South Wales Weekly Post

illA DEFIES ENEMY. i I GERMAN SUSPICIONS I OF BOLSHEVIKS. I )' t Rumblings in the Press. I I ,.}', I AUSTRIA IN OMINOUS I MOOD. I t (Exchange War Special ) I NEW YORK, Wednesday. Washington states that the Ruma- nian Embassy at Jassy reports that Rumania has ignored Cermany's ulti-j matum, which demanded the immediate conclusion ef peace in 2* hours. ¡ Rumania has replied that she would I survive or perish with the Allied cause. • AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. | WednG6-da.;y. ¡ Judging from the latest indications in ti-to Serman Press the greatest- dissatisfaction and j truepicion have been evoked in Grmany by Trotsky's latest move, and the highest quar- ters are bugily conferring to trf and find the j hest..solution of the latest puzzle set them. Tuesday morning's "Kreuzzeitung" de- clarer "on the ground of reliable informa- tion" that Trotsky's projiosal is in no c?r- mmstarieef; regard",1 as a peace offer by the Supreme Army Command, and it is pointed out in the German Prests that yester- day the < Jreat, Russian war theatre -was txaMi specially mentioned in the official &rmy report. A Berlin telegram to this morning's "Kol- stH-cho V olkszeitung" says: The Government is not willing to con- tinue relations with Russia on any basis whatsoever unless the dpresent Russian (jovernment signs a. regular peace treaty. A, however, it must be reckoned, for the present, at any rate, that Trotsky does not think of signing any formulated peace declaration, a Situation is created ■ which make?; a thorough discussion be- tween the Government and the Supreme Army Command requisite. A11 the German papers note the fact that three hours after the sending out of the wire- i-z by Krylenko announcing the demobilisation order, another Russian mess- sage was issued ordering the cessation of the circulation of this communica.tion. It is au- gested that this indicates that the Bolshevik Government no longer thinks of adherin.g to l'r ■'••!«:.y's declaration The "Mittagszei- t'un?, goes 00 far as ? say that there are p?.<?a that Trot-skv s promise of d?mob'U?' Mr.. A sham manoeuvre. lhe .naiades: 1 able "reports are increasingly arriv >ngi hat whilst the Bolsheviks are break- ing up the front, which, indeed, no longer existed;, on hundreds of kilometres, they are working with e-nergy to form Red Guards out of the remnants of the Rus- sian Army, hoping to raise them to a million men, with the object, of using I them for establishing their power in the border States. THE VATICAN OPINION—AND ANOTHER. /Renter War Special. ROME, Wednesday i (received Thursday). The Pop* and Cardinal Gaspari to-dar discussed President Wilson's message to! :ongre-s. Cardinal Gaspar. thinks it made the starting point for negotiations for a just and lasting peace. AMSTERDAM, Wednesday (received Thursday). HM. -Neut, Freie Press (ViennaG' thinks the contents of Wilson's speech are hardly calculated to. bring peace ji nearer. II A MONARCHY ACAIN," AMSTERDAM, Tuesday (delayed). Speaking to Press representatives the Russian General, Sytin. said: "RlJ6.lIi;:¡, will .oQn be a monarchy again."

KING OFFERS HIS PALACES IN THE SERVICE OF THE NATION. The London" Daily News Lobbv Correspondent writes that the King has offered three of his palaces for national use?—B&Jm?raJ a ? a resort for wounded solfdviers, and Buckingham Palace and t?nsjngton Pal&cp for use as public ?i6f-ea. So far the Government have taken no action in the matter. Mr. Stanton. M.P., put down ques- tions 011 Wednesday night toO t,hé First Commissioner of Works to ask whether any public announcement, will he made as to the King's gracious offer, and what use will be made of it.

FOUND DROWNED. ANOTHER DOCK MYSTERY AT SWANSEA. The' Swansea Borough Coroner on Thursday held in inquiry into the death of Marcus Thomas Pratt (24), ship's boatswain, found drowned in the Prince (If Wales Dock on Monday evening.. Capt. Pratt ("brother) said the deceased was abstemious. Hugh W illiams, ship's watchman, de- posed that. he saw deceased a.nd anotbpr I man named Smith leave the ship on the night of Wednes- day of la.T week. Smith returned an h?'- ?t?r. and was very drunk without dec??d. ?h<? asked about decp?K?' ?n Thursday msM Smith said: Jf Joo?sj a-s if h? is gone the same war as t.h other (referring to the inan who wa. drowned off the same ship). Tht-, gang- i way of the ship wa. only a plank. with- out handrails. The hen ri-nr. was a d journed toO addi tion a i evidence.

