Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

POWTARDAWE SCENE. II TRADESMAN USES UNPARLIA- MENTARY LANGUAGE. I There was a warm d-.scu-seior. at the I Pontardawe District Council meeting on Thursday over the petition presented by membera of the Pontardawe Chamber cf Trade for a separate order for Pontardawe ender the Shop Houra* Act The order. made for the district, states that shops muet close on Saturday night, at 10 p.m.. and this was one of the chief grounds of the petition. The Pontardawe tradesmen wish to change to 10.30 p.m. Mr. 11. J. Powell. at the outset, said he did not approve of the petition, because they had been waiting 18 mo-ntzs for the order. ft seemed to him that the Pontar- dawe people did not know their own minds. He considered that when most men finished work at three p.m., all shopping should be done before nine p.m. The deputation of the Pontardawe Chamber of Trade, consisting of Messrs. Win. Davies tVictoria-buildirigsj, Griffith Davies (Bridge Housel, Dan Davie.3 (Boot Stores), and W. A. Thomas (Herbert-street), then entered the meeting. Mr. Wm. Davies said that the reason 't.h,ey, applied for a eep?rate order was be- IC.:I.U-e it wcudd be a disadvantage to close ¡ a.t 10 p.m. on Saturdays He maintained that it would mctplify matters oy granting the separate order, and then there would be no need to petition the whole district should occasion arise in tiie future. Mr. Griffith Davies, in supporting, ex- Plained how conditions changed in certain districts from time to time. and their idea. was to secure local control, or a kind of Home Rule in the matter. He thought it would be more beneficial to the whole dis- trict if each populous place had an crder of their own. Mr. Bevan (Shops Act Inspector), said that when he went round the tradesman of Pontardawe some time ago the majority voted for 10 o'clock, and since then some- one else hal been round and influenced the tradesmen to change to 10.30, hence the petition. He could not see what Pon- tardawe peopla were made Mr L. W. Francis said he could not see why the Inspector should make an accusa- tion of that kind. Mr. Dan Davies se.id that if they closed at 10 o'clock Saturday nights it would make a great difference in their turnover. Mr: Lewis W. Francis asked if the IUB- pector had visited personally all the shop keepers on his register? Inspector Yes. lUr. Friveis: Then I will oall you an abominable liar. Cries of "Order! Order!" and "With- draw." Mr. Francis: I will say then, from infor- mation received, that, that is not a correct statement. Mr. B. A. Jones: That's the same thing. Mr. W. T. Jones: Have you visited the Co- operative Stores? Inspector: No. there was no need because they have made arrangements to close earlier than tho Act already. The deputation having withdrawn, there was a lengthy discussion. • On a vote being taken, only three voted foe granting a separate order, there being a big majority against.

A Memory of Waterloo. I A hundred years ago next June the fate of Europe was decided on the field of Waterloo. FAr an hour, while the battle was at its height. Napoleon, it sat in his tent in a state of profound lethargy. His masterful brain was in bondage to a body worn out by indigestion, of which he was a victim. This historic exoanple shows the impossibility of keeping up bodily and mental fitness unless stomach, liver, and bowels a.re healthily active. Thousands have ^proved that the best means of achieving this is to take Mother Seigel's Syrup, after meals, for all digestive weaknesses. Why? Because the Syrup is a scientific blend of a dozen curative herbal extracts, which, in Nature's way, aid digestion to supply the body with what is strengthening in food, and to expel its waste products through, the bowels. Test it to-day!

LIVELY BRITONFERRY SCENE. I A midnight assault upon P.S. Walsh, Britonferry, was related to the Neath County justices on Friday, when Ivor Lee. a gipsy, together with his two brothers—Henry and Albert—surrendered to their bail. According to the evidence of P.S. Waleli, defendants were van-dwellers in Villier's Yard, Britonferry, and on Satur- day night there was a quarrel. The titros I defendants were very druak, and when tie separated Ivor Lee, wio was with another man, a gang of giiwies seemed to resent it. Ivor threatened to rip him up, and someone threw a stone at him. He closed with Ivor Lee, who fell to the ground to resist arrest, and com- menced kicking out like a madman. Witness received seveiral kicks on the leg- Ivor Lee was ordered to pay 37s. 6d. and costs, and Henry and Albert 7s. 6d. and costs each.

COLLIER DRAWS COMPENSATION BUT WORKS ELSEWHERE. At Neath County Sessions on Friday, Albert Jones, collier, Belgrave-road, UppeT Loughor, was fined £ 3 10s., in- eluding costs, for obtaining the sum of1 17s. 6d. by false pretences. It was stated in evidence that defendant, who was in the, employ of the Mifin Colliery Company, presented himself at the pay office on June 20th, and stated that he was totally incapacitated for work owing to an injury sustained at the colliery on May 30th. He was paid the sum of 17s. Hd.. to which he was entitled under the Workmen's Com-I pensation Act. It was subsequently dis- covered that during this particular week defendant worked four days at Brynteg Colliery, Seven Sisters. Defendant admitted the facts, as stated by the witnesses.

