The Cambria Daily Leader

5.30 J) Edition. ) <n i

DUE TO WAR. I < INCREASE IN THE I RAIE8. I ? BOROUGH ESTIMATES WILL MEAN AN ADDITIONAL 9 D. I DRASTIC REDUCTIONS. I After a long sitting in private of the, Swansea Finance Committee and chair- men of committees at the Guildhall last evening, the net result was that the esti-. mates contained fn-the draft budget were reduced from C22.296 to J016,718. On this reduced estimate the general district rate *a» fixed at 4s. (i.72d.. as compared with 4s. Id last year, and the borough rate at against 9.3-ld. last year—an increase of 7.16ci. on the two rates, or rather less than 7id. Adding an increase of, roughly, a halfpenny in the education rate and the increased demand of the Guardians— whose precept, showing an increase of lid.. only covers the first, half of the year—the total net increase in the rate for the year, allowing for fractions, will be 91d. These figures were officially supplied by the courteous borough treasurer (l r. W. 11. Ashmole) to a Leader" reporter this juoroing. A Certain Liveliness. The discussion at the meeting was of a prolonged nature, and. we understand, not entirely free from "liveliness," each chair- man guarding the interests of his com- mittee with a jealous care. But all bowed eventually to the common end of restrict- ing the increase in the rates to the lowest possible margin, consistent with a policy of good finance. Substantial reductions and modifications were made in the demands of the various committees. It. was decided to take the equivalent of a penny district rate, < £ 2,235 from the Electricity Committee's profits '? the year. The estimates of the High- ways Committee were reduced by ?200. the Parks Committee's by eloO, and the Mar-  htû>mmiUee's by £ 150. Sweeping re- dnct.ions were made in the case of the Health Committee and Estates Committee, -61,000 being taken from the former, and "£].383 from the latter. The credit from the Tramways was also increased by £ 500. These items, totalling £ 5,578, brought the estimated requirements contained in the draft budget down to £ 16,718. Guardians' Precept. I Tht-C-n-irdians' pre,-Pp,, as explained abon. is only for the first half of the year, but assuming that the increase for the eecond half of the year is the Same, the total increase will be 3id. for the year. But )-1,. Ashmole is hopeful of getting a contribution, equivalent to a two-penny rate, from a balance he savs the Board fcve in hand. and. if lie succeeds, it will ,nea-n the increase in the Guardians' de- mand" will be confined to a lid. rate for the year. Be must be connd?nt of getting this ne51 <?g." for he has calculated the rate accordingly. The total rates last year was 8. 9d. 4,. ld, district rate and 4s. 8d. poor rate. The latter includes f>}d. Borough rate, 2s. 4d. for education, lid. for Free Library and Art Gallery, and Is. old. for Guar- dians, and Overseers. The increase in the rate as far ;is the Corporation is concerned." said Mr. Ash- mole to our representative, "isduf abso- lutely and entirely to the war, honestly I believe the rates of Swansea would have been no higher, if not less, than last year the war had not broken out." I

THE MINIMUM MODIFICATION. I The Welsh party has agreed that the Biinimum modification that they will accept in the Welsh Church Postpone- ment Bill muist be each as will give at least three months from the Welsh Church Disestablishment Act coming into force, during which the Church party will undertake not to repeal the Act. Certain Welsh Liberals cherish the hope that putting off the second reading of the Postponement Bill fore- tells the dropping ot the Bill altogether. I

THE NAVARRA'S LAST FIGHT. I Buenos Aires, Thursday.—The news- papers here pubfish various particulars of the engagement in which the Bri-tish auxiliary cruiser Orama sank the Ger- man auxiliary cruiser Navarre. The action, which was of s hort duration, is tnow stated to have taken place in the Racine, off the coast of Chile, on Febru- ary 11tJh. The Navarra's crew were rescued and iftaken to the Falkland lpland.Reuter. [When previously reported last month, It he fight between the Orama and the j '"Navarra was said to have taken place off the Kiver- Plate last November.]