I BATCH OF MISHAPS AT SEA. fjuovd s issue the iollowing:- Steamer Italia. of Gothenburg, with cargo, was sunk by collision about 8 p.m. on February 12th"; crew of twenty men saved. Brigantlne Lenore, with cargo, was sunk by collision with British steamer in fo £ on Wednesday afterenoon; crow of .P-, vii landed. Su edish steamer Bo has sunk after a. Greek and Spanish steamer. Tiii.; Hugh Bourne, of South Shields, strju-k -1 wreck and sank; crew were Sf v.- -i the lifeboat. t „

F«r the poet of junior cierk at I a,-ye..rge (here were nineteen applications (three of t-aaol being giris). The appointment how- V,W. ww

FRANCE. M1. I — AMERICAN GUNS LEAD;; OFF < < IN SURPRISE FRENCH | ATTACK. i OVER 150 PRISONERS j BROUGHT IN. j PARIS, Thursday Afternoon. There were lively actions by both batteries in the region to the east of Rheims. Tn Champagne: ni the surprise attack of yesterday. American batteries led off effective support. OUT troops have organised the positions in the meantime. In the course of our attack in the region of the south-west of Butte do Me&nil a number or prisoners were captured by us. The. number captured up to the present I pxcccdH 150. • Press Ascociation War Special.) PARIS. Wednesday Evening (received Thursday). In Champagne, after a brief artillery pre- paration. we carried out a big surprise attack in the region to the south-west of .,Butte de MeniJ. on a front- of about 1,200 metres. Our detachments Penetrated into the German positions a" far as the third line. overthrew the de- fences and destroyed a number of dug-outs. The number of prisoners tak-eii by us ex- eeeds 100. GERMAN ADMISSION. 1 Admiralty, per Wireless Press.; BERLIN, Thursday. WESTERN FRONT. The .English and Frenoh kept up their re- connaissances and there were violent en- gagaments. to the north of Lens and in the ■ Champagne. The French obtained a footing in the salient- to tbe rwarth of Paline-. BRITISH GEN FIR AL | QUARTERS, i FRANCE, Wednesday, 9.40 p.m. The, sucscessftil raid sowth-east of Har- j gicourt reported in this morning's com- munique was carried out by Canadian troops. In addition to 13 prisoners and two machine-guns which were brought back to our lines, many Germans were! killed in fighting above ground, and four trench mortars were destroyed. Seventeen dug-outs in the enemy's front line and others In support hnes i whose Occupants refused to come out sitmmened were bombed by us. The casualties incurred by the raiding I party were slight, and were all brought iB. Another successful raid waa canted out | ia.-vc' night by Ganadia-n troops in the | neighbourhood of Hill 70, nortl: oi Lens. Constderable opposition was encountered, in spite of which six j prisoners and a machine-gun were cap- | t tired by us. Our casualties are again reported 1:0 have been light. j 1 LOCèd fighting tonk vlaee at ùawn this; morning north-west, of Pasjjchendaele, j wiiere a hostile party attacked and Temporarily occupied two of our POSts. I | Tlie enemy was subsequently ejected by our counter-attacks, and both posts were red. The enemy's artillery showed increased activity this morulng s-out-h and of Lens. QUIET ON BRITISH FRONT. BRITISH GENIERAL HEADQUARTERS?, FRANCE, Thursday, 9.45 a.m. lixcept for some hostile artillery activity south-east of Epeh> and in the neighbour- j hood of BuUec<Hft, th?re is mtaiiig of special interest to report. i, pektiiti "lzitc?re-,t t?o report, STORM OF SHElxLS. j The Coming Avalanche of Fip&. When the 1918 offensives begin "II the French front, whether they be Allied or German offensives, they will be preceded by the greatest and costliest pte-paratioti that the. world lias yet seen, writes Mr. Henry Wood, the gpecialt correspondent in the United Press Association ai America., in a message to the Exchange -Teiegraprt (Vmoanv. Storm of Shells. 1 Tha comiviff ^prinG! battles will niiivk the ttdminating point, in the concent.ration and power of artillery- Since the first months of the war demonstrated that the decision must.'rest large.¡: wit.1! heavy artillery, that has now reached its fall development. What this programme was, aitd what the concentration is now, miliwv secrecy ren- ders it \mpossibte to dmdgf. '"nlfii-e it to say that the Allies will entoc the 1918 cam- paign with the Highest concentration 01 artillery that, it is practical to utilise. A greater number of guns would be in each other's way. While it is doubtful if Germany has been able to keep up with the Allied pro- gramme of heavy a-rtiliery. yet, owing to the Russian elimination, she will unques- tionably have at her disposal a6 great a concentration ot artillery as it is possible to use. In the mattery of ammunition, the Allies will have an incontestable superiority and advantage. Ewer since the French offensive of last April, mthen the French artillery were able to fire a million shells a dâ, the Alliess have had a superiority in the stocks of sbeliq a-L fhel-r disposition. This superiority will be greater IMtt ever this coming p.ri-ng. and should pi-ore one of the greatest dements in spoiling V1. vory tiie 'Allie1-

