The Cambria Daily Leader

THE LONDON OFFICE I I of the f,'ambrip Daily Leader" Is at 151, Fleet Street (first floor), where advertisements can be received up to 7f o'clock each evening for insertion In trie; next day's issue. Tel., 2276 Central. J (

NEW AFFRONTS I   I TO U. S. u.? EMBASSY FLAG MWL Consuls' Wives Stripped and Bathed. Fre-vh indignities to American citizens I ftnd Consuls in Germany and occupied Belgium are stated to have strained relti- tions to breaking point. | Consuls' wives leaving Germany were JBtrippi-U and searched, the Ameritan in TV<i*:>els was io: • *d to hn] down the Embassy flag, and Consuls and other Americans have been detained. America will seek an immediate ex-1 >1 anation of the Brussels incident. BRUSSELS FLAG INCIDENT. Washington, Thursday.—The State De- partment has received confirmation of the United Press despatches from Berne that Mr. Whit-lock, the American Minister in Belgium, has been forced to lower the American flag from the Embassy in Brussels. The Department has also been advised -that Mr. Whitlock was deprived of facili- ties to eommunicato with Washington, and that American workers of the Belgian lielief Commission are being detained. The officials are said to be waiting the fullest possible details. The most intense feeling has been aroused. It is stated that America will seek an immediate explanation. Meanwhile, it is pointed out that nothing has been heard of the fate of the Americans on board the Y a r r o w d-a-1 e.—Exchange. U.S. WOMEN STRIPPED. 'New York. Thursday.—Mr. Carl W. Ackerman, the former Berlin correspon- dent of the United Press, who accom- panied Ambassador Gerard from Ger- many, cables from Berne:— The hours preceding the departure of Ambassador Gerard and party from Berne for Paris were made anxious by absence of any indication that Germany was per- mitting the departure of American Con- suls in various cities in the country. None Of the Consuls who were expected in Berne Jcsterday hid arrived, and no word had come from them or from the German Authorities concerning them. Probably the most rious complaint lloord is that v; i res of American Consuls have been stripped, bathed, and searched tl.t border stations, despite their rights as members of official households, three specific instances being recently reported (10m Warnemunde. Ambassador Gerard protested vigorously to the Foreign Office against this practice, but was informed that the ,]1 Offce was powerless to bocauso the military authorities in- fc' kuted it." Mr. Ackerman says that the food and feonomie situation in Germany has grown steadily worse. The people are not only suffering, but are much under-nourished. this was evidenced by thousands of re- quests to departing Americans for their food. One woman offered the Embassy ten Ji'arks for a pound of fat. A German physician asked another American to pay his bill with foodstuff's.—Exchange. MR. GERARD'S LARDER. On hie arrival in Paris, Mr. Gerard Was asked by a French journalist if he had eaten better in Paris than in Berlin. "Well, 1 can't say," smilingly answered AJr. Cierard. and after a few seconds' pause, added, Don't forget I brought three tons of food with me from America last December."—Exchange. U.S. YACHT SEIZED. Converted Into Gunboat by Turks. Washington, Friday.—Fresh reports re- ceived here state that the United States Vessel Scorpion has been seized or sunk by the Turks it Constantinople. Nothing is known officially. The Exchange Telegraph Co. says that the Scorpion is a yacht which has been converted into a small gunboat, carrying four six-pounders.

FOOD PRICES. No Striking Changes in Swansea. The following were the food prices ruling in Swansea on Friday:- Butter, 2s. aud 2s. Id.; lard. Is. 2d.; hcese, Is. (;11,; bacon. Is. 5d. and 16. 6d. Tea has azain advanced 2d. per lb.; t-ugar, though more is released, is scarce owing to difficulties of transit; flour will be 5s. per score on MondaV; jams and marmalades. Is. 7id. per 2 ih po.t. Fish scarce, except fresh herring, 2d. t'ach. Cod, ]8. 2d.; lemon soles, IL, Whiting, 9d.; plaice, Is. 8d.: oonger, 9d.- teds and bloaters 2d., 21d., 3!d.; haddoek, ]1'1.: salt fish. 7d. Prices of butcher's meat and fruit are Practically the same as last week.