MINERS' FEDERATION. j A conference of the Miners' Federation of (rrpat Britain was held at the Wfiptminwtf r Palace Hotel, ix>ndon. /Mr. Eobert Smillie presided, and "among those present were Messrs. W. Brace, M.P., J. Winstone. G. Barker. V. Hartehom, C. B. Stanton. and A. Onions. On the motion of Mr. Stanton, a reso- lution wa" unanimously passed calling upon the Government to at one adopt a scheme providing for pensions of not "less than Jil per week for persons serving with the Colours who may be disabled; also .£1 pe- week for the widows of ih o$»e killed during the war with lis. 6d. per week for each child dependent on the bread-winner. It was further decided to ask the chair- man (Mr. Smiflie) to lay the resolution before a conference of Labour organisa- tions to be held shortly, and to ask that I the resolutions be adopted.

I LADY BRYNMOR JONES HOSTESSI AT CHILDREN'S PARTY. Lady Brymnor Jones, who was ac- companied by Sir David Brynmor Jones. acted as hostess at the children's party of I the Glamorganshire Society at the ilol- born "Restaurant on Thursday evening, and many well-known people of the county were there to support her. Gifts | were distributed to the children, and Mr. Bert Thomas, an old Swansea boy, who is now famous as a cartoonist, entertained them v. ith lightning sketches of Welsh celebrities, including Mr. Lloyd George and Six D^vid Brynmor Jones.

GIRLS! GRRLS! TRY IT. BEAUTIFY YOUR HAIR. Make it thick, glossy, wavy, luxuriant and remove all dandruff. II Your hair 'becomes light, wavy, fluffy. abundant, and appears as soft, kestrou* and beaiitiful as a young girl's after a Danderine hair cleanse." Just try tfii« -moi,sten,a cloth with a little Dwnderone and carefully draw it through your hair, taking one small strand at a time. This will cleanse the hair of dust, dirt and excessive oil. aM in iust a few moment* you have doubled the beauty of your ■hair. Besides beautifying the hair at mim, Danderine d issolves every particle of dand- ruff; cleanses, purifies and invigorates tJ1.t scalp, stopping itching and falling: hadr. But what will lyk;t,se you most will b* after a JAW weeks' use, when you will actually see new lisir-fine and downy at first—yes—but really new hair growing I all over the scal p. If you care for pretty, oofthair and lots of it, surely get a 5/'I i bottle of Knowlton's Danderine from aiy* I chemist, and just try it.

THE EYE-WITNESS. A new "Eye-Witness" is now recording his war impressions for the Press Bureau. Colonel Swinton, the original "Eye-Wit- ness." has laid down the pen for tho sword, and the writer whose vivid pen pictures of battle scenes and incidents at the front the newspapers are now puh- lishing is his successor, ,E-arl Percy, son ot the Dllke of Northumberland. Earl Percy is a brilliant man, who has special- ised in military history, and has Aim gift of literary expression.

I I DEEDS OF THE WELSH REGIMENT I — Being the Diary of a Soldier. I Remarkable Record of Experiences at the Front I By PRIVATE SAMUEL KNIGHT. I Third and concluding instalment of the remarkable diary kept by Pte. Samuel Knight, 2nd Welsh Regiment, describing his experiences at the front Tuesday, October 6th.—Dawn finds } every man standing to with his rifle over the top of the trench. The morn is heralded by the crack of a sniper's Tifl" in the woods on my right front. TV I -.omman(ler of tin* French gives the order: "Send a volley through the wood, rhere you think the sniper is concealed." We have a fairly good idea. The wood re-echoes to the rollpt. Before it has died away. shrieks rend the air. All s-s silent again. Two comrades go into the ■ood. They find that <mr aim NTal deadly. They see a German riddled. A trail of blood leads from the spot. Thev j follow it. They find another German •riboaf 500 yar df further on. He h;id ju.f died of his wounds. Botn are buried. Wednesday and Thursday, October 7th and 8th.—Still in the trenches. Eat ions are doled out regularly. I am feeling \'o"rJ' fit exempt for my feet. Th«-y haw been number s iwe September 16th. The artillery duel still continues. We pay no heed to the shrieking shells flying » above lIS, We are accustomed to them < now. We are relieved at midnight by the other half of the regiment. W" march bar-k to Friday, October 9th.—Reinforcements rroTn home join us. The officer is at- arhed to "ur rompany. This is out- third company officer. I anticipate a resf for two da". Again disillusionised. So many men of my section have be°n put out of action that the extra duties come round very frequently. 1 am told off for a iS hour gii.,xrd. Nigiii-.fall me draw rations for day?. We (five in I number) march ja mile beyond the vil- lage to a canal. We mount guard on a i -itat,eiv bridge. The canal is lined with an poplar?. Interspersed bertween th.' latter are apple and pear treee. A npn-f I night attack is in progress on our right front. Saturday, October 10th.