NAVAL. I MORE LARGE SHIPS. I U" BOAT TOLL GROMNG I &GA!N. j Judging fman this week's Athnrrdky | return of British losses through piracy. j TT -Ixiat activity i& steadily increas-i Ing,. Fov the periods ending January 12 j and 19 the large vessels sunk totalled six sun k tAta-ile(I i x in each week for January ? the return j was nine, for Februarv 2 t.et\. änd the j latest figure is 13. Six smaller boats j were sunk, also three stung boats, and there were eleven unsuccessful attacks. Arrivals and SaWreP. Merchant vessels ot an n»«H>nac»es; (over 100 tons ret) arriving at 1.100 sail- j ing from United Kingdom ports (exelli-I slve of fishing and local craft) during i the week ending midnight February 9: (a) Arrivals 2,401 ;7 -1 (h) Sailings 2,274 Losses. British merchant vessels sunk by nJine, or submarine: (a.) 1.600 tons (gross) or (h) Under 1,600 tons (gross). f; (c) Fishing vessels sunk o Unsuccessful Attacks. British merchant vessels ?n- | succesKfuHv attacked f?y ?ub- marines t lit j Includes two sunk during the week ending Ffbrua-ry 2. t Includes; one attacked during the. week ending February 2. Last Weak s Figures. Arrives  3,839 i Sa?Mig.s 2,373 HUNS ARREST NEUTRAL MAYOR. I Latest Example of Pirates Latest Exa.mple of P"1l'a\es' Audacity. MADRID, Tuesday (delayed). Several papers state that some of the crew 01 tho submarine boarded two boats con- t-ainin-g the crew of the torpedoed Ceferino and landed on the island of Ilierro. They demanded that two German subjects who ^•e.re supposed to be in the town should be given up to them. The mayor denied this, as they were interned at Teneriffe. Then the Germans took the mayor and an- other official on board the suibmarine. hold- ing them a» hostages pending a reply to a. telegram to Teneriffe. Ccncfirmation of the internment being received they were set at liberty.- (Wireless Pre^s.) ITALIAN SUBMARINE'S FEAT. (Renter « war Special.) ROME, Wednesday (received Thursday). The (Genera; Naval Staff announces :— Yesterday aftenxowa a sutoiaxine att»ds:ed and torpedoed an armed enemy steamer near the Isle of Lussin, and despite the fact that it was fiercely attacked by a?topl&nes and a torpedo-boat* the submarine returned ?n- ? damaged to ii? ba?e. d,amage?d toit-,4

NOTABLE WEEK AT GREENHILL. CULMINATING ON SUNDAY.. The. Rev. Fat.her Sweeney. O.P., of New- castle-on Tyne. as conducting a mission at St. Joseph's, Greenhill, Swansea, in con=i5C- tion with the spiritual side of the Sacerlo- tal Semi-J ubilee of Father'Harrington, t'ae rector, and on Sunday it in a series of special services. There will oe masse.-i at 7.30 (men), 8.30 (women). g.tt5 (children), 11.0 (high mass of thanks- giving, with special sermon by the -kii,- sioner, who will solemnly deliver t.he Papal blessing on the parish). There is Exposi- tion of t.he Blessed Sacraanent fo; 12.30 til the evening service, whilst at 3.0 th»ro will be an official visit of the children and distribution of souvenirs. At the final service, at 6.30, Father Har- rington will preach, and there will be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, ac- j companied by the Guilds, etc., and it e "Te IDeum will be sung. In the hall, at 8.30. ten thoasand prices will be distributed.

RATS PLAY HAVOC. Arising out of ac?ven?tog work being dene at Tawe Ie, a mHnbw of rau ap- peared. and ?oTtght' r?u?e in the I?trndry. where they played havoc wia some of the articles of clothing.

THE CHARGE AC A INST LONDON NEWSPAPER. The summonses agamst Colonel F«,epingto8i and the editor of the Morning Post" have been made returnable at Bow-street on Sat- urday at 11.30^ a.m. The proceedaaigs are taken under the regulation which prohibits the publication or communication of in for- mation calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy. The Press Association states that Mr. Tindel Atkinson, K. C.. and lr. Patrick Hastings have been instructed by Messrs. Tye wis and Lewis to appear for Iieftvb.- Colonel Repington and the editor of tJfe Morning Post."

CONTROL PRICE OF CHEESE. The Ministry of Food announces: "For British cheese exceeding 2kbs. in weight, other than Caerphilly, made in 1918, frwm whole milk, and sold by the. producer within, the month: f 'j\ pro!] and May. the maxiimim price for tjte best quality shall not be less than If. 6d. per pound ditto, for Caerphilly, Is. 4^d. per pound; for British dieese ex- ceeding 23be. in .weight, other than Oaer- philly, and uavripened SSilton a..1d Wepsley- indale, made in 1918 from whole milk sold by the producer within the months of Jtme to October inclusive, the maximum price for tile t qoaJifcy shaTl not be lens than Is. 3^d. per pound for Britiah made (Wr- fphilly cheese, the produce at whole milk, made in 1918 and sold by the producer within the montbe ol JcDe to October Ïncm. sive, tie n-Aximwn price ior the best quality shall not be loss than Is. ?d. per poind.

