South Wales Weekly Post

BOMBS FROM PATROL BOATS. r -00 HOW THE "U BOAT IS HUNTED. I FRENCH DESCRIPTION OF NEW METHODS. PARIS, Wednesday* "The British have captured an important number of small submarine craft in their nets," writes M. Raymond Lestonnat, in the "Illustration." The writer explains that there are two sorts of nets; one which is used to bar certain channels, or the en- trance to parts, and the other—of lighter fabric--is employed by trawlers to drag the bottom of the sea. BuL the use of. nets calls for the employ- ment. of a (great number of men, and, above all, a great deal of time. Despite these drawbacks, the use of nets continues, and their number is increasing. Shells, are of no great nse, because the submarine Must be hit within one minute of being sighted, otherwise the vessel plunges out of sight. Therefore the greatest, use is being yfado of a bomb which can be dropped vertically from a hydroplane, which can how over places believed to be haunted by submarines and sight them im- mediately when the atmospheric conditions ara favourable. Many submarines have been sunk by this engine. On board destroyers and patrol boatR a powerful grenade is used. This engine of' destruction can be controlled to explode at a pre-arranged depth, and it works auto- matically by the contact of water with the fuse. The grenade has an explosive area of twenty-five yards, sufficient to twist the hull plates of the submarine and sink her. As soon as a patrol boat sights a submarine she goes full steam ahead to- wards her, and at the same time opens fire with her guns. The submarine dives to escape the shells and moves along beneath the water, occasionally bringing her peri- scope to the surface to discover her position. The slight wake caused by the passage of the periscope through the water is the only target the gunners have, and they do not fail to make the most of it. The patrol boat endeavours to get above the submarine, and then the gunners begin TO inrow out the grenades at twenty-nve yards intervals. When a stain of oil appears on the surface of the sea there is good reason to believe that the submarine has been smile, but the captain* of the patrol .vessels are extremely reserved. and neyefr claim to have sunk a German submarine, unless they can give proof. The only knowledge the public has of the gallant exploits of the patrol'boats is when they read the occasional meagre commu- nique from the Admiralty which states that a patrol boat met a submarine and "probably sunk it. But the s-ea jealously guards their iroph.ie-( "Daily Express.")

WILL BE SUNK. THREAT TO AMERICAN LINERS. "AMERICA WANTS TO PRO- YOKE WAR." PARIS, Wednesday. A special telegram to the "Matin" from Zurich says :— A semi-official telegram from Berlin to the Frankfurter Zeitung declares categorically that if the American ships Rochester, Orleans and St. Louis are encountered in the prohibited zone thay will be sunk without meroy. The Lokalanzeiger (Berlin) publishes an analogous and equally peremptory declar- ation. MENACE TO THE ST. LOUIS. GENEVA, Wednesday. The German papersj irritated at reports of the departure of th, liner St. Louis from New York with the consent of the Govern- ment, consider that the sailing of the ship signifies that America wants to provoke a cause of war. The sinking of the Lusitania, it is said, I should convince Americans that the Ger- mans do not make empty threats. Even if German submarines do not meet the St. Louis, the danger for the vessel remains serious, because if slid does not follow the route indicated by the German Government, she risks striking the mines which sub- marines have laid in abundance in the block- ade zones. America is told thnt allowing th.? St. Louis to sail is like playing with fire. (Note. The St. Louis is a steamer of the America-n Line, of 11.629 tons.) U.S. FEELING THE PINCH. CONGESTION OF TRAFFIC BECOMING ACUTE. (Exchange War Service.) NEW YORK, Wednesday. Owing, to the non-sailing of .steamers there is n congestion of freight here, which w hampering the railways and caiwine some shortage in anppjje* t,("I),e felt. The Dela- ware and Lackawanna Railroad has de- clared tin embargo on freight movements east of Buffalo, and Other a.e ex- pected to follow suit. < Officials at Washington are, of the opinion that conditions will scon be worse and tha.t President Wilson will be forced to adopt strong protective measures. THURSDAY'S U BOAT BAO I (Press Association War 'Snedal i LloV(r report, on Thursrl.,y **ays: British steamer Celicia 11.18 been sii)ik ■ crew landed. Tlw trawler King Alfred the Great 127 was sunk by .submarine yesterday after- noon. British steamer Fcrga has been sank. ,i, ? a, h ,is beeii surik.