I DEFIES THE SPEAKER. Count Plnnkett, who was elected &s M.P. for Roscommon, speaking in the constitu- ency on "Thursday in the presence of a Qovernmont notetaker, said he would ,"ever 5it in Westminster, and defied tbv i i Speaker to fine or arrest him.

t SUGAR ARITHMETIC. I t t' t f f.h At the meeting of the committee of the nroeerfe' Federation on Thursday, it was to nsk the Food Controller to ex- Illain how he reconciled his advice to the fcublic not to use more than lb. per head week, with the amount distributed by t b e ii gn tbe SngM Commission, which did not I'&aeh lIb. per head for domestic consump- n. I

KIRTH IN WAITING ROOM. Unusual Incident at Neath. ? woman, carrying in ner arms a baby ?J trading another youngster by the "?d, intending to travel by train, wa? v^ken suddenly ill at the Great Western .jvv Level station at Ncath. She was fisted into the waiting room, where she tq"e hirth to a line baby boy. Medical instance was at once fought, and she b.<? eventuallv e#nveved home in the am- J kiioe.

REDUCED IMPORTS RESTRICTIONS AIM AT AMPLE FOOD SUPPLY No small sensation was caused in the Parliamentary Lobby ou Thursday by the announcement that Mr. Lloyd George on Monday will make an important state- ment on the reduction of imports and on encouragement to agriculture in view of the submarine menace. It is understood that the list of prohi- bited imports will be found extensive and will cover many trades. There will, how- ever, he no such sudden reduction to the bare necessities of life, as appears to be in some quarters expected. The prohibitions are being made at the instance of the Controller of Shipping. after a most careful consideration of the tonnage availably and of the risks run, and are intended to provide a margin of safety for a varied and ample food supply.

OUR ARMY ABROAD. Britain Providing for Force of 2 to 3 Millions. Lord Curzon stated in the House of Lords on Thursday night, We are now providing for an army abroad of between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000."

LILLE CHILDREN. 250 Little Ones Arrive in Holland. Rosendaal, Thursday.—Two hundred and fifty children, ranging in age from 6 to 14, arrived here to-day from Lille and Arras, to be cared for until the end of the war. They tell terrible stories of the dearth 'Ii of food and of German brutality in the occupied region. I The children were three days on the journey in unhcated and unlighted trains. Many were ill, and all were visibly unde-r- fed. German rule in Lille is extremely severe, the least offence being visited with a month's imprisonment. The Germans, it is statooby the party, seem very d-is- couraged, while the French, on the other hand, appear confident of ultimate vic- tory.—Exchange

I WHEELDON RE-CAPTURED. The soldier Wheeldon, son of Alice Wheeldon, one of the persons concerned in the alleged plot to'jfoieon the Prime Minister, is in military custody at Salis- bury. He escaped last week and was cap- tured on Thursday on Salisbury Plain. I He will be tried by court-martial as 311 absentee without leave.

I IMPUDENT TRICKERY. A Bradford lady cleric who hod been to the bank to get f,165 for her employers was .topped in lite street by a man who said a mistake had been made. He obtained the money from her by giving her in exchange an envelope which afterwards proved to contain a piece of blotting paper. All arrest was made in Ol.ifigow, the mar. was on Thursday gent for trial.

SIX TIMES MORE. Scotch and. Irish whiskies fetched on Thursday an average of 20s. to 22s. a proof gallon in bond. as against the pre-war price of 3s. to 3s. (id., at an auction sale heTd at the London Commercial Sale Rooms br ?FM-?rs. W. !?d T. R?t?L [Bidding was rrry ?-?pn, and t?o H''?t day's n" which h?i;cd Due hour ?I?Ltopn ay'r, eal,- 'williell on,- lit)iir liiiiiufe,c? 0'-

THE YO R KS H IRE VOICE. "Th? Yorkshire voice has an Italian cadence about it that makes it very dim- cult to hear," remarked lfr. Justice Row- 1 a11 while trying an action from York- shire in the King's Bench Division on Thursday. His Lordship added that Leeds was the most difficult Assize town in Eng- land to hear witnesses. They dropped their voices in a very N sweet and delight- ful way."

iTREASURE3 FOR RED CROSS. Over 3,000 gifts for the Red Cross sale, which frs. Christie are to hold next I month were received at the special depot. Pall-mall, S.W. A few arrived in January, and then they flowed in with {??rpasincr \'o]nme. In the week r?dinp J?.r.u?Ty "n the ('ommiaep r"eixed 20C drifts, and during the three following weeks the nnmbcr were 329, 4.5?. and 852. During th? lust: Hn-? days en which the depot was open 1here was q?itc a rush of valuable gifts, 258 being received-on Mon- j day, 330 on Tuesday, and 286 on Wednes- day.