COM W? SWANS3SA. VISIT OF THE i The anoagegnents in connection with the visit of the detachment of Waaas" to Swan- sea, on February 25th, and the mass meet- ing in connection with the movement fet the Albert- Hall, occupied the attention of a ladies' meeting at the Groldhafl on Thursday afternoon, when the ex-Mayoress (Mrs. j David Davies) presided. Matters with re- tereoce to the boarding of the deta<hment were discussed and the procession peHor to the meeting. I) was reported in the minutes that everything regarding adNerlï.ng, ins bring attended to.

AUSTRIA; f AUSTRIA  A ljSTRIA   • STATE OF WA? NOT STATE 'OF W:AI N:O-n} ENDED. I OMINOUS NOTE SOUNDED IN j VIENNA. I 1. (Press Association War Spe-cial.) AMSTERDAM. Wednesday j (received Thursday). According to a. telegram to the Koel- j nishe Zeitnng" official commmt on the post- tion in theP&t1n the Vienna J?res-? says J tb.n honkl Trotsky intend to turn with hÍ5 Red Guards against tTkrainia he miift expect j Oiat the Central Towers would draw cnr- responding eonclwious from the ciroaro- jilaam. They have not yert deda-red that a Ktate of war with Russia js ended, see- ing that thcY eOold not. permit this tree State, with which they now have relations of friendship, to be disturbed in its free development. The Austrian P^reisjn Office orgaai. fehe Fremdewblatit," wafers, on the subject of Trotsky's Brest-Litjovsk dec laration, accoixi- ing to a Vienna tflegnam to the "Lokalan- seiger," to the possibility of movemente emanating from Petrograd frustrating what w have promised ourselves from peace with the llrraine. "Lint ef Demarcation," "1'h£ kne of. demaroaft^on akmg the pre- sent front will still hawe to be maintained'" (say^ a Vienna telegram to the Lokaian- j zeiger ") on the authority of an expert dis- cossing tiie military consequences of M. Trot- isky declaratio?) at Brest-Litovsk, adding thaft on the Caucasian front, Turkish corps will naturally retake possession of all the Turkisli territory hitherto oocaipied by the Russians Although ((-,rwitinues. the expert iitrthor- itv cited) "the mainteaiarjce of a cordon along the Rusf-nan part of the Eastern front de- mands a not inconsiderable number of troops. Threat to Rwnania. '• The future position depends on Romaiua, which must either seek a peacem, sohrtion or reckon Oil the eventual internment of its amy m the Ukraine. Moreover, a state of preparedness in the East, in case of a continuation 0 l the struggle between the- Ukraine and Great Russaa, is described as an important military question." ._O"k" .I

FEWER STOPPING PLACES. TRAMWAY AGREEMENT AT SWANSEA. The Swansea ?<M-o&?h Sr, Ch? Const?e aM th? Tramways Manager lia^e a?r&ed to reduca t? ,4,PA p&oes by e?ht on the ?? & ?m& and ?vei? on i?c up line of t!M Brynmill tramway section. The following a??the new stopping places: Down Line.—i Wind-street (Tenninug), W^isndhstreeit (Pofi Office). Temple-street, Ox ford-s treet (Woterioo-street), Oxford- street (Union-street). Oxford-street (Piy- mouth-street), Oxford-street (Dittwyn-street), Oxford-street (between Ritchaa-dson-street, and Argyll-street, Oxford-street (Brook- lands I-lotel), Bea<lh-Areet (Hoapitod-square) Brysiymor-road (Brynymor-crescent), King Sdwardwroad (B^r View-crescent Loop), King Edward^road (Fi nefcury terrace). Bryn- road (St. Gabriel's C-hirrch), Bryri-road (Terminus). Up Lilia-Bryp-raad (terminus-), Bryn- road lslt. Ctabriel's Church). King w rr>ad (Fi«isl>ury-t^h-ace), King EdwM'd-r:nd' (Bay View-crescent kiop;. King Edwa-d- road (Brynymor-crescent), lirynvmor-; > vi (Hospital-square), Oxford-street (Brojt- lands Hotel), Oxford-street (betwawi Richardson-street and Argyle-street), Ox- j ford -street. (Dillwyn-sfcreet). Oxford-streac- (Union-street), Oxford-street (Waterloo- street), Temple-street, Wind-street (Post Office), Wind-street (terminus).

I SWANSEA CHOIR FOR "NATIONAL"? There is a possibility of a Swansea United Choir taking part in the Nea.th'Nai.ionaJ, and a general meeting may shortly be heJd to consider the matter.

I RABBITS FOR PRIZES AND FOOD. Mr. Win. Suminerftaki. 4;), King Eidward- road, Swansea, president of the Swansea District and United Kingdom Fur Club, and winner of aver 1,000 prises, cups, and medals, and for over 30 years breeding and exhibiting, will be pleased to give advice free to any i:'Ovic-- ,,t.4rt- ing rabbit breeding on bouHtQ?. feeding  breeding, b?&t 1 and breeding, bast varieti es to kefep. par- etc.. fetLFq-s m- preferred.

