The Cambria Daily Leader

CASTLE CINEMA, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. ■ J THE AVALANCHE f OF FATE, | From the Celebrated Novel by W Bouchardy. If Exciting Incidents. M Dramatic Surprises. B Beautiful Scenery, w

MORE PROGRESS. o IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED. British Operations North j of Vimy Ridge. TO-DAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. 11.37 a.m. The weather continues to be wet and stormy. Early this morning we attacked and captured two important positions in the enemy lines north of the Vimy Ridge,1 astride the River Scuchez. A number of prisoners were taken by us. During the night two hostile attacks on our positions on the north end of the Vimy Ridge were driven out by machine-gun fire with heavy German losses. Some progress has been made south of the River Scarpe. WEDNESDAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. General Headquarters, France. weu-I Snow has fallen heavily and continu- ously throughout the day, rendering observation impossible and greatly im- peding the operations of our troops. This morning two German counter- attacks on our new positions in the neigh- bourhood of Monchy-le-Preux were suc- cessfully beaten off. Prisoners taken in Monchy-le-Preux elate that they bad orders to hold the tallage at all costs. Further south bodies of our troops suc- ceeded in ptsntrating into the German positions in the neighbourhood of Bulle- oourt. and secured a number of prisoners. At midday they were counter-attacked by large forces of the enemy, and were forced back to their own line. The enemy's attacking troops were effec- tively engaged by our artillery, and suffered heavy losses. u — A .FRENCH GUNS BUSY. FRENCH OFFICIAL. f Paris, Wednesday. I I have I been. fairly active artillery struggles in the region of St. Qiientrn. South of the Oise the enemy after a lively bombardment brushed back one of onr detachments to the north of Dever- neuil-Sous-Coucy. We inimediitely threw him out from our positions. There was marked activity of the two artilleries in the region of Berry-au-Bac and La, Pompelle, a.s well as on various points.of the Champagne front. 'Ih the Bois le Pretre we carried out cI I structive firing on the enemy organisa- tions. BEFORE ST. QUENTIN. Germans Claim a Biq Success. German Official. Wednesday Night.- Near Fampoux, to the north of the Scarpe. English infantry attacks and several cavalry attacks made near Roeux failed nndar heavy enemy losses. On the southern .bank, near Monchy and Wancourt, there have been engagements throughout the day, which developed favourably for us. East of Bullecourt and near Herdioourt, north-wMt of St. Quentin, 1,000 English prisoners, together with 25 machine-guns, "Were captured. -From Soissons. as far as Rheims. there has been a most violent fir- ing duel. GERMAN EXCUSES. How the Boche is Reconciled to I Defeat. Amsterdam, Thursday.—According to a Berlin- telegram, the military critics in the Berlin papers, discussing the Battle of Arra«s. say that the Entente's offensive, ■which had been announced for the spring-, began later than was generally expected. They consider this delay to have been caused by the submarine war. and" the backward movement" of the German front between Arras and Soissons, which they say rendered null and void all the preparations of the Entente for the spring offensive, and forced them to recast com- pletely their plans. Thus one article says that. as an attack on a big scale across evacuated terrain wouM-necessitate new preparations, which would take months, the British decided to attack at the point where the new front meets the old front. The newspapers maintain that all at- tempts at breaking through during the, three years of war. owing to sudden at- tacks by superior forces at chosen points. which were naturally unknown to the de- fenders, have brought initial local suc- -) I local siic,- cesses. But theee initial successes, they declare, an of course not decisive. All that matters is whether the aggressor is able continually to enlarge his original successes so that they develop into a breaking through. The military critic or the Vossische Zeituqg writes: We have to count on reverses like that. near Arras. SuA events are a kind of tactical reverse. If this tactical reverse is not followed by ftrategical effects, in breaking through on the part of the aggressor, then the whole battle is nothing but a weakening of the attacking party in men and material." The Muenchener Neuste Nachristen rays that the Bittle of Arras is the begin- ning of a decisive conflict between a brainless accumulation of material and a living geni-i"* handling the tools at his disposition according to his will. I A PAUSE PROBABLE. Time to Bring up the Artillery. Paris, Wednesday (received Thursday) —The French Expert Commentator writes:—We must not expect to see the British offensive go on with the rapidity of the last two days. A pause in the operations after the considerable forward leap eeems, on the contrary, probable. It is necessary indeed to give our comrades in arms tie to bring up their artillery to the new' position,, and to recommence other operations, before seeing a new ad- vance developed. Our Allies up to the present have made an effort so energetic, 60 sustained, so thoroughly prepared, and they have given proof of such 6kill, gallantry and know- ledge, that one can have confidence in victorious issue of the battle.