PEER PRISONER OF WAR. ¡ The "Daily Express" is remiested to announce that Lieut. Lord Torrington, R.N.Y.R., who was stated early in January to have been killed in the Bal- kans, is now officially reported to be alive and a prisoner of war in Bulgaria. Lord Torrington was engaged in duties associ- ated -with the air service at the time of hip capture. When the war broke out Lord Torring- ton, who wa thirty, enlisted as a trooper in the 19th Hussars, and subsequently gained a on. Tie was married in Paris on September 29, 1910, to Miss Flea nor Soitr-Lty, the actress

I HE SPOKE TOO EARLY. Paris, Thursday.—A special telegram to the "Petit Parisien from Geneva yester- day gtate-, that a German who got into the train at Schaffhouse for Zurich narrated in a voice which all could hear, and with numerous details, how he had succeeded in deserting and getting rid of his uni- form. He spoke in very unflattering terms of Germany. Suddenly, at Lottstetten Station, two German soldiers entered the train and arrested the deserter, who had been de- nounced by a spy. The railway line from Zurich to Schaff- house, which belongs entirely to the F,e d ,pral R-,tilwa- Federal Railway, passes over Gorman ter- ritory for some few miles, calling at two small railway stations, of which Lotistet- ten is one. No special indication is given of this circumstance to travellers. A similar misadventure took piece a .little while ago to an Italian who played the ""Marseillaise in the train on a har- monica.—Exchange*,

FIERCE GERMAN ATTACKS —— —— I FRENCH LINE ENTERED I FIVE ENEMY PLANES DOWN [TO-DAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. To the north of the Avre an enemy surprise attack upon one of our posts near Fouquefcourt COlll- pletely failed. In Champagne the bombardment directed yesterday by the enemy against Butte-de-Mesnil-Maisons, the Champagne front, assumed in the afternoon extreme in- tensity. Towards 4 p.m., under cover of the explosion of several mines, the Germans succeeded in penetrating the salient situate to the west of Maison-de-Cham- pagne, to the north of the road which runs from this point to the Butte-de-Mesnil. Our barrage fire and flank fire proceeding from the region north of Main-d.) Massiges inflicted heavy losses upon the assailants. The artillery struggle was resumed this morning with violence in this region. There Mas great patrol activity in the Woevre in the course of the night. Aviation.—During the daytime yes- terday five German aeroplanes were brought down. During the night of the 15th-16tb, our air squadrons bombarded the railway station at Voyennes, the railway line in the region of St. Quentm and Ham, the bivouacs and rail- way station of Hpincourt. the blast furnaces at Uckingen Rom- back and Maizicres-les-Metz, the aviation ground and parks at Greuze, and the park to the I north of Vie. 0. I TO-DAY'S RUSSIAN OFFICIAL. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press. The attack by the enemy against our detachments occupying positions south-cast of Zoloteher, which was mentioned in yesterday's communique, was repulsed. In the Carpathians, the snow storms continue at several points. Rumanian Front.—Infantry firing J is taking place. BRITlS-H oFFIci-Ai. General Headquarters, i ramie, Thurc- day, 8.¡) p.m.-—The enemy blew a min this morning south of Bouehavesnea. No damage was done h our positions. We carried out.. a successful raid last night on the Soinme front, iiorth-e<ast of Gneudecourt, and brought back several prisoners. In the course of the nigkt hostile raid- ing partipc- north of Loos and west of re-s- sinos were caught by our artillery is ml machine-gun fire in No Man's Laud, and dispersed. A third party that succeeded in reaching one of our posts, north-east of Ypres, was wriven off with loss. Considerable artillery activity has con- tinued during the past 21 hours at a num- ber of points along our front, particularly north of the Soinme and in the Y pros sector, where we caused another explosion in the enemy's lines. On the night of the 13th-Tifh inst., and again yesterday, bombs were dropped by our .aeroplanes on a number of places oJ military importance behind the enemy's lines. A German machine was destroyed in air fighting, and two others drivendowl1. damaged. One of our machines was siso brought down, and two others of our aerc- planes are missing. FRENCH OFFICIAL. Tii.iir&Oav, li.i) p.i-n.in Champagne two surprise attacks against the German trcnches, one to the south of Rt. Marie-a- Sy, the other to the we of Bute Mesnil, enabled us to bring back 26 prisoners, in- cluding one officer. The enemy artillery, energetically coun- tered by our own, violently bombarded in the course of the nfternoon our positions in the sector of Maisons de Champagne. On the right Mnk of the- Mouse there was rather lively artillery fighting in the regions of Hardaumont and Vaux. A German attempt on one of our ad- vanced posts at Bezonvaux failed under our fire. In Lorraine our artillery carried out effective dc-structive firing on the enemy organisations of Louvigny, Coincourt, and Bezange. A German aeroplane was brought down yesterday towards Beaumont (Meuse) by tho fire of our special guns.

j 110,000 FOR HOSPITAL.  Mr. CIi?riM Lyle, of Abr&m Lyie and Sons, has made an unconditional ?ift d i '£10,000 to Qun Mary's HospUal for the East-end.

