South Wales Weekly Post

I A bill has been introduced in the Beiclustag *hioh proposes to take (ha&tic measures to remedy t.he voluntary hmitatiop ot biiihs in the G<'rma? Lmpire. I ?uu.rdi?ti Mr? Gw. i?,,? gpg?. ?,?,.] ??ck ?ker. has aut-tauied a sad bereavement by HIe death of his w?fe, -ho paseeri awav at- l.. Pinfbnry-terrace Kwanaea. on W?neg- ?y morning, tne <lcep.asc4 ?ss 65 vea-ra ot j ??. a.nd had heena:lng for the na.? two Years. She  besides ber hH?band. six ?'arr]?} t-.nj)?f-?  four ?.;= ?n? L?o I ?'?hters. '?<' luneral ?M pIner, a.t SJt^umblcB on Monday next, ?? D f: PhH '-?? bavin? the aiTaagptneu? in h<?<i.

I AERIAL. I  21 ENEMY 'PLANES!' 1 | DOWN IN THE WEST.; i'? 1-)O"A"N I N r, H F, NVES'l?. j 1MORE RAIDS INTO j GERMANY. I BRITISH GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, FRANCE Wednesday Evening. A hostile aerodrome nort.h of Douai and a large munition dump nopth-east of T.,ille were heavily bombed by ua during the day, and, in addition, 50 bombs were dropped OIl the enemy's billots. In air lighting j Eleven hostile machines were brought down and one other was driven dowit out of con- trol. A German night-bombing machine also was brought down m No Man's Land by our infantry, i Two of our aeroplanes are missing. O-er 150 bombs were dropped by us on j | an important railway centre south-east of Cambrai, and on billets north of Douai. On the night of the 19th20th inst. Thion- ville was again successfully attacked by our machines. Twenty-six heavy bomrt. were dropped on the' railway station. All the bombs were | seen to explode on and around the objective j and A large explosion was caused and two tires were .started. The enemy's anti-aircraft gunfire was again considerable, but all our machine-s re- turned safely. On the 20th iiisi. our aeroplanes bombed j the large factories and station at Pirmascns (between Metz and Karlsruhe), in Germany, j A ton. of bombs were dropped, and hits vfre obtained near the station, the !!as- wor?s..md the factories, where a large ?re was started. Ij AU onr machines returned. FRENCH ACCOUNT FOR A DOZEN. PARTS, Wednesday Night. During Tuesday four German aeroplanes were brought down by our pilots. A fifth machine was destroyed by the lire >A our special guns. In addition three enemy aeroplanes fell into their own lines seriously damaged as the result of figlitin,

G.W.R. AND THE FUTURE. j INCREASE IN RESERVE ALLOCATION. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMPANY. The annual meeting of the U'reat Western Rail.wdy p°mpany was held at the com- pany's offices, I Station, on Thins- day morrjting. the Rt. Hon. Viscount Churchill, 'G.C.V.O., presiding. The statement of accounts showed that the receipts were £ 18,310.744 and the expen- dit.ure iJI 3,210.458. leaving a balance uf £5.óf!().:106 to Iks added to miscellaneous receipts from rents, interest, etc., of ■ £448,113, a total net iuc Hue 0f .66,048.419. The etlanco to be added from the last ac- jj comit was £ .218.277. and the Balance left available for dividend on ordinary stock was £ 2.380,763. an increase of L- 3,0,000 odd over thu previous year. 1 The interim dividend of £2 pr.r cent, paid on ordinary stock last June ab- sorbed £ 741.644, leaving a balance of £ 1.639,119. which allowed payment of a di- vidoKi of JB5 15s. per cent, for the half-year ending December 31. 19¥7, making £ 6 15s. per CRnL for the year, with a balance ?r- ]ier oent. for the y&a'r. v, ned forward cf ?248,&56. The dividend paid on the ordinary stock for 1916 was L5 jj>s. p-er cent., with a balance of £ 218,277 di' iod forward. It was proposed to issue dividend warrants to the proprietors on the (iiv ld*-i-id wari,Ltlts tAi pr(-)prl,tnrs oil ttic Local Railway Construction Hamper ad. | .1 he shortage ot labour and the difficulty of obtaining materials have continued to re- tard the progress .of the new works irt hand, i the construction of the CJydacb, Ponta-r- dawe and Cwmgorse Railway having been entirely suspended through an Order of the Ministry of Munit-ions, with a view to the o.tiUsation of the men and materials for other works of national importa.nce. Sir John Idewelyn was amongst th-o i director-s present, and the Chairman said that t-he financial position was about the same as last year, lie called attention 'bo the hip- incrcasj in war bonuses, etc., the greater portion of which was beintr borne by the Government. Commenting upon the allooa- tiou of £ÜO,OOO ) the reserve, which wa-s t wice as much am last year, the Chairman. baid this course was necessary owing to the abnormal conditions. The Future was beset with such difficulty and so much uncertainty as to call for the i exercise of the greatest, precaution. It had not been possible to carry out repairs to rolling stock or property, and af':er the war much leeway would have to be made up. They could not foretell the cost of labour o" material. Much as they would like an in- creased dividend t(? the shareholderf, still it wa? in the lintel's interest that th? ?till it took this action. Over 25,000 (special trains I had been run for the Government,, and close upon six million men and over half-a-million ,-if horses had been carried during the past. year. Touching upon tt.. future, the Chairman said the Government would control the l'ail. way until Some time after the war, aud the Board looked for a. t ivs aujiport from the shareholder* to safeguard their interest. Mr. Stevens suggested the fonn?Hofn of a j rfiarehohters' union to keefJjn108e :moh! with the Government, who did not seem to realise what a- great, part^thv- railway com- panies had played in assisting with the war. Several shareholders advocated a i dividend being paid instead of = appropriating so much to the reserve.