FEWER INMATES. Mr. Abe Freedman presided over a meet- ing of the Swansea Guardians' Institu- tional Visiting Committee on Wednesday, when the cWk reported that there was a decrease in the number of inmates. The number this year was 538 as against 548 for the corresponding period la-st year. An invitation by the management of the Carl- ton Cinefna for the inmates of Tawe Lodge, The Homes, and Graig House to a matinee on Friday at the cinema was ac- cepted with thanks. On the motion of Mr. Alf George, it was decided that the newly-appointed master and matron should undergo a medical examination be- fore commencing their duties. Mr. Wm. Owfen, moving that the scales for weighing the rations be examined, it was agreed to send them and the weights to be overhauled.

At an inquest held at Swansea on Wed- nesday, on the body of David Hughes. aged 54. a native of Merthyr, who was found dead in bed in Vaughan's lodging hov*e. It was stated he suffered from double pneumonia and heart failurg.

BABY IN. BOX I MURDER CHARGE HE, Ð! AT LLMLLY PRISONERS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL I Walter and Lydia Elms, Towyn Cot- tage, Pembroy, were charged on remand at Llanelly Police Court on Thursday with murdering an illegitimate child named Kathleen, which had been en- trusted to their care, and further sub- stantial evidence was given. Mr. T. R. Ludford appeared tor the prosecution, and Mr. Leslie Williams defended. Elizabeth M. Davies (11), daughter of William Davies, lowyn Canol, Pembrey. said that one morning she went into pris- oners' house, and proceeded upstairs at the request of Mrs. Elms, who told her to go ve if the baby was crying. BABY J N TI N BOX. She entered the front bedroom which contained several leathern chairs and a small tin box, but no bedstead. She looked about for the baby, and failing to find it opened the tin box. The baby was inside apparently asleep and wrapped in a shawl, but had no other clothing over it. The baby was dressed in a gown, and its nose was flattened. There were three holes in front and back of the box, and one on each eide. It was a very warm da,y'l After shutting down the lid, she went downstairs and saw Mrs. Elms, who asked her if it was a pretty baby. Wit- ness said Yes," a.nd she never saw the baby again, but shortly after that he die<^ and was buried. Mr. Williams: Why did you say it was a pretty baby? Witness: Because Mrs. Elms asked me to. Deputy Clerk: Were you afraid of her? Witness: Yes. Why were you afraid ?-Because I saw the baby in the box. He-examined, witness said she had never seen a baby in a little tin box like that before. She had seen many babies, but never one with such a tiat nose. Annie Elizabeth llubber, wife of James llu bber, Lando Cottage, Pembrey, said that a year ago Mrs. Elms came to her and asked if she would like to have a baby as she wanted to go to town in order to have the child registered. Witness agreed. The child, which was known by the name of Ralph, died in January, 1916, when wit- ness had the child in her custody. It was very restless and its eyes were swollen. When placed in the cot, the child con- tinued to cry. On undressing it, witness found its arm tied under the dress at the elbow. She untied the tape, and the child stopped crying. Mrs. Elms, when handing her some milk in a feeding bottle, to d her it was not good for the baby to have milk too often. The baby, however, took the milk eagerly, and appeared to be hungry, v Mr. Ludford: Did the baby appear to be better towards the close of the day? Witness: Yes; and its eyes appeared to be quite bright. Had you ev t seen the arms of a baby tied before?—No TO PREVENT BABY SCRATCHING. Did Mrs. Elms tell you the reason for tying its arms?—She said it was to pre- vent t-he oaby from scratching its face. Did you notice any scratches?—No. Can you say when the child died?—In January, 1916. Were you surprised ?—No, not after the remarks I heard. Miss E. Leigh, foster-mother at Llan- elly Receiving Homes, said that on Feb. 14th a female child named Mildred Wes- ton Elms was handed over to her by Ins. Ldris Jones, N.S.P.C .C. It was 10 months old, and weighed 221bs., and was fairly clean. On examination witness found the child's back was very much bruised. Dr. Evans saw the child. which ap- peared to be very frightened and terrified when anyone approached it. The condi- tion of the child was quite different now. Supt. Samuel Jones said that when charged on February 23rd, prisoners denied causing the death of Kathleen. He produced a letter written by Walter Elms in the cell, with the intention of passing it on to his wife, who was in another cell. The* document was put in in order to ■ prove the handwriting of other letters. I COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. I Prisoners reserved their defence and were committed to take their trial at the next Assizes. They were further charged with failing to notify that they had certain children in their care. Prisoners were committed on this charge also.