I 2d. BRIBE OFFERED. Owing to the exhaustion of the coal supply, Baptist Well School was again cloi&ed on Friday. A remarkable incident occurred in con- nection with one of the borough 6chool-s, which had been closed for some few days for the same reason. A haulier was seen approaching with a 4oad of coals. When the pupils 6aw him they requeued him to take the coal back. This, of course, he refused to do, w hereupon clones were thrown upon him. As a ]Mt re&ort one of the children tried bo bribe him with 2d.

MORRISTON PROPERTIES. Mr. Astley Samuel. F.A.I.. at the Mid- land Hotel, Morriston, on Thursday, sold freehold properties, Nos. 37-41, Midland- torracc. Morriston, for £ 000 to Mr. Knoyle. The houses were let at a weakly rental of 5s. 3d., owner paying rates. Lots 6-8, Nos. 2. 3 and 4, Brook-cottages, Morriston, were withdrawn. The ven- dor's solicitor was Mr. Newcombe, Wind- strt, Swansea. ,5trt

PONTARDAWE PROTEST. In accordance with the resolution <ft the Pontardawe Guardians on Tliur-oday, Mr. Wyndham Lewis (clerk) waited upon the Swansea postmaster on Friday morn- ing in regard to the importance of appointing a Welshman as postmaster for Pontardawe. The postmaster promised to make re- presentations to the proper quarter. The only aseuran-r'e that could be given was oii l v -tw that the assistants should be able to speak Welsh,

EX-CONVICT'S DREAD. A grocer's assistant, aged 18, appealed on conscientious grounds to the Middlesex Appeal Tribunal on Thursday, and his father pleaded that he might be allowed to do as his brothers had done and go on until lie could become an officer in the Salvation Army. I am an ex-convict," he sa.id. "If he has to join tihe Army he will resist it and go to gaol. I was sent to prison when I was 10 and for 14 years I was a prisoner. When once they go to prison they get intt> contact with others. I know it—I have been through it. Mr. H. Nield. M.P., Faid, they would regard it as an exceptional case and order the young man to find work on the land with tho Society of Friends, of which the father is a member, or the Salvation Army. The Father: I thank you, sir. Mr. Nield: It is only done because of your frank confession t

BIG BALKAN RAIDS I ALLIED AiR SQUADRONS' IBUSY 1, DAY I Athens, Thursday (received Friday).— It is learned from Salonika that a iiotilla of French aeroplanes on Tuesday bom- barded the station at Knvolak and the enemy encampments near Demar-Kaou. Simultaneously a notiHa. of British aeroplanes bombarded the enemy aero- drome at Houtovo, causing an explosion 'there, and ahso dropping a considerable number of bombs on the Bulgarian depots at Poubstowo. On the same day a flotilla of Serbian aeroplanes bombarded the enemy camp at Tezitsa, and also their encampments at the Melonika Monastry. Exchange Special. J

FATAL SHORT CUT. I ■^Two "Miners Killed on Line Near Pantyffynon, I Colliers going to work at the Panty- ffynnon Colliery on Friday morning found on the G.W.K. main line, below Panty- ffynnon Station, the bodies of two men, tierribly mutilated. They were identified as Wm. Richards, Penybank, Garnswllt, a married man 18 years of age, and Wm. Hopkin Morgan, a single man, also of Garnswllt. Both men were miners, and had left their homes on Thursday night as they were engaged on the nightshift. They made a short cut over the railway line, and were probably run over by a mineral train. The accident ifiust have occurred after 10 p.m. on Thursday night, the bodies being discovered about 5.30 on Friday morning. j

DOCKS SWEEP." I Phenomenal Luck of the I Winner. The Swansea dockmen's War Loan sweepstake, which realised 1:115, was won by Mr. F- W. Bowen, who thus secures! £ 100 worth of War Loan stock. Attached to the luck of the winner is an exceed- ingly interesting little story. Whilst pro- ceeding from his home at the Mumbles on tho 10.35 train this (Friday) morning, he was asked by a friend if he had purchased a ticket, the price of which was half a sovereign. He replied in the negative, but ulti- mately purchased two tickets. Not having I sufficient money in his possession at the time he deferred payment, and it is all I the more extraordinary that the purchase was only completed a few minutes before I the drawing took place. The second prize of £ 50 was won by Mr. Ernest E. Caaon, lof the Mumbles.

t TURKEY'S FINANCES. j tonfideitoo in Germany's I Assistance. Amsterdam, Thursday (received Fri- I day).—According to a Constantinople telegram in the German newspapwtf. the Turkish Senate on February 13th nled a Bill authorising the Governi accept from Germany advances of Wy- two and a half million pounds T.ir'.cisii and -to issue thirty-two million pounds of bank notes. The Finance Minister said the advances from Germany and Austria 6ince the outbreak of war amounted to I'_venty-nine million pounds, repayable eleven years after the conclusion of peace. ?n-ie Minister added that hi6 journey to Berlin' had convinced him that German statesman would do everything to faciL- tate Turkey's payment of her debts, and that they were even ready to give Turkey, apart fro' these advances, the necessary J money for her reorganisation after the war. He expressed surprise that the value of bank notes was decreasing.— Reuter.