DE BEAR SCHOOL: ADDITION TO I PRIZE LIST. & in addition to the prize list already pub- lished in our columns, on tile oocaaton of the annual concert two more name* should be added, the awards not having been made in time for announcement at the concert, viz :—-Mi&s Marion Robin&on, first prize for best transoript of slurthand notes on the typewriter iri Mr. De Bear's tetjt, this paper 'being practically perfect and Ji." Joyce Dayies, special prize for mobt distinguished student of the year.

FRANCE. IINTO THE THIRD LINE HAMMERING THE HUNS. I YET ANOTHER BR'ITIS,H THRUST4 I (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, Thursday Afternoon. The official communique says,- Between the Oise and the Aiane we car- ried out during the daytime yesterday a surprise attack on the enemy trenches in the region of Puis-al-eine. Our detachments, pushing forward as far as the I German saoond line, wrecked the works and shelters. We in- flicted appreciable losses on the enemy. In Champagne the artiliery struggle was violent during tho night in the sector of La- Torbe. There was fairly considerable patrol activity in the regions of Vailly (east of Soiasonfl) j Oourrieres Wood, and south-west of Chau van court. We took some prisoners. I BRITISH GENERAL HEAD- QUARTERS, FRANCE, Wednesday, 8.27 p.m. During the day we captured an enemy strong point south-east of Grandoourt. and took a few prisoners. Another very successful raid was oar- ried out by our troops this morning north-east of Arras. We penetrated some 260 yards into the enemy's de- fences and reached his third line of trenches. Two machine gun emplace- ments and a number of dug-outs were completely destroyed and many of the enemy were killed in dugouts which they refused to leave. We captured 40 prisoners and a machine-gun. Our casualties were very slight. We also entered the German lines last night north of the Somme and north-east of Ypres and inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. A hostile raid attempted east of Armen- tieres during the night was repulsed. A second enemy party reached our trenches south of Messines, but was quickly ejected. Three of the enemy's munition dumps east of Armentieres were exploded to-day by our artillery fire. North of Ypres we caused a fire in the enemy's lines. One German aeroplane was destroyed in air fighting yesterday oh-our side of the line, and one of our machines was 1 brought down. 1 DESTRUCTIVE FRENCH FIRE. I (Press Association War Sendee.) PARIS, Wednesday, 11 p.m. The official communique says East of Rheims we carried out a suc- cessful surprise attack in the sector of Prosnes. Both artilleries showed activity during the day in the region of Maison de Cham- pagne and St. Halaire, as well as on the left bank of the Meuse in the sector of Hill 304 and Mort Homme. In the Woevre our batteries carried out destructive fire on the enemy organisa- tions to the north of Floury. Everywhere else the day was compara- tively quiet. I INCREASING LIVELINESS." I Germans on the British Aotivity. j I (Reuter'6 War Special.} AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. The Lokalanzeiger," according to a Berlin telegram to the Nieuwe Rotter- damache Counant," publishes a report from its war correspondent, Herr Wegener, who says that, the activity of the British on the So.mme front has shown, since the end of last month, a steadily increasing- liveliness. AMhough it cannot be compared with that of the great lighting days of I?st year, the corrp?pontdemt. s?ys it meai? for the troops participating in the fighting th? same dailger and the same effortE. GERMANS MASSINC IN SCHLESWIC. A Scandinavian correspondent. telegraphiS to the ".Times of Wednesday :— In connection with recent messages in the Dutch Press about the massing of German troops in the border districts near Holland, it may perhaps interest you to learn that for some time trustworthy reports have been reaching various Danish quarters to the effect that the German troops in Schleswig have been increased in number,

THREE DAYS BEFORE HE FELL. I SWANSEA OFFICER'S TOO- LATE" PROMOTION. I An intimation has only just reached Mr. 'I Rees Jenkins. accountant, of 22, Manor-road, Manselton, Swansea, wbich the family regard with a blend of sadness and pride. Mr. Jenkins' son, Lieut. Arthur Jenkins, was killed in action on December 4th last, and it now tr.,tnspirls that he was promoted from second to first, lieutenant thret days before he was killed, viz., on December 1st. A brother of deceased, Lieut. Tudor M. Jenkins, is serving with his regiment in the operations before Knt-el-Amara.