—Dawn sees ms paging the bridge. Mr comrades neath are making breakfast. They solve j th", difficulty of cooking by moans of a disused petrol tin. The top ios ut of- and the tin is rinsed out. It serves as ] our teapot. During my relief T prepare the mid-day meal. We have fibs of raw beef, an unexpected delicacy. I go to a neighbouring field to gather potatoes, carpohs and turnips. I wash them in the { canal. The contents of the petrol tin are Mon boiling briskly. Hard Iii,k! We j have no salt. The fertile brain of one of my comrades makes itself manifest. I can eveit hear it buzz. His face lights np. We have :!lhs of fat and very salted bacon. This, with an omniscient smile, he places in the bubbling stew.. We eat this meal to the music of Ger-1 man shrapnel. It is becoming -worse, i Wp 8f'f'k shelter againpt the concrete <nip- j ports of the bridge. Here we finish the j meal. There is a. lock-gate a few bun-1 drad yards higher up. This is the Ger- I man objective. Hvrnrng: We continue our vigil. Well iivray on the right a fierce attack ;s again raging. The French are at it. Sundalf, October 11th.—The enemy Is as changed his shell, it is the old coal- box." They are dropping dangerously noar. Splinters of tree and shell fall into the water bensatli us. The whistle of every shell is a signal for us to rush for shelter beneath the bridge. The lock- ?ate is still the objective. Thi.5 con- tinues for fonT hours. Night- falls. We are relieved. We march back to ——. Humour is current that we are to be re- ojovscLto he north of France. Monday, October 12th.-The Germans have discovered onr whereabouts in this pillage. We are being suelled. Two com- rades have been accounted for already. Ilie, shrapnel if; c-cattering on the barn- roofe. T Fee miraculous escapes. Nightfall: We are marching on our way to B- to relieve the other half of ^h« regiment. Artillery firf, opens upon m. We advance in artillery formation. We reach the trenches safely. My sec- tion is not required for th( trench to- night. We move to a neighbouring barn. I make for a secluded corner. I lie ,down. I have my haversack for a pillow. I hear a scampering above my head Rats! I drive them off. I doze. l h ey defv me. One dropf on my face. They defy me. There is a bit of oheftsc in my haversack. I grope to a new position and Hang my haversack at a safe distance. My weari-, mm makes me forget all. I fall into at deep ftfoep- TtMMtay, October 13th-14th.—In the trenehe*. I have a small quantity of tea aiid sugar. I move to a farm stand- ing by. I iind a small stove in one of the rooms. T light it and place upon t my dixie." The Germans are still shelling. The water is boiling. I drop in my "tea and sugar .Crash 1 Over go my tea and dixie." The building -attles. Damn the Germans! A shell ias dropped in the y.'rd. I make my nay to the trench with tie empty dixie." My comrades laugh. Night fifclls. I am told off to report myself at the ton of the trenches. Five of us move off silently towards the Ger- man lines. We have proceeded about 500 i yards. The German trenches lie about :!<)< yard)- directly in front. We -eparate. We crawl out in fanlike formation. We lie waiting, watching, and listening. We s. listening post. I am lying flat, on r".e ground. It is a ploughed ciayfield. I am cold and wet. The minutes seem hours. My eyes play the old tricks. Trees assume fantastic shapes. I am completely numbed. I dare not move an inch, as, success depends upon my stillness. I hear the chimes of the distant village clock. A fheU drops in the valley. It re-echoes long it ban ks. The hours pass. A figure crawls up to me from the rear. I am relieved. We make our way to the tranches. Thursday, October 15th.-)fy birthday. I accept the imaginary congratulations of ail at home. I spend the day in a wet and slushy trench. Darkness conies on. The Germans ceitbrate. the occasion by a night attack on our trenches. We are in it. Rang haag! bang! They've got tired. We cease if re. Friday, October 16th.—Midnight se" dirk and sit-nf forms move down the lane.. They halt by otir trenches. They are the French rortip to relieve us. I get >ut nf my dug-out as the Frenchman rreeps in. In passing, a handshake and a Goot neet, m'sieur." I hove off. Wc form outside the village and move oil. "We march till the dawn. Wø arc still in the danger 7Ane. No marching is done during the daytime. We billet in a village between and Here I see a Prench officer take photographs. U. uses a camera <r*milar to my own. I explain my plight with regard to spools. He jfnerously gives me one. We exchange addressee. We depart on the under- standing that we renew the acquaintance at the and of the campaign, should we survive it. It is nightfall, aid we move off. We hear our destination is B-. Arriving here we march through. It is a weary march. We arrive at cur billets. Kxnewhcre between H-, and f: :1t !<> p.m. We we crowded into small fearmu Saturday, October 17th.—At 2 a.m. we resume our march and continue without a break until 3 p.m. the following after- noon. We halt in a wood just outside H-. I receive a welcome parcel from home. I stagger when I behold the con- t;pnb-roost chicken, cake, tobacco, and cigarettes. We move to the station and entrain. We enjoy a halt while they place the transports on the train. Armed with my cold chicken, I go to the engine driver. After explaining my mission, he wipes his shovel with a piece of waste, places my chicken upon it, then into the fire-box. A little cocoa in my canteen, with boiling water from the engine, and Hey Presto: I din? on hot roast chicken and cocoa. Wliat a, glorious surprise to my poor old stomach Sixty iu a truck- we arc packed like sardines. We sit down in turns. The company is very cheerful, j-Wc have an occasional song and chorus. We have no idea of our destination. Night comes and we are still rattling iiloiig. Sunday, October 18th.