I LOCAL WILLS I Estate of Swansea, wr.Jrsr Mr. William Evan r uu-i, o» «tns- ber 23rd last, h. 3d.' gross, with uet fv r >nalvy of and letters of adrnii>i -tc-otic-c have been granted to his widow XJ*i. M~ Hannah Fuller, of the above rtd'lr,vs,». Mr. Joseph Carpenter. i Mr. Joseph Carpt-i ior, of t3^ \Voodfield- t reet, v -i I street. ?torriA?ot? ? ? d?.1 tn<??t.p on I lie 15th Jannnry, ?ft cstit** tt:i<d at < £ 1,662 10s. gross, ?i'? n? p"rt?ualty 1 .21,5" 1 Ha. Id. L?tc-. ? administration I have been granted ?o hiH ?idow, Mrs. Julia Carpenter, of "tie »b.ve sddrcss. I Mr. J. H, K. luniC". Mr. Jchn Ilenrv Rowland Rihsou, for- merly of Dulais House, near Neath, Gla- ) morgan. and h..te of Illfts I:Iiiirvcld," Durrant-road, Bournemouth, Hants, tin- plate manufacturer, who died on Decem- her 18th last, left estate of the gross value of < £ 7,107 IBs. 2d., with net personalty of 027.254 17s. 3d., and probate of his will dated September 6th, 1895, has been granted to his widow, Mrs. Maria Louisa Ritson, to whom he left t.ho wlnde of his eatata M-l vaio-* <>ljr.

NOW OR NEVER! VICTORY LOAN CLOSES TO-NIGHT HOW AND WHERE TO INVEST To-night will be TOO LATE. AT 3 P.M. TO-DAY. At 3 p.m. the Swansea War Loan baro- meter registered five and three-quarter millions. I t To-dicV i6 the last opportunity for par- j ticipation in the great War Loan, anu all through this morning, as time galiopco along at a tremendous pace, the antici- pations of the bank authorities and tliose holding the reins oi the country's power were more than realised. It has been a glorious termination, and when the filial total is published it vr U glV. to Germanj her greatest blow, and will strikingly de. moiwtrate the unswerving deterrUlJlutwn of the British public to 600 the great European contact ended with victory to our arm,6. This morning, and, indeed, Thursday too, was a race against time, and the banks of Swansea were besieged, local brokers found themselves in the midst of a record boom, while the Post Othce had an exceptionally busy time in coping with the hundreds of people anxious to give practical financial proof of their patriot- 16111. Swansea has responded nobly, and it is a safe prediction that there are very tew families in the town who have not come forward to help.They have realised in no uncertaiu way that the Victory War Loan is to be the means of bringing home from a victorious struggle their sons who have been facing death and hardships on the fields of France and other regions for over two years. A PFfOUD RECORD. Five and a half million pounds from Swansea up to 11 o'clock this morning! Could there be a finer example of a town's sense of duty and loyalty r Indeed, it has been a response which, In comparison with the greater populations of the other large cities throughout Great Britain, places Swansea high in the national roll of honour. When a Cambria Daily Leader re- presentative called at the local banks on Friday morning all the managers spoke of the great strain of the past few days, and emphasised that their staffs and ac- commodation had been simply over- whelmed by the press of small investors. In order to meet the convenience of those people who have ?eft their investment till the last minute, the banks remained open from 7 till 9 several nights this week, and the result was highly satisfac- tory. Some financiers are in a large mea- I sure attributing the success of the flota- tion to feminine influence, and authority. Proof of this," said one, is seen in the extraordinary number of men whose ¡ small investments have been taken m the wife's name." I BANKS CLOSE AT 3 P.M. I Owing to technical difficulties, the I banks .will be. nnablo to remain open after the usual hour of three o'clock to- day. The poet offices, however, will re- main open till nine o'clock to receive I subscriptions to the Post Office issues. I GOLD AT SWANSEA. Quite a feature at the Swansea banks during the past fortnight has been the large amount of gold coin which has been handed over the counters. "People have come forward with great hoaids," added one well-known local manager, and during the week we have ex- perienced a case where onef person brought in £ 475 in gold, and handed it in to the War Loan." I RUSH FOR CERTIFICATES. So far as the Poet Office is concerned, there is still a great rush fcr the War Savings Certiticates, and it is, and has been, somewhat difficult to cope with the excessive demand. It should he empha- sised that the War Savings Certificates do not close to-day. They can be ob- tained after the closing of the War Loan at any Post OSice. I PREPARATION FOR CHILDREN. There is striking proof locally of tlu preparation many people' are making for their children. Quite a number of parents have been purchasing the stock for their infants, whilst one Mumbles gentleman sent for a birthday present to his daugh- ter in college IZ50 of the War Loan. And the daughter has acknowledged that it is better tha n jewellery. MISS TALI"'OT'S EEO-COO. Acting on the ii4.-ice o! her trustees, Mies Talbot. Margam Castle, has invested the sum of rt;O,oou. It was announced on Thursday that her contribution was .C4,01)0,0(14), but in -t re- ceived hy the trustees from her htt\" on Thursday night there was no indication of such an amount BALDWINS £ 2,000. Messrs. Baldwins scheme tor their em- iployes has already resulted in over £ 2,000 being subscribed by the employes at the Elba Works, Gowerton. PONTARDAWE COUNCIL'S 3:5,000. Pontardawe Council on Thursday de- cided-to inve6t M.UCO. j PIANO SOLD FOR LOAN. Anxious to do all she poesibly can to assist the Loan. a lady in King Edward- I road, Swansea, has sold her piano, the j proceeds of which «he hM invested. MOND WORKERS' PART. < £ 10,555 WjS the figure which the Mond Nickel Works employes' contribution to tho War Loan had reached at noon on Friday. It remains open ti-11 -10 p.m., and much more is expeted. I 2,000 CERTIFICATES. FOR UPPER FOREST WORKS. We are informed that the Upper Forest and Worpt'?.?r Tin plate Works, Morris- ton (of which Mr. Geo. li'owe, J.P., is I managing director), have taken up 2,fHlO war savings certificates for their work- men, and for which no intern e will be charged. I PONTARDAWE TOTAL. Up to 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon the amount subscribed in Pontnrdavo was lG;).OO(). This induded th £lOO,Ofh. cub- scribed by Meeers. W. Gilberteon and I Co.