DE BEAR SCHOOL CONCERT. I As a result of the highly successful concert in the Albert Hall last month, the principal of the De Bear School, Castle Buildings, has handed over a sum of £ 31 12s. lid. for the benefit of the Swansea Boys' Comforts Fuud. s Hay and her energetic committee are IInwh to be congratulated upon this sub- stantial gift to a worthy cause, and thanks are also due to Mr. Bernard de ¡ Bear, the managing director of the De Bear Schools (Ltd.), London, for his I generosity in paying all the expenses of this successful function.

ABERAVON Y.M.C.A, "SOLDIERS' EVENINGS." Another of the weekly series of social even- ings, given to the fioldiers on the sea. front at Aberavon, took place on Wednesday even- ing, when St. Agnes' Church provided the refreshments, and Rev. W. Davies presided over a fine musical programme. The sol- diers. as usual, enjoyed themselves im- mensely. and showed their appreciation in no uncertain manner. )

AERIAL. IN THE HUNS' lAIR. I I ANOTHER RAID AT I BRUGES. I ENEMY 'PLANES i MURDER CIVILIANS, The Secretary of the Admiralty announces: ON THE 14th I>"8T. AN ATTACK WAS CARRIED OUT BY OUR NAVAL AERO- PLANES ON THE HARBOUR AND STA- TION OF BRUGES. A CONSIDERABLE WEIGHT OF BOMBS WERE DROPPED WITH MOST SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. Our pilots and machines returned safely with the exception of one. (Note.-Bru-ges is, with Zee brugge, a notori- ous depot for German submarines). (Press Association War Special.) I PARIS, Wednesday, 11 p.m. The official communique says: Enemy aeroplanes again dropped bombs during' the day on the region of Dunkirk. Several persons of the civil pipulation were killed and others injured. Nancy was also bombarded this mornipg by aeroplanes. There were no casualties. During the night of the 13th-14th our squadrons dropped projectiles on the avia- tion grounds of Etredllers (Aisne) and of Saucourt (Somme), on the stations of Hehies, Hombleux, Boyennes, Curchy, St. Quentin, and Ham, as weil as on the factories to the east of Terguier, where several explosions were observed. PRESS BUREAU, Wednesday. The Secretary of the Admiralty an- On the 8th inst. a raid was carried out by naval aeroplanes on the shipping in Bruges Harbour. A number of heavy bombs were dropped with good effect. Large fires were observed. A hostile aeroplane was brought down. AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. Flushing telegrams stated that during the recent air raids near Bruges certain railway junctions were destroyed, as well as a build- ing occupied by the Germans at St. Michael's. During the second attack on the harbour three German torpedo-boats and a captured English vessel, probably the Colchester, were severely damaged. The third attack took .place between Lisse- weghe and Zeebrugge, the objective being a. concealed submarine delpot. The results of this last raid is unknown. j RUSSIAN AVIATORS BUSY. I (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) I PETROGRAD, Wednesday. Our aeroplanes dropped bombs on Povursk Railway Station, east, of Kovel, and the de- pots north of the above-mentioned station, Aeroplanes dropped bombs on the station j Roden-Rois, east, of Riga, on the little town of Lihinhof, in the vicinity of Friedrichsladt, j Of Wileika, the village of Sviatica, north of I Yygonoff Take, south of Kiselin, Radsiviloff, and in the regions south of Brody. In the Riga region, south of Friedrichstadt, and west of Dvinsk, three enemy aeroplanes, which were bombarded by our fire, were forced to descend into 1 he enemy's position. East of Kovel the pilot, Capt. Kostratski, bad six aerial engagements with German machines. PARIS, Thursday Afternoon* The official communique says :— Yesterday a German aeroplane was brought down in an aerial fight. During the daytime of the 14th. and on the night of the 14th-15th. our air squad- rons successfully bombarded the aviation ground at Col mar-Varemi)?s and Natigny the railway station at Athies and thf bivouacs at Tir;hy.

