 signatories, of whom 712 are! ministers and 678 are official laymen whose names are given in the Year Books of the Churches. Among the places, in. Wale. represented by the signatories are Cardiff. ^Newport. Mumbles, Haverford-! west, Merthpr and Llaiedly. Swansea' seems to have a clean bill of health. [

KAISER'S BOAST. East Prussia Fres From the Efisimy." Reuter's Amsterdam message says:— A telegram irom Berlin states that the Chief President of the Province, of East Prussia at Komgsburg has received the following telegram from the Kaiser.— Russia compldcly beaten. Our be- 10\'00 East Prussia is free from the enemy. Amsterdam, Wednesday.—An official Berlin telegram says th.it the Kaiser has arrived in Berlin for a short stay. Received with Reserve. Rome, Wednesday.—The Tribnna." commenting upon the fighting in ibe Masurian Lake region, says the German Aversion must be received with reserve, especially as it does not seem to agree in its different parts.

KAISE&'S FAVOURITE. Amsterdam, Wednesday.—A Berlin tele-; gram announces that the Kaiser has COil- i -ft,rred the Order Pour le on the Chief of the Genera! Stair, I-ral von Faikenhayn, "in his ser- vices in connection the victory of the Masurian Lakes."—Renter.