The Cambria Daily Leader

The London Office of the "Cambria Daily Leader" is at 151, Fleet Street (nrst floor), where adver- tisements can be received up to 7 o'clock each evening for insertion in the next day's issue. Tel. 2276 Central.

RUSSIA'S BIG BATTLES. Gains Despite Stubborn I Resistance. SERBIAN VICTORIES. Trenches Entered and Battery Captured. BRITISH BAYONETS FOR BULGARS. TO-DAY'S RUSSIAN OFFICIAL. I Western Front.-In the region east of Lovo Alexa-ndovsk, about six o'clock in the evening, after an artillery preparation, dense columns endeavoured to advance beyond their wire entanglements, but were driven back by our fire. On the River Sereth the enemy bom- barded our positions on the sector Krinki-Ostachia, and at an hour past midnight, launched an attack on this sector. The attack was frustrated by our fire. In the neighbourhood of Zaturtskv, Volasadovskaia and Shelvor, stub- born fighting is taking place. Our troops captured at some places portions of the enemy positions. The enemy is showing a most stub- born resistance. Dn the River Ceniuvka, and in the region of the heights on the right bank of the Zlota Lipa, stubborn battles continue. The enemy, having brought consid- erable reserves, launched a couii- ter-attack which was frustrated by our fire with severe losses to the enemy. Fierce fighting is still proceeding. In t'his region on 2nd "October, over ( 1,000 prisoners were taken. The total number of prisoners taken in this region during the three battle sof 30th September, 1st October, and 2nd October, is over 5,000, amongst whom are eight German officers and 600 German I rank and file. 'Caucasian Front.—No events of im- portance have occurred.—Wire- I less Press. TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. To the north of the Somme the ar- tillery duel was rather fierce in the region to the north of Ran- cour t. The Germans attempted to debouch from the St. Pierre Vaast Wood. Our curtain and machine-gun fire drove them back immediately to their trenches. We took some prisoners. Everywhere else the night was calm. ARMY OF THE EAST. On th cleft bank of the Struma two fresh Bulgarian counter-attacks on pcsitions conquered by the British troops on Sept. 30th were repulsed with sanguinary losses i for the enemy. In the region of Cerna the Serbian forces are following up their pro- gress on the western slopes, and on the main crest to the north- east of the Kajmackalan. The Serbian infantry during the day of yesterday captured the first enemy trench on the heights of Sparkovtrob. A fresh Bulgarian battery was cap- tured by our Allies. On our left wing there has been habitual cannonading. The bftd weather continues. AVIATION. During yesterday one of our pilots brought down an aeroplane which fell nea" Condelesutry, in the re- gion of touziers. Sergt. Sausage yesterday brought down his fifth German aeroplane in the covrse of an exciting fight. The enemy machine crashed to earth south of Trausloy. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. The night. Wat quiet on our front south of the ncre. South of Loos our troops success- fully raided tie enemy's trenches. TO-DAY'S BRITISH BALKANS I OFFICIAL. The General cffieer Commanding the British Forcé3 in Salonika re- ports :— On the 2nd Octoler the Bulgarians delivered a counter-attack with three battalion* against our new positions on th east bank of the Struma. Thisattack was broken by our fire. One of our b&ttaions then charged and completely routed the enemy, taking 40 prisoners. The Royal 1 lying Corps carried out successful bombing attacks on troops and transports in Prosenik and on the railway train travelling from that place to beres. SOMME FRONT STRUGGLE. The Important Anglo-French Successes. Paris, Tuesday.—Writing last night, the French expert commentator suye:— On the Somme front tile French, and British yesterday gained important suc- cesses, which does honour both to the valour of the meu and to their leaders. I For some days British troops had been extending by the operations at Deqil their positions east of xhitpval and in the angle formed by the two roads from Albert and Peronne to Bapaume. Then on Sunday, after a terrific pre- 1 faratory bombardment the British centre passed brusquely to the offensive at the beginning of the afternoon on a front of throe kilometres, between Coureelette and Eaucourt. All their objectives were at- tained in less than two hours. The Ger- mans, however, offered a stubborn resis- tance in. Eaucourt l'Abb-aye, but our allies succeeded in completely clearing the village of Germans during the night and defeating a counter-attack. The following day, however, the Ger- mans succeedaft in resuming a footing- in some houses from which, doubtless, they will soon be definitely ejected. Inde- pcrrdeul^v ot the capture of the village, which is situated only three miles from Bapaume, the Allies also took numerous adjoining strongly fortified trenches. iis regards the new armoured cars it is only right and just that trie Germans, whose savage ingenuity has given the war the atrocious cnaracter it now bears, should in their turn experience the des- tructive effects of terrible engines like the tames. Our allies latest success ren- ders critical the pcsition oi the villages of Le Sars astride the Aibirt-Bupaume roaw, and Le Transloy on the encige ot the Peronne-Bapaume road, of which the two villages are only points d'appui of first line of defence of Bapaume still ill the enemy's hand. Th iiiitfimediate peti- tions of Eaucourt and Gueudecourt being already held by the British Le Sars and Le Transloy are now being sub- jected to the fire of the British artillery, the effects of which will soon be felt. There only remains the second line of defence, two kilometres to the rear, the main points of which are Varlencourt, Ligny, Thilroy, and Beaulencourte, and then two kilometres farther north again stands the town of Bapaume, which is already within the range of the Allies" guns. According to preliminary calculations 3UO prisoners have just been added to the 27,000 which our allies have captured in the last three months. In 15 <lays alone the British have taken no less than 24 guns and 6 bomb throwers. Their con- siderable booty is evidence of the value of the British effort and its complete suc- cess. On the French front bad weather pre- vents resumption of operations on any scale, but partial engagements has gained us ground on the east of Bouchavesness.