f ,1 THE LATE EARL- MARSHAL. IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL OF DUKE OF NORFOLK. The Press Association correspondent gives with touching impre^siveness a description of the funeral of his Grace the Duke of Nor- folk. Earl Marshal of Britain, which took place on Thursday at Arundel. The procession to the church was a large and representative one ajid the road from h ? church was lined Arundel Castle gates to ohurch WILs lined with 400 members of the Sussex Volunteer Regiment, selected from the nine battaEon. th, late Duke having been honorary colonel of the regiment. Requiem Mass was cele- brated at the church at 11 a.m. The young Duke followed the coffin with Lord Edmund Talbot. Bringing up the rear was the Bishop of Southwark and other clergy. I

THE COMPLEAT HOUSE-, WIFE. CARMARTHEN FARMER'S "MAID OF ALL WORK." Appealing for his son, aged 18, ajid parsed in Class A, a farmer told the Car- marthen RuraJ District Tribunal on Wednesday that he was a widower, and this si vi did all the washing. baking, and domestic work, and looked after t-hree younger brothers and sisters. It was a farm of 1.00 acres. Exemption till -Tunc 1st was granted, and applicant was told to find female assistance ,in the meantime. i

NO BAND AROUND IT. Swansea Baker and the Fancy Bread. W. R. Jefford was at Swansea on Thursday summoned for sfSlirig bread otherwise than by weight on February 9th. Defendant ad- mitted the offence. Idr. H. A. Hield (Deputy Town Clerk) prosecuted, and said the loaf, which wag "Ores," was three ozs. short of 2 lbs. Mr. Hield added that there was a gfeneral feeling amongst the bakers in the town that if it was "Orex" bread, baked with "Orex" flour, it was fancy bread and need not be weighed- He intimated that this was not 80 to explode this belief. Defendant now said the mistake was made by not placing the band stamped "Orex" around it. The loaf was supposed to weigh 14 lbe., and this weight was stated on the band. The Chairman said the loaf should weigh 2 lbs., and this had been made clear in the newspaper reports of previous cases. [ A tine of 2fls. was imposed. ( j