FOOD PROTEST AT HAGUE. Hague, Thursday.—Police and cavalry refused to allow a deputation to enter the courtyard of the Minister of the fn- i tevior to protest ag?in?t the increase in prices and scarcity of i?odstuiTs. Col- lieions occurred, and several persons v.?:? wounded &n? eom? arrests mad?.—Reut&r.

TO-DAYS WAR RESilE — Leader OtTce, 4.50 p.m. | • According to an Athens message. » flotilla of French aeroplanes snec-es. fully bombarded the station at Kncvorah., gA Berlin telegram say3 that the Kaiser hopes to break our "war will" with his U-boats. The Germans, like ourseir^ are making pieparations for the tinal clash. Aineri- can experts say that Germany's efforts will exceed any of the past, because it is their final effort. o' 1'n.sh indignities have been offered to American citizens and consuls in Ger- many and occupied territory. The Arnei ican Minister in Brussels was forced to haul down the Embassy flag.

j NEW CALEDONIA CYCLONE. Melbourne, Friday.-Newe has been received be--o of a dpgtrucHve cyclone in I i?N-ew Caledonia. The cable station is gr?tly damaged, and the land telegraphs have been destroyed .-Ileuter.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.   i-iri Ihe of Commons on Thursday that the recom- mendaticas of Lord Balfour of Burleigh's committee regarding trade policy after titt) war would be laid on the table of the House. As has been stated, the committee are understood to have recommended Im- perial Preference.

SWANSEA STOKER'S DEATH. Official news has been received by Mrs. Margaret Warren, of 79, Terrace-road. Mount Pleasant, Swansea, of the death of I)-, r husband. Leading Stoker Alexander Warren. It is stated that Stoker Warren, who has been for many months a pris- oner of war at Pagsche (Amaune), in Turkey. contracted enteritus, which brought about his death. Prior to ihe war 110 was employed at the engineering works of the Swansm Harbour Trust.

THE lOIUOI CITY AID UliiNl BIRKUiTEB. J ::r:cE::5,THREADNEEDLE STREET,LONDON, E.C. f 4, "71" r tj THIS BANK WILL RECEIVE AT ALL ITS BRANCHES APPLICATIONS FOR WAR LOAN, AND WILL CASH I COUPONS AND DIVIDEND WARRANTS. B • ,4. 1 in' "'ii'Trnlii^'nj^J y S ilB^ilJLu

[ A MUMBLES INQUEST. ) Quarryman's Death from Exposure. An inquest was held by Mr. R. W. Beor 1011 Thursday at the Mumbles on Josiah Albert Lloyd, quarryman, who died on Wednesday at 14, Boarspit-lanc, Norton. Dr. A. Lloyd Jones said that he had been informed that deceased had been taken in by Mr. Edwards about two days before. Previous to that he had been cleapiug at the quarry, and it was thought he had been poisoned by the kiln fumes. Witness bad come to the conclusion that ¡ he died from heart failure through ex- I posure. Verdict accordingly.