FIVE MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME. First of U.S. Battleplanes on the: Way. (Press Agsociation War Special.) WASHINGTON, Wednesday (received Thursday). Mr. Baker, Secretary for War, announces that the first American-built battle 'planes en route for France, nearly ftvo njontbs ahead of the scJieduled time, and thus mark- jog the final overcoming of the many diffi- culties met with in building up this new and intricate iud ustry

E [. V P""I" I EGYPT. FOUR MILES OFF JERICHO. 11 i ALLEN BY SiTILL GOING AHEAD. I FINE ADVANCE ON TWO FRONTS. WAR OFFICE, Thursday, j General Allenby reports on February 20th our advance east cf jorusateml was resumed despite heavy rainstorms j and difficult country in which the enemy offered obstinate resistance. Our troops made progress to the ex- tent ef 31 miles on a frontage of about seven and three-quarter miles and ap- proaching within fear miles of Jertchs. At the same time our line was ad- vanced ta the narth-west 8f Jerusalem in a sector west of the Jerusem- Nablus road, to a maximum depth of one mile on a front of four miles. WAR OFFICE, Wednesday. Palestine.On the morning of Feb. 19 our troops advanced to the attack on a frontage of 15 mHes, east of Jerusalem, By evening all Objectives had been secured te an average depth of two miles. { ——————————————————————

;-I 00""  525 PRISONERS, I BRILLIANT SWOOP BY T-HE I FRENCH. i PARIS. Thursday. The number of prisoners taken in the course of the operations to the north of Bures and to the'east cf Monoei is 525, including eleven officers, (Press Association War Special.) PARIS, Wednesday, li p.t.th in the Argonne wr, rnpnlsed a raid ai; the Four-de-Paris, and inflicted appro- c-iable lo: on t-hc enemy. j In Lorraine, north of Bures and east of Moncel, our detach me"ts penetrated deeply and on a wide front Intt; the German lines. This operation, briHiantly conducted, enabled us to bring back a number of prisoners, of which the total coun ted exceeds 400. In the Vosgcs there was rather active artillery fighting in the region of the Fare. ON THE BRITISH FRONT. BRITISH GENERAL HEADQCAJilfciK»S, FRANCE, Thursday, ga.m. New X«-aland troops carried out a suoceefc- fu1 raid east. of-Polygon. Wood and cap- tured some prisoners, Enemy artillery was active yesterday against onr positions .at. Flesquieres. BRIT IS H GEXERAL HEAD- I <)U Ain EfLS, FRANCE. Wednesday, 9.30 p.m. A few prisoners have been brought- in by our patrols: on the southern portion of our front. A raid attempted by the enemy early J. this morning east of Armentieres was successfully repulsed. Hostile artillery has shown some activity during the clay in the neighbour- hood of Ñt. Quentin and south-west of La Ba-ssce.

ONE BIC, BOAT LESS. i LAST WEEK'S PIRACY RETURNS. There is a. decrease ot one in the number of large Brit.ish v&sM'ts eunk by U"-boats during the past week, the figure being twelve as against thirteen. Three smaii vessels were torpedoed and a fishing vessel was sunk. Eight of the vessels were at- tacked, but escaped. Arrivals and Sailings. "Merchant vessels of all nationalities (over 100 tons net.) arrivjng aiJ and sailing from United Kingdom ports (excltLsive of fishing a.nd local craft) during the week ending February 16) (a) Arri vals. 8,522 I (b) Sailings. 2,396 Losses. British merchant vessels sunk by m-itie or 6ubDl;U'ine (a) 1,600 tons (gross) or over. 1:.1:- r tj) 1 ixder 1,600 tons (gross) 3 (-) FicllÚng vessels sunk 1 Unsuccessful Attacks. d 1, British merchant ve??.unsu(- j c<'?fuHy attacked bv M?b- j marines I. St I Include? two sunk during the week end- ing February 9. t Includes one attacked during the week I ending February 9, ¡ Last Week's Figures. I Arriva l s ■ Sailings 2,274 j LOSSES. 1,600 to?s gross or over 1? ) Under 1,600 tons gl'O 6 j Fishing vessels sunk 3 Unsuccessful attacks 11 I

INTERESTING SWANSEA WEDDING.! I A pretty weaumi ?.? ^eit-praiei! at ht. D?vd's R.C. Ghur?h. Swa.nsea. betwcori ?" Leslie E. Davieg, oi Swansea, and vounarer daughter of Mrs., Luce, West Gross, Tho bride was tasteiuifly aAtiied in white charmeu.se, with an overdress of Georgette i raimmed with silver and sprays of silver maidenhair tora. H-er veil was caught up on cither jde with spray is of orange blossom. J Mrs. G. H. Holman (sast-er of bride) was in attendance matron of honour, attired in pale blue satin with an iiverore-'ii of\¡ Geoi-gette trimmed with silver and silver* girdle, and Miss 01-Ta Gross (cousin of the hrideb as bridesmaid, in pale blue ninon. Both wor*» mob caps and veils trimmed with i silver and forjrct-mp-nois. The bride vraa sriven away by her brother, Assfetarut- Pay- nia-s:ev C. Luce, K." of the firm of Messrs C. A. fsiiee arid Holtoan. coai eT- norters. Mr. Bert James acted is lxst man. Tne newly-married couple afterwards left for London and Briglitw.