OVER THE FIVE MILLIONS. SWANSEA'S SUPERB EFFORT. QUARTER OF A MILLION FROM DOCKS. Miss Talbot's Huge Subscription. Swansea's oontrifcwtfon to the War Loan win be nearer six millions than five by tha time the list closes to- morrow (Friday). The barometer was ,put up to £ 4,750,030 on Thursday morning, and shortly after the 25,000,000 mark was reaofred. it is stated that two sums of S.175,000 each were paid in during the day. FOUR MILLIONS! MISS TALBOT BREAKS THE RECORD. What is probably the largest indivi- dual at taken up in the War Loan in the country has been taken up by Miss Talbot, of Margam Castle, Port Talbot, who has subscribed 24,000,000. Miss Talbot Is the daughter of the late Mr. C. R. M. Talbot, who for 40 years represented Mid-Clamorgan in the House of Commons. On Thursday morning the record scan (locally) was received from two docks finne (jointly;, and though we five requested not to give names the contribution can be stated as follows Two Swansea docks firi-rs, jointly with their associated oomp«aiies and directors, £ 250,000 (all new). This amount was paid into the baalk in three cheques on Thursday morning and brings Swansea's tot-al up to now well over five millions. A visit to the various banks elicited thai all were being kept increasingly busy with the War Loan and more gold is flowing in this week than has been the case for the last twelve months. It's the hoarded gold that is coming out now," said a bank manager to the" DadIy Poet" representative. One depositor brought into one bank a.t Swai-i-ea PeTO in gold, and early this week entered ag:in with another J3150 in gold. "Dming the past fortnight," said another bank manager, "I have seen More gold brought in over the counter tlwn 1 nave seen fox the previous year." And the gold in many cases betrays its re- cent history. It is not for the most part the bright shining sovereigns and halves, but the dulled urfaces denoting a peaceful re- pose away from the current of recepi circula- tion. A great deal of it ciit of the proverbial stocking. Taken altogether, several thousands of pounds of gold have been received over the Swansea bank coun- ters for the War Loan and it is atill coming in "I think," said one leading official to the writer. "that pcopls. whilr desiring to help their country, are thinking that the gold coin currency may be chaiged-ws in France-- and that when this is done the value of the ipresent golden sovereign would be (I.t a dis- count. While nothing of this sort has been done there has been a suggestion in the press that unless hoarded gold was released thfse or similar means might be adopted. But the I People's patriotism is rising r above every other condition, and willingly. Whatever gold is stored by is being brought in for the country's service. The London City and Midland Bank at Swansea was ope-ned between seven and ninp o'clock on Wednesday evening and will re- main open to-night (Thursday) for the same time. A feature of the deposits at Swansea this week if the large number of small sub- scribers. This, Mr. W. Ashmole (borough treasurer), told the "Daily Post" on Thurs- day, was an excellent evidence of the spirit pervading. We are doing tremendous things in the Patriotic War Savings Association, he added. Last wfk we owned Over 300 new accounts and we have opened over 100 this week so far." All classes of people are receiving what- ever advice they need the position is ex- pJained to them and just what is required to be done, which is very simple. All th-e- banks equally welcome enquiries and give advice gratuitously Kach depositor in t,h.p Swansea Patriotic War Savings' Association received on Thurs- day a circular from Mr. Ashmole explaining1 the easy terms of the Wa.r Loan scheme, de- tails of which have already appeared in our columns. Meeting at Swansea Dry Dock. A meeting of thp employes of Messrs. Han-is Bros.. Cambrian Dry Dock?,, was held on Wednesday morning, and Mr J. T. Karris presided. Mr. W. H. Ashmole, tl;g borough treasurer, gave an address on the new War Loan and the need for every per- son in the country to do their bit to make it a success. H,2 emphasised the fact 'that the more successful the loan wu the nearer the end of the war would be, and thus many thousands of lives would be saved. He also spoke of the advantages of the Patriotic War Savings' Association. A number of ouestions were asked of- Mr. Ashmole, to which he replied, and the result is tha.t a large number of men have either directly Fubscriberi to the War Loan or joined the Swansea Patriotic War Savings' Association. llarieliy'sr Fine Total. I Up to the present a sum of £ 1,089.200 has been invested in War loan at Llanellv, according to the report the Mayor and the Town Clerk. At of the Llanelly works' proprietors are offering to take up War Loan for their employes, adva-ncing the money free of interest, the repayments being spread ever a period of nearly two years. At the Old Castle Works, Llanelly, there has been an excellent response to this fine offer of the management. Already 248 men and women have takfu up the offer. SUCCESS OF MOND WORKS SCHEME. The applications received by the Mond Nickel Works Company from their em- ployes in connection wth the War Loan scheme, whereby sums can be taken up by the workmen free of interest, amount to £ 5,750. THE RECHABITES. CONTRIBUTION. I The Swansea Di-stmt (No. 56) of the In- dependent Order of Rechabites and Tents have invested L2,780 in the War Loan, in- cluding conversion. BALDWINS CENERALS PROVISION I FOR EMPLOYES. The arrangements mid? b.v Messrs. Raid-I win s. Ltd., to enable their employes to par- [ (Continued if 11" Vwt CW-u«ui.-v I