I RAILWAY WAR BONUS. In an official statement to the Glasgow Stock Exchange, the secretary of the Caledonian Railway Co. announces that the Government are bearing the whole cost of the railwaymen's war bonus.

A SWAGGER-STICK MAKER. At the Spring Gardens Tribunal a Russian named Oberman, unsuccessfully sought exemption for his' 22-year-old son, who, he argued, was engaged in work of national interest, making "swagger sticks for soldiers.

I A YARD OF WICKEDNESS. A list of convictions, measuring fully a yard in length, was produced at Mary- lebone Police Court on Monday against Michael Fitzpatrick, who. was described as on-e of the worst characters who came to the court, and was sentenced to 21 days for being drunk and disorderly.

AGAINST A TRADE WAR. Lord Bryce, speaking at a meeting of the Congregational nion.at Birmingham on Tuesday, and referring to the war said the country was practically unani- mous in holding that it must be prose- cuted to a victory. After the war we must avoid the spirit of hatred. To in- dulge revenge would be to sow the seeds of future wars. hTe talk about starting after peace had been concluded a new war of trade to follow the war of arms had immense possibilities of mischief. Such a trade war would prolong and em- bitter afresh those hatreds that ought to be allowed to die, and it assumed the con- trivance of those very things from which we expected our victory to deliver was once for all. Our main purpose would have failed if we did not. secure a dur- able peace. If severe terms had to be imposed, let that be done only to secure futrnw peace.—Exchange.

To a Correspondent: Lieut. Mond is recovering, aud u. joining the artillery.