PLIGHT. I Psopfe Dssjperaia Aftsr the Defeats. Athens, Tuesday (received Thursday). —Refugees from Asia Minor who have ar- rived at Mytilene, report that both the Turkish military and the population uiv desperate owing to the defeats in Meso- potamia, the Caucasus, and Palestine 'llier-e ts great scarcity ot foodstuffs at Smyrna, and prices are exor bitant. The Germans control the supply of provisions, and the Vali of Smyfna has to give up his food ticket in person. There is a great number of deserters from the army.—Press Association War Special.

YOUNG IV! £ M NEEDED. The Suggestion to Raise the I Age Limit. We understand thaY the situation as re- gards the supply or men for the Army must be dealt with in the next few days (says the Times ") The new arrangements to replace the Trade Card Exemption Scheme are not yet in force, though time presses, but it is the full intention of the Government to bring them into force shortly. The Army's need is. as constantly stated for young and lit men, and as they exist in adequate numbers in civil life they must be freed for service with the colours. The raising of the military age is strongly supported in influential quarters as the easiest way of obtaining the num- bers required. this is the fact, but quality is as important as numbers, and if the older men have to go it is es- sential that they should follow the young men, and not go as substitutes for them in the field Their place as substitutes is in the essential industries at home.

GERMAN RIOTING. I Aix-ia-Chapeiie Town Hall Set on I Fire. According to the Nieuwe Arnliemsche I Courant," serious rioting broke out at Aix- I la-Chapelle. and the Town Hall was burned. There were over 200 victims. No confirmation of the report has yet been received.

LOCAL WILL. I Mr. Thomas Williams, of <48, Woodfteld- street, Morriston, Swansea, who died on the 20tii February last, left estate valued at « £ ,908 12s., with net R,206 t3s. fid. Prohate of his will has been grante-d to his daughter, Harriet Ann Williams, of the above address.

NEW KIND OF PLASTEPA. I Mr. Charles Frouge Curtis, of Gwyn- street, Alltwon, has been successful in patenting an improved plastering material for walls, partitions, ceilings, floors, and for building bungalos. By the composi- tion, walls, floors, e,,c., can be finished h1 much less time and at less cost than by the. old method of piasterin^.

NARBERTH HORSE SHOW. I The annual s how of entire horses, held under the auspices of the Narbertli Agri- cultural Society, took place on Wednes- day. The chairman of committee was the Rev. Tlios. Lewis. J P., Lfimpeter Velfrey Rectory; secretary..Mr. Palmer Morgan; and the judges were Mr. Wm. Gibbs, Byrje, Saundersfoot and Mr. T. B. P. Thomas, Derllwys Court, Carmarthen. Chief awards:— Thoroughbred horse: J. John, Haver- fordwest, "St J acq ues." Cart Horse: 1 and 2. Philip Lambton, Brownslade. Pembroke, Raith by King of the Wolds" and Normanby Premier." Collier horse: Mr. Howells, Glandy Cross, Clynderwen Chieftain X." Hackney or carriage horse: R. E. White, Kimberley, Milford Haven. Real Gem." Cob or pony: David Davies, Blaen Pystill, Cardigan