—We pas? through ,A- I feel I have left the land of bar- barit. v, and return to civilisation once | again. We are running along the coast • between Boulogne and Calais. I see ths ■ billows roll, and the while spray dashed on to the beach. I feel I am knit to the old homeland by Neptune's rude caresses, The roll is becoming fainter and fainter, i We strike inland. Again we leave civilisation behind. T\ e pass long trains carrying -their human freight of sad and worn refugees. We detrain at We have been in the trucks for 30 hours. We billet in a hngn sugar factory, The rooms are spacious. 1 have a concrete floor for a bed to-night. Monday, October 19th.—Dawn We move off. March till the afternoon. We aro to billet at a village called S A traus- port waggon has broken down. My sec- tion is told off for a guard. We arrive at the village after the regiment. We cannot I find where our company is billeted. Each man is told off to go in a different direc- tion to and their whereabouts. I traml) about a mile and discover a likely farm, I see no sign of our troops her, I cross the deserted farmyard and shout to attract SOm()IH"S attention. The owner comes j cautiously to the door. He unbolts it. To his question Anglaise:" I reply i Oui." His face lights up. I am invited into the house. The kitchen floor is cobbled. Doors lead down into cool cellars. As an introduction to my wants I pick up six eggs from the table apd ask to have them boiled..This is done. As I eat thf'se I make known my wants and purchase bread, butter, cheese, and eggs. I hand over my last English sovereign. I have four iranos change. All are wrapped in a huge cloth. Burdened with my equipment I move off as cautiously as possible owing to the delicate nature oi my parcel. Soon there is a cracking. I leave a vellow trail behind in,. I arrive at the billets with a few eggs unbroken. The contents of the cloth arc scraped into the dixie. An omelette is the cekluel. A good rest upon straw follows. i Tuesday, October 20th—Move off through picturesque country. A hill rises before iis. On its summit and silhouetted against the gray sky stand eight windmills. We leave them behind us. We cross the fron- tier. We march till nightfall and billet in a convent in the town of I have agonising pains in the legs. I feel useless. I wonder what the morning will bring. Wednesday, October 21st.-An hour be- fore dawn 1 rise, still in pain. W,' move off very quickly. I lean on a comrade. My pains gradually ease. We now hear the boom of tho guns. We hak. Our artillery gets into position. We advance undfr its tire. We proceed through Lr This village is intact. We arc greeted with a heavy rifle fire. Twenty, yards from the last house of the village is a turnip held. We advance to this to meet the Germans. We can see them. We rush forward in extended order, 50 yards at a, time. In a kneeling position we pick the moff." They are 400 yards in front of us. They appear to be in con- fusion. We bang away like mad. It is fascinating. 1 concentrate my fire on a space between a farm-house and a hay- rick. They are seeking shelter. I am potting tiheni one by one a* thew come into this space. Bullets fall among us. Some of my comrades are wounded. I am unhurt. Dusk is falling. The grey formt; of the enemv become indistinct. My cowirad es behind my are digging temporary trenches. To t iw", we move track N-koht fiadfi us watching. Our front is dotted bere and there br burning farm-houses and ricks. It k the work of the Germans to hinder our advance. It is very cold. I dig my trench deeper. By this means I gain a little warmth Thursday, October 22nd.-Dawn: a r,»t rol moving along etir front. out of the grey mist comes into view. They are com- 1 h p v ing town rd. us. Word comes along, "They arb French." Every man's eyes are glued to the front. They come to within 100 yards of our trenches. Great S0ntt They are Germans. They see us and attempt to turn arniii),d bolt. Bang; Bang: Bang: Norl- and men bite the dust. A German patrol is wiped out: A day cf watching and waiting: artillery duel still in progress. With the approach of night we improve our trenches. A night attack is raging on our left. Friday, October 23rd.-4 a.m.. We are taken out of the trenches for a rest. We march to the village school. We are al- lotted to class-rooms, the floors of which are covered with straw. Our officers arc uneasy as to our safety here. We leave the school for a lane 50 yards away. As we move off, down crashes the spire of the village church. The next few shells drop into the body of the church. It is razed to the ground. Now the school: We have Wt it but ten miuutes ago. It is a ruined mass. My comrade, a' Rbondda collier, com- mences to dig hurriedly. He handles the entrenching tool marvellously. I move off to a neighbouring barn for a roof for our dug-out." I canMot unhinge sonic of the doors. T wr-uich off the top of a rabbit hutch. In the yard I find an DId field rake. These r drag to our dug-out, which is uow completed. I go back to the bt1.m for straw. I find a few shelter there. I suggest to t9t41"18 that it will be danger- ous there. 