FATAL GENIUS FOR BLUNDERING I New York. Wednesday.-Conunent.ing "upon Count Beraatorff's assertion that this memorandum wai communicated to .#he United States hy order of Germany, « h.e New York Press" is of opinion Hhat it wa.s not Count Bernstorff himself who wantonly insulted official Wash- ington hut the (lovernment; at Berlin, with that fatal genius for blundering statecraft which lately held the whole iworld dumbfounded." The newspaper ys it, i.5 strongly inti- mated in Washington that the State De- partment will a.%k for his refill, and "his must be taken as a polite way of .ftsying that if he does not receive a "Prompt recall from Berlin. Washington *v~i.U hand him his passports. Tbp New York World say!: If If he Allies were directing the affairs of the German Embassy they C'ould hardly fcit on anything more shrewdly calcu- lated to prejudice American opinion fc.$rai inst thp German cauaf than Count IHernstorff's Not. If a notable service jrl<M»orvfte a rinrreapanding reward, Great r,w.fw Count Rernstorff the Garter .•nod France the Grand Cross of the 9-ion of Honour.—Reuter.

MINING DEADLOCK. WAY OUT OF THE DIFFICULTY WiLL BE FOUND. TO-DAY'S CARDIFF MEETING (BY OUR MINING CORRESPONDENT.) An important meeting of the Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation was held to-day at the Central Offices in Car- diff. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Brace. M.P.. and amongst others present were Mr. John Williams. M.P., agent for the Western District, and Mr. W. Jenkiua of the .Neath District, together with the treasurer. Mr. Alfred Onions, and the General Secretary, Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P. The whole of the morning was occupied in discussing the situation created by the deadlock, in regard to the demand for a, war bonus. It will be remembered that we dealt at some length in the Cambria Daily Leader with the attitude of the Miners' Federation of GrpatBritain. That body having failed to get the coalowners of the whole country to meet them in a national joint conference to discuss the demand for a -0 per cent, war bonus, met again in London last week, and the executive com- mittee decided to make another effort to get the consent of the coaiowners to a national joint conference, failing which it was agreed that a general conference of the delegates representing the miners of th United Kingdom should be held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, next Wednesday. The fact that that confer- ence was now been convened by circular is an indication of the failure of the nego- tiations between the M.F.G.B. Executive and the representatives of the coalowners. The London Conference. In conversation with Mr. Richards, the secretary. I elicited the fact that the dis- cussion would have to he continued during the afternoon in order that some recom- mendation might he formulated from this Council, to he placed before the annual conference of the South Wales Miners at Cardiff on Monday, so that from that conference resolutions should be sent forth to Ule London conference of the M.F.G.B. The importance of the matter lies in the delay which the South Wales men are suffering in the getting of an advanced wage. The South Wales coalowners have al- ready offered a 10 per cent, advance, and whether that sum were satisfactory or not, the negotiations were stopped by the at- tempt of the ational Federation to secure national action. Mr. Richards told me that he considered they were in a very awkward position indeed. "But." be said, "I think we will find a way out of the difficulty."

ORDERLY'S PLUCKY DEED. Alfred John Ellis, an orderly, of No. 2 Convoy, British. Red Cross Society, ac- complished a brave act of rescue at Mer- ville on Saturday. A nine-year-old girl fell into the river as ho was passing. Without a nioiiient's hesitation, and though fully dressed, he sprang in after her, and after diving two or three times lier. and i f brought her eafely to the hank. The river rn nd made the work of rescue particularly difficult. The orderly was congratulated by the crowd who saw his plucky act.