I SUGAR WANTED FOR WHIST- DRIVE I- i At Swansea Food Committee on Wed- nesday, Mr. Dunrw. of the Rasftw&ymen, applied for an allowance of sugar to provide refresiiSi;ent4 at a wirist drive for a railway-men's charity at the Alberti Hall.—Mr. Vieeer Evans said he had! repliod tilat the committee had no power! to grant saigat for. this purpose.—The Chairman said at a reoent function he I attended ev brought their own sugar, sugar.

PATfEWtS FOR DRYMMA. An intimation from the Committee of j Dryroma has been received by the ntocbml officer at Tatwe Lodge that ftve patients omild be accommodated at pi-osent. There were, howrver, bat three for recommendation in con: j sequence of the II of labour at the in- stlitutioxl Mrs. H. D. Williairu? asked that; two patients who had been recently re.moved should be transferred to Drymna. if poe- able.—-Agreed-

Wiltwsn Snwtb (48). old metal merahaat and mrme stow dealer, CTrrying on basr- rpees at, Mahphao^-streafe, was (charged at Srvframseft on 7btrqdAy x-ith not correctly en- tering quantities of iron (3i c-Nvt. ) and bras* (1 cwt. 60 lbs.), aiid anotlier 60 lbs of old J "brans, a»d 8 cwt. of brats The case was adgWrtjed for os* £ week.

THE HIGHCOMMANDI PARIS REPORT OF THE SOLUTION. j HOPED WILL SATISFY EYEJRYONE. (Renter's War Special.) PARIS, Thursday, M. Marcel Hn, iti the ".E.)ho de PAris," sayt" -.—It- is posdble bhat the questitttl of the maiiitan* duvation of our alliance, wfoich seems to have caused 60 much feeling •> the House of Commons, wiU necewe au .1: immeichate soiatwn which it is honied will satlsfy £'vne. The titulars oJ the Ghree hi""t posi,ti<.Hl ¡ of the Bntaah—the chief command of the I Army on the French front, the direction of the Imperial General Staff in London. and ttw? refweeervtative of the British Army Consncsl ?t- Versanlles—will remain un- changed. Ch^uiges, iiowevier, may be efteiited be- tween London and Versailles;. j WILL IN.CREASE HIS INFLUENCE. PROPOSAL TO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF. The II Pacifists, who have so eagerly welcomed the aid of Mr. Asquith in trying to exploit an imaginary intrigue against the Commander- in-Chief and the Chief of the Staff for their own unpatriotic purposes, will be bitterly disappointed when they hear the truth of this "terrible business." Sir W. Robertson was not dismissed from his post on Monday night, as the" wreckers" allege. There has never been any question of his dismissal, and he possesses the confi- dence of the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet. Neither has he resigned. But he is con- sidering a certain proposal which instead of involving a diminution of his influence, would tend to increase it. Whether he agrees to the proposal or not, his services are not likely to be lost to the Government and the nation. Sir Douglas Haig. I As ior Sir Douglas Haig, who was in com- plete agreement with all that was done at the Versailles Conference, he is on as oor- dial terms with t.be War Cabinet, his .«tafF, and his colleagues in the Allied Armies OM; ewer he was.

TO SUPPLY A CRUISER. I I SWANSEA'S NEXT WAR SAYINGS JOB. At Wednesday's meeting of the Swallsea. Finance Committee, Mr. Hy. MacdonneJl in the chair, the borough treasurer (Mr, W. II. Ashmole) said that the War Savings Com- mrttee were arrangi ng a "Business Week" in order to ra,1se more war funds, and, in order that thefe might be competition bf- tween towns, it was proposed to give each town an aim. I Swansea was asked to racse £ 400.000, the price of a, cruiser. Other centres, like Bir- mingham and Sheffield, rrjight be asked to raise the pa-ice of a Dreadnought. Coming on the top of the Tank vree? he f&it t Z it was a big task, but in the na- timial anteressts he hoped that Swansea would put its back into it when the scheme was definitely undertaken.

M. A PINT FOR FIYB- s PENNY." I 7, -Sinart Fine on A bera. yon j Publican. j At Aberavori on Thursday, Wilkam II Williams, licensee of the Royal Exchange Hotel, was fined B20 and costs for selling beer at a price above the maximum allowed under the Beer Restriction Order. Evidence was given to the effect that on I Jan. 26 defendant charged 3d. per pint in- stead of 5d. Evidence for the prosecution stated that the beer had to be filtered before being an- alysed, and one witness said it was "like slosh" and made him.ill the next day. The barmaid was fined Ms. for aiding and i aaxsrrag- 1

GREAT WESTERN DIVIDEND. The last of the hOÐ1 railway dividends. bhat of the Qreat nl Railway, i announced, and (says the Times" iitKmfMd oorrespondent) caused general ?urpnise in the city. For the full year the t&stnbn?<?H on the ordinary stock is 51 per cent., the same as for 1916, or per cent. less than, was paid for the last pre-war year. Yet, despite the fact that the shareholders are to receive 10s. per cent. less than for 1913, the appro- priation to reserve, which for years past lias been' £ 200,000, is" to be doubled on the present occasion, while the carry for- ward is to he raised hy £ 30,000 to the record level of £ 248,000. These figures alone srhow that iiho pre-war rate of dividend could have been paid, for this would have absorbed only £18.5,000. and left a nuH-gin of atout. b45,000 for larger appropriations In these clrcum- 1 scance*. Mr. W. J. Stevens, a stock hotder, ha? given form?! notice to t I company of his intention to move ¡ resolution at the meeting on the 21st to the effect that, the ordinary dividend' he 6-4 per cent.