1 alone return with the straw. We fix the hutch and rake on top of the dug-out, place the straw on top of thp. then bank with clay. We scuttle V- neath. The ene,?»ry has the rauge of our lane. He is shelling us unmercifully. There is only room for two in our dug- out. But we make room for an old friend. T.L." j The shrapnel is shrieking through the la.ne. I can hear the groans of our wounded. One man drops helplessly into our dug-out- He extends all arm battered beyond description. ftVe bande it. His groans are terrible. shell bursts very near us. The shrapnel pieces fall through our roof. A piece strikes me oa the shoulder. Luckily its force is spent. I am all right. There is a heavy crash on my right. A shell ltw, struck the barn. I hear loud wnilintrs. The bam is a blaze. My comrades arc i->e*ing burnt. I hear intermittent baugs. jLThe atowutiiiion on th&u bodies 18 oil. ploding. This continues for some time— a terrible death. T.L." remarks that our position is unsafe, and suggests that we leave. He moves off. I remain. Fifteen miinuitet? have elapsed. The firing ha.s abated a Little. A ertretcher bearing a huddled form passes before my dug-out. It is T.L/' He had not crawled many ya.rcLs from our dug-out before his leg was blown off. Poor T.L." Why didn't he stay? Night has fallen. We move off to dig trenches on the front. Saturday, October 24th-Dawn finds us well entrenched. We kee-p a t-harp look- out on our fi-oi-et. The enemy is again out on our :ft'o!ft. bombarding the village. House after house falls. Street after street is reduced to ruins. Not a stone or bl1.ek stands. The destruction is complete. I try to cal- c!!t-?e what it costs the enemy to destroy the village by counting the shells. I lose count. They are o numerous. Will they evetr exhaust t.bemselves The shells are dropping close 10 the trenches. Twelve yards on my right six men are buried alive. They are very, very near now. The pxplosions cause slight concussion. J avoid this by holding my breath during th" pxplosion of the shell s, w hùi-'Ø ap- proach is heralded by a whistling sound. Cattle in the adjoining fields are blown to atoms. J- washes his socks unconscious of the advancing hordes. He was killed II shortly after thn photograph was ta k en. My herv es arc taut. I am waiting far death. I am reconciled to my fate. But oh! that, I could use my rifle and sell my life dearly. It is not. a hand to hand struggle now, but man pitted against a huge death-dealing ma- chine. Thank God the artillery fire seases a little. I am unhurt. But I wonder how much, longer I could have stood the strain. Xight talis. We are relieved by the French. We return through the village, two days ago intact, now lying, a mass of debris. Formation is impossible; I follow the man in front. We reach the outskirts and march off. Night does not mean the enemy's inactivity. A shell drops in the middle of the rear company. 17 ate killed outright, and :!5 are wounded. Sunday, October 25th.-We have been marching in a south-easterly direction. We rest in a field 8 miles S.E of I am afraid to remove my boots because I dread the horror of replacing them. This would be an almost impossible task. We receive some parcels containing pipes, tobacco, and cigarettes, from some thoughtful friends in old Swansea. Night comes. We are told that a. church service wil bo held in the adjoining field. At the same time rations are to be dis- tributed. The latter are sacrificed. We are in greater need of spiritual food. We form a circle round the chaplain. He stands before his crude altar—a box covered with the Union Jack. upon which stands a storm lantern. He reads the lessons. Prayers are repeated with fer- vour. The singing comes from the men's souls. His sermon goes to our very hearts. An arc lost in emotion. Now and again from the dry throat of a rough soldier from the hills comes an Anion." Men realise that, death being so near, the prayers are uttered not for individual safety, but for preparation for another I kingdom. This is our first service. The I chaplain had made many efforts to get at our regiment, but had failed. We were always in the thick of it. The service is over. M-en return to their bivouacs in small groups. A new spirit is manifest. The Divine Presence is near. Monday, October 26th.—Again we move off in a S.E. direction. We have to re- take some trenches that the enemy has captured. On the outskirts of the village of C- we emerge under the enemy's fire. We advance in extended order. We are driving the Germans before us. They retire, leaving many wounded. We are still advancing to rising ground. We are met by a perfect hail from the enemy. The fire is concealed on our left fiank. i They are enfilading us. Otn 3rd company oiffcer falls dangerously wouuded. We are on a ridge too exposed to the enemy. We retire a little and entrench ourselves. We have achieved our object, but with great sacrifice. So many comrades have 'I fallen at my side that I marvel at my l safety. I Night falls. We are relieved after a strenuous day. and return to our old bivouacs. Headquarters are surprised to j hear of the advanced position gained by jthefWelsh. wecimsday, October 28th.—A day of welcome rest. Night sees me move to- i wards a little group who are humming tbe strains of a familiar Welsh hymn. I ijoin them, and we commence si nging. More comrades gather round. Wc are now about 200 in number. The air It. [filled with the old Celtic harmonies, i j Favourite hymns are called for. Delyn Aur" and "Beth sydd imi yn y byd" are i special favourites. A main road lies im-; j mediately behind us. Here the staff iofficers of many nations stand silently and listen. In wonder they ask what it | means. The men's souls are in the singing—an inherent characteristc of | real Welsh singing. An army chaplain; fbursts through and stops at the edge of I j the crowd, exclaiming "Wonderful! Wonderful! The-greatest incident. I ,have witnessed during the whole of the campaign Thursday, October 29th.