DANUBE GROSSED. J RUMANIANS INVADE BULGARIA. MAGKENSEN RECEIVES A DECIDED CHECK IN THE DOBRUDJA. CMMYS ADMISSIONS I | Rumanian forces have crossed the Danube in(o Bulgarian territory between Kustchuk and Tutrakan. Simultaneously our Allies have delivered a general attack along the whole line in the jJobrudja, and have repulsed Macken- sen's centre and right flank. Bucharest, Oct. 2.—To-dayJs Rumanian official report says:— (Southern i'; ont, -Our troops crossed the Danube between Kustchuk and Tutrakan. In the Dobrudja we attacked along the whcle front, and repulsed the enemy's centre and right flank.-lieuter. Berlin, Oct. 2.—German Headquarters report:— Army Group of Marshal von Mackensen. —South of Bukarest enemy troops have gained a footing cn the right bank of the Da j; u be. South-west of Bucharest enemy troops have gained a footing on the right bank of the Danube. South-west of Toprosari (in the Do- brudja, south-west of Tuzla) enemy attacks were repulsed.—Wireless Press. AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT. On Sunday the Rumanian4 admitted a reverse south of Hermmanstadt, of which, as was only to be expected, the Germans made the very most. Yesterday the Ger- mans were completely silent about this success, though on Sunday they had pro- claimed that it was a complete victory." Instead, they were constrained to admit that Rumanian troops had forced the pas- sage of the Danube south of Bucharest and had gained a footing on the right bank." The Rumanians confirm the news. Their troops have crossed the Danube be- tween Rustchuk and Tutrakan, into Bul- garian territory. Their army in the Dobrudja is also attacking Mackensen along the whole front, and has repulsed his centre and right flank. In the light of this announcement it does not seem too much to assume that the passage of the Danube is an important military develop-, nwnt. It is not an adventure to be under- taken lightly. The very brevity of the German announcement adds to its signifi-j cance. We may be sure that if there had been anything to say in the way of mini- mising the achievement of the Rumanians, the Great General Staff at Berlin would have hastened to RilV it. They are content to announce the plain fact without any I attempt at explanation or qualification.- I a Times." I RUMANLAN ADVANCE.! Where ths Uanube Was Crossed. Paris, Tuesday.—M. Marcel Hutin, in the Echo de Paris," says:—It is a dis- tance of 51 kilometres to the south of Bucharest that the Danube was crossed. A Rumanian regiment penetrated Bulga- rian territory, annihilating or putting to flight the Bulgarian outposts, and are now solidly entrenched in the new position. It is unnecessary to speculate upon the objective which General Basile Zetton, the new chief of the General Headquarters Staff of the army of operation, has in view, but I can say, however, that the operation is of great strategical import- ance, and the strategic consequences of it have been elaborated in perfect agreement with the headquarters staffs of the Allies. The Rumanian operation is essentially related to the offensive of Allied troops.— Exchange Special. IN TRANSYLVANIA. Fresh Gains for Rumania. The Rumanian Northern Army operat- ing in the mountainous region 30 or 40 miles within the Austrian frontier con- tinues to advance, and has taken a further 500 prisoners. Bucharest, Oct. 2.—The communique issued to-day says:— Translyvanian Front.—The struggle con- tinues in the Gorgeny and Harghitta mountains (north-east of Transylvania). We took 11 officers and 500 men prisoners and captured four machine-guns.—Reuter. Berlin, Oct. 2.-German official report:— On both sides of the Great Kokel River the Rumanians have gained ground. [The Great Kokey is near the centre of Tran- sylvania, the river flowing west a few miles south of Sxekely Udva.rhely, which is in Russian hands.] Near and north of Orsova successful at- tacks have ben made by our Allies. Irt the Hatszeg mountains enemy attacks on both sides of the Strell Valley (No. of the Vulcan Pass) were repulsed. The Obroca height (ninemiles N.W. of the Vulcan Pass) was taken by Austro- Hungarimji troop.Wireless Press.

I BRITISH RAID ON BRUSSELS. The Secretary of the Admiralty makes the foHowing announcement: A further attack was carried out on the morning of the 2nd inst. by naval aero- planes upon the enemy airship sheds in the vicinity of Brussels. One of our machines failed to return.

OUR SPLENDID GUNNERS. Never in the war have the enemy's gunners so suffered (says Mr. Beech Thomas In the Daily Mail.") Though others aw in an immensely strong position north of the Ancre, over the rest of the front bat-i tery after battery has been knocked out by diroci, hits. I have seen their field guns, with much ammunition scattered round them, lying broken in the coppice urder the twisted girders and trunks ar. ranged to protect them—and there is no more convincing emlem of defeat.