THE FINAL CLASH I ENEMY'S PLANS FOR NEW EFFORT. I Opinion in Germany. I Mr. Carl W. Ackerman, formerly | Berlin correspondent of the Umted Press, cabling to America from Berne, says:— The serious transportation difficulties i are not affecting Ilindenburg's plans. Disregarding everybody and everything but the army, apparently believing a military victory is possible, and hoping to win before again facing the Socialists and other peace advocates, lie is bending every utility to his purpose. s t. American experts say Germany's efforts in 1917 will exceed any .of the past, because it is Germany's final effort. It is win or lose in 1917 in the gen-eral opinion. The Germans believe they will win. Confident their submarines will parnlyse the Entente's war industrie,, they are prepared for gigantic cflensivJ by land, air. and water. Germany is to- day stronger in a military way than at any time since the war began. War leaders expect the Entente to be at Germany's mercy in six months, despite American develoinne-nts. Thpy consider America too isolated to be of benefit to the Allies."—Exchange. GERMAN ANTICIPATIONS. ) The Amsterdam correspondent of the! Daily Chronicle" contributes the opinions of an American citizen who has • just arrived from Germany, in the course J of which he refers to the confidence of the j enemy in Hindenburg, Ludendorf and Falkenhayn, and their power to hold out in the field. They expect an Allied at- tack in the West oil a big scale, accom- I panied by a new Russian push. The Rumanian campaign found the Ger- mans unprepared with proper maps. I Their ambition was to reach the River Pruth, hut. they only got to the Sereth. where they entrenched themselves. They I were greatly disappointed at the amount of food and booty captured. German officers control all the opera- tions of the Central Powers, and there exists a great amount of ill-feeling be- tween the German and Austrian officers on this account. The Czechs are providing a problem for the Germans, and there are no Czech regi- ments at the front now, as they will not fight against the Slave. PRUSSIAN GUARD'S FAILURE. Military and popular opinion in Ger- many is that the Prussian Guard and other,faiiiouq regiments have shown them- f-xiloir(,s in fighting. The backbone of the, armies are Bavarians, Saxons, and | Wurt em burgers, whose losses have been appalling. I !■

GERMAN TAXATION. Heavy imposts on Coal Mines and Income. Copenhagen, Thursday.—As regard s the new taxes which will be proposed in the Reichstag on February 22, it is now stated that it is intended to bring in a Bill for the imposition of a railway tax and also a coal tax. By the latter every coal mine will pay a tax of 11 to 2, marks per ton of coal pro- l duced. As the annual coal output in Ger- many is 500 million tons, this tax will, it is estimated, yield one milliard marks (JjoO,000,000) annually. It is also proposed to raise the income tax. The new taxes will yield over 1,200 milliard marks (= £ 60,000,000) yearly. The new taxes of 1916 produced 2,700 million marks during the year. The B idget Committee of the Roichstig liKve been summoned to meet on February 21. when the Finance Minister will com- municate certain secret inforination.-Ex. change.

THE FIRST BUTTERR-LY. A butterfly, of the coloured variety, was observed on Thursday by our Neath repre- sentative fluttering about in the welcome sunshine. Hard, frozen snow was on the ground, and the barometer registered eight degrees of frost in the shade.

■" I GERMANY'S NEW CREDIT. Amsterdam, Thursday (received Friday). -The" V orwa rls" says: The Reichstag at the forthcoming meeting will deal with the now war credit, which will probably exceed the last credit-Reutel'.

I THE CANCER SCOURGE. For the first time the mortality from cancer has definitely overtaken that from consumption in this country.? This ?'tartliu? fact is reported by Mr. Douglas Macmillmi, the hon. secretary, in the annunl report of the Society for the Pre- vention and Relief of Cancer. At the pre- sent in England and Wales, it is stated that some (0,000 persons die an- nually from the scourge. A serious warning is given in the report regarding the effects of the war, it being stated: "It is a matter of common know- lcdgé- that cancer very frequently develops at the site of a former sear or wound. Whatever the underlying cause of the malady may be, the lamentable fact re- mains that as a result of the present un- paralleled warfare, we shall have to facE" in the very near future a most serious in- crease in malignant growths in men, and especially the men who have served their country in the field." An appeal is made for more funds which, it is stated, are urgently needed.