—Dawn: We I !}lOH\ off and occupv a wood. We are —————————————— sent here to await orders. They come. The Welsh have to retake some trenches again. We advance under a murderous artillery :fire. We are now under their rifle fire. My platoon is advancing alone. Each man keepis his distance. Our line is intact. We come to a farm- Wc halt awhile. One hundred yards in front of us is a ridge. We must reach this. To get there we run the gauntlet in pairs, lire paces apart, and at inter- vals of 30 seconds. The bullets crack almost against our ears. Half-way across I fall fiat. I don't know why I do so. I am up again and reach the ridge- While here I deny the word coming down that I have been shot. My comrades did not see me rise. Beyond this ridge is another open space over which we must cross. Wo are still under the rifle fhe. The bullets travel high. I In spite of this we are not so fortunate in our crossing. I hear a groan behind j inf. I take a hurried glance behind to see a comrade fall. I' reach the goal; safely. Our purpose here is to cover the :H.1- vance of a company on our left. We draw the enemy's atteution. The coirl-i pany yelling. and with fixed) gleaming i bayonets, takes the position in grand style. We have gained the position, but: the roll call that evening tells with what sacriifce. Night has fallen. My company is ordered to the front arl an advanced post. We are covering another of our companies, which is dig- ging trenches in our rear. Suddenly, the I enemy opened fire upon us. A comrade and I kneel in a hole filled with water and mud. We blaze away. There's a lull in the enemy's fire. The trench dig- ging is resumed behind. During my re- lief from "sentry-go" It take a walk to the. rear, join a few Swansea comrades and help in the digging of the trenches. I must, do this or I shall freeze. Friday, October 30th.—An hour before dawn: The trenches are complete and wo are taken from our advanced post. We march along a main road. We halt near our second line ot trenches. Our officer leads us to a gutter in the road- way. We lie down to take a little rest I find a hole in the hedge near ttio spot wbere. I lie. Into this Icrawl. My head, shoulders and body to the waist are con- cealed, my 11'g alone are exposed. My pal. "J- is not so foi-tia-aafp.l With a jocular remark concerning IllY i good fortune be commences to dig a hol<? for himself. Dawn is breaking. The enemy is shelling us. Pieces of shrap- nel tear through the air. "J—— has finished Ins dug-out. He gets up and stands in front of me. He commences to tell me something, when—Crash J I feel a sharp burning pain in the thigh. I hear a sickening groan, and through a haze I see "J fall. I grope blindly towasds him. He is mortally wounded. I bend over uim and ask him if I can do anything for him. He replips in a faint and almost inaudible whisper, Too late, Sam; my w-i-f-e a-n-d c-h-i-].d-t' I gaze into his face as his soul was wing- ing its flight. I think of the photograph of his wife and four children he used to show me frequently, and with pride. Death's hand releases its grip for a moment. I console him as to their future welfare. I see I can do no more. It is very hot" here. I move off to a trench which appears to be safer. Here I lie down. There's something very strange with my right leg. It is numbed and cold. I put, my hand down and with- draw it. It is smeared with blood. I have been wounded. It is more serious than I thought. I take the bandage from my pocket and hand it to a comrade near. As he bandages me we are being shelled unmercifully. Men are knocked down like ninepins. I am bandaged. Jt is two miles to the nearest hospital. They are shelling the road that leads to if. -I must adopt one of two courses. Either remain in the trench and die from loss of blood and ex- posure; or run the gauntlet of the road by crawling to the hospital. I choose the latter. I make my way a.long the gutter. Progress is very slow. I crawl over dead bodies, grinning carcases, and felled trees. My crude bandage has become un- done. My leg is fast becoming helpless. Will I ever reach the hospital ? I make I for a chalet. This is the field hospital. My wound is painted and dressed. I am placed on an ambulance wagon. We move off six miles down the line to the general hospital, a large reformatory- school. Here I lie on straw, and am given some food. My leg is absolutely useless to me. At 11 p.m. I am taken in a motor ambulance to the railway station at Ypres. I. with 36 others, are placed in a truck. We move off. Nobody knows oar destination. Night passes, and we arp still travelling. Saturday, October 31.—Dawn; still travelling, but. company is very cheerful. Now and again a shout is heard: Who has hands?—Well, tie this up." Wo halt in a small country station. The cry is now: "Who has legs?" We want one to jump down to get food. We are not in luck's way, as there is not a com- plete pair of legs in the truck. Night see,, us still travelling. My wound is very painf-al. The weather is very cold. Sunday, November 1st.