.< 1 PORT TALBOT'S WELCOMEN I | 11 TO PRINCE OF WALES. A RED4ETTER DAY. q.5 » LOCAL ENTHUSIASM. I lii,e visit, of his Royal Highness th Prince ci Wales to Port Talbot on cdnosday. although but a brifrf one, mark eel another important event, in The historic annals 05 this anci-ent borough and- district. in fact, Aberavon. and Margam can lay greater claim to Royal patronage than almost any other town in the Principality, for m the dim and dismnt ages it was the home of Welsh I Princes and the '??ne of visits from no less than three of England's ancient Kings, Henry II., King John and King hisuorv, the b»te King Edward VII.. grandfather of the present Pfince, paid a visit to Alargam Castle in IRS]. and later n 1910 Prince Arthur of Connaught, was aj guest at Marg¡]lH(.aSn(. for several days. The visit of tfvj Prince of Wales day only added another link in that long and historical association with Royal Princes. Unfortunately, owing to the short notice of tbt visu, and to the fact I that it was regarded more as a private than a public a.nd official one, the pre- parations. for the reception of the Royal t visitor not a., elaboriite as thev would otherwise have been. Neverthe- less, immediately it was announced, the loe-al authorities and the proprietors of the Port Talbot Steelwork s lost no time in making the rrceptioll a -right royAi Welsh welcome. CNef Object AK. the Visit. As already announced, the visit- was purely for the purpose of an inspection ■ ot the Port, Talbot Steelworks, one of tho most modern and progressive jndm- trial concerns in tin1 Principality, awi the whole of thf time allowed for thi.-il inspection was one hour. The first in- -snauon of the visit was received by'! the M&TW 6f ?h?M-avon, ?M. J. M. Smith, J.P., who wat. invited to be pre- sent 011 the arrival of the Prince on the; t>W -R. ssAi-ion platform. Arrange- i ments were then made for the Aberavon j Council to attend, and this wav followed.; ?y the arrangern t fo t' a Mmi?r ho'nom- for &he Maj gam j'c' w-rder'- l stood, however, 11 it only tiie Ma-yor of Aberavon and the C?irm? of! tb? Mar?m Co?ncti won!d he prpacuted to the Prtn?. The Steel Company ?Lso arranged to provide accommodation for! the families of the workpeople employed at the works and representatives of local industry. Those on the Platform. The Prince, accompanied -by his .^liite. tra- veiled down in a sfocial saloon coach at-1 tached to the ordinary train a,-id i arrivod at Port 1 albeit- at lu,ic-i-ied in. the train. Only a, limited number oc)f I)er-I snnf were allowed on t.he platforni when the! train steamed 111 and these included: Col. j J. R. Wright, tit? chairman-- of Baldwins,! Ltd. iihafc own the Port Talbot Worb). and! other directors of t-he company, thR ?l&v?r of A?ntvoH (Aid. A M. Sm?th. J.P.). the! ()f Al )c-r;LA,oii (,.Aid. -J.P.). ?hel ?kbei?avoii -V-o,,?es 1 Councillor Llewellyn H. Nicholas (chairman j of the ?[argam CouDcil) and the clerk (Mr.1 D. E. Jones), Aid. 13eti Jones (Mayor of Swansea), the Town Clerk of Swansea (Mr. H. Lang Coath), and the following other! members of the Swansea Coi-poration :— ^Udermen Daniel Jones. T. Merrelis, M. Tutton. W. H. 'Councillors Colonel: A. Sinclair, Percy, Molynens (deputy-! Mayor), 14atigliartie Morgan, -T. Powlesland and David Matthew» representatives of the Aberavon Corporation and Margam District Council, and others. Iinmexiiately the Prince alighted from the' train the Mayor of Aberavon, the chairman of the Ma.rga.rn Conned a-rtd the Mayor of Swansea were pre^nt-ed to the Royal visitor and the. two former handed to the Prince addresses of welcome from the iiih"-blt&-itsi of their respective districts. j The Prince Enters the Works. The Prince, accompanied by Col. J. R. {Wright, Col. (lias. Wright, C.B., J.P., Capt. Lionel Lindsay (chief constable of the county) and the Princels suite, then, proceeded along a specially erected- platiort-i I at. the Aberavon end of the station, direct to the works, which he entered at the j smelting department. Here the Prince II wis escorted over the new fumac* with their latest labour-saving appliances. From here he proceeded over the following de- partments, the sorting pits, the convey ox-I the ?-'e- h ea. -biDg furiia?ee-- the re-heating furnaces, the skids,. fimsbmg 1 department-, the plate mills, hot banks, munition shed, the- magnet crane gun try, '?Ba? produœrs, test. hou.?e. and M'oand the i iolci, furnace department back h)! the railway station. The Prince displaved keen interest in the I operaticHs of t4ie. crane gantry, which lifted huge ptec?s of m<?t? by ma?- netic force. At the pl.? mills tlw Royal  visitor aiso evinced much inten-t as ]? watched the rolling- of red hot ingots into immense 'plates' for boilers and ahip ";idft-. The test house also provided an interesting illustration in the manufacture of steei. [THE MARCAM COUNCIL'S ADDRESS, i May it Upon the occasion, 04 your fhst vis.it to our neighbourhood, we, the Urban Di.stnct II GOUIwil of Maigatti, on behalf of the in- habita,¡}t: dæire to extend to you a, most j-hearty welcome. Thjb desire Oil our part is quickened by the gladness of remem brance, for the inhabitants of the district ever bear hi liappy memory the visit to Margam in 1381 or your- grandfather, then Prince 01 Wales iiiid afterw«.rd» oar Kir^, now of | revered memory. it may interest your Royal Highness to have brought, to yoirr mind historic visits to the uietric.t in the clistaiit pat. In 1171 King, Henry II, visited Margam. In 1210 King John. on his way to And from Ireland, was. a guest at Margam; aaid in 13216 King l Edward sifcayed, in the course of hte wander- ji iiigs, at Margarn. Your Royal Highness will Hote witli in- terest nJxe growing industries of the district. The thip?tie trade long ]lad a home here, I and now tJl new and .?'owin.? ?teel indu-trv has come, ettco?l?ged bv the (aei!i.ti Of j the piace Hld by i,n deveiopmeu!, 0/ t;ie j irajwrtaist- ttNI i,he (i.t? ve iop] )tell 1, o,r'p- Hy- 1 ne ?eg-mnu'? of ihe pr?.?crhA''o.f Port Talbot Wa.« t?? cuiLStiuctiuu ui the n?w docks, whidi were begun mi 1894; Ii., may be remarked here tixait a tidal harbour ex- isted at the mouth of the River Avon from time immemorial, aa?d it is Lrcuight to our ?tctme ?? far back a? '[Z?5. ?or in t'h?. year the King ordered that the Abbots of Mar- gam's Ship were to be given to John, the Cdlarer of that House. The great antiquary, John lclatid, Wls (JoE in 1537, or about that, "There is an haven for shippes at the mouth of the Avon." The town of Port Talbot is rapidly in- creasing, and from 4,000 in 1866 the popub- tion has increased to 17.000 this year. The rateable value in that year was £ 25,000, and now it is £ 100,000—an increase in twenty- two years of £ 77,000. Seven years ago at Carnarvon you were acclaimed as Prince of Wales by an assembly representative of all the inhabitants of the Principality, and on the outbreak of this disastrous war, at the earliest call, you went forth as a soldier and a. man to nphoiu upon t-he battlefields of Europe the ancient prtvii?e? of our gl&o? nation. The Prin- cipality h<? ici??cw&d your ?Areer with un- failing interest, <in? ev?ry testimony shows that right nobly have you d?ne your duty. A searching light ha»s latterly been th-rowp upon every monarchal institution, but itlm-s given us great joy to find that, whilst the occupants of some thrones have displayed inefficiency and hateful autocracy, j our own beloved King and Queen have had no thoughts other than to be faithf-til to the trust reposed in them by the nation, and to promote kindly sympathy and con- tentment among the vast, population over whom vour kinclv father so uprightly rules. The Prince's Response to the Gali. You. by your ready response at the call j of duty, have shown a worthy example to j ali the youth ot* the nation who have nobly I responded from every quarter of the glo where the British ensign proudly floats. We humbly tru>t that a result of vour visit you will return rejoiced to tliii-ik Welshmen are jutting foBt-h their every en-j deavour, with one object in view, nam-ely, to bring this war to an early and success- ful ending, and c-v> restore to our Empire the benefits of a glorious and lasting peace. And may we say th-at upon this latter thought, after three and a lialf years of !)Itter'wa.rfaro and th6 loss of so many and true men. the will of all of us is more than ever strongly set, and in no place more than at Port TaAbot. In conclusion, it is our earnest- prayer that voil may long be spared to assist, your Royal father in the onerous duties which fall to hj- lot. J The following address wa? presMited 10 the Prince from the .Mayor and Cor- poration of Aberavoii' FROM THE MAYOR AND CORPORA- TION OF ABERAYON. Suy- It may please your Royal. Highness to j receive from the Mayor, Aldermen and Bur- gesses of the ancient borough of Aberavon (whose first- Charter was granted by Sir Thomas de Averw to the burgesses in the 24t.h year oj the re ign of King Edward the Third after the COIquest-1351) their most hsarty welcome upon your visit to the int- hiLriiir i.nd humbly a ppreciated. It. wiil serve, as a stimulus to the nu- .merous pa rente and relatives vriiose sons, 1 liusbands or bi'otherp have fallen in the noble eaus«? of human freedom, and to those whose relations are. still gallantly engaged s in the various theatres of war. e have heard from our boys home on leave of the heroic part unostentatiously dis- played by your Royal Highness when on acitive. service with the rank and file in ou-i Army during the engagement at Pilchem Ridge in July, 1917, and we fed gratified j and proud that you emergted; therefrom Ult-I scathed. A"our contempt of danger and your i-nen s h own towards 1 the men w proverbial. Your Royal Highness ic, assured that the borough of Aheravon and district have j nobly responded to the can for men. com- paring favourably with ot,herparts 'of the United Kingdom. A great deal baa been done in the district in voluntwry work a.nd contributions for our wounded soldiers a.nd sailors, and also for the comfort of soldiers awav and home on leave. We oheri&h bite hope that your Royal Highneos may be able to pay a visit to this borough a-fter oe5sa.tion of hostilities. Our prayer is that the blessings of AI- mighty (' cd will rest upon year Royal High- ness. his Majesty the King. and otlier m-zu- bers of the Royal Family, and that you may enjoy long life. health and strength, to con- tinue to serve your country and to carry on the traditions of yom' forefathers, and that peace upon such terms as will secure a last-! ing peace will soon .be restored. Assuring his Majesty the King, your Roval Higliness, and other members of the Royal Family of the loyalty of the inhabi- ( tantis of this borough. 'i JOHN MORGAN SMITH, j „ The Mayor of .Aberavon, Justice of the Peace for the Borough of AbBraym and County oi Glamorgan, and CouAl?y (?&anciUct' for the County of Glamor- ;<H). I MOSES THOMAiS. Town Clerk. j "THANKS, VERY 1\lUCH. MUCH. | < PRINCE AND SWANSEA ADDRESS. I THE WELCOME AT PORT TALBOT. '1"1 ".I' f \;ê. J Th? Mayor of Swansea., m' heu? present^ to the Prince of Wal es on Wednesday, re- minded the young Prince that he had wel- comed his grandfather. He was pleaded to see his Royal Highness there. In reply to the address c-f welcome the Prince said, "Thanks very much," and remarked that it. I was unfortunate t.hat it, was such a wretched j day. Major Paulet, Ministry of Munitions, London, accompanied the Prince, and Col. Charles Wright and Mr. J. Yaughan Wil- liams. district superintendent. Cardiff, iilso ( travelled by the train, A move was then made to t.he w orks, and at the entrance the party were met by Col. J. R. Wright, chairman oi' the .company. Ho presented to the Prinefe' Mr. J. C. Davi es i.olle of the managing directors), Mr. Gilbertson ((South Wales Mmist^-ial Area, Committee), Mr. F. W. Gibbins (chairman Tin plate Conciliation Board* Capt. Jjeighton Davios (Ministry of Munitions), Mr. Tom Griffiths (divisional officer Iron and Steel I Trades Federarion). Mr. G. M. Tnrnock and Mr. W. C. Turnoc^k. j The Prince shook each, cordially by the j ijaiid, and Mr. Tom Criffitb^ nomai'kod to li:s Royal Highness that lhey were A loyal and patriotic body in Wales, I to whicn the Prince responded. "Splendid!" I A great- crowd of men and women lined the way in t-o the works, and from fwery j point of, vantage workmen crowded to see the Prince, who passed along amidst waving i hct- and I Enthusiastic cheers ot ere:ybody. • I II The Prince a^laxwrledged lie wcloome by In ?ve i ?*n?Le 'by touching his cap as he walked witfe the ven- era vte chairman ot tlie comnaaiv. Prmce and the rdeni Veteran. On t'h" ws-y to the light-plaite section, the notiopd Corpararl Cooper in milii-Twv ooifarm ta-ding at gua.rd. Tile X^rim-e a.p- proached bim. a.nd seaing his medals, aakd if he waf; in Fraaoe in 1914. The Om-poral. who resides at A-beravon, re- pHod that be wag ? M?M. and aa,w servi?? in. b<mth Africa as we?.. T?e Pri?p ?x- ?t,o Eil(-Cn at ti,? I In the ??" department the Pn? ap??e to Eileen L?yshon, a Bonny munition wafter. and asked her how long she had been ai, work- and if she Kked her job. Nbe replied th?t ?b? had ?n thre f?r ?nionth.=, and lik? it very muc?. The Prince be- j! stowed 4 royal amU? upon M,? l??h?n ?Mt shook hands with her. ?rh<. h?ry bar mi? ?aiid ',he te? hou? ??re t?M v?jted L PRINCES -COOD-BY-E TO WEST It WALES. On t.he piatibiTO the Prince shook ha.nl7" I with the Mayor of Aberavon. and looked exceedingly pl-eaeed with his reception. I Major PaulM accomp.n?cd h's Roval High- ness into the saloon, and C?on?i Cha.rl3 WM?it and Mr. ,i. 13. V(ili aj?o tra- velled by the same train. As the train steamed out entlmsiastit clicer, were given, I and Colonel J. R. Wright called out "Good-bye, ?r. to the Prhtcp. who, I  the sending at the Iioo,. saJutaticB. !NC!DENTS ?N THE HOUR. LOYAL ENTHUSIASM OF THE II POPULACE. I -,s c-re ei-owded I u the single 'hour thai his Rf>yal Highness had allotted to his visit of inspection of the Port Talbot Steel Works, but they were carried through with tha.t smoothness that characterises an functions where Royalty is present. Die train arrangements, under I the direct control of Mr..1. Powell, the assistant divisional riipermtendent cf the G. W.R. Company, left nothing to be de- sired, and at the works the management had arranged even the "minutest details, so that nothing should mar the sitgnal honour conferre i upon the 1 omp»ny. 'the weather, unfortunately, wa-s not ail that could have been desired, but a drizzling rain did not j 11: e :nt, s gr?t cr 0 wd a.?embMn? in the j vcmity of the Ab<?voa station hi the hope! "f eaÚÜng a glim: d the Prince, whilsi. The feyal enthusiasm oi iii-e horny-handed 'vsirknieii at the Port Talb-ot works knew no bo->vrc^. His Royal Highness, kx4diig exceedingly emart in his ofifcer's uniform, beamed with delight at the extremely loyal reosption ac- corded him, and the writer, as he looked at the Prince, now a sturdy young man, re- caHed t-he fact that ',he last time he saw I him whs H.- a youth attired in Court dres", I Wit, W, ?i VO-,7,tb Attit'ICA '-rl C-C?UT,t dr-;?,?., ?rgeouK cp??p ?a.i has ever beea or ever will be seen in* the Principality of Wales. It was at the. investiture of the young Prince at Carn-ii'von Castle on July 13th, 1911. Then no 'var depressed the na- tion, as now, and the young Prince was presented from each side of the old wall, ,il the historic oa-stie tc receive a welcome such as only WeJ?hmRn c?u accord. The rocep-I tion on Wednesday, though under vastly different circumstances, was iM ??ss hearty ¡ aixl sincere. COL. J. R. WRIGHT I HEAD OF WALES* GREAT STEEL INDUSTRY. I t „ It is almost- a work of supelera^aiiou to I say who and what manner of man is Colonel J. R. Wright, whom Royalty has so sig- nally honoured by selecting the Port, Talbot Steelworks as the first to be visited on the young Prince' s tour. The "Old Colonel." as hQ i-- affectionately known by the man in i the street, is one ot the most familiar respected figures in Swansea and Port Tal- bet, if not indeed in the whole of South ] t Wales, especially in the iron and steel trade circles. But the occasion is so unique that, I reference must be made to the head of Baldwin's. Ltd., which is one oi the largest i iron and steel manufacturers in the country, j > A Lancashire lad born in 1846, Co!. Wright j i cMamed his firt insight into <hp iron and j f';p?l trades !? a. premium pu?U at. the Soho ? ] Engineering Works, lypstop. Later ön he 1 became a.s?oc'at<?d ?ith Dr. Siemen, under  wtbosc direction at Birmingham he construct- I e d the furnace ibal-cast the first, ingot made 1 by the ilow famous Siemens' process. Just 2 fifty years, ago he came to and ,tt the old. Landcre Siemens' Steel Company he w,i<5 able to bring to boar that hard- headed business acumen and organising I -tbilky to characteristic of the Lancas hire people. The district, however, nearly lost hist services, for he left for Gla;|nv after being some yeans at Swansea; Li t by a stroke of considerable good foi tune he re- turned to Landocc and joined the late Mr. Butler and others, and eventuallv establish- ed the now familiar firm of Wright, Butler, > and Co.. that for many years carried on the i.-andore t.he. Steelworks, ¡ tiie Elba Colliery, Gowerton, etc. the output c-f which helped to u. very considerable ex- I tent. to make South Wales the great iron and steel centre it is to-day, ml will be still more so in-the future-. In 1908 Baldwin's. J,tt,fl.. was formed to amalgamate five large and old-established undertakings, including Wright, Bwtier. and Co., Ltd., and hy tlm time the Port Tailmt Steelworks that were visited on Wednesday bv H.R.H. the Prince of Wales had beeai. established, through the enterprise of Coknd Wright and his son, Col. Charles Wright, and those associated with them. Upon the death 01 the-late Mr.1 Baldwin, Cl. Wright waa ckct?d chairman oi this big firm. and very shortly afterwards tb? head ?'Mces ? &ldwin'><. Ltd., were re- moved from Piivmingham to -Swansea. i Striking Business Foresight. By erecting tinpla-te mills at Baldwin's Works on the Swansea Burrows. Ov-J. Wright gave evidence of his business! foresiglit, fed- he was able to utilise the I tinplate haa-s made aT Landorr, and thus to yome extent- meet the one-time sejious; dumping oi steel bars. W[ ilst he has; fostered to a material degree Swansea's! trade it can safely be said that Ped Talbot and district will for ever owe Col. 1¡'Wright; a dp debt of giatitude. fori probably no <m? has giveu such <). ?ip ?' its trade ?s he has don? t:ot ot)!y ?sj chairman of the great firm that embraees- the Pon Talbot S?elwcrk?., bu' as chairman d !? Po-T Taib(? Railwavi and ]?x;k? Company. His ?ii?.t tip f? the shaicliolders -i- liol<i ou to their hold- j I iug m tins latt-ei- concern will not soon I be forgotten, and herein Met one of the best traits in his character. Bluff and I hearty, he is esteemed for h's tranknegs and good nature." Besides other pointments that he lias held Co I. Wright. j" an ex-chair man of the Sw ansea Metal Exchan?. An huppria!?t and an ad- ?-anc? Th!):T Rffo.ncr. he has for ?; b?.n ?.' t?<' oi ti? Untfyn?L t?rT.?n 1 Swansea and district, and soesaHy he ajsSI Mrs. Roper Wright, t/ogether with CoL and Mrs. Chas. Wright, rank very higjfef in the local scale. Indeed, it would be difficult- to find a family whose presence) at any social function is so delightfnlly welcomed. Whether it be. at Primrom I"m-jp ?athe?ngs. a dinnn or a danc% the (jid Wonel," with his bræzy ood-natnTed mneT. is always & central ti?re. and on Wedne?dav. next h?r, Roya? I Highness the Prince of Wales, he wa* I' still in the picture, to use an everyday expression. He is a Deputy-l>ietutenanf of the eocnty and a Justice of the Peaces I THE F. I Striking Details of Indascrial Scope. The ioikwrinsr p«tak?nlars appe&r ia nam gauven4r iasoed by Measro. Baiiwiiw, TAd. Port, T&ibrrt s%t<e«l works: Annual pr- duct*OU of steei *W-Apu. M, M txms; .em- P. 1,700. The company was fnrmed in the vear 19BL to amalgsrmte ttio large aixd oldlisbM. undertakings o(.-Wricht, Butler and Oo.. lacl.; E. P. and V. Baldwin, L.M.: Alfred Baldwin and Co., Ltd Th< Bfenckwall Qal- vlUiiøerl Iron oo.. lad.; The Bryn Navigation Ool1i.ery Co.. lAd. Board ot IHpeotors.—Ch airman, Ckrfooeit John Koper Wrigaft, D.L.; man*eing direcaoir^ C44cmel WfWiam Gha«l«gc Wrigfet. C.B., John Ce>ii Davies: d irettfors, Rogrer Beck, lamulse Pore, Colonel David FAlid Williams, Sir E,i«h«,rd Taeajvr Vaa;lar-8mi. Bert., and FAm-imd I.-vous Bmn-Thomae. The Firm's Many Aottvitios. The Pouowing gives an indioatkm of the nature and extent of the company's prosea* a«t-iviti«fi: Iron and Stee l Worke.- Port Talbot Stedl Works, Port Talbot: Swansea Ifeinatite Iran and Steel Works, LajKlore; Elba Steel Works, Gowerton; Pant-eft Steel Works, Newport. Shcit. Ti-upl&te and Galvanisin? Works. Panteg Sheet Works, Newport: Loww Mills Sheet Works, Pomtypool: Phoenix Galvanising Woiis. Pont j-pool; King's Doek Works, Swan- sea: Witoen Iron W orke. Stonrport; Stouaf "ale Work. Kidd«rmiit8ter: Oookley WorkB, lirierley Hiil; Swimion Works. Lkndley, B'acfcw«ll Works. London. Coke Ovens.—Landore, Cwraavim, Port; 'Pa-ibot. Ovew.-I,ndore, Cwmeyon, Pors Collieries.—-A bsrbaiden, Bam, OrÏbbwl" Pawr, Albioai., Qnarries.—Ooni«aiy Ijiaesitoiie Quarrjr, Black Mountain Silrea, Quari-y# Brickworks.—bandore Silica. Brickworks, Landore, Concrete Brickworks. The Annual Outpots The alUhlal o«,tpu,i« of the eompart^s establishments afte?- oonxpl«t-ion of exten. &ions now in will be. --pig Iron. zio-wo tons: srteei inpote, 950,000 tons: sfaeel manufaetured g'<)OCiB, sfhip a.nd boiiflr plaAee, i-aiii. hloomis. billets. iO'f]t\. and bars, 868,000 tona: galvanised sheets, cisterns, tanks. and drums, 65.000 tons: sheets And phtt.es. tinned, and lead-coated, 45,008 tenw: iron aDd tteel east-ngs. 15,000 Ionf, I eúal. 1,100,000 bOtis; coke, 2iS0,OGO tons; lim- &t.m.e, 40,000 tonn: silica, stone and sand, T2.t!00 silioa h-mim 5,000,000: concrete bricks. 10,000.000. The emploves of the coia- pau-y total 12,000.

COMMITTED TO ASSIZES. EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGE AT SWANSEA. MILLERS' AGENT'S ALLEGED DEFALCATIONS. Frederick L-eonard Alien (35), clerk, i. the employ of Messrs. Hollers and Bakers, wacz: charged at the Swansea Police Court ou Thursday with embezzling and stealing on account for, and m the name of his em. ployers, six amounts on six different dates during November, 1917, ;imoui>tipg <4 £ 171. Defendant- wais also charged that ha did wilfully and wsth irrtent to defraud omili certain material pari-iculars from certain documents or ei-ccoQ-n^c belonging to his. em- ployers. Mr. Thomas, of Messrs. Mackintosh and Thomas, Cardiff, for the. prosecution said: tnat defendant was tb" Swansea agent of Messrs. Spilbrs and Bakers at, E250 per year. Defendant's methods resembled the Robbing of Peter to pay Paul. and robbing Paul to pay Peter." Evidence giver, by tradesmen showed that defendant received payment for ac. Ciunta auui did not, give ..official rece?pct». saving he would post tlisp 11. When t-1t- tradesmen wrote to the timi for their re- ceipts tlvev were- iaformed that. tAieir ac- counts were overdue. Mr. Leddey, manages iyf Spinel's and Bakers, deposed to defendant Confessing his defalcations. Defendant, had 110 reply to make to t-he charges, and lie was committed, for trial. Mr. Thompson's roqtusst. for bail N, as granted m £ 100 and surety cf Lioe..

.i IN, A DYING CONDITION," TAWE LODGE COMMITTEE'S ALLEGATION. PATIENT FROM SWANSEA HOSPITAL. Arising out of 1Jbe death of an inmate who had, it was stated, died within twenty-four hours after hit admittance from the Swansea, iloupita-i, Mr. J. Bundle, at Tawe I.-odg,- Com. ruitte^ on Wednesday, asked that the matter should be taken up seriously with the Swan- sea Hospital Committee for having trans- ferred a patient in this condition. The family, who were highly respected, resented the action keenly, that; the pa,tient should, have been dumped" into the Workhouse ii-id pauperieed a few hours before, his death. He was in a dying condition when admitted. Phe fact tha-t a, considerable sum was found in his possession wa? evidence, that he was lot, destitute, and phuutd nr>t have beeh sent :,0 the Workhouse. Mrs. H. D. Willja-nts said this was not, the 1rst time pjtf-iont* had been doalt with in a. similar manner at the Hospital, ami it wM ?Q? tim tha.t a drastic ."t?p ? taken ?Mt (" .tep be tALkc-n ,-gard ? the Hosp?tM! auth«rity. Mr. David Grey was of opinion than There were circumstances w?nMi'. mg Uw shCHoc. Father H?rriu?ton c<uiMd?-?d the c?B. WiVa?e were r)? :ü presml in a position i? judge the Hospital Oommit'tee. Mr. Ball maintained mi at the working-man. who wat. appealed to to support the Hospital ] continually, and did (evidenoo of whioh au- peaved in the the previous Jay witJt regard to ttie sum reaiised by ? oamivalt, had a claim t? proper treatment, ?;v the in. sututt?t. and a.s a p?t?iic bodv thev had & 3"'?ht to knew why sutfh a case a." that was remored to the infirmary. The Œerk wat. instructed fo write to th. secretary for Full pa-rtieular*.

i PRISON IN FUTURE. LLANELLY BENCH AND A DANGEROUS PRACTICE, Joseph Long. Park-terrace; Ernest, Ed- wshrds. Masons-road, Oorseinun: and Rich- ard Peroull. 8, Annesley-streot. were at Llauelly on Wednesday fined RS.,ind J. W. Thrnnpgwai, Elkington-road, IS. for having. matches or tobacco in a munition factory. T'or similar offence, .William. Peters, Priory-street., Carmarthen, was 8Ut down for 14 days, and Samuel Cliarles. Marine Cottage, Fertyside. foi one month. Tiie tu'esiding magistrate said, "With re- glird to t-hese cases, it is an extraordinary thing, to oar minds, that, notwithstanding the heavy penalties we have imposed of lata for offences oi this nature, they keep recur, ring. 'It see;:us Almost impossible to luting JiOn>e to the employes that notiiing could justify thcit hai ing, mafeche, pipee, tobacco, etc.. at the works tinder any condi- tion* whatsuever. Four week ago I px- pressed the feelings of the Bench hi no ..D1- certain words tlieii anuonnced that. in inttir-e we would take movc serious notice of the offences. At a meeting 01 th? magi- strates w liavc since decided that the penalty must tte impi-isonment, unless in exceptional circumstances. ——— ,'St

Arthur Newnia-n. aged 9. of Johu-st-reoi. was admitted to the Swansea Hospital Oil Wednesday evening, havinar sustained a frae- tared jaw through being- knocked down by a. motor-car in Pj fats-y-sti-eet-.—Samuel Evaxt* • IS), of Narii-varbngh-road..Swansea, a coal hopper a.t the Ph(pi't? F?e! Works, wa? crushed hsxweer, a truck and ¡¡ elevator yr<iay, and he <rtistained :i fractured clavi -lc. Ff was det-fincd at the