THE POLICE BAND CONCERT. The Swansea Police Band concert— tliat j anwaal and popular institution kvoked for ward to by the local musical public, aiid which comes off on Thursday. March 7th— promises to be an ambitious affair. A mam- I Diotli paxjgramme has been arranged by In- speabor Fielder, the ban. secretary. The artistes already booked are prominent London concert favourites, some of whom will be heard in Swansea for the first time, and will inchadie Miss Itora Labette, soprano, who has a great reputation; Mias Astra. Desmond, contralto; Mr. Alfred Heather, tenor: and Mr. David Braael. baritone. The Police Band are rehearsing some special musical and descriptive numbers, 1 Li ■"

NO MORE RECRUITING OF RUSSIANS. Trie Ministry of National Service an. roiuwkr, that; it has been decided, in pre sent cinrcumstaBcen, to cease recruiting Rits siaai subjects under the Anglo-Russian Military Service OMiventkwi. Tnsirnctions were sent, out accordingly to ,guci&k UB WfdtMactay.

DESTROYER- TACKLES THREE CRUISERS. GLORIOUS SINOLE-H A N DE D FIGHT. EPIC STORY OF THE MARY ROSE. We give beic^ the first cujmected tjl"4 count from Diticiai sources ot the action in which H.M. dept-royer Mary Rose at- tempted to defend th.1 convoy committed to her charge. JI, M.-S. Mary Rose left a Norwegian port in charge of a west-hwnd convoy <> mer- chant- shipt in the afternoon o: the }6: October. At W) the 17th iC surefire were sighted astern. The captain of the Mary Row, Lieutenant-Commander Charles Fox. who on the bridge at the time, remarked that- he supposed it wsw a ^ur-warin*; slielling the convoy. and promptly t.urned his ship to investigate; all hands were called i« action station Tie Mary- Rose had incfid to foil speed, and in' a short time three light crawers were sight-ect coming (owajxfc; them at high speed out of the ii tist The Mary j He promptly challenged, and jeceiving no reply onE'\i 4?re with eyerv ?!r that wouM b?ar at a range of about four milen. The German light cruisers appeared t( i ap-pea.red t. Single-handed cmHJzKgfr* as they did fot H-'ri-r; i>»^ fift- until the range had closed to thv'??- lu..V- Then they opened fire, and the Mary Rose held gal- lantlv on throiurh. 3 hurage of bursting tie!! until only a mile separated her from the enemy. Up to this point the German marksmanrhip was poor, but as the British destroyer turned to bring her torpedo tithes to btytr. a sal\D st-rut-k her, bursting iu the engine-room and leaving her dis- abled-a log oil the water. All guns, with the exemption of her after one. were out of action, and their crews killed or wounded but the :sfter gun continued in action under the directions of Sdb-Lieutenant Marsh, R.NA .R., asy^ig>jt« the gun wodd i bear. The captain canie down front the wrecked bridge and passed aft. encouraging and cheeriiig his deafened men. He stopped V- side the wrecked remain* oi the midship gim and shouted to t, its crew. "Uüà bless my her | going again We're not dene yet! The enemy were now pouring a concen- i trated fire into the motionless vessel. One of the boilers, struck by a shell, exploded, and through the inferno of escaping steam, smoke. and the vapour of bursting shell came that familiar, cheery voice, We're not done yet. The first lieuttinant (Lieutenant. Bavm). seeing one of the light nruisei-s returning towardf- them, rolled thp gunner (Mr. Handcock) and bade him sink the 3hip. Ille captain then cairne on deck and gave the order Abandon gh ip. AJl tjie boats Itwi heen shattered bv slteJl firo at. their davits, htyt the sur- VTVOTS launched a Oaricy raft and paddled clear of the ship. The German light cruiser detailed to, aomin.t sttei* the coup do then ap- proafhed to within 300 yards and nolired a succession of salvoes into the alreadv riddled hull. Tho :Mary Rose sunk at, 7.15 a.m., With colours flying. fne capuim. first. Leutenant. and gunner were lost with the, ship, but the handful oi survivot s. in charge of tSiih-Lieutenant J. R. D. Freeman, R.N., on the Carley raft. fell in some hours later with a life- boat belonging to one of the ships of the convoy, and sailing and rowing they made the Norwegian coast some 48 hours 1ater.. Unhappily there is no record oi \vha,t WAS in the mind of the captalli of the Mary Rose when he made that single- handed dash in ti-e face of such prepos- terous odds. He died, leaving to the artnais of bis service an episode not less glorious than that in which Sir Richard Grenville perished.

DWELLINGS FOR WORKERS.' Swansea Borough Architect Wins: Premium. The Local Government Board have placed at the disposal of the Royal Insti- tute of British Architects a sum of money for the purpose or conducting a, competition for The, best designs of houses for the working classes in Eng- land and Wales. These designs, to the number of about 260, for the South Wales area, are now on exhibition at the City Hail, CardifL The Acting Borough Architect of Swansea, Mr. C. A. Broadhead, A.R.I.B.A.. Jxat, been s<icces\sinl in win- ning the second premium for one of the types of houses. I'hii, provider for a fiv-roomoo dwelling, with the addition of the usual out-ofhee; costing ou pre- jj war rates £ 220. The Swansea Housing Committer, we! trfiderstand. is endeavouring to get the J drawings to Swansea, for exhibition pur- i poses. If this can be ?'ran?? tbp com- nattec will pr<tb&b!y sej?ct the type ?f) house that ? to be buitt ;n connef'tion -Jj with Swansea's scheme to pr<?)d< ?.?, houa?s iti bloeb of 500 at a time. The National Housing Commit-tee is endeavouring to get, tly- Government no pay the differetvc between pre-war 'and post-war capital charges, leaving the local authorities to make up the in- creased interest charges.

COAL BROKERS ALARMED. Disquieting Proposal of the Controlter. It has unofficially come to the knowledge of coal exporters that. the Coal Controller proposes to take away the one-third of b per cent. brokerage, which the exporter is en- titled to charge on the sai e of coal. Coal ex- porters throughout the country view with considerable alarm the suggestion, aod it, a meeting of those interested at Swansea this week vigorous protests were made. Similar action has been taken at Cardiff and else- where. Exporters, if the proposal comes about, will only have the controlled profit on the sale of coal. Reckoning the brokerage at 6d. per ton a.1J export of 4,000,000 tons from wan- sea and district, it will be seen io what ex- tent- the brokers are affected. The proposal would seem to be pursuing similar lines to those being undertaken with regard to metal me who complain that the Government is shooidfring them out of the mdusiry.

SWANSEA SPELTER BOOM. Practically "pare spelter is now being it ads ai. a Swansea works for t-he Government. The oontra/J runs into some hundred--? of tons a nio-ntb.

iOlEO A Hirers DETMl r JIORmsroN LJEO TSNAJCTS TRAGIC FATE. f Detans Jding the death, th-Uo j firowiang. ot I?eut. J. C. <?. J)a.. of the HF .A.v%e been roctR-??e d by has w?e. I&IL C5, Earismore, MoiTiston, in a eommn- j nioation from Major F. E. C. Stanley C.O. of his battery, in Paletstine. Lieut. t31 ;v of age) was the youngest -on of Mr. and MTs. Jojce? Davi. Tw-yr-Alb. He entered tbp Irmf of C:oœt O.T.C. eM?y M 1915, wrred ;? a?iog eapt?m and adjM?ant tTt Salop, and relinquished a staff appoint- lneot m ocsder that be might be enabled tJ prooeed on active service. He stewKed WIä Messrs Bond and Barflev (London), and haw- ing gwnoo t-lw diploma, of A.R.J.B.A., b. buiit up an extensive practice in Swansea and Morns ton. His deatli i* deeply re- gretted hy a lnost of hiends, among whom he was highly jabd deservedly popular, and much s^rmpaithy fe felt v, id,h the bereaved. The folio-wing letter relates how the oul- iant officer met hiB death Dear Mrs. Da-?iep.—Loing hetore th? it???i? yvni t? sad news of your husband s deat.h wÜl no doubt have be-M! wired m b" lhe War Office hui I fed I must. write afld tell you how deeply I and my oiffcers and I indeed, all ranks of my battery, sympa&sat. I with you in your in-cparable loes. Your iruNband had only been with us a- few weeks but we bad already formed a high opinion of his courage and abilities, and I had ante- cipated much advantage to my battery from his varied talents. lie was on his way, in a cart, with his servant and luggage, to relieve an officer in seme duty some miles away, and while at tempting to ford a stream which wag very ;wavilv in flood, the cart was overturned and waaiied dow stream.. He and tho driver | jumped clear and reached the bank, when i hey found that his Servant, who COUld net swim. i was still ciiibging to the werfcnrned cart, which liad ludkily caaght against sorn about 200 yards down. They both at onoe went iu again, and the driver managed to rescue tlie servant, but on looking round for your husband he found lie had vanished, and though he ran for over two miles down the | bank he oould find no trace of him. That I took piace in the late afternoon of Sunday, oth -January. The driver at 01 ice went- fer help, and large number of men turned out to search, but I regret to sa.y liis body has not been recovered. Twj of the four horses and the cart had entirely vanished in the morning, and were probably carried out to sea; his valise lias since been reoovered some five miles away, near the mouth of the river into which the stream runs. Just, before he set out I assured him how sorry I was at having to send him off in such awful weather, and his last words to me were "Oh it's All part of the game, sir; I don't. mind a bit," in his usual cheery way. 1 cannot tell you how sorry we all are, aict, what a loss he is to u*. It wall be some smaii comfort to you. however, to remember that he died a hero's deatli tryiiig to save his servant's life, and no ma-n can have a nobler end than tha.t. Yours sincei-elv. Fraud- E. C. Stanley, Major, O.Cl B 270, R.F.A., E.E.F.