—Dawn: we are still travelling. Arrive at Rouen. We have been in the truck for ) hours. Welcome refreshments are brought to us. I )tear mv name called cheerily. I look in the direction from whence the sound comes. There lying upon a stretcher is a Swansea boy: "My dear B——my companion in the night attack of Oct. 29th. I crawl over to him with so mo cocoa and remark: "Fate has brought us together again—crocked, but cheerful. Ho remarks joyfully: "Our luck is in." We arc driven to the Rouen Race- course, on which the general hospital has been erected. I am allotted to my ward-tben a bath, then a bed into which I collapse. T wonder if I shall over be able to rise again. The spirit of the woun()f'd comrades about sue is grand. Although battered, they are ever cheer- ful. We receive excellent care and at- tendance. I remain in bed for 20 days. It is very cold. The snow is thick on the ground. I am marked up for home. T journey to Le Havre-, from thence to Southamp- ton, then on to St. John's Hospital, Chester. H-re I agair* receive excellent attendanceI arrived home in the early hours of Wednesday, December 23rd, and rejoin the family circle which I had never toped to see again, to celebrate the Christmas festivities. Samuel Knight. THE END. 1 A greup of wounded soldiers oUside a hospital tent in France. ]

NEATH COUNCIL. MORE REFERENCES TO GASWORKS DISPUTE. At -the recent meeting of the Neath Council there were present: The Mayor iCoucciilor Mathew Arnold), Aldermen H. P. Charles, Dopkin Morgan, and David Davies, Councillors Thomas Jones. W. E. lieos, J. Morris, Lewis Ar- nold, John Davies, E. S. Phillips, G. Challicombe, J. It. Jones, W. B. Trick, and John Pees. On the reading of the minutes of the Gas Committee, Councillor Challicombe asked if it was considered that the gasworks required the additional staffing, as it ap- peared that the Commiittee had advertised for a clerk competent to do typewriting and shorthand writing. Alderman iiojikin Morgan explained that the work had got considerably in arrears and the financial officer was making an effort to bring matters up-to- date. The appointment which was made was considered necessary by the Com- mittee. Councillor Phillips asked if it was not a fact that some of the clerks had gone to the front.—The reply was in the ne- gative. Councillor J. R. Jones rose to put a question, but objected to remarks being made by members before lie had oppor- tunity to make it. Councillor W. B. Trick: I made no ob-I serration. Councillor J. E. Jones asked whether] there had been any improvement in! affairs since the appointment of the new officer. Alderman Hopkin Morgan said it was not easy to answer a question of that kind straight off, but as far as the Committee were informed efforts were being made I in that direction. Councillor ChaJlictjmbe said that he would like to know whether the men who wero imported from Manchester were supplied with clothes by the Coun- cil during the strike. and whether it was to be taken as part of their wages. Alderman Hopkin Morgan said that that matter had not yet been dealt with by the Committee. Councillor J. R. Jones asked for a reply to the question he had put at a former meeting as to the giving of instructions to the town Civic Guard's attendance at fo the to"vn Civl? c Guard's attendance at Alderman Charles said that the Chief Constable had stated that he knew noth- ing'Of it. and if Councillor Jones -was not satisfied with the reply. he ought to have moved a resolution. The Watch Committee minuter showed that they had passed a vote of'oondolence with the widow of the late Police-sergeant Ben Davies in her bereavement. Councillor Morris said that he should like this to be the expression of the whole of tire Council, which waa done by a re- soliitioll, passed in the usual form. Councillor W. E. Rees dre wattention to the fact that large sums of money were being sent from the town to the Prince of Wales Fund, but it. was with the greatest difficulty the Committee were able to obtain any funds for distribution. Complaint had been made to the autho- rities in London. with the result that an official had been sent down to inquire into the matter. Alderman Charles thought if the local Committee were entrusted with the col- lection of the funds they should be trusted to assist in its administration. Alderman Hopkin Morgan said that the County Council were not responsible; they had nothing to do with the matter. Councillor W. E. Reel: They appointed the Committee to act. It was suggested that, provided Briton- ferry fell in with the proposal, that ap- plication be made to give the local Com- mittee power to have a voice in the matter, they should ask for it. Councillor J. R. Jones thought they need not consider Britonferry as they were strong on the point. A large sum had been provided, but only a email amount received from the fund. Complaints were made as to damage done to the roads in the borough by heavy motor traffic travelling at high rate of speed. The Surveyor was asked to report. on the damage done. Councillor J. R. Jones asked if it was correct that men on the unemployed list had had their wages reduced from 4s. 6d. to 4s. per day. The Surveyor said that he felt that he was responsible for reasons stated. Councillor Trick suggested that the men should be paid per hour as being a more satisfactory way of getting over the diffi- culty.