I PLOT TO INVADE INDIA I ——— AMAZING CON- SPIRACY STORY. GERMAN INTRIGUE IN SIAM. LAHORE, Jan. 5. An astonishing story of German in- trigue was disclosed in the judgment pro- nounced to-day by the Special Tribunal in the second supplementary Lahore con- spiracy case. The voluminous judgment of the Com- missioners states that the revolutionist headquarters in San. Francisco did not oonfine itself to literature. One man, Mangu Ram, was Sent to TIbet to collect arms there and despatch them to the Punjab, and several were sent to I Germany. The German Consul in San Francisoo, he was told, was paying all the expenses cf the emissaries, and those who were going to Germany interviewed tile German Consul, who sent them on to New York, where the German Consul- General arranged for their journey to Berlin through neutral countries. The main object in sending them toi Germany was that they should be used to I Print and distribute seditious literature: I at the front, and that they should accom- pany released Indian prisoners of war, seduced to the Ghadr" movement, to the North-West Frontier to attack the British Government from that side. I Help was sent to Siam, where a plot was hatched to invade India via Burma, I Siam being selected as an excellent place in which to collect arms, and to serve as, a jumping-off ground. I GERMAN TEACHERS. The most important new witness, say the Commissioners, was Jodh Singh, alias Has- sanzada, who was sent from Germany to America, and arrived in San Francisco in tha company of two Germans, en route for Siari There he visited the German Consul, where he learnt of the arms scheme, and received money for his expense?. There is clear evidence that the plot to invade India, via Siajn vas part and ,parcei of the "Ghadr" movement, in which Ger- man agents were concerned. Jodh Singh met Gupta, a well-known re- volutionist. in New Ycrk, who advised him to go to Siam, and inti-od-aced him to a Ger- man named Whede. He vbtaini'd a. passport through the Persian Consul in New York, for Persia via Siam. He then went to Chicago, where Whsdc introduced him to other Germans, Jacobsen and Boehm, and the German. Consul. Jacob- seii informed him that he was Sending men to Siam to fight for Germany, and that Boehm, cs an ex-officer, was going t-o that country to give ) the Indians a military training. Whede, Boehm and a man named Stemeck sailed for Manila, where Boehm met Jodh Singh and took him to the German Consul- ate. There he her.ird that Boehm was to col- lect 500 Gtermans in Maii;la for the Siamese affair; and then he left Manila w;th letters of introduction to the German Consul ic Amov. I Under Sealed Orders. A remaruable cruise ;n connection with the arms scheme is described. Jodh Singh sai d that about: ^Aprii, ,19jl5, under; ftp a.*> suined name, be a ship.called the M?.ver;ck at 8fl.iv Pedro. The ship, fen oil vessel, w&=; tinder sealed orders cBT%v<du- tionaiSr work. n ,r •She wr.,3 railing unde-r the Amercan fls-g, was officered by Americans, and manned by Marshall Islanders, formerly Germain sub- jects, with Mexicni firemen. They pat in at a Mexican port, and thence sailed to Oigarx an uninhabited isle, where they .waited for a month and were visited by some Ameri- cans and Mexicans. Here the time was spent mainly ic witch- ins; for something to turn UjO, and they re- ceived surprise visits from a vessel of the Australian Navy, from H.M.S. Rainbow, and frcm an American man-of-war, which all searched the vessel. From Ciraro they cruised apparently ainf.e^ly about the Pacific, calling a,t various islands, and then went to the Johnson Isl"-rds -md Java-, which thrv reached en July 22, 1915. There a Dutch torpedo boat se-zed the vessel, and it was apparentlv iiiterned.-(" Daily Ex- press" correspondent.)

FORMER SWANSEA LADY'S I HUSBAND. u I The many friends of Madame May jotissei- line, a former Swansea lady, will regret to hear of that ladv's husband's death at St. Sen-an. P'rance. Madame Jou$SelIine is the I eldest daughter of the late Mr. Wm. Bevan, metal merchant, Swansea.

I STOP PRESS. I I S I i

I LATE FCR CLASSIFICATION* WANTED, Good Hand Oaloiner Hen, for TV Munition Works, near London. Good wages, and bonus on output. No one at present employed on Government Work will be enga,god.-Write, giving age and experi- ence, to D. E. M. c/o Streets, 30, Oorahill. London. 1646n2-16 OLESKINS— Million Wanted, 60s. to 65a. J.: per 100 for Best Quality till ApriL- Gerrard Brothers, Farriers, Edinburgh. 100h3-1 £ GBEY Army Books (Re Disputed Contract, GC. and Co.. Ltd., v. A.).-Three PMre, 2s. 6d.; Six Pairs, 4s. 10d.; Twelve Paire, 9s. 6d. Post Free.—Hunter and Oo., Stock- well Station, London, S.K. 1575n2-17

WELSH TINPLATE MAGNATE. DEATH OF MR. R. I BEAUMONT THOMAS. I HEAD OF FIRM EMPLOYING 11,000 HANDS. We regret to record the death of Mr. Kichard Beaumont Thomas, chairman and managing director of Messrs. Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd.. which took place at his residence. The Glade, EnE-,Iefield Green, Surrey, on Wednesday evening. The de- ceased gen+l*raai\ "o W.-s about 56 years of age, was in Swansea only a week ago. The deceased genulem."n v,r..i the head of the r-isxs: firm of tinplate makers in the i f o'ntr.T Hi?, father" was fie late Mr. Eichard Themes, one of the pioneers of the tinplate trade and founder of the firm, who died last year, and his grandfather, Mr. Richard Thomas, for some time was secre- tary and manager of the Bridgwater Gas- woihs, and latcv a rnc-rzhrrt, of 10. Grace- ohurch-street, London, E.C., Mr. Richard Beaumont Thomas' father watched the pro- gress of the American Civil War, which wrought havoc with the tinplate trade, as Amerioa was then the b.gy.est customer. reading of the papers he antici- pated ,-hi termination of hostilities, and, being ambitious, persuaded some friends to join him in forming the Ynispenllwch Com- 'y. of which he wa-s appointed manager in 1367, which took OHT this old t:?plate works, and restarted them in good time to take ad. vnnta?e of I THE AMERICAN P EM AND FOR TIN- PLATES. which followed the cessation of the war in lfc71. Mr. Thomas rented the Lydbrook Tin- plate Works of two mills, then six miles away from a railway, and began to trade on his own account— tlips starting the now famous firm cf Richard Thomas and Com- pany. Tile late Mr. Richard Beaumont Thomas's career was largely bound up with the de- velopment, of the large firm his father so successfully established. The firms associated .with.them have developed in later years at ?a ?-?c???'?ate. a list of them and their a^ogniei-j Mon b&mg as fcllowa:— t Tmpla?e wor?.—l871, Lydbrook; 1875, -ney; IOW. M<'Ungri?Mh:H;90. Aberdare; IM, Abei-carn: '896, Cwmfelin; 16SS, Cwmbwrla; 18%, South Wale,: 1S?. Burry; 1902, M&naAm. ¡ Jet;. 1907, Cjlfrew; 1908, Llantris&nt; 130? Pontrhydyrnn. Other works.—1 £ 77. Lydbrnok Colliery; 1896. Cwmfelin Steel Works; '893, South Wales Steel Works; 1898, South Wales Foundry; 1900, London Agency; 1907, Hedbourn Hill Iron and Coal Company. The deceased gentleman and his four bro- thers were managing partners of the asso- ciated firms, and the survivors continue in that capacity. The firms have I MANY RAMIFICATIONS, and give employment in normal times to up-I I wardr of 1.: ,000 hands, many of wilolu have joined the Colours. Out, of the 530 tinplate mills in Waler; the firm are interested in 133,. in addition to the steel works necessary to keep them eupplied with cteel bars. Mr. Ji-cliard Beaumont Thomas leaves a widow and three children. I

HAD TO HEAT THE HYDRANT. Llanelly Fire Brigade's Diffleulties. I A fire 'occurred at the offices of Mr. W. Coombs, broker, New Dock-road, Llanelly. The fire brigade were called out, but could not obtain water owing to the hydrants being frozen. In the meantime P.S. Morgan and others extinguished the flames with buckets of water. Larter another fire was discovered on the premises of Mr. James Sullivan, New Dook- road. In this case the brigade succeeded in heating the hydrant and obtaining water, with which they quickly extinguished the flames.

LARD, BACON AND BUTTER UP." Swansea Grocers on Thursday received in* timation from their wholesale firms that prices of lard, bacon and butter had gone up, especially lard, which had had a big advance.

BREAD BY WEIGHT ONLY. I Within a few days Lord Devonport will I issue an Order making it compulsory for bread to be sold by weight all over the country. An official of the Food Controllers' Department explained that there are two systems in selling bread. One is by weight, the price varying with the market, and the other is the assize system. In the latter, if the price of fiour goes up the baker reduces the weight of the bread and informs his cus- tomers that he is doing so. This system <s to be suppressed so that every loaf must he either two or four pounds in weight.