PAPAL INTERVIEW DOUBTED. Rome, Thursday.—In answer to the adverse criticism provoked by the ex- posure of the German diplomatic efforts i to secure an interview with the Pope, the Corriero d'Ita lia." the Clerical daily! paper, and the Correspondenza both deny that Von Wiegand interviewed the Pope. The papers say that Yon Wiegand merely had an audience, as many others have had, and that during the audience the Pope referred to the question of peace, which Von Wiegand interpreted in his own form and words.—Exchange Tele- graph Company. -— =

PROSECUTION OF A REPORTER. Attention is to be called in Parlia- me-nt to the case of Mr. Dyson, the news- paper reporter, who was fined at Port-, land last week for telegraphing certain I news of-naval affaire to a number of London newspapers.. In his defence the | reporter stated that he relied on the con- sorsfhip in London to eliminate any par- ticulars that could be considered dan- gerous. On Thursday next, in the House of Commons, Sir William Byles, who was himself once a newspaper proprietor, will ask the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Dyson, a newspaper reporter, has been recently prosecuted l>efore the Portland magistrates on the charge of transmitting news to his em- ployer which might be of service to the enemy; will he say who ordered the prosecution; had it the prior sanction of the Press Bureau or the Attorney General or the Home Office; and why was. it not directed to the responsible editor or proprietor instead of to a sub- ordinato who could have no knowledge of what was legitimate information or what wiis prohibited.

ENCOURAGING KRUPP'S WORKERS. New York, Thursday.—Mr. Gustav Roder, the special correspondent of the World," who has just returned from Germany, describes to-day a visit to the Krupp Works at ssen. lie tells how everything is done to en- courage the workers. Their wages have been raised 15 to 20 per cent. since the war began, and in some instances experts re- ceive double the salary paid in peace time. Messrs. Krupp have also organised a large general store, where the workers can buy to greater advantage than any- where else in the Empire. Extremely cheap meals are served, and bread tickets are not required by munitions and arma- ment workers. Forty-six thousand men are now em- ployed at Krupp's. This is ten thousand more than in peace time, and the men are working in day and night shifts. All the expert workers who enlisted early in the war have been recalled to serve their country better at Essen, and the entire Krupp plant is now making war supplies, even in the departments where othlr steel products were formerly manu- factatsd.

SALE OF A HOUSE ————— SMITH'S BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. FURTHER REVELATIONS IN BRIDES' CASE. ■ ■ MANY ADDRESSES Sir John Dickinson, the Bow Street magistrate, wa.s again occupied to-day in investigating the charges against George Joseph Smith, of murdering three of six women with whom he is alleged to have contracted marriage. The deceased, each oi whom was found- drowned in her hath, we :-Bess:e Constance Annie Mundav at Herne Bay, on July 13th. 1912; Alice Burnham, at Blackpool, on December 12tl1, 1913; and Margaret Elizabeth Lofty, at Bismarck-road, Upper Holloway on December 18th, 1911. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Williamson con- ducted the case on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Prisoner, who has hitherto been de- fended by Mr. W. P. Davie# ((solicitor) was to-day represented by Mr. Mcntague Shearman. Sale of a Huose. Mr. John Masterson, of 21. Burnham- road, Plumstead, clerk -in the employ of the Woolwich Equitable Building Society, said that the society owned the house. 22, Glen more-street, South Church, South- end. In 1909 somebody named Smith was in negotiation for the purchase of tho house..A postcard signed G. J. Smith," dated 10th November, 1909, was received by the society. It was addressed from 3. Coleman-street, Southend. A letter dated litli November, 3909, was also re- c-eived. It was signed George Joseph Smith," and referred to the same house. Enclosed in the letter was a deposit of A:20 on the purchase of the house. I Witness produced another letter of the l Hfh November, 1909, from George Joseph Smith, netting out the terms of pur- chase. The price was ?270, and S30 waA i to remaIn on mortgage. After the last letter various applications were received for advances on further charges, and a' letter dated 12th February, 1910, was re- ceived. That letter asked for an advance of £ 24, was advanced. The letter was written from Cexo Taverner, 33. Iligu-street. North-East Ham. Witness produced four other letters' from Smith between 4th March, 1910, and Ctlt June, 19.10, addressed from 401, Bark- l ing-road, Plaistow. "A not Iter, letter, dated 3rd July, was addressed from 66. Boundary-road, Walthamstow, and vet another, dated ht August, in the same ye?r. from !H, Ashley Down-road. Bristol. There was a second letter in Septem ber from the last address, and in a third. dated 17th September, Smith wrote: "I think it; only right for me to call at your office personally in order to nnally I settle up my account with the ?'PcjcietT r2 22, Glenmore-street, Southend." In Solid Cash." I Smit It wrote again on the 20th Sep- tember. 1910. from the Bristol address, saying I shall bring with me all solid cash, and hope to be at your office be- tween three and four to-mort6w (Wedncs- day)." \V itness said that he recognised the prisoner as the man who called at the Society's office on Wednesday, 21st Sep- tember, 1910. A sum of S93 76. lid. was then duo in respect of the house. Mr. Bodkin: What toop place on that day ? VVitneee: He paid me the money, and I handed him the deeds accepting the mcrtgage. Further charges upon which! advances had been made from time to time were afterwards sent on to prisoner by post, and he forwarded a receipt headed Southend-on-Sea." Mr. Bodkin: How did he pay the £93 lis. ?—In cash. You mean coins:—Yes Witness added that on November 12th and 15th he recovered communications from prisoner from 19a, Leigh-road, East Southend, the letter containing a pencil copy of an agreement to sell the same lu use on November lith. Smith wrote frcm the same address applying for a further advance of £50. In July, 1911, witness recovered two documents from Smith from 69a, Sheen-lane, East Sheen Square, and on September 17th of the seme year Smith wrote c o H.P. Office, I Northfleet, Kent." On October 19th of that year he wrote from 63, Larne-road, Bath, and on April 2nd, 1912, from 157, Leigh-road, Wtgt Southend. Between November 12th. 1910, and April 2nd, 1912, further advances had been made :o Smith on the same security, the deeds of the house being re-deposited with the Society. Mr. Shearman, saying he had not seen the letters, asked witness if they did not all relate to business transactions. Witness replied that they did. Further exartiined by Mr. Bodkin, wit- ness produced an application form signed by Smith and dated March 18th, 1912, in which the address was 21, Anglesey- road, Woolwich. Prisoner's Interruption. Albert Frederick Hudger, managing clerk to Mr. Thomas, solicitor, Powis- stieet., Woolwich, eaid that his