IQUEEN SEES WAR SHRINES. The Queen, in fulfilment of a promise made to the vicar of St. Peter's, Regent- square, spent some time in the parish on Monday veiwing war shrines erected by the residents. On reaching Sidmouth- stpieot, which possesses a shrine containing a roll of abont a hundred names, the Queen was received by the vicar, the Rev. C. W. Steft'ens. She alighted and closely inspected the shrine, which was decorated with flaps and flowers. The Queen placed on the shrine a bouquet of wallflowers, forget-me-nots, and roses. A large crowd sang the National Anthem as she left. ]

1,000,000 MEN BEATEN, f Chances of Somme Collapse I Before Christmas. A total collapse of the German line in the West before Christmas could be counted upon, said Profersor A. F. Pol- lard, lecturing at University Colilege on Monday, assuming the same rate of pro- gress on the Somme duirng the next three months as the last three months. Taking one estimate, that there were 122 German divisions during the Battle of the Somme, the French and ourselves had defeated something like a half the total German forces, or something like a million men in all, since July 1. I hope the* rumour from Rome that King Constantine has declared war on Bulgaria is not true. One would not feel very liappy to know that our troops had on their immediate right a number of Greek divisions inspired by King Con- stantine." The only satisfactory solution was the success of Venizelos. Waterloo was not near Paris, but it decided the fate of the Napoleonic army, and it might be that the fate of the Hohenzollerns was being decided on the Somme just as conclusively and absolutely.

THE DUKE Or- TECK. I The London Gazette" contains the following announcement:— Lieut.-Colone-l the Duke of Teck, per- son A.D.C. to the King, is placed on the half-pay list on account of ill-health.

?- BELGIAN GUNNERS BUSY. Le Havre, Monday (r?eived Tuesday}.— The Belgian communique, published this evening, says: Last night and to-day field the trench artillerv were active both in I the district near Dixmud e and towards Steenstraete and Boesinghe.

ARE A L I N D IS P e- N SA B L E I There is one humble soldier out at the front whom his officer may he relied upon to subject to no avoidable risk. It is the I genius who, before he was called up, used to mix the cocktails at Ciro's. London ¡ i Opinion." I

MR. TOWYN JONES, M.P. I Among the chosen preachers to take part in services on Wednesday evening in con- nection with the great meetings of the Congregational Union of England and Wales at Birmingham, is tho Rev. Towyn I Jones, M.P.

MR. W. BRACE, M P-, AT I SWANSEA. Mr. Brace, Under Secretary of State for Home Affairs, visited Swansea a few days ago to meet representatives d some of the local industries of the western area of South Wales. The proceedings were pri- vate.

WELSH OFUCER'S WILL. I I Maior George Ryding Sam-.ey Gardner, R.F.A., of The Hawthorns. Porthcawl, formerly of Brynamlwg, Neath, who died on June 25 at the Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt, left. < £ 533. Mr. Clement Sanlcey Best Gardner, of Rock- wood, Neath, is the sole executor.

NEARLY VEGETARIAN. Amsterdam, Monday.—German meat supplies, including venison, preserved and tinned meats, are from to-ddy to be con- trolled centrally by the State, with local authorities carrying out the regulations. I Th" first ration under the rt,w regulation is fixed at tlb. per person a week.

FAMOUS WELSH AMERICAN. The death is announced of the Hon. T. L. James, who was the Postmaster- General of the United States during the presidency of James A. Garfield. He was one of the best-known Welshmen in America, and was also a member of General Grant's Cabinet. Be commend i life as a compositor, speijt 10 years as a journalist, and his fame began on leaving that profession to become a rate collector. At the end of his life he was the president of the Lincoln National Bank.

I ABOUT THE BREMEN. When you ask the appropride official at the Admiralty whether there is any news of the Bremen, he profe^es complete ignorance of her whereabours. Then if you appeal for permission to go to Pem- j broke Dockyard to see whether she may happen to be there, he says perhaps that ii-vfouldn't be worth your wh'le. Anyhow, you don't get the permission. And it is doubted that the Deutsehland ever got back to Bremen.a London Opinion.

I MINOR ITALIAN GAINS. Monday's Italian communique stated: In the Ledro Valley infantry skirmishes took place during which our advanced posts drove off the enemy with loss. In the Astioo Valley, enemy artillery concentrated their fire on the railway near Seghe, but without interrupting the traffic. Along the remainder of the front there were only, artillery actions, the majority of which, were on the Carso.

I NORWAY'S RISING ANGER. I Christiania, Monday.—To-day five more Norwegian steamers, with an aggregate tonnage of 6,400. are reported to have been torpedoed, and the result is that bitterness and anger with Germany are the prevail- ing feelings. The « Morgenl adet," in a leading article, demands the Norwegian territorial waters shall be <; >sed for U boats by more stringent rules than the Swedish rules of July 19. The Norwegian public will not stand German submarines going north inside the territorial line to sink Norwegian ships and expose the crews to the greatest dangers.

THE GERMAN METHOD. I Amsterdam, Monday.-ThA frontier correspondent of the Telegraaf" speaks to-day of the rough treat ment meted out to the passengers on the Dutch liner "Prinz Hendrik" on the occasion of her being taken to Zeebrugge by the Germans. English, Russian, and Belgian passengers were put in a narrow cell. Nothing is known about the couriers who were taken off the boat, but there are rumours about them. They are prob- ably at- Bruges, and the correspondent expresses the hope that t.he Governments concerned will take Ft,-j,6 to prevent u fate befalling them which would arouse general indignation, but which would nly be made known as an accomplished fact. —Reuter.

BRITISH TROOPS IN ARCTIC RUSSIA. CAUCASIAN MOUNTAINS CROSSED IN I AIIMOURED CARS. I -I  ?"'n?ymo  1. (;tl PEOPLE J ?h o? ?L?t?t?t .?t  The Press Association has received from the Caucasus further particulars of the work of the British armoured car squad- rons now operating with the Grand Duke's Army. The history of the work of this complete and fully armed British unit, when permitted to be told, will show a record of endurance and. cheerfulness in adversity worthy. of any section of British arms. The squadron is organised and oom- manded by Commander Oliver Locker Lampon. M.P.. of The unit consists of a large number of powerful equipment. Hundreds of officers and men include individuals not o«"'y from the United Kingdom, but from pr;oi.ieally all the Dominions. It was not until many months after the departure of the force from England that any reference to its existence was permitted, and then only a a brief statement of the King's inspiring farewell message was made. After a fur- ther lapse of time, news came from the Arctic ice of a noteworthy message from Commander Locker. Lampson to his men, urging them, as the only British troops in country containing some 140 millions of strange souls, to uphold the honour of all those people who make up Greater Britain. The war he described as a duel between rival religions; the age old contest between the Dominion of Darkness and the King- dom of Christ. From the very out-set the unit encoun- tered even greater hardships than their leader led them to expect. Their journey to the White Sea was through some of the heaviest gales experienced even in that region, and they reached it only to find that, owing to the ice. they were forced to spend a winter in the Arctic. Nothing daunted, however, with splendid courage they set to work to spend the period of Arctic darkness in preparing for tha activities of the spring. Then, as has recently been announced, they were able to land their guns, cars and equipment, and have since crossed European Russia, being welcomed on all sides by the Russian people with the greatest enthusiasm. OFFICERS AND MEN DECORATED BY THE TSAR. Several of the officers and men have been decorated by the Tsar for their work in the Arctic, and at last having crossed the Caucasian Mountains in their cars, they are now operating against the Turks, whom they have routed on more than one occasion during the past few weeks, in a country presenting appealing difficulties. Letters just received from Vladikavkaz contain some further details of the experi- ences of the ilnit. It was only towards the end of January that Hie period of per- petual Arctic darkness ended, and ihe sun first rose. With the return of light and improving weather, all were soon in the best of health and spirits. The cold, of course was intense, and so hard was the ground that it took nine men three weeks to dig a marker's pit in a maxim range. The British did not merely content them- selves with keeping fit and undergoing ceaseless training and performing work of a most varied character (including the manufacture of sledges), but they also ren- dered great assistance to the Russians on the Kola Peninsula. They did valuable salvage work, and the credit of saving one ship, with a cargo worth a quarter of a million, was in no small measure due to their efforts. It is interesting to note that during the whole of their stay in the Arctic, officers and men itlike abstained from every kind of alcoholic drink. In cnite of the hardship endured, the only illness was one unimportant attack of influenza. While on the Kola Peninsula, the unit also carried out important work in guard- ing German prisoners, and in transporting material for the Russians overland by sleigh. Another party w is occupied for a couple of months in assisting the Rus- sians to complete a section of a new rail- way connecting Kola with Petrograd. In spite of the low temperature, the lack of material, heavy blizzards and other Arctic conditions, the activities of both officers and men remained unabated. To- wards the end of their sojourn in the Arctic, firewood ran out, and all had, to subsist on black bread and biscuits. At the end of May, preparations were made for the (im-trttire of the unit from the Kola Peninsula, and eventually, after experiencing heavy gales and intense cold, the force reached Archangel. The weather during embarkation at Alexandrov«k was the worse known, even in that region, for 40 years. A boat containing one party broke up and had to be abandoned, its occupants having to camp amid the snow. On the cliffs of Kolagull some of the party were exposed for 24 hours until rescued by a British trader. FESTIVITIES IN THE WILDS. The reception accorded to the first British force to land in Russia were unique. The people were wild with de- light. The force marched with arms through the streets and an Ikon, specially taken from the Cathedral at Archangel, was presented to the force from Archangel. The squadron proceeded in a train of 47 carriages on their long journey to Vladi- kavkar, meeting everywhere with an un- I. Even ot wa vside precedented welcome. Even at wayside stations, the population turned out to welcome the Allies, who were presented with flowers. Festivities of all kinds were arranged at the various stopping-places, bands played national airs, and every possible honour was heaped upon the visitors, as the first and only British force to fight, for Russia in Russia. The unit received a. welcome rare even for hospit- able Russia., their appearance in out of the way places, together with cinema pictures tha.t are now appearing even in Temote villages, has assisted in enlightening the people as to what England is doing. The progress of British troops through the heart of Russia has already proved a Kreat factor in removing false idea as to England's work in the war. On arrival of the force at Vladikavkaz, the Grand Duke sent a telegram of welcome, which said: "With my whole heart I welcome the arrival of the armoured car detachment from England, the great ally of our glorious armies. As the Hetman in com- mand of the Cossacks armies of the Cau- casus, I greet them." When the last letters left Vladikavaz, arrangements were being made for the cars, on their arrival from the Arctic, to proceed by road over the mountains, while the men were getting themselves accustomed to the changa from Arcticoold to considerable heat.

TO-DAY'S WAR REBUKE Leader" Office, 4.50 p.m. In severe fighting round Eaucourt l'Abbaye the Germans succeeded in re- gaining a footing in the villagt. Else- where the British yesterday improved t,o,?cu' ??ns. our troopg ruccea3.. l:;ht of Hay night our troops success- fully in?cd enemy trenches near Loos. Minor French successes have been gained on the Somme front. The Rumanians have forced their way across the Danube at a point 51 kilo- metres south of Bucharest. The German Crown Prince, in an inter- view with an American journalist, re- news the whine for peace, and urges as his reason a desire to save further bloodshed. A Bulgarian counter-attack against British forces was completely repulsed. The enemy tasted British steel, and fled precipitately.

I THE BOSTON FELLOWS. I I Who and what are .thé "Boston Fel- {lows r Mr. de Grey, at West London I Police Court on Monday, looked inquir- ingly when a witness described in this way two men, charged with being concerned in a street row. Witness explained that they were youths who wore their caps half at the back of their head and half over their eyes. The magistrate was gratified with the I explanation, and observed reminiscently that years ago there was a. dance called the Boston Dip. which came from America. It was something like the Tango of,to-day.

I PRIZE FOR A HEALTHY WIFE. It is almost worth offering a prize to the first applicant at these tribunals who has a healthy wife." Ilius remarked Alderman Turnbull, chairman of a Manchester Tribunal, on Monday. It seems to me," he added, that in most causes we are told either that the applicant suffers from rheu- matism, or something of that 6ort, or jthat his wife is a delicate woman." To an applicant who said his nerves were very bad, Alderman Turnbull re- I marked: ?That's no excuse? we have aU got shattered nerves at a time like this, A little training for the army might do I you good."

U- I THE SPECIAL'S QUESTIONS. I At Scarborough on Monday, Frederick Joseph Rougier, 51, a special constable, was remanded for a week, charged with having unlawfully attempted to elicit in- formation with respect to certain of His Majesty's ships. Chief Constable Windsor said that the prisoner was in the Silver Grid smoke- room on Saturday and talked to some mine-sweeping skippers. He asked about a line of lights off Scarborough and where their ships were. He took a .£1 note from his pocket and said he would make it X5 if one of the skippers would give him in- formation for a paragraph. He represented he was gathering information for news- papers.

I THE DECAY OF PITWOOD. I Mr. Percy Groom, professor at the Im- perial College of Science and Technicology, in a paper read on Monday before the London Chamber of Commerce, advocated a greater growth in the Empire of coni- ferous trees, and he estimated that there would be a saving of a million pounds per annum in the cost of pitwood alone if we did so. In a subsequent conversation with our London representative, Mr. Groom stated he had started on a series of investiga- tions with the view to ohecking the decay of pit props in mines, and his investiga- tions had gone so far as to indicate that this could be done by the cheapest of all ways-by sanitation, which would keep the wood healthy.

I IMPOSTOR SENTENCED. I William Thompson, otherwise Edward Scott, who for six months posed as a wounded soldier, carrying one 'shattered' arm under his tunic, was sentenced at W«idnes on Monday to nine months' im- prisonment for obtaining money and fur- niture by false pretences, and committed for trial on a charge of bigamy. Thompson, who wore the ribbons of the D.C.M. and the French Military Medal-both of whicli he bought in Lon- don-told a picturesque story of his fourteen-hours' fight with Germans for a trench, and thereby obtained sympathy and practical help from a number of people, including a blind soldier, who gave him Ss. 6d. It was stated that Thompson had de- serted from the Navy and several regi- ments in the Army, and had not seen active service.

THE TOWN NOTES OF FRANCE.I The Y.M.C.A. issues the following paragraph: The British soldier in France is often on the horns of a dilemma when he comes up hard against customs that he does not appreciate in their full signi- ficance. For instance, when the men are paid in five-franc notes they frequently take them to the shops of the towns at the base, and in return get as change 11 franc or two-franc notes of that locality. These are local notes issued on the credit of the municipalities and Chambers of Commerce, and are not negotiable in other towns and villages. Tommy finds this very vexatious, and is frequently quite nonplussed to make his purchases. The Y.M.C.A. repognises the difficulty, and accepts these town notes unless they are hopelessly dilapidated, and dqes not place them in circulation unless negoti- able in the district. When the Y.M.C..A. leaders clear up for the night they ex- perienoe considerable difficulty in straightening out these frail notes and gumming together the torn pieces. Bet to his great relief the soldier gets his full L value, an(1 is saved from further anxiety.

LOCAL CASUALTY. Official news has reached Swansea of the death in action of Private Thomu Sullivan, of the Royal Muneter Fi- liers, whose home is at No. 17, Brock- street, Greenhill. EWÚ1ŒTm'E-G: V Belting: 6 to 1 G-rc?eaM'. —Margareiihai 1, y?rtB 6r ? th. da.ra, J.—ri?e nn). Betting: t to t Uav^aJethaL 4.CPotg o' my Stwri 1, AndreaeS, lutef Ee-oenutsi ran. J t i i 1 f t\ ii « t I i f. f. • v 9 ) I I,¡; .1 i i • I I v j

HtNDENBURG S BIRTHDAY. I Speech by the Kaiser. I Amsterdam, Tuesday.—The Kaiser gave a dinner at Main Headquarters in honour of Marshal von Hindenburg's birthday. In a speech the Kaiser expressed heartiest congratulations to Hindenburg, and said he had the confidence of the Supreme War Lord of the German people, and all the Allied nations. The Kaiser added: May God grant you to prosecute the gigantic world war to a final victory which shall bring our Allied nations the freedom for which we are fighting." The Kaiser conferred a number of orders on officers of the General Staff.