PRESENTATION TO OLD ASSUR- I ANCE SERVANT. I Mr. John Thomas, of 66, Rhondda-street, Prudential a,f't'nt, has been compelled to re- tire from business 'through ill-health a.fter 28 years of service. To commemorate the event, the Swansea staff of the Prudential Assurance Company, Ltd., both male and female, gathered at Thomas' Central Cafe, High-street, and after tea was partaken of Mr. Thomas was presented with a solid silver cigarette case, suitably inscribed. The presentation was made by Mr. J. P. Williams, superintendent, who presided and spoke highly of the manner in which Mr. Thomas had performed his duties, and evidenoe of this was in the letter Mr. Thomtts received from the general manager, conveying the beat wishes of the directors and himself. < In addition, forms authorising substantial pensions to both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were also issued. The Chairman said that he could not refrain from referring to Mrs. Thomas' untiring efforts under very trying circum- stances to a.52ist her husband- Mr. and Mrs. Thomas expressed their srratitude in feeling terms. The agents, assistants, and Mr. Parry (chief clerk) made flattering references to both Mr. and Mis. Thomas, and wished them a long life to enjoy their well-earned rest. Songs were rendered by Mrs. Francis, Messrs. J. Powell, H. C. Beese, A. J. Harris, and D. W. Dummer, while Mrs. Dwyer and Mrs. Winchcombe presided at the piano. A most enjoyable meeting terminated by the singinc of "Auld Lang Syne," "God Save the, — • i. .1 TTf, .'1 S_ ■.

[Continued from PrACedin Column). ticipate in the Victory Loan are on qnite as generous :1. scale as we have yet seen. The price at which the stock is issued is £4 15s. for each £ 5 of stock, and the amount to be paid by the employe in respect of each bond will he £ 4 13s. The usual provisions in the event of withdrawal, dea'h or inability bave- been made. SUBSCRIPTIONS POURINC IN AT I NEATH. I The following eubscriptums an- i iLouii,ed at; X ea th on Thursday:— Mr. Oliver H. Thomas, colliery proprietor. 910.000. Neath Town Council, £ 10,000. Mr. and Mis..Tamos Gaudy, £ 4,000. Members Neath Rural District Council, jBl-OSO. Mr. J. R-ees. builder, £ 1,000. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Arnold. £ 1,000. Miss Studt, da.ught.er of Mr. Henrv Studt, Ciydach. £ 100. Mrs. L. TUF>on. £ 500; and Mrs. Catherine Rea.in, 9500. The two last-named ladkc are alcro daugh- ters of Mr. Henry Studt. £ 3.750 FROM "DAILY POST." I The proprietors of the "South Wales ¡ Daily Post" offered to obtain scrip of the I War Loan for any amount cn behalf of the employes. The fh-m are willing to accept pay- ments extending over a period of two years, only d"dHcting Is. per week for each ?5 ??hv? taken up. and at the Mid of nearly two years the certificate -\Vould be handed ever to the employe pli.L,, the full amount of interest due to that date. Vri-atigei-nents were also entered into that in the event of any employe leaving or wishing to discon- tinue payments through. distr.'SH or sickness during the period of two years, the amount paid on account would be returned with interest to date. The substantial amoiint of 91,250 war shares was taken up, and this in spite of the fact that many of the staff were already subscribing to '.h Swansea Patriotic War ?ayin? Aasoclatlon. The company are to the War Loan in I addition to £.500 of money held in trust. SWANSEA P.O. STAFF WILL BE I BUSY. The Swans.ea Post Office will 1M open until 9 o'clock this (Thursday) evening anc also to-morrow (Friday) for- the sale of Wa: Loan Stock and War Savings Certiflcat RUSH FOR SCRIP AT MORRISTON At tne l. pppx rorest Works. JVlorriston. the company ure buying War Loan certifi- cates uutriht and issuing them to their workmen free of interest. Already over one hundred cetrtiiicstes have been sc issued. As further applications come in fresh certificates will be applied for by the -amuanv. v