-Mfl. GERAPIID'S VIEW. Qerntan Purple Jtsve Seen mistaken/' i is, Friday.—Ia in^rricrrf ynb- bed by tho Biatin thit; Mr. Clera.i. tM (LB. A-jbfeaee&dor 0J Germany, it ■ rapt^fo^ea "TLti CrenEitU pe6pi»> &&-<& !>&an about ttoprytndy, saa they CL -Umien»toc*i American „.iy more thari they Hare any&at cL. tr& ill" able. of putting t'c- ".v 4"tTu. l. LA. "-(5 sci es ia ibd positirM d .(, rty, and tfcif. Jfecfc 6i perfsptcacfvy the crigii of be nr. ,ut4'" -0. ('.It .4 1 t.> L. racy cc.TDmii? ATI Cfcrr-v. Dclicy Me 0 Its airs .•;orise or coiimjar- os. It wml:* he aira-id. It did, oai fctKksrsbaaa i i Wilaon was.a am of principles. ■ermaasy oould not make aJny gr&iw .stakB than t>^i"tj is in ixoz* bmarlM war." -I. Gerard concluded, the journal with tUt Ws: The outcome 00 adventure will be tho spiritual triumph of the denuomtic idea .;1: ..r, Birmlno a L. ed N.W.R. Wars* ???' ??' *mob$ &re bro?- a?-.t ??. t?tttM? '.«M?- hoaa6 beld;?.  £ **iaz 2? hoTWt 1. :¡. Nonii Wostarn Co., at AsktotMjiater-Lya*. 'Wii.# which With beies of And other misoellaiMOttfr goodkWas gttted. damage is coat noow. LATfa1 F.'P.T'ÓNS- Latest utcludo the following OlaebTook, vU' U¡ National- Ppcfe C^ Bgypt, North mqaoa Tbvo Oercac& £ 893^30; Soutapoxtv TftXITO.OOO. 1 ( .t 4 -¡ I

'TO-DAY'S HEWS IN BRIEF Lord Devcnpoi-t was Dot much i>uil<;r on Fr: day morning, The Swedish Govoi-nment are taking pts- t-esiion of all stocks of oats a; a barley. Lord Wimborne, Viceroy of Ireland,* was received in audi, ?oe by the Kirti A bout 700 German prisoners ?re landed at Southampton on Thursday. A Farnham man, who died 8g00 90, was buried by a Baptist pastor of tha same age. Thirty-eight inquests have been held by the Swansea Borough Coroner since I the 1st of January. Boys of the Leys School have decided to close the tuck shop except for a quarter of an hour a day for the sale of fresh fruit. Charged at Richmond with being an absentee from the Army, Harry Lippin- cott was fined £ 25 or a month's imprison- ment. J'oxes have been very numerous in the I western districts of Scotland, and lately 80 have been destroyed by men employed by farmers. An applicant at Hornsey Tribunal pro. duced a photograph copy of his clarifi- cation card, the original, he said, being too precious to carry about. Sir Rob-ert Perks stated that he hoped that before long they would see fho generating power of London coining from the coalfields of Kent. The chairman of Holt's Brewery esid State purchase and control were coming; it would do far more than the temper- ance party had done for half a century. Mrs. Rogers, of Glenfarne, Hersham- lxiul, Walton-on-Thames, was fined E20 at Kingston for selling intoxicating liqnor at her private residence to a soldier under hospital treatment. The Minister ot Munitions announces that a small fire occurred on Wednesday ait a factory in Hertfordshire. Although little damage wars done, two workmen unfortunately lott their lives. Assistance is asked by the police at Commercial-street, EJ., in tracing the owners of twelve sugar bags, each mafked T. M." in red, Made in Java." and one of either of the three numbers r>3 130. or 1,129. The funeral of Miss Florrie Richare-i (daughter of Mr. T. Richards, .M.P., general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation) has been fixed for Monday, at 2 p.m. Although the Newcastle Corporation issued a luggage ticket on a tramcar say- ing they would not be liable for loss, a typist was awarded £9 for the 1008 of her suit case on Thursday. The judge held I that the notice on t]:.1) ticket was in print too small to be read.

HAD JOINED THE ARMY. -1 At Swansea Bankruptcy Court on Fri- day, the adjourned examination was held of R. Allen, a Greenhill grocer. The examiii; (ion was to have t«ken..place at the last court, but debtor did not attend, 0nd it was said that he had joined the A rmy. He did not attend on this"occa«jon. The Official Receiver stated that notices had bee nsent to him and to his command- ling officer, but nothing had been heard since. The examination was further ad- journed.