Mr. Dl. Jones, B.Sc., agricultural or- j ganiser, wrote to the Llandovery Council on Wednesday inviting applications for the formation of a class for instruction .in cheese making

[ A WEE rIRMY ——- o .—— 4,773 VOYAGES; 19 TRADERS AND 6 FISHING BOATS SUNK The weekly statement of the Admiralty Oil U-boat depredations shows a consider- able decrease in our losses. The figures, which are for the week ended 3 p.m., April 8th. are:— Arrivals 2,108 Sailings 2,307 British merchant vessels sunx by mine or submarine (l,fc>00 to-Is gross or over). *17 Do. (underI.MOtojis). t2 British merchant vessels un- successfully attacked by submarines. **14 British fishing vessels sunk tt6 including one sunk during the week ending 25th March and 0110 sunk during the week ended April 1st. flncluding one sunk during tire week ended April 1st. 'Including one attacked during the weekended March 25th and three attacked during the week ended April 1st. tflrcluding one sunk during the week ended April 1st. The. figures of arrivals and sailings are the second highest for five weeks: the sinkings in aggregate number the lowest. The proportion of sinkings of ships over l,ti00 tons gross, however, are maintained. 15 ITALIAN BOATS SUNK. The Italian Ministry of Marine issues ihe following:— During the week ended the 8th inst. 4.9.t merchant ships of all nationalities entered the Italian ports, of a gross tonnage of 4:t 0,560. Four hundred and forty-seven ships left Italian ports, with a gross tonnage of live Italian steamships under 3,000 ton's .md ten sailing ships under 300 tons were I sunk. • One steamship was attacked by sub- marine and escaped.

SLUMP IN 8MPORTS. Harbour Tryst Hoping For I Government Help. The monthly meeting of the Swansea ilarbour Trust was held OIl Thursday, Sir tirillith Thomas presiding. Moving the adoption of the minutes oi the Finance Committee, Mr. Roger Beck said the reports of the trade of the port, and the cash statement, were not very pleasant reading, but the extraordinary circumstances should be taken into con- sideration. They were looking forward to future assistance, and he trusted that t would come in a financial form through tho^jovcrnment. Meanwhile, through the energies of Mr. P. W. Phillips, the acting manager, Swansea was gaining trade. Mr. W. T. Farr seconded, and the report was adopted. ACTING MANAGER'S SALARY. Sir Griffith Thomas moved the Executive report, which recommended that the salary of Mr. P. W. PhillIps, as acting manager, be increased by a year, making £G7.1 per annum. He said there seemed to be no possibility of securing sufficient tonnage to carry away the coal from Swansea, for which tiiere were plenty of orders. The import trade was becoming less, and unless they got back to their shipments of coal and fuel of normal quantities they could not hope for the time being to improve the financial posi- tion very much. Sir Griffith referred to the appointment of Mr. Phillips, and eulogised his energy and ability. » Mr. T. II. Couch seconded, and the Trustees adopted the report. The finanoial statement for the past month showed a revenue of ;ES,,Ijeo the expenditure.

FELL THROUGH WINDOW. Strange Fatality at Pontardawe Wcrkhouse. An inquiry was held at Pontardawe Workhouse on Thursday touching the death of George Jones (60), an ex-colliery clerk, but lately an inmate of the Work- house, wJlO died on Sunday morning as the result of injuries received through falling out of one of the infirmary win- dows- Mr. Wyndham Lewis was present for the Guardians. Evidence was given to the effect that deceased was admitted on March -27tb suffering from debility. The nurse al- lowed him to go to another room while she was attending a patient. The next she heard was that he had fallen out of the window. Dr. W. 0. Evans aid deceased was badly deform<ed a bout the spine and foot prior to his admission to the Workhouse. He attributed death to internal hemor- rage from a rupture of the kidneys. He saw nothing to suggest that there was anything mentally wrong with deceased. The Coroner, summing up, Eaid that as a result of his visit to the wards of the infirmary there was no doubt in his mind that deceased had been well nourished and looked after during his s hort stay there. The jury returned a verdict of acciden- tal death.