A HAPPY CHILD IN A I FEW HOURS. When Cross, Constipated, or if Feverish, give California Syrup of Figs," Then Don't Worry. Mothers can rest easy after giving Caliioriiia Syrup of Figs," because in I a few hfiui'o all the elogged-up waste- matter, sour bile and fermewting: food gently move out of and you have a healthy, playful child again. Chil- dren simply will not bake tie time from play to empty their bowels, which become lightly packed, and then the liver gets sluggish and the stomach disordered. When crow, feverish, restless, see if the tongue is coated; then give this delicious <; fruit laxae." Children love it, and it cannot cause injury. No matter whai ails i j our little one-it stuffy wit h a cold or a sore throat, or diarrhosa. stomach- ache, and tainted brmth, remember, a 9tle inside d{'anjng" honld a 1 mays be the first treatment given. Full direc- tions for babies, children of all ages and grown-ups are printed on each bofctla. Beware of counterfeit fig syrups. Å.<k your chemist for a bottle of California Syrup of Figs." then look carefully and see that it is made by the. California Fig Syrup Company." Hand back with con- lempt any other fig syrup. California Syrup of Figs" is old by all leading chemists, 1/11 and 1/9 per bottle.

NEATH RUBBER MERCHANT AND I OWNERSHIP OF CAR. At Neath County Sessions on Friday, I Albert Bush, rubber merchant, Neath, was summoned for employing an un- licensed person to drive his mobor-car. Mr. James Kevell defended, and pleaded not guilty, remarking, that his client was Dot the o"er of the car, and that it had been prcvir'usty ?vpr) to his son. P.C. Young- spoke to seeing the car on the Baglan-road. There had been a collision, and when asked to produce the license defendant's son, who was driving, said he had left it home. Subsequently, he found that the license had been obtained by a false declaration as to age. At the time. defendant admitted the car belonged to him. The Magistrate's Clerk pointed out that the stories disagreed. Either the police are telling lies or your client has given false instructions." commented the clerk, I and I need hardly warn you of the seriousness of perjury." Mr. E,eveU. acting upon the advice of the clerk, held a. consultation with his client, and brought the case to an abrupt and by stating. a I do not offer any evidence." Defendant was fined £ ■> and costs, the Chairman remarking that the procedure j had not been very satisfactory.

GREATER SWANSEA. BOUNDARIES EXTENSION. In yiew of certain statements which have been made that Swansea is bank- rupt, our representative sought Mr. W. H. Ash mole, F.S.A .A., borough treasurer of Swansea, in order that the public might hear what is to be said on the other side. Mr. Ashmole readily granted an inter- view, and our representative immediately came to the point and asked: .Have you seen the statements mad< at some of the parish meetings that Swan- sea is bankrupt, up to its neck in debt, etc., etc.?" I have been much amused by them. Why, Mr. AshmoleF" H IW-cause the people who make euch statements either do eo in ignorance, or they do so to try and deliberately mislead the ratepayers of tho parishes concerned. They evidently think the ratepayers of Llansamlet, Ciase and Penderry will be led away by statements of the huge debt of Swansea, and they are careful to say nothing aliout the assets. Any busing man will know perfectly well that the debt of any corporation, company or in- dividual person is not so important as the assets, property, and income of the con- cern or pereon. and that the debt per head is not as important as the value of thi assets per head. If Swansea is in bankruptcy, it is in very good company indeed. He would be a bold man who would say that London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Nottingham, Sheffield, Newport, and Cardiff were bankrupt! If he did, no one would believe him, but the following figures will show where Swansea stands as compared with these towns on the debt per head basis, taken from the latent available statistics pre- pared by independent-people. Town. Debt Per Head. £ s. d. London 23 7 9 Liverpool 7 17 10 11, Manchester ni 2 10 Birmingham 22 18 10 BradfwTl .I 28 8 5 L(>ed S 8 0 Nottingham ? 8 0 Sheffield 20 II 2 Cardiff 20 H 6 I) o 13 9 Newport 20 M 8 Swansea 10? h These towns/include the greatest and most progressive in the kingdom, in. aeed we might say without fear of con. tradiction, m th,e world, and the fore. going figures ought, to convince anv un- biassed person that the debt per head basis is a wrong one to test the financial stability of a town by: but even if it were right, Swa nsea, as will be seen quickly, has nothing to fear by comparison. An- other interesting fact is that, of the Welsh county boroughs Merthyr has the lowest debt per head, and at the sains time by far the heaviest rate. The fact is. of course, that the more up. to-date a town is the more undertakings and estates it owns, and the assets of such towns altogether overbalance the lia- bilities, and to compaxe the debt per head of great towns with large assets with small rural and urban districts which have none is ridiculous. Taking Swansea's case, it should b« widely known and fully appreciated that it owns markets, slaughter-houses, large estates, electricity works, tramways, etc., the income from which pays the interest on tