The Cambria Daily Leader

AUSTRIA'S DILEMMA. The idea of peace has advanced this week, not among the Entente; Powers, which are as determined as ever to pursue the war to the point of complete victory, but among the Central Empires. Germany may endeavour to disguise her motives in asking for a peace conference. She may plead that she is acting for humanity's sake. She may pose as the victor unwilling to shed useless blood. But the world refuses to be impressed. Evidence accumu-i lates day by day that the Imperial Chancellor was moved to the course he took only by dire Necessity. Ger- many may not yet be far spent.' Austria-Hungary, however, is in desperate straits. Germany may still beat the war drum; and its leading military organ this week insists that England must pay a large war indemnity. In Austria and Hun- gary the people are not thinking of victory or indemnity. They want peace at any price. A Magyar j paper said in December: Men, speak softly, think well before uttering a tingle word now that you are expecting peace. Peace is sensitive, shy, and refined; peaoe lovee serenity. There- fore go about on tip-toe. and speak in whispers softly very softly. It is considered, highly probable that the Austrians or Hungarians will force the hands of the Germans, j and, as Count Andrassy suggests—- and Count Andrassy belongs to aj party that has received striking; marks of favour1 from the new Em- j peror—hand the peace terms to President Wilson themselves, if the Germans hold back. j The political movements of the' week are of the utmost significance. First, there is the report that Count Czemin, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, is shortly to leave for Berlin, after first paying a visit to the German Headquarters. Then, secondly, there is the report from Paris according to which a confer- ence of the Sovereigns of the Cen- tral EmpireB, including the Sultan of Turkey, is to take place in Vienna, and an early meeting of the German lleichstag is spoken of. There is, thirdly, the conference the Kaiser has been holding at German Headquarters with an Austrian Archduke and general, and the King, and Crown Prince of Bulgaria. And, lastly, a Rome message tells us that a special courier has arrived with letters to the Pope from the Austrian Emperor and Empress in which their Majesties urge his Holiness to intervene in favour of peace. What do these reports im- ply ? They seem to corroborate the assertions made from Budapest that the Dual Monarchy has had enough of war. Austria has shown herself pos- sessed of wonderful powers of re- juvenation. But ifc does seem as if she is now on the brink of the precipice. She is not only in an ex- treme state of exhaustion, but her economic position, threatens her with a constitutional deadlock. For the Ausgleich, or (conomic compro- mise between Austria and Hungary, is due for revision, and the occasion is being exploited by Austria to ob- tain a guarantee from Hungary of a large share of her rood stores. No cereals, no Ausgleich," is the watch- word of Vienna, and any Austrian Government whica failed to obtain a sufficient supply of cereals from Hungary to enable the Austrian population to keep body and soul to- gether would, a Budapest corres- pondent says, be immediately swept away by the Austrian Parlia.rnen ti. The position of Hungary in face of this demand is a simple dilemma. If she give-s the food, she starves herself; if she refuses to give it, her finances and those of the Dual Mon- archy are thrown into confusion. The position, as the Westminster Gazette says, has been fatal to one Austrian Government after an- other, and now seriously threatens Count Tisza. In Germany also there are not, wanting signs that the people are being slowly instructed as to the red meaning of things. Professor Meinecke, an authority held in re- gard by our enemy, the other day wrote a candid narrative dealing with the military position. He threw over without hesitation the pretence that Germany began the war as a measure of defence. That, he said, is true only in a political sense." The truth "in a military i sense is that she began it to over- throw her enemies. She intended first to disable France, next to turn ilpon Russia, and then under favourable conditions to conclude the final peace with England. The great strat-egic success of the French on the ;Ivlaxne--and until now Germany has been taught other explanations of the Marne—upset the programme. Professor Mein- ecke acknowledges tho failure to brea-k through on the Yser and pn the Russian front, aud sets off against it the failure of the French in Champagne. As for Verdun, it was not an attempt to break through ct all; it was only an attempt to break in," and'thus to show the French that they could not possibly win. The double offensive of the Allies of June and July in the West and- in the East forced the Germans v to interrupt their operations be- fore Verdun, and achieved some partial successes," but it did not really break through the German lines. So he comes to the conclusion that the battle of the Somme has taught Germans that military de- cisions in the full peace-compel- ling sense are no longer possible. As an intelligent people they have therefore hastened to express the idea that this war can only end in a "compromise-peace." It is a great thing to find an intelligent German making such concessions. It will be our business in 1917 to drive this'idea of a compromise- peace out of the minds of our chief enemy. From the Yser to the Somme we have now massed any- thing between a million and three- quarters and two million troops of all arms. In the spring they will fulfil Sir Douglas Haig's hope. Our armies in the West are capable of accomplishing the last great task. Mr. H. G. Wells has said that the French-ma.st-en; of military science have been enormously astonished by the quality of the ordinary British soldiers in our new armies. One Colonial colonel said something almost incredible—alnioat incredible as coming from a Frenchman; it was a matter too solemn for ny compliments or polite exaggera- tions he said, in tone of wonder and conviction, They are as good as ours." It was his acme of all possible praise. The Somme has altered French opinions. Herr Harden, one of the most outspoken of Germans, has warned his countrymen that Russia's re- sources cannot be exhausted, for the war is being waged only on the fringe of that world Empire; that England's distres due to hunger is only a big word, having no mean- ing that France's deficiency in men can be equalised by English auxili- ary troops. The end is inevitable. Clever German diplomacy may tide over the troubles with Austria- Hungary, but when the offensive is renewed in the West the issue will be settled finally. As one of the military writers declared this week, tfhe battle of the Somme is not the earnest only; it is the proof that the British Army is well equal to its share in the task of finishing the German armies. Indeed, in the battle of the Somme the task has already been in part accomplished, What has been, achieved represents the hardest part of the task. This morning a valued corresporl- dent of ours sent us along the fol- lowing passage which he came across in the course of his reading: I When Edward I. determined to overthrow once and for all the great Llewelyn ap Iorwerth and his Welsh supporters who had become a stand- ing menace to the peace of Wales, and of England too, the Monarch, in 1282, issued his proclamation in these words:— We liold it better that, for the common weal, we and the inhabitants of our land should be wearied by labour and expenses this once, although the burden seem heavy, in order to de- stroy their wickedness altogether, than that we should in future times, as so orten in the past, be tormented by re- bellions of this kind at their good pleasure." Does not that," our correspondent comments, just fit the circum- stances of to-day in our national dis- position towards Prussian mili- tarism ?" The parallel is not exactly pleasant for Welsh ears! But i divorce the words of the first Edward from their historical associations, and how well they stand as ex- pressing our present purposes! "In order to destroy their wickedness altogether" is a terse explanation of our object in continuing the struggle. In the message to the Dominions from the Premier, made public to- day, he said: "There is no faltering in our determination that the sacri- fices which we and you have made and have still to make shall not be in vain, and that the fight which we are waging together fcr humanity and civilisation shall be fought to a triumphant. issue. We realise that we shall need every man that wo can put in the field, every pound that rigid public and private eco- nomy can provide, and every effort which a united people can put forth to help the heavy task of our soldiers and sailors." Here is the very spirit of victory. Our soldiers have been tried. They have been proved. Our sailors rule the seas. It is for us at home to be as steadfast. The people who believe that at the pre- sent stage of tilings we can negotiate with the Boche and the Turk, their hands stained with innocent blood, or with the Austrian, whose respon- sibility for the war is great, deceive themselves if they think such a step will bring a real peace. Peace, the only peace worth having, will be secured upon the field to which we were summoned, and to which we went against our will, the field of war.

R.A.O.B. Degree Intailation at Pontardawe. At the Dyffryn Tawe Lodge of the R.A.O.B., held at the Castle Hotel, Pont- ardawe. on Thursday night, Primo Philip Hopkin was installed to the degree of Knight, of Merit. The lodge room was packed with offioers and brethren from the Swansea and Swansea Valley provinces. Knight Will Hopkin was the installing officer, and he' was supported by Kniglft. John Puntan, President of the Knights Chapter. Primes George Iiowells and W. J. Roberts were the sponsors, whilst Knight Ford and Bro. Phil Thomas acted as Jewel Receiver and Insignia of Peace respectively. Knight Goo. Hest (Gnrnos) was the M.C. The Guard of Honour was composed of Knights J. Puntan, T. Kirk- bride (Clydacb), E. Vincent Thomas. P.G.S. (Ystalyfera), J. John, P.G.Ch. (Swansea). Primos r. Rccs, Esaiah Lewis, D. T. Lloyd. J. W. Hib:>s, Bros. John S. Jones, W lLI c-, R ttock, and Aubrey Smith: Primo Dan J. 1 ies (Clydaeh) presided over tIAe if Jjiii'iidry proceedings.