TOBACCO TAX RUMOURS. I There is some difficulty in obtaining some of the most popular brands ot tobacco and cigarettes, the explanation Ixung that there is a strong impression that Mr. Bonar Law intends to raise the duties on tobacco in his coming Budget.

CHILDREN ON THE LAND. I At Carmarthen Council all Wednesday, Mr. W. J, Martin referred to the accept- ancs by the Education Committee of an offer by Councillor Geo. James of a piece of land near Pentrepoeth School free of rent and with free seed, to be cultivated by the scholars as; a school-garden, on con- dition that he received the produce. Mr. Martin said the Council should pass a vote of censure on the Education Com- mittee. It was not right that school- children should be utilised for profit. The Chairman said the Committee fell in with the wishes of the schoolmaster in the matter. Re. Fuller Mills: I understand that the offer is withdrawn, and that no work has been don-" or will be dene on the land on these terms.

A general district rate at 3s. 6d. in the £ as against 3s. in iecent. years was agreed to by the Llandovery Council.— Ald. Watkins eaid he did not believe that there w.s IUJY town whose rates were lower than Llandovery's. f

\m-M§ VAR ESUMEI I d fJi I leado O ffice, 4.50 p.m. Early this morning the British attacked And captured two important po-sitions on the enmiy lines north of the Viniy ridge, astride the river Souchez. I llc-hlo attacks on our new positions on ï the north end of the Vimy ridge have been repulsed with losses to the enemy. The weather on the Western Front con- tinues to be wet and stormy. A vessel conveying muntions to a West Coast port in Mexico, and intended for the use of Villa's army. has been cap- tured by two United States destroyers.

ALLEGED THREATS. I SEPOUS Charge AgainstXlanelly I Man. 11 1 James Donoghue, fruiterer, irincess- street, applied at the Llanelly Police Court, on Wednesday, for sureties of the peace against Wiii Morgan, fellmonger, Upper Mill. Sir. Ludford, fo the prosecution, eaid tiie offence, if therf were an offence at all. was very much in the nature of a black- mail. It would be suggested that the £ 50 was in connection with a horse, over which a county court action was fought, and Morgan had got it into his head that the real defendant in the action was Dono- ghue. Plaintiff wras threatened by Mor- gan on the day of the trial, and 12 months afterwards the following letter was re- ceived :— I noticed you on the corner to-day and took pity, although you deserved no consideration whatever; for your wife's and children's sake 1 will give you but one more chance. Pay me £ 50 before the end of one month, and fetch the good worker —an allusion to the horse in question he (Mr. Ludford) supposed—from the field, and wash your hand6 from such dirty work." Plaintiff said that Morgan -was under the impression that the horse belonged to witness, because at one time he (witness) owned it. Mr. M. R. Richards (for the defence), in applying for an adjournment, said the de- fendant entirely repudiated the sugges- tion that he intended to do anything to Donoghue except to sue him for the £ 50. The caff was adjourned.

I ENEMY PUSHED BACK. Important Points Fall Into the Hahds of the French, Thuraiay.—Scfiafiifc aud C'isc .thö artillery • tfongstis o-Ms- Mr.xjrd during night with it t"1'. t.r-ii.rr aintmnt of violent-, notably -in 10 region e.f L mll. fkra-Ii of tio Oise our tro-opr-, iiitillery pre- paration, attacked German positions cast of the lino of Coxier- £ a*ViIl* Putney Basse. After a lively figiit vb pushed the e-neiay back as far as the &out]i-weste:ni e) of the XTpppT Forest cf Coucv. Sersral import-ant points d'apptri fell into our hattds in -j.ile 01 tho wiftatioe of thfc erneSHy, who left a large numbeir of bodies on tilo ground, wh-ile pri-.rrners fell into otrr hands. In the nnr'-h-ras'fe •-ci?'yns, artillery actin'fy ad. larly in the scctor of of the Adsne otrr rwonnai^nrr. pejjtv tratcrl at several peintis Car- man lines and brought b;,¡r.k to pri- foners, inclTrdiria: &e officer. E.r*- d a lily attack Tjabirtf. 1,5 tc drive the enemy f:m tire f, ,e. of trenches. I V

