The Cambria Daily Leader

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Although we cannot expect every day to give us such good news as yesterday's, there is quite enough to-day to warrant a continuation of the feeling of confidence created re- cently. The British troops hold their positions on the Somme front against all the German attacks, and manage to snatch small areas of ground and a few prisoners while under the heaviest fire from the Ger- man artillery. This ability to ad- vance even in face of counter-at- tacks is one of the really notable points of these operations. It is the more remarkable because there is every evidence that the Germans have been reinforced and that they are using the best men they have in the effort to regain positions of such importance as Pozieres. The reinforcements are plainly coming from other sections of the Western front, and not from any source of supply in Germany. The troops, that are now being used have been identified as having been very re- cently before Verdun and in Cham- pagne. The strongest evidence that other sectors of the line have had to be weakened is the dying away of the German operations before Ver- dun, where there has been little but artillery combat for a fortnight past. But that they are able to bring up reinforcements on the line against which our chief activities are beings directed means that they will do their utmost to prevent our footing at Pozieres from being further ex- tended. Their anxieties on this point can be well understood, for if our advance cuts much deeper we shall soon be in a position to com- promise the communication of the Leipsic Redoubt and their entrench- ments at Thiepval. The problem of the moment, indeed, is how soon the enemy in those strongholds will be cut off from succour or forced to beat a retreat. When the dilemma does arrive, it will be an indication of how the wind blows." General Sakharoff has had a further success, breaking a new path to the southward of the Lutzk salient, along the line of the river S lonowka, which feeds the Styr. A furious battle is raging on the northern bank of the stream. The Germans admit the penetration of the lines, but claim that finally the attacks were repulsed. We shall see. So far the Germans have not | shown the capacity to hold General Sakharoff when he has been bent on the offensive. The story of gains in prisoners and material is significant, and warrants the anticipation that more good news will be coming be- fore long from the district between Kovel and Lemberg. Although the Russian bulletins are still reticent upon the progress of the great battle which rages south- ward from Riga, enough is said in the reports of independent witnesses to show that the fighting goes well and is fraught with high conse- quences. The forces engaged are evidently of great dimensions, and the artillery work must have been severe, if we may judge from cer- tain descriptions of the battered landscape. The magic of Hinden- burg's name has been great in Ger- many, but the proof that he has reached his limits will probably be overwhelming when the curtain is lifted upon the story of these momentous operations. Latest reports from Asia Min.orl are peculiar. It looks very much as if the capture of Erzingan was a re- petition of the experience at Trebi- zond, and that the Turks refused when the time for putting up a real defence arrived. They destroyed a lot of material of all sorts, but were, apparently, in too much hurry to complete the job. The consequence is that the Russians find a large quantity of stores. Other evidence shows that the Turkish army is get- ting a surfeit of the war. The mutiny of one regiment does not in- dicate a revolution any more than one swallow makes a summer; but, ii a play on proverbs may be adop- ted, it is a straw that shows which way the wind blows. One of the chief after the war I problems now under discussion is the proposition that Germany l should be made to give value-in nleal or in malt-for each merchant I ship that she has sunk. Mr. R. B. Stoker, chairman of the Manchester Liners Company, points out that our losses in tonnage owing to Prussian piracy had been consider- able, and will take some time to re- place. Every ton of this loss must be made good out of German ship- ping when the settlement comes. It should be borne in mind, however, ishat although the ship for ship item may represent a large total, when standing alone, it is only a detail in a much larger question. The settle- ment of the indemnity that Ger- many will be asked to provide will be one of the most difficult prob- lems when peace terms are under consideration by whatever confer- ence has to handle the final stage of the war. t Good progress has been made in the work of extending Toronto's harbour and water front. Both at the extreme east and west of the bay the foundations have been laid for miles of wharves, docks and quays for the accommodation of shipping that in the not distant future will be seen in the harbour. The great marshy area at Ash- bridge's Bay has been reclaimed, and is rapidly being graded and levelled to render it suitable as a site for great industries. Miles of crib- bing is being constructed as a foun- dation for piers and retaining walls, behind which immense boulevards and driveways will be constructed. When this work is completed it will be possible to walk or drive along the water front for a distance of 19 miles, providing a water front pro- menade and beach that will almost equal that at Atlantic City, and will not be surpassed anywhere in the Dominion. Complaints on the part