TI-IE DUG OUT WASPS.. I ————"———— By Patrick MacGill. (Author of Children of the Dead End," The Rat Pit," The Great Push," etc.). (All Rights Reserved). I A SHELL burst amidst the poppy flowers on the open in front of our sector, I and Bill Teake, who stood by the dug-out door, clapped his hand to his neck and exclaimed: I've copped ono this time; ies givin-' me gyp!" I had just turned to my mate to attend to his wound when I felt a sudden pene- trating pain pierce my chin, and the wasp which was responsible for the sting new off to a safe distance and poised itself in the air over the dug-out. I knew that it was contemplating another attack. I pre- pared to retreat. Ifs wasps, Bill!" I yelled. We'll clear off round the oorner." But before we moved Bowdy Benners rushed out of the dug-out where he had been asleep, festooned with angry wasps. "Good Ood ¡" he yelled, striking, out with both hands, I'm stung to death. My pillow was a nest of the swiae! Git out, you vfermin! Got tlit one! Did 1 r He's stujig my fingers. Oh! blast! He retreaLeÜ at the doubly round the traverse, and into the next bay The occupants were just sitting down to breakfast, a good breakfast, for the poist had come and parcels were bulky. Wot the blazes is this?" I heard one of them exclaim aa we rounded the corner, wav- ing our arms 'about our heads. These 'ere blokes are working their tickets, I suppose I" He finished his remarkwith a yell, for our enterprising wasp had flown the rout and stung the speaker on the nose. Then the insect made the round of the break- iciot party. A few tied instantly and es- caped, others took iov tneir iieoja, at dl hivit stiug, but the man who waited to pick up the bul-alill caLe and the tin 01 sar- dines had au the colours of a Board School map on ius face for weeiia aitorwarcLs i .1. narrow, crooked trench infested by i furious wasps is not a healthy locality, i The insects out-manoeuvred us at every turn. We turned the thiru buttiess, feeling that we had escaped our persistent persecutors, only to lind that they had crossed the top of the traverse and v. vre waiting tor us. As a man runs the treucb is a weary pathway, as a wasp fliws it pre- j sents no diincuities. THE ROUT. The place was in an uproar. The wasps had attacked on both sides, 6ome drove the men ielt, others hew aiter us on the right. In every bay their numbers seeoned to have .lneruasoa; at tlie traverse turuiug we eluded (them for a moment only to tu- counter them in the next bay. A, number of men sought safety in the dug-outs; the wasps followed, and drove them out into the perilous trench again, j When we met the first officer he stood for a. moment wiuholl loot in the trench, one on the firestep, and stared at us in aston-1 ishmeat. His wonderment was short- lived. A wasp announced itself when it | alighted on his ear, and imiaediatoly the su oaltern becaxao one with the rout. Bill Teake was nON wounded in several places. The morning had been fine, and like the rest of us, he was in shirt-sleevfcs lighting order. I've copped a sting again," he yelled. «'I'hat's umpty eleven times. I always said that I dicing 'old with a war like this; un. 'Bl)mos and bullets, whiz-bangs and pip-squeaks, and now these 'ere God-for- saken wopses. Yitat's anuver one, 1 a blurry Boehe. 'E sniped me from tltp run of my cap. God! platoons of 'em! Oli! dang! that tin took me wl- the rear where I should ave a patch on my trousers." Again we angered a Odj-, where another merry party was sitting down to breakfast. A gar- gantuan spread of fried bacon, toast and trench tea. A platoon officer was sharing in the meal. lie was a. stout, good-natured man with a bald I head, pink and shiny. The advance party j of wasps would not miss the head; the pests came to a halt on it. and being hasty, they stung when they alighted. The officer yelled several words which the men had never noticed in his vocabulary before. Groping frantically for his hat, which., as often happens in a crisis, was: nowhere to be found, he overturned the brazier, the toast rack, and several can- teens of tea, 6calding the feet of a n?m- ber of men, who were seated on the fire- step. The soldiers were up in an instant, and raced off along the trench. Rifles, equip-, ment and ammunition were flung down on the floor and trampled into the clay and rubble. At this point, Bill Teake was seized with a happy thought. A news- paper fell on the fire and burst into flame. Bill, seizing the lighted paper, held it close to his face, and kept tho wasps away for a moment. But wot if, the good o' it," he grumbled, as the flame died down. I'm getting stung be'ind and burned in front. I'm off," and throwing the paper down, he fled. I THE VICTORY. Struggling, ehoving and waving their arms about the men hustled aloiig It-!lei narrow alley. Two eo-ldiers scrambled up over the top out into the open, but, being c,c,e.4 by the enemy, a brisk rifle tire was opened on them, &nd they fled back into? their wa-?p infested 6belter again. For myself, I was unlucky enough to have my puttiæ off when the 6Jta.mpOOe! 6tartod, and in a few moments a wasp had got up the leg of my trousers. It stung ? me before I squashed it to a pulp.. What happened w"hen we rushed into a Highland Regiment on ou r right must be I left to the readers's imagination They gave vent to their wrath in vehement words, and I found it difficult to ascer- tain whether their angers was directed against ourselves or the wasps. Was it the hundredth traverse or the thousandth that the effective of the be- setting force lost an appreciable amount lof intensity? That is a matter for con- jecture, but this alone is known. A jar of marmalade, which got overthrown in a bay enticed the insects, and many stopped to feast on the disbanded trea- sure. But a few followed with unabated ardour; these we counter-attacked and destroyed, and afterwards we bombed the H Bay of the Broken Jar with a certain amount of success. Vii f1 strode back, defiant and alert and ready for anything. But the wasps gave no further trouble; here and there we saw one or two poised in air over a line of sandbags, but fled at our approach. the dug-out in which they had origi- nally entrenched was left in complete eeclufiion for the rest of the day, attd at night we approached the place in slow, methodical order. We found the wa<õl)' nest in a corner of the wall and poured two messtins of boiling water on it. We were never troubled in a like manner again. I have placed this etory on record as a faithful account of the only occasion in t' the Great War on which a certain batta- lion of the London Regiment was forced to retreat. j (.CoPyriht in Uniwd SLat% of America) |

BETTER COMMERCE MAfiKErS fi £ GCV £ BI.<a AFTER CHRISTMAS SliLP. COVEBt:ME, T CONTROL OF SHIPPiMU The following report is suppl-ied by the Louaon and Provincial Investments Co. The market shows a strong tendency to recover from the low levels obtaining be- fore the Christmas holidays. A spirit of optimism is abroad, partially induced by the signs of a breaK-up of. the enemy's power of resistance, and partially by tho bright outlook of the South Wales Coal Trade for a long time to come, and the further fact that most of the shares are now full of dividend, the financial year having expired on December 31st. Coal and Iron.-Albdojib maintain steadiness at 9 to 9i. Baldwins keep firm at 40s. to 41s. Blaenavons are now quoted ex dividend at 19s. 6d. to 20s., and look cheap. The 7: per cent, dividend paid by this com- pany for the year ended September last, represented but a small proportion of the available proiit. It is probable that this company will do much better again during the current year, and that the dividend will be substantially increased. The fiuancial position of the company is now sound, and it will not be surpris- ing to see the price of these shares ad- vance several shillings. Consolidated Cambrians have conie into demand again, and the price has ad- vanced to 31s. bid. An interim dividend for the year ended December, at the rate of 15 per cent. per annum was paid, and the market is looking for a final, making the distribution for the year up to 20s. These shares, a short time back, rose to 416., and there would appear to be room for a substantial improvement on the present price. Cynons are firm around 32a. ex dividend, ana should improve. Cardiff Oollieriee are ocangijig at 49a. 6d to 50s. 6d. Celtics are rather better at 10s. 3d. to 106. 6d. D. Davis and Sons.—A large business is again being done in these shares, and the price ha/9 advanced to 11s. 9d. to 12s. In view of the final dividend shortly due. which is expectod to make the distribution for the year up to 30 per cent., and the fact that the very strong cash reserves remain in tha coffers of the company, for the benefit of til shareholders sooner or later, make these shares peculiarly attractive. Over the next few weeks they ought to rise several shil- lings. They have become the most active share in the market, and are likelv to be- come more so as the strength of the posi- tion is better understood. Ebbw Vales are steady around 25s. 6«L Ferniiills are changing at 42s. Graham Navigation are inquired for on the basis of •23s. Great Western Fully Paid are firm rit about 10i. Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Fully Paid are now quoted 36a. to 373. ex dividend. and the New (1M. Paid* ehares-are changing at 28s. 6d. to 29s. Insoles have been nego- tiated within the quotation of 34s. to 35P. internationals are in fair demand at 81 to 8g cum the interim dividend just announced at the rate of 15 per cent. perannum. These £ 5 shares ought veiy soon to rise in price "to anything up to 16 £ or 11. Lamberts have come to business at 42s., and are still in thfi neighbourhood of this figure. Lockets are quoted at 7t to 71. Newport Aberoarns keep firm at the Improved pried cf 33s. to 346. Norths are in good reqties* around 9s., and ought to advauce consider- ably An interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum was paid, and it is generally anticipated that the distribution will be made up to 20 per cent. for the year, in which case a further 15 per oent. actual as a final dividend will be forthcoming. Thpse ehares are one of the most attractive at tho current quotation. Oceans are firm at 12 middle. Powell Duffryns are being dealt in on the basis of 5Ss. to 59s. Rhym- ney Iron Old are quoted at 168 to 17s, and the New at 15s. 9d. to 16s. 3d. Tredegar A' keep very firm at 27&- middle, and are by no means over-valutjd. The outlook for this company is fteelient. United Nationals aro changing at 76s. 6d ex dividend. Windsor Ordinary are quiet, but steady, at around 7.; the 10 per cent, and 6 per cent. reference issues are still obtainable at arcund 15 and 14 respectively. Shipping.—This section also hns become steadier, as a result of growing confidence in regaru to the question of Government control, and the prices of shares have im- proved in many instances. The following are current quotations Britains, 21 to 22; Cardigans. 269. to 27s. 6d.; Dulcias, 34s. 6d to 35s.; Globe Shipping, IS-t. to 19s.; Hazlewoode, 39s. to 41s.; W. and O. T Jones, 42s to 44a.; London American Maritimes, 31s. to 33s.; Orders and Hanford, 131 to ISA. As the position of shipping in rplation to Government control is not analogous to that of the coal trade, it is probable that the recovery in shipping share6 will not be so rwid as in tho case of colliery shares. On the other hand, the feeling exists gener- ally that when the full arrangements arc known, it will appear that there was no need for the pronounced nervousness of in. vef tors. Ra.ils.-There is a better demand for these issues, particularly Preferences. Barry Un. divided is changing at around 150; the 4 per cent. Preference stock is inquired for. with business at 684 to 69; the Deferred Ordinary is still obtainable at around 73. Te,ft Ordinary is firm at 54 to 544. Port Tal- bot Railway £ 10 shares are a fair maikot at 15* to IP4. in miscellaneous there is little or nothing: doing. Jones Dickinsons are wanted at around 8s. 3d. Britonferry Chemicals keep steady at 523, 6d. to 33s. 6d. John Bland Ordinary arc negotiated in the neighbour. hoed of 268. 3d ex dividend. Spillers Ord. inary are firm at 44s. middle.

HOLY WELL RUNS DRY, No More Water After Four- tean Centuries. The lioTy spring of St. Winifred. at Holvwcll. Flintshire, dried tip on Friday. It has been known for centuries for ita a miraculous curee. TJw stream from the well. on its way to the River Dee, worked a number of mills, which have been dependent on it for their power. During the day the people at the mills noticed with alarm that the flow of the stream rapidly decreased. By evening the spring had entirely ceased to flow, and it was possible to walk on the dry floor 01 the famous larger bath in which thou- sands of cui'iyseekers have bathed. The spring had in recent years a flow of more than 2,000 gallons a minute. For- merly it was even more powerful. It is said to have run for 14 centuries, beforo which time there was no water in tht Sechnant "—or dry valley "—as the vale which it has so long refreshed is still called. Tho well has for centuries been known for the healing effect which a dip, or a series of dips, in its water has in many instances had on lame, blind, and other- wise afflicted persons. The cures have been attributed partly to the quality of the water, partly to the intercession of St. Winifred, and partly to the exercise of faith. Roman Catholics from all parts of the British Isles have flocked to the well. The story goes that, 14 centuries ago, a Welsh chief, named Caradoc, pursued.,fa girl named Winifred, who refused to marry him, and on catching her smote off her Tiead at one blow. The head bounded down hill. and where it stopped a spring broke out. The head was afterwards joined to the body again, and St. Winifred lived for years afterwards.

Lord French visited wounded aoldien ia St. Bartholomew's IELOGPIW