employer acted for the Woolwich "Equitable Build- ing Society. Witness had the conduct of the matter of the sale of the house, 12'J, Glenmore-street, Southend. The names of the vendor and purchaser were George Joseph Smjth and Frederick Wil- liam Francis respectively. The four letters produced, all dated from 157. Leigh-road, West Southend, the date of the first being 6th April, 1912, and the last 19th April, were received in connec- tion with the transaction. There wc-.ro, also eleven letters, dated from 17. Belle Vue-road, Ramsgate, the dates of these ranging from 23rd Apirl, 1912, to the 4th May of the same year. He also received a postcard dated 14th May. 1912, from Ramsgate. In that card he was requested to send all further papers to Mrs. Smith, 192, Ashley Down- read, Bristol. The sale of the house was conipleted on May 13th, 1912. Francis paid the purchase money, and the vendor received it. less the advanecs which had boo by the Building Society. The balance after deducting the advances and other charges was S14 odd. Witness attended the completion. He was under the impression that the balance was posted on afterwards. He saw the vendor. Smith, and recognised him now in the dock. Prisoner: He has never seen me in his life. Mr. Bodkin: Is that the man (indi- cating the accused) ? Witness; Yes. Prisoner: He has never seen me in his life. I A Neighbour's Story. uo.. Lllen Millgate. wife of Mr. Percy Mill- gate, 157, High-street, Herne Bay, said that the street had been re-numbered. Formerly No. 80 was next door to her. She recollected some people coming to live at 80. They were called Mr. and Mrs. Williams. No one else except those two lived there. Mr. Bodkin: Do you recognise Mr Wil- lie msf—Y a* Witness added that she got to know the people next door through heir going in and out, but she was not on speaking terms with them. She remem- bered Saturday, 13th July. On that day she saw her husband talking to someone at No. 80, hut could not see who it was. It was in the morning after that Mr. Williams came to her door and spoke to her. Mr. Bodkin: What did he say to You? —He asked me if I knew a woman who ?woiild come and lay his wife out. What did you say?—I said "No, I didn't." I alo said 1 could not tome I in Was anything else said?—I asked him if he had sent for a doctor, and he said he had done so. Did you g,) that day at all to No. SO?— Yes. As far as I remember, it was about two o'clock in the afternoon. Witness added sho went upstairs and was taken t) the bath-room. The door stood wide open, and Williams said. She's in there." < Witness saw the body lying behind the door. "It was a terrible shock to me." I exclaimed, Oh, dear," and stepped back. There was a frightened loot on Mr. Williams's face. I stepped in again, and saw a sheet lying beside her. J picked it. up and covered it over her. Then Iasked him if he had a pillow, and lie fetched one, and 1 put it under her head. During this part of Mr. Bodkin's ex- amination. Smith, in the dock, took copious notes, presumably of the wit- ness's replies to quest-ions. Later Wil- liams stayed at her house. Picked OUt, Prisoner. Percy Millgate, baker, husband of the last witness, said that he rememlcred Mr. and Mrs. Williams coming to the house next door to him. He supplied bread to them. On the morning of the Saturday referred to, he called at the house as usual at 9.=30. Mr. Williams came to the door, and at first -aid nothing. Witness arked if he wanted any bread, and Mr. Williams said No." He asked me," continued witness, if I had heard the news. lie looked very white. He told me the news, and said he had found his wife dead in the bath, He asked me to -end a telegram to her brother." Mr. Bodkin: How did you come to at- tend the funeral?—I did it, out of sym- lutby. I asked Mr. Williams if any of lie:- friends were coming. He said he did not expect they would, and I fca id, Would you like me to come with you?" He assented, and itemed pleased. Describing his identification of the prisoner, witness said that in the middle of February he picked him out from amongst nine men at Bow-street. Knew the Voice. I When he placed hit? hand on the pri- soner's shoulder, prisoner said: He has mistaken me for some one else. I knew that voice." declared witness, without looking at him." You knew my voice before I spoke, I suppose," remarked the prisoner in a scornful tone. Prisoner, who had been taking copious notes, made a request for some paper, and a sheet of foolscap was handed to him. At Mr. Bodkin's suggestion, he was also given a pad to write on. (Proceeding).

THE NATION FIRST, I LABOUR PARTY AND THE WINE AND I SPIRIT TRADE. We understand that at the next meeting of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce the question of the Patriotic Pledge of Abstin- ence will be considered, and a proposal to officially recognise the movement will be put before the members. A joint deputation from the Wine and Spirit Association (as representing the 'wholesale wine and spirit trade), Scojish IIAcen<ae-d Trade Defence Association, and the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association was received by the officials of the Labour party at the House of Commons on Thursday. After hearing the views of the depu- tation, Mr. Henderson Lid the Labour I parry was in tv position that it din not yet know what were to be the proposals of the Government, and it would not know until those proposals were an- nounced.' He could say, however, on be- half of his colleagues and himself, that when the party was in a position to con- sider the whole question and the pro- posals of the Government it would do so entirely from the standpoint of the mili- ta.ry necessities of the case and t'ne btst interests of the nation. I Billy Sunday's Visit. New York, Thursday.—Billy Sunday, the well-known baseball revivalist, has been invited to participate in the cam- paign against alcohol in England. He accepts on the mere payment of expenses, declaring his anxiety to take a whack at the booze wherever its head is up for a target."

I SERVED IN THE CRIMEA. Another of the little hand of Crimean veterans who resided at Pembroke Dock has just passed away in the person of Mr. Edwin Henry Lambert, of 18, Front- street. Mr. Lambert, who was 80 years of age, joined-the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the age of eighteen, and served in the army for 21 years. He went through the Crimean war and Indian Mutiny, and was present at the siege of SebastoXol and the Relief of Lucknow. He will be buried with full military honours to-morrow (Satur- day) afternoon.

DOCKERS' WAGES. ——— ———- "GOVERNMENT AWARD OF EIGNTPENCE A DAY INCREASE. I ARBITRATORS' LETTER Some time ago the men engaged in dockside labour in the Bristol Channel were asked by Sir George Askwith to consider the advisability of placing their claims, which were before the Ship Repairing Employers' Association of this channel, before the Government Com- mittee on Production. On March 23rd the various unions affected, including the Dockers' Union, the National Labourers' Union, the Boilermakers' Society, the Shipwrights, and others agreed to allow the Govern- ment Committee to consider the general application for increase of wages all round, and n conference was accordingly held in London. The award was made known to-day in the following letter:— The committee have given full con- sideration to the arguments advanced by the respective representatives and to all the circumstances of the case, and their finding is that the wages of both piece and time workers should be advanced at the rate of 8d. per day in the case of the trades and grades that have not received ?,,ny advance since December ?t. 1914; the present advance to be applied as re- gards time allowed for overtime, etc., in accordance with the customs of the dis- trict. I Where advances have already been ?given since the 1st December the addi- tional allowance to be in each case such amount as will bring the aggregate advance to 8d. per day. The advances should come into operation as from the beginning of the first full ray after March 23rd. (Signed G. R. Askwitfh, Francis J. S. Hopwood, George F. Gibb." The award is recognised locally as a very fair one.

TAUBE THIS TIME I German Airman Pays a Visit to Sittingbourre. Exchange Telegraph Co.'s Sitting-J bourse correspondent, telephoning this, afternm>n, says that just. after 12 o'clock! a German taube flew over that district coming from the direction of Deal. First | of all it flew over Faversham, from where shots were fired. The ieroplane dropped two bombs on the way without, so far as is at present known, doing any damage. When the aeroplane reached Sitting- bourne it was flying at a great height, and it turned inland and returned again flying -at a much lower altitude. One bomb was dropped in the vicinity of the town falling in an orchard, and doing no damage. When the aeroplane returned a second time it was only a-bout 600 feet up and was easily visible. Another bomb was dropped in the chalk quarry without doing any damage. The taube seemed to make a circular movement, going off in the direction in which it had come.

DIVIDING ESTATE DUTY 1 Important Case to Swansea, Cardiff and County. An important case to Glamorgan came before tihe Court of Appeal to-day. The County Council appealed from Mr. Justice L&wrence's decision on a specia; case staited by the arbitrator appointed to adjust the proportions of license duty and estate duty payable to the County Council, and the Boroughs of Cardiff and Swansea. Mr. Robert Finlon, for appellants, said the arbitrator gave each body an annual sum equivalent to the average under the Act of 1875. The Judge held that the ar- bitrator was entitled to make the award which seemed to him a just and fair dis- tribution. Counsel submitted that the method adopted by the arbitrator was not only unfair, but I contrary to law.

I UNEASINESS IN GERMANY. I Copenhagen, Thursday.—The German newspapers now and again publish small notices (leeltring that certain rumours are baseless. These notices never really spefy the exact nature of the rumours, but they all seem to have reference to Italy, whose decision as to the attitude she intends to adopt with regard to the war is evidently awaited with an un- easiness in Germany almost approaching a panic. For instance, the Sonder- burger Zeitung is once more stating that I rumours to the effect that Italy's declara- tion of war is expected now at any time are again current. Although the actual state of public opinion is never referred to, these rumours go to show that Italy is the great question, the' solving of which the average German in the street is awaiting with desperate anxiety.—Exchange Tele- graph Company.

"THE DAY HAS ARRIVED." I New York, Thursday.—Captain Thier- felder still boasts that he will make a dash for the sea as soon as the Kronprinz Wilhelm is repaired, but nobody attaches much importance to the statement, which is similar in all respects to that made by Captain Thierchens, of the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, now comfortably interned in the Norfolk navy yard. Captain Thier- felder's object is to occupy the attention of the British cruiser patrols, which might otherwise be released for more effective duty against the enemy. The Kronprinz Wilhelm's crew are all suffering in health as the result of the lack of vegetables. Thirty-one new cases of beri-heri have developed on the vessel since Sunday, and the total is now ninety- four, and there is the strongest proba- bility that the entire crew will suffer. I Great consternation was created aboard the Kronprinz Wilhelm to-day when it was found that someone during the night had chalked the following words in 1ft. jhigh letters on the ship's starboard quar- ter; Der Tag ist arrived, d- yer."

IGALLOUS PIRATESI I I I A DUTCH VESSEL TORPEDOED. I GERMAN ACTION CAUSES INDIGNATION IN HOLLAND. I MANY LIVES LOST Two more vessels have been sunk with- out warning by a German submarine in the North Sea. The ÐUoteh grain ship Xatwyck was torpedoed while at anchor near the. );orth Hinder Lightsdiip, mid- way between Flushing and the Thames, and in the same vicinity the General Steam Navigation Company's steamer Ptarmigan was also sunk. The steamer Ptarmigan, from Rotter- dam, to London, with a cargo of tea and sugar, was torpedoed off the Noordhinder at 6.30 yesterday morning by a big Ger- man submarine. Of her crew of 17 eig.ht were drowned. Nine surviving members of the crew were landed at Gravesend in the afternoon. Sunk Without Warning. I Amsterdam, Thursday.—The Tele- o,) rreot),on dent states that the crew of the Ivatwyck arrived there this afternoon. At eight o'clock on Wednesday night the Katwyct anchored six miles from the North Hinder Light- I ship. A quarter of an hour later an ex- plosion occurred, and the men ran on deck shouting in German and English that the ship was a Dutch one. They noticed that it had been hit by a torpedo, which caused a large hole in the star- board through which the water poured. A fire broke out on the ship, and she was hit a second time near the water- tight partition. It was found impossible to extinguish the fire and the ship sank The crew of 23 got into two lifeboats, and then noticed a submarine a good distance away, so that,irt was impossible to ascertain definitely its nationality WTiat is certain is that the ateajner was torpedoed without any warning. The Katwyck sank in 20 minutes, and the crew were unable to save any of their effects. The captain, however, saved the ship's papers. Fortunately, the watch had just been changed of otherwise some of the crew might have been killed while asleeo. Besides the grain the Katwrk con- tained a cargo of maize consigned to tthe Dutch Government.—Exchange.

VOTE FOR SOLDIERS ON ACTIVE SERVICE I Ottawa, Thursday.—A Bill permitting I Canadian .soldiers on active service to vote I was passed to-day, with the Senate's pre- cautionary amendments. I

NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR. I Petrograd, Thursday.—It is officially I announced that Ba rOll de (fiers. formerly an ambassador in Constantinople, has been I appointed ambassador in Rome.

GERMAN FEARS FOR EAST PRUSSIA. I Amsterdam. Thursday.—Thousands of troops have been taken by train to Konigs- berg, owing to the fear on the part of the Germans of a new Russian offensive in East Prussia. — I

DUTCH TRAWLERS SEIZED. I Ymuiden, Thursday.—The owners have received telegraphic advice that German warships have seized the four Ymuiden steam trawlers Xicolaas, Een, Twee, aud Rvnland, and taken them into Cuxhavee. Reuter. Four Dutch steam trawlers plying in the North Sea have been teized by German submarines and taken to Zee- brugge. The reason for this action is unknown, as the trawlers are believed to have been engaged in fishing off the Dogger Bank.— Exchange.

FEMALE SPY'S WORK. Milan, Thursday.—Another very serious case of German criminal manoeu- vres against the Italian State has come to light at Nervi, on the Genoese Riviera. A German lady spy, who was staying at the leading hotel of that cosmopolitan resort, and who for some time has been under police observation, was noticed digging a trench inside a railway tunnel. She was allowed to proceed with her task, but when later she returned and deposited a large quantity of explosives in the cavity she was promptly arrested. For many weeks past reports have been current in the Italian Press about the mysterious burial cases, alleged to con- tain explosives, beneath the floors of warehouses owned by German firms in the neighbourhood of different railway depots. Some suspected storage build- ings have since tieeu sealed by the police, pending a thorough search.

I VICTIMS OF FALABA OUTRAGE. I An inquest was held at Newquay on Thursday hy Mr. Carlyon, the coroner, on the body of Mrs. Louisa Tearle, 88, Rail- ton-road. Herne Hill. London, stewardess of the Falaba. The body was found on the Great Western beach at Newquay. Margaret Hastings, a sister, said that the deceased, who had travelled for years as a stewardess, was the widow of the late Henry Tearle, wharf superintendent. The witness'had last heard from her by letter on the day when her sister sailed. The jury gave their fees to the five orphan children of Mrs. Tearle. Mr. Carlyun also held an inquiry at CuWrt. near Newquay, on the body of Mr. Henry John Hesse, of Manchester, a passenger on the Falaba A verdict was returned that the deceased met his death by the sinking of the ship Falaba, owing to its having been torpedoed by a German submarine, and went on to state that the jury viewed with the greatest abliorrence. and indignation, which no words could express, the conduct of the I commander and crew of the submarine.

I Was it Winged?* The Exchange Tik'grapii Co.'s mes- sage states:— Shortly before one o'cIock this after- noon a German aeroplane passed oTer Sheerness, and was fired at by anti- aircraft grins. Tho machine, which was a biplane, dipped after being fired on, and a cheer rosa from the spec- tators. Subsequently, however, the machine atscended and travell.-d at a high speed across Shc^pey in the direc- t-ion of the ee-a. No bombs fell in She-erneee, and. as far as is known, no t bombs were dropped in Sheppey. The German aeroplane escaped. German Position Mined. "Eve-Witness" with the British f>lrc«^ in a dispatch issued this after- noon, vividly describes the mining oi j i T.. T B i a Carman pMatdon ?t Le Touquet. By die explosion of tue charge, which was t a iitvtvy one, a vi i «bb»e, bricks, j: piann.6, and otiifcr delu'^s, Na-s h-,irled itw foot into me air, eoiue oi k iallmg < ai lea. £ t wOu u, u-.uiflu uue l i>i HisJi iranches, vv uca ulil: :5.m.oiie uad j <ued iy n. was that tho f wiall had disappetuoa, n-s 1^145 j taKen by an Mioiiiioai crater | I ill the iuitlUie 01 the a line." f How many Germans were blown up it is impossible to eay, but their losses must have beei considerable. < LM s Ou t) J.J¿ll¿l'hl\U. jjeiULig to 2 ,I.a.k, LAGkiAKD 1, INITIATOR Lad, Ccr- riegarth. Pajiingo. SULTMAN 1, FEAKLE 2, THE BLA "H WATCH. V 3 Also r:v.i Machappie, Sil- ver Cap, Brigadier, inght Dancer. < r