of appel- lants from the Llanelly Borough Tribunal against being obliged to travel to Carmarthen for the pur- pose of being examined by the Army Medical Board are becoming numer- ous, and the grievance will, doubt- less, be raised again when the medically rejected have to submit themselves for re-examination. While it is true that warrants ara supplied by the recruiting officers enabling the men to travel free of charge, it is felt that other consider- ations enter into the question. If an arrangement where made whereby the Army Medical Board could peri- odically discharge their duties at Llanelly, the necessity of losing a day's work would be obviated, as leave of absence of an hour or two could be given by the employers. Llanelly, with its populous sur- rounding districts, claims that it- is of sufficient importance to warrant a Board sitting in the town. Those in authority might see to it that re- presentations are made to the proper quarter. It is not generally known that Canada's first farmer was a citizen of our great ally France. In 1617 Louis Herbert, a Paris apothecary, landed at Quebec with his wife Marie Rollet, together with his son and two daughters. This courageous and noble pioneer, of all those land- cleare-rs, who, at the cost of many and great sacrifices, felled the primaeval trees of the QuobecA forests to plough up the soil and draw from it the products essential to life. After the war, Quebec with its huge addition of territory, will still be offering to the men at home here and those in the French Army its vast natural resources, together with its agricultural possibilities. The last journey by rail from f Hirwain to the site of the new water works at Ystradfelte has been made, for the railroad used in its construc- tion has been sold to a firm of en- gineers for the purpose of a tram way "somewhere in France. Those who made that official journey wit- nessed a change that has been re- markable. What was originally a long, open dingle in the valley of the Trigarth, delightful to the eye in its wild and rugged grandeur, has now, by modern progress, and enter- prise initiated by the Neath Rural District Council, been transformed into a huge shimmering lake, with a depth in some places of 120 feet, and containing seven hundred mil- lion gallons of the purest water ob- tainable. In addition to this stor- age, a valve tower has been con- structed to compensate riparian owners, which allows a daily over- How of two million, gallons. The towns of Neath, Aberavon, and Britonferry benefit by the scheme which has just reached a successful completion. At the gathering sympathetic re- ference was made to the originatar of the scheme, Mr. A. T. Williams, J.P., and its pioneers, Ald. Wm. Howells and Mr. W. H. David, all of whom had passed away, but as one speaker fittingly observed, no better monument could be erected to commmorate their zeal and enter- prise for the public good than the finished scheme. Their successors, Mr. W. B. Trick and Mr. Wm. Davies,. deserve to share the com- pliments which such a vast enter- prise justly deiervj, and also two I omcials—Mr. D. M. Davies, the en- gineer, and Mr. Edward Powell, clerk to the council, who success- fully negotiated the three opposi- tions to the scheme, and obtained the necessary prmission of Parlia- ment which gave the Neath Rural District Council the right to sup- ply. The scheme, which cost some- thing like £ 300,000, will be capable of supplying the whole of the neigh- bourhood for the next half century, notwithstanding the anticipated rapid progress and development, and should the supply need aug- menting, the Council have pur- chased the land for the pipe track with the right to lay a duplicate set of pipes. We congratulate the Council on the success of its enter- prise. Commander Wedgwood, who has been added to the special Com- mission appointed to enquire into the Mesopotamia business, is one of the features of the House of Com- mons. Wrhen accepting Sir Alfred Mond's suggestion, on the subject, the Premier alluded to the fact that Commander Wedgwood had caused a few little "breezes" in the House. The hon. member in question has a peculiar manner, the chief virtue of which is his absolute fearlessness in saying what he thinks. But there is never any vitriol in what he says or does; whatever the result, he comes up smiling, and always shows that his action is justified by facts. He may be somewhat impetuous, but that is due in a large measure to the subtilty and smartness with which he picks up points and de- tects places that he thinks ought to be probed. An interesting discovery, inas- much as it links the distant past with the present, has been made by a well-known Neath solicitor. Searching among some old papers, he came across original letters and documents relating to the old Glam- organshire Militia. Among them is a return of the officers of the Militia, commanded by Col. Sir Herbert Mackworth, Bart., of the Gnoll, Neath. Another interesting docu- ment is the original order of King George III., of the 14th March, 1783, disembodying the Militia, with a command to Sir Herbert Mackworth to receive the arms of the Militia. There is a further letter, signed by the then Duke of Richmond, Master General of the Ordnance, directing proper persons to collect the arms and to give due acquitance for them. Although proud to possess such valuable documents, the owner would like to place them at the disposal of the Red Cross Hospital Fund, and we shall be pleased to communicate any further information to enquirers with a view of assisting thij deserv- ing organisation.

THUNDER OF THE GUNSI Transport Driver's Picture of the Bombardment. In tbA course of an interesting letter to Mr. Iv-or Roberts, Oxford-street, Swan- sea, Driver H. J. Daniel (formerly of the Leader staff), of a siege battery, makes an appeal for the whole-hearted support of those at home, and gives gome graphic facts of the recent big offensive in which he was engaged. <r The bombardment," he eays, which was the prelude to the attacks, was ter- rible in its intensity, and the thunder of the heavens pales into insignificance when compared with the continuance of the roars of the guns. SKY LIT UP FOR- MILES. Ilicvre were times, indeed, when the sky was lit up for miles. If this is to be continued—and success depends entirely upon it--every effort must be put into the manufacture of weapons of war, and the man or woman who fails to put his or her best into this work is acting the part of a traitor. Sacrifice must be the keynote of all at home if the joy bells are to sound in the near future. The lads out here are doing it with great tenacity of purpose. They do not a&k for a holiday, for they know the task is so tremendous No respite will be theirs till they have con- quered. It is up to those at home to see that they get support."

SWANSEA. The members of the St. Mark's Church Band of Hope spent a most enjoyable time at Mayals Green on Thursday, where their annual treat was held. Speak up, I want you to beat that tramcar outside," observed Mr. J. Vaughan Edwards, the chairman, to a witness at a sitting of the West Wales Munitions Court on Thursday. During a visit to her niece, who has just arrived from Australia, at 4.8, Fabian- street, St. Thomas, Miss E. Jones, sister- in-law of Sergt. Easterbrook, Swansea Police Force, had a seizure and died. Hei; loss will be mourned by the people of Clifton Hill. where she resided with her sister, Mrs. Easterbrook. The new number of the Swansea Gram- mar School Magazine contains a number of articles and letters which will appeal to a host of Old Grammarians. Amongst the contributors is Corporal Arthur Sin- clair, son of Colonel Sinclair, who writes on the evacuation of Gallipoli. The maga- zine affords evidence of the generous con- tribution of the school to the fighting forces of the Empire. The Rev. W. E. Knight, of Mount Cal- vary Baptist Church, Manselton, has been elected president of the Swansea Free Church Council for the coming year. Mr. Knight' must be one of the youngest—if not the youngest—president that the Council ever had. A visit from the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare, M.A., the national president, is expected in November in connection with his unitod Free Church campaign.

GORSEiNON. I The annual church ten took place on Thursday, when the Sunday school echoars at Holy Trinity and St. Cathe- rino/s were entertained at the Mission Hall, whence they proceeded to a field kindly lent for the occasion by Mrs. Mor- gans, Cefnarda Farm. Ivor Bortliwick (aged 16), youngest son of Mrs. Borthwick, Trinity-street, met with an acciden while enga.ed at the local foundry, a mould falling on his foot, and so badly crushing it that it had to be amputated. He is going on as well as can be expected.

PENTRECHWYTH. The recognition service of the Rev. Melville Phillips to the pastorate of the Congregational Church took place on Thursday evening. The Rev. Penar Griffiths, Pentre Estyll, presided. Mr. David Thomas, secretary, gave a report of the call, and addresses were given by the Revs. O. C. Morgan (Bethlehem), Gilbert Roes (St. Paul's), Sinclair Evans (St. Helen's), Evan Jenkiue (Walter-road), Evan Evans (Mansclton), Dyfodwg Davies (Morriston), J. D. Harries (Adulam), John Phillips (Carmarthen-road), Benj. Thomas (Old Silo'h), and Mr. M. E. Rees (Pentrechwyth), all of whom spoke most encouragingly of the work done by the church and of the new pastor. There was a large congregation, many friends coming over from Carmarthen-road.

BRITONFERRY, The monthly meeting of the t5ntonierry District Council was held on Tlll :?.,l evening. Councillor James Thomas, J.P., presiding. Arising out of the Gas Com- mittee minutes it was decided to grant the Gas Works employes their usual an- nual holidays. It was also decided to in- crease the price of coke to Is. per cwt. A motion to increase the price of gas try 6d. per 1,000 was deferred for three months. The Water Engineer (Mr. Clarke) reported that the reservoir had now a depth of 31ft. 5in. as compared with 27ft. flin. on the corresponding date last year. This assures the town a full supply of the best water through the summer. It was de- cided to abandon the Council committee meetings during August, but meetings were to be called, if any special business turns up.

HAVERFORDWEST. The Haverfordwest BOYB' Brigade is now in its 14th year of existance, and 2.10 old boys are now serving with the colours. The brigade was founded and instructed by Sergt -Major Edward Pearce, late of the R.G.A. The Tabernacle Congregational Church War Savings Association, Milford Haven, have invested over £600 in the purchase of war saving certificates. The funeral took place on Thursday of Mr. William Palmer, Bridge House, Guildford, Llangwm. The deceased was a superannuated employe of H.M. Dock- yard, and was a very popular man. He was the conductor of the Galilee Baptist Church Choir, Llangwm, and also the Village Male Voice Choir. The attend- ance at the funeral was very large, nearly 100 employes getting leave of absence for the occasion.

NEYLAftD. A somewhat serious accident occurred in the dockyard on Thursday, as a result of which Mr. James, late of Neyland, is in the Naval Hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the leg. At the congregation of the University of Wales, at Aberystwyth, Miss May Webb, daughter of Mr. J. Webb, school- master at lloughton, was admitted to tlie degree of B.A. Miss Webb won a county scholarship at the Pembroke Dock County School, wlieze, she matriculated, and later passed into Bangor University College. One of the most largely attended funerals held in Neyland for fonie years took place on Thursday, when the remains of Mrs. Emma Francos Voyle, widow of Mr. George Voyle, of 21, Kensington-road, were laid to rest. The deceased lady was one of the oldest inhabitants of the town, having attained the age of 82 years. She leaves a family of one daughter and four sons, one of the latter being Mr. George Voyle, J.P. The Be v. W. M. Williams, of Zion Presbyterian Church, of which de- ceased was one of the oldest members, officiated.

ULANELLY. Mr. Stephen Philips, Swansfa d and Mr. Iehmael Lewie, of Sunny Mill. Old-road, both of Llanelly, have passed their "final" at the Presbyterian Col- lege, Carmarthen. They have spent three years at the College, and are seeking ordi- nation this summer. Mr. Tom Hopkins, B.Sc. (London hons. and Wales), son of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopkins, Myrtle-terrace, Llanelly, has achieved a further scholastic success by securing the diploma of A.I.C. (Associate of the Institute of Chemistry). He is the first HaMIlr County School boy to gain the distinction. He was trained at the Aberystwyth University College and the Nottingham University College. The wounded soldiers at the Llanelly Pare Howard HospitaT are fortunate in having in their midst Pte. Trevor Hughes, who, by the sales of his Dardanelles Beaded Jewellery," raised sufficient funds to give hie hospital mates a picnic on Thursday. Pte. Hughes is a Swansea man, and has carried on this work at Gloucester, where it was much apiWo- ciated. For his assistance in raising funds there, he was presented with a silver cigarette case on leaving the hospital. Ptes. Deaford and Cockney, whom he has instructed in the art of bead-making, have been of great assistance to him. The Mayor of Llanelly (Lady Howard) has been fortunate in securing the assist- ance of Mr. Arthur Pollen, M.A., the naval expert and eminent lecturer on the war, for the demonstration to be held at the Market Hall on August 4th, the second anniversary of the declaration of war. Lady Howard will preside, and the Llanelly Royal Choir will be in attend- ance.

 i LLANSAMLET. I The Post Office at Bethel-road, Llan- samlet, will be closed after the 31st July for the period of the war. Old age pen- sions, Army and Navy allowances, and postal orders payable at Bethel-road will, on and from the 1st August, be paid at Llansamlet Post Office. I

NEATH. Acting in conjunction with the Neath I Entertainments Committee, the directors of the Gnoll Hall provided the wounded soldiers with a capital tea and programme of old English sport on Thursday after- noon. The weather was ideal, and the football field was the scene of much anima- tion and mirth. The ladies presiding over the tables were Mrs. W. B. Trick, Mrs. Levi James, Mrs. Vivian Aldridge, and Miss Mills, who were assisted by many willing attendants. The soldiers entered into the competitions with enthusiasm, I and handsome prizes, given by Nea/th tradesmen, were presented to the winners. The were Mr. Levi James, Mr. Vivian Aldridge, and Mr. Gabriel; starter Mr. D. H. Davies; clerk of the course, Mr. k f r Dai-ies. At thr. Waring; secretary, Mr. Davies. At th6 close. Captain J. Mudie Morris, R.A.M.C., called for cheers as an expression of thanks to the promoters, and these were lustily given.

MUMBLES. 1 Langland and Caswell Bays were visited on Thursday by a large number of visitors from the Swansea Valley, and the Welsh language was very prominent. Notwithstanding the crowds that were in these bays, only one accident occurred, and that took place at Langland. A girl aged 12 fell on the rocks, and severely hurt one of her thighs. On Thursday a large number of wounded soldiers and nurses from the Pare Howard Military Hospital, Llanelly, visited Langland Bay and greatly enjoyed the outing. I As a motor-cyclist was turning from Queen's-road into Stan ley-tcrrace, on Thursday, he took the bend at too acute an angle, with the result that the pedai j touched the ground and the cyclist Wil3« thrown dGwn, the motor falling on top of him. He escaped serious injury, and was able to proceed on his journey. The Sunday School of the Castleton Con- gregational Church held their annual tea. and outing on Thursday afternoon in Singleton grounds, to which they were conveyed by the Mumbles Railway. Games were indulged in and a most enjoyable time was spent.

PEMBROKE DOCK. Mrs. Roberta, landlady of the Rose and Crown public-house, was out driving on Thursday on the Lower-road, when the pony took fright and collided with the hedge. Mrs. Roberts sustained a frac- tured arm. Mr. Donald H. Henry, second eon of Mr. John Henry, stationmaster at Pem- broke Dock, has received a commission in the Royal Horse Artillery. Lieut. Henry, who is at present stationed in London, served three or four years in the Natal Carbineers, and when fighting com- menced in South Africa, he at once joined the Regular Army, and was shortly after- wards placed in charge of a large convoy, which he safety conducted across 1,000 miles of desert. He was subsequently sent home to England in charge of some guns Mr. John Henry's daughter, who was for some years school nurse under the Pem- broke Dock Education Authority, has been appointed matron of the Cluny Red Cross Hospital, Swanage. The funeral took place on Thursday of a well-known and respected inhabitant of the town in the person of Mrs. Phillips, wife of Mr. Wm. Phillips, North Brewery- street, Pembroke Dock, who passed away on the previous Tuesday at the advanced age of 84. years. The funeral was largely attended, and the first part of the burial service was held in St. John's Church, the Vicar of Pembroke Dock (the Rev. D. L. Prosper) oiliciating.

THE TINPLATE TRADE. (By Our Correspondent.) Tinplaters generally hailed with eatisfae. I tion the intimation convoyed in your col- umns relative to the annual holiday; that is, that it would take place as decided at the Conciliation Board meetiEg, Tinplates. it is generally admitted, aro not absolutely essential to the successful prosecution of the war, otherwise tinplaters, I am sure. would forego the holiday drag on," an. defer the week's rest until the Hun is beaten. The recent warm weather has told on tho men, and has evidently affected the "make" at all works. As a matter of-fact, mills h-i-,e been idle intermittently, owincr to the fact that tho men fail to follow the work. The Daylight Saving Bill has not con- tributed to the welfare of mill men es- pecially the afte:noon shifts because where previously the men on these shifts enjoyed the cool breezes before they finished work commencing an hour earlier denies them this advantage. The war has interfered to a preater de. gree with the sheet trade than it has with the tinplate trade in Swansea district. At Upper Forest Works. Morriaton. about half the sheet mill plant only is engaged, whilst, the 14 sheet mills at Pontardawe have for some time been totally idle. The Extension of Unemployment Insur- ance" to tinplate workmen ib met with open opposition, and from all directions the Question is asked-Wily should a t.rade which has ntt for years suffered from un- employment and in which contirued idle- ness can not reasonably be anticipated, be grouped with trades which are 3tiring some months of the year t with very rare excep- tions) suffering til, effects of depression. The trades union societies, with which t tinplaters are affiliated, provide unemploy- ( ment benefit, made possible, of course, through the contributaone of members, Henoe the antagonistic spiri* ir. which tho new Act, or rather the extension of thq previous Act, is met by the men. without exception. Already the men contribute towards one or two friendly societies, their trade unions, the National Health Insurance, and Income Tax. Thus this additional burden is resented, especially in view of the facts already stated, via., that, they can expect no pecuniary benefit. Yet another phase of the tjuestion. When peace is deolared, Welsh manufacturers will have to ooinpete again for lost markets, and, surely, this tax will not be of a.ny assistance.

SHIRKER AND BURGLAR. At a special sitting of the Pembroke County Sessions, Edward Swan, a private in the 3rd King's Liverpool R-egt., waa brought up on remand on a charge of bur- ,glarously entering the house of Annie Thomas, widow, Glade Cottage, Coehes- ton. According to the evidence, when found on the premises accused said: Make a case of it and bring the matter up. If you don't I have marked off a house in Pembroke Dock, which I will break into to-night. If you take the case up it won't do you any harm and it will do me a lot of good." He also said that it would earn him som time in prison as he di4 not want to go "to France. He was date¡.. mined not to gô. He was remanded until the next quarter j eessions. j

For the first time for many years there was not a single criminal charge to go be- i fore the Cork City Assizes on Thursday. Mr. McKenna informed Mr. Patrick jj White that the revenue collected in Great Britain in the financial yeur 1916. 1G was