U.S. NAVY'S CATCH O SCHOONER WiTH ARMS FOR VILLAS MEN j [" Times War Telegram, per Press Association (Copyright).J New York, Wednesday (received Thurs- day).—A schooner carrying munitions to a West Coast port in Mexico was fired on and captured yesterday by two United States destroyers. The vessel, after vainly endeavouring to escape, was beached. The capture nips in the bud a plot to land for the use by Villa's army of 25,000 rifles and 4,500,000 rounds of ammunition. 1,000 WOODEN SHIPS. -i Washington, Wednesday (received Thursday).—President Wilson has for- mally requested General Goethals, the builder of the Panama Canal, to assume charge of the building of a thousand wooden ships for foreign commerce, pro- vided for in the Shipping Board's pro- grauune.—Renter. r FRANCE'S RESOLVE. I Pa ris, Wednesday (received Thursday). -The Franco-American Committee held a demonstration in honour of the United States' decision to join the Allies. Presi- dent Poincaire was present. M. Viviani, defending liberty, said that after Alsace- Lorraine had been restored they would found a society of nations, but for this they must have complete victory, guaran- teeing peace.—Reuter. ARGENTINA SUPPORTS U.S.A. Buenos Ayres, Thursday.—The Govern- ment will make no official pronounce- ment of neutrality, considering it suffi- cient that in its declaration Argentina supports the position taken by the United States. AMERICA'S PLAN. I To Train a EVEiliion Men in I First Year. According to present plans, no Ameri- I can troops will 0" sent to the front until a million are ready The plans as they stand to-day are:— 1. To utilise the navy in every possible way in joint operations with the British and French Navies against the German sea forces and their submarine opera- tions. 2. To munition the Entent Allies to the fullest possible extent without inter- ference with the manufacture of Ameri- can munitions 4 3 To make an immediate loan of £ 600,000,000 to the Allies. 4. To do everything possible towards providing England with foodstuffs to offset the operations of the German U- boat campaign. 5. To train a mil ion men in the first year and another million men in the next year, none ot which are to be sent to the battle front in Europe until the first million are ready and plans com- pleted for keeping this force supplied in the field. 6. To utilise this force of a million men, if necessary, to turn the tide against the Germans in the great war.

MARRIED 62 YEARS. ) Aberkenfig Couple Divided by Death The death occurred on Monday at Craigyreos, Aberkcntig, of Mrs. Mary Ann Wiliams, widow of Mr. James Williams and mother of Inspector Williams (Weights and Measures), Port Talbot. Mr. Williams died a month ago, and having been married 62 years, the old lady took it greatly to heart.

EGGS FOR THE WOUNDED. [ What Swansea and West Wales is I Doing. Mrs. T. Byrne, of the Grand Theatre, Swansea, is making a collection of eggs and money to purchase eggs for the seriously wounded soldiers in France. Mrs. Byrne gratefully acknowledgee further donations as under-- Collected by Mrs. S. M. Hawkins, 150 eggs; Mrs. Mouillot, Grand Theatre, 100; Mr. Samuel Stephens, 10s.; Mrs. J. J. Mitchell, 10s.; Mr. W. E. English. 10s. 6d.; Anonymous, 10s.; Mr. Dd. James, Swansea Tramways, 5s.; Rev. Mother, St. Winifred's Coi-went, 2&6d; Mrs. Lockyer, 2s.: total, 9.1 15s. Mrs. W. J. Harris and Mrs. D. T. Mor- gan will make a house-to-house collec- tion in the St. John's Ward (Hafod dis- trict), on Monday. Caio Parish Church congregation have made an Easter offering of 2,562 eggs for the wounded soldiers. They have been sent to the National Egg Collection Depot and various hospitals in the name of the vicar (the Rev. Griffith Jones) and Lieut.-Gen. Sir James Hills-Johnes, V.C., G.C.B. (vicar's warden). Three hundred eggs for the wounded were collected by the children of St. Anne's, Carmarthen.