VICTORY AND PEACE. CHEERING MESSAGE FROBf WELSH LABOJR. The splendid spirit wbioh prompted tiLe sending of such a messå. gp is most anooucag, ing and cheering" is how Mr. Lloyd Geozet, writing to Mr. C. A. James, secretary Off the Labour Advisory Board for Wales and Monmouthshire, acknowledges the receipt ot a copy of a New Year's message which the workmen a.nd workwomen of Wales azie Monmouthshire sent to the Navy and Anrto through Admiral Beatty and Sir Doag&fc Haip. The message, unanimously adopted, ws j as fo!tows: —- We desire to pay tfl&mfee to, and to es press our admiration for, the unfiinchitli ooutage of our hghting men on land aod att and to aoknowledge with prolcnmd gsntifcad? the great sacrifices which they are making in the cause of Justice and Freedom. "The chivalry and devotion of our hghO ing men will inspire us to continue to give of our best in the. workshops, conscious as we are that. by so doing we are on a Sure way to victory and peace, and to the triumph of true de- mocracy. We are confident that it only requires a continuation of the best efforts of those home in support- of our gallant sokiierg and sailors to ensure that the New Year win bring us victory and peace." Admiral Beatty. acknowledging the Welsh Labour message on behalf of the Grand Fleet, wrote: — We desire to ask thart an expremion of our thanks and deep appreciation may be oonveyed to the workers of the Principality, with the assurance that we join them in the confident hope that the continued efforts by Great Britain and her Allies will be biesssed with victory, and will secure by a lasting peace the liberty and welfare of the world. 1..

LATE MR. DOUCLAS STUAJtT, SWANSEA. The funeral took place at the Mumbles on Wednesday of the late Mr. Douglas Stuart, metal merchant, of 2, Richmond road, Swan- sea. Well known at the docks and through- out tlie town, deceased was exceedingly popular, and was a man with a sunny tem- perament. He died at Aberystwyth. and was son-in-law of Mr. D. Ii. Morgan, Eaton- cresoent. The following were the mourners v and friends:—Messrs,D. H. Morgan (father- in-law). J. D. Thomas. Melrose: W. L1. Thoantis. T>antteg. Ystaiyfera,, and D. L. Thomas. Warn (uncles): Mr. G. M. Sims (partner), Lieut. H. Sims, Messrs. H. J. Ind. ?k 1'. Noel Penrose, A. L. White (Ystalyfera), C. Williams. C. L. Dahne, D. R. Knoyle. H. G. Afhby, Frank Randell. and G. H Thonias The Rev. Canon J. H. Watkins Jones was the officiating minister, whilst the funeral arrangements were entrusted to Messrs. Beo Eva-ns and Co.

C0WER4S PATRIOTIC AID. Ciower's spiendid patriotism was well eac- eropVtfied 011 Wednesday night, by a trcfoia ,er,ort--a prize drawiug. a concert, aad a dance—and the splendid sum of B150 waa realised for the Reynolrteston Soldiers' and Sa.ilor. Dertefvt Frmd, The event was weft organised by a committee, of which the Rev. R. W. Lockv-er was chairman; Mr. Morgan. rioe-clraiirman: Mr. J. Owen. hon. sec.. and Mrs. Mansel Bevan. tlezamwer. The concert, which was held in the large hail 01 the Kizw Arthur Hotel, was capitally attended by re- presentatives from all over Gowerland. A: magnificent programme was given, and re- ceived hearty applause Since the outbreak of war the Reynoldston Committee has done threat service to the soldiers, both at the front and at home, considering the very limited population. No one has rendered S jotter service than Miss Bishop King Artihur Hotel. Reynoktetnn.

I PONT A ROU LA IS MART DOfNC WELL. Htc second forwrig^itly mart was faeW at the Biack Horse Square. Porrfcardulais, on TuesdaY. The auctioneer was Mr. W. N. Jones, Ammanford, and the graders were Mr. Tbos. M. Old Black Horse, and Ren Roberts, Llamlmmor fawr. The thirteen cattle graded werr I allocated to Gorselnon Butchers' Asso- ciation. Llangennech, Pontardulais, anxt j Llaoedy. Cows and calves averaged £ 30- j 40. A few weaning calves were readily bought v the farmers, who appreciate th*- convemumxp afforded them by wo establishment of the mart, crmseq ne-ntiy: the foturc success of the mart is asearedv

Tenders for a. fleet of five aeroplanes fee the delivery oi mails between Washington, Philadelphia, and New York, in or to re- lieve the congestion of traffic, have bean in- vited lw thp United States PcwUnaskw- i