BERNSTORFF FOR SWEDEN. Copenhagen, Thursday-Thp.re is reason to believe that the appointment of Count Bemstorff as German Minister in Sweden will shortly be announced-

CROSSING SWEEPER'S FALL. Whilst John Price, a crossing sweeper, of Mier's-at.reet, St. Thomas, was engaged upon his duties near the Cyprus Hotel, St. Thomas, en Thursday, lie accidentally slipped and fell, fracturing his hip. He was conveyed to the Swansea Hospital. The injured man is 77 years of age.

"TRADE" DUTIES. I Chancellor Says Case Made I Out For Reduction. A deputation representing the license- holders of England, Scotland and Wales was received on Thursday at the Trea- sury by Mr. Bonar Law, in quest of a re- duction of license duty, in view of res- trictions imposed by the Government on the sale of beer and spirits. Mr. H. Weber Browu, vice-chairman of the London Central Protection Society, who said he represented suiiine 13,000 licensees m the greater London area. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a reduction in the license "duty by a further oO per cent., or in other words to 25 per cent, of the maximum charged under the Act. Mr. C. R. Marshall, for Scotland, drew attention to certain special points appli- cable to Scottish licensees. The Chancellor, replying, admitted that a case had been made out for a reduction of the license duties, but said that, until lie had fully considered all the circum- stances, he was unable to state to wiiat extent relief would be given to the trade j

MOTOR CAR DRAWING.. I Weare desired to tate that the last, day for -purchasing tickets for the Vulcan Motor Car Drawing, in aid of local war funds is a tu rday next, and those desirous of obtaining them are earnestly requested to do so without delay.

One of the founders of the firm of Messrs. Freeman, Hardy and Willis died on Wednesday at Irthlingboro, in the person of Mr. John Spencer. There was a large attendance at the King's Head Hall, Llangennith, to listen to a lecture given by Mr. Geo. Gough, headmaster of Rutland-street school, en- titled Great achievements of early youth." Mr. W. Davies, who presided, proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was seconded by Councillor Ivor Gwynne. A collection, to start a com- forts fund for Llangennith boys at the "ront. realised nearly £ 3# 1-'

MOTHER IN THE'HOUSE' 1 ■ ■ m WOMAN'S ALLEGAIIOIIS AGAINST SWAHSEAJJUARiMfiS A woman who appeared before the Swansea Guardians Visiting Committee on Wednesday, made allegations against the way in which they were treating her mother, aged 78. Mr. A. li. Bail said he brought the woman before the committee because she created a disturbance. The woman said tier mother never had her daily ration of milk; that her hands were cut; and that she had been nearly strangled, so that she could hardly talk. Asked to substantiate her statement she said it was only what her mother had told her. Mr. Hall said the .old lady did not cor- roborate her daughter's statement. The mother was in the imbecile ward. "I KNOW THE HOPES:" Turning to the master (Mr. T. Morgan) she said: ou are tho master right; but I know the ropes! inem nurses is too tiy, and you don't know 'art they does! 1 knows the ropes." The woman admitted she was not a tee- totaller, and had had one or two that afternoon. She wouid not withdraw her allegations, and the committee decided that she must make arrangements to take her mother from the institution and maintain her outsnie.

COALOWNER KftifGHT. Marriage-of Sir W. J. Thomas in I London. The children and grandchildren of the oldest inhabitants of Ynyshir, Glamor- gan, where Sir William James Thomas, coalyner and philanthropist, has made himself so p-opular." journeyed to St. Mary Abbot's Church, Kensington on Wednesday, to witness his marriage with Mis6 Maude Cooper. As the bridal pair passed along the cloisters the children strewed narcissi in their path. The bride, ttrho met Sir William while he was visiting tLt. Cardiff King Edward Hospital, to which Jie is a munificent donor and at which she is assistant matron, was in a grey-blue gown of cloth braided in silver soutache. A silver veil fell from her hat to her waist over palest pink rÚ8?6. Lieutenant A, T. James, the well-known Welsh Barrister now in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, acted as best man, and the medical officer of health for the Rhondda district as usher.

TO-DAY'S NEWS iN BRIEF ——— The whole congregation at a service in the parish church at Beaconsfield consisted of four clergymen. I Melbourne, Tlitirsday.—The total sub- scriptions to the recent War Loan amounts to < £ 21,100,000. Thirty-one licensed houses have been closed in Glasgow, in most cases for breaches of the regulations. 1 Liverpool municipal tramways last year made a net profit of and tl25,000 was allocated in relief of rates. A Chatham Dockyard worker has just died as the result of a fine splinter run- ning into his hand six weeks ago. To enable prospective pig-keepers to buy pigs, Dover Food Production Committee agreed co advance money to them. The official announcement is now made of the appointment of Mr. J. Dyer Lewis as Divisional Inspector of Mines for South Wales. First Lieutenant Hans Berz. one of the most famous German airmen, v.-as killed on Tuesday on the Western front in a light with two Allied airmen. Calcutta, March 28th (.delayed).— Lord Konaldshay, replying to the welcome o' the Executive Council, paid a tribute to India's assistance in the war. There seems to be a boom in Welsh slates just now, for the Government ha(, just sent an order to the North Wales quarry owners for two million slates. Last night-s London Gazette con- tained the names of eighteen warrant and non-commissioned officers promoted to be second-lieutenants for services in the field In Sweden the daily allowance for each person is now only 200 grammes (7oz.) of flour or grain, or itio grammes (5.1oz.) of hard bread, or 23ti grammes (Soz.) of soft bread. It was reported at the Aberayron Board of Guardians on Wednesday that an eccentric, named Shani, well known to visitors, had given £ 101 to the Aberayron Hospital. It was stated at a Baitertca inquest on Wednesday, that the shock of the un- accustomed experience of a bath was the cause of the death of Samuel Robert Hind, 7-1.. -Petrcgra-d, Wednesday (received Thurs- day).—Madame Breshko Brehkovska, grandmother of the revolution, arrived here to-day. and had an enthusiastic wel- come.—Renter. For telling a woman that she must buy lialf-a-crown's worth of groceries to obtain half a pound of sugar, Benjamin Bolton, half a 1),otin( I of ?.?,,igar, lieiii?,i-?-iiin ]- ..<) l t.On, a Middlesbrough tradesman, "ns on Wednesday fined Ji5. Miss Neal, of Terrace-road School, Swansea, spoke at the N.U.T. Conference on Thorsday. depreciating the miserable pittances upon which thousands of women teachers were obliged to subsist. While a great many sites and buildings have been suggested to the First Com- missioner of Works as suitable for the National War Museum, we understand that no decision has yet been come to. The Figaro rearns from Havre that the condition of M. Sehollaert, President of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies, has become much vvor.se latterly, and the I doctors entertain but slight hopes of his- reepvery. At the N.U.T. conference on Thursday a resolution was carried urging that it be an obligation on every local education authority to make bye-laws prohibiting all employment of children of school age, and regulating that of young persons. Mercuiy. the nearest planet to the sun. will be distinctly visible to the unaided eye during the ensuing fortnight. Setting about two "hours after the sun, he may be detected near the west-north west region of the horizon from about 9 to 9.45 p.m. (summer time). The churches of Aberavon have sent 208 Easter eggs to Churchmen serving with the colours. The egg consisted of a 5s. parcel of cigaretes and tsweefs. The vicar, to keep in touch with the "bovs," has adopted the plan of writing them a bi- monthly circular. « According to the Copenhagen Extra- bladet the oil mili at Aarbuus, which supplies all the great margarine factories in Denmark with oil. is threatened with having to close unless supplies of copra arrive in the near future. It is feared that margarine will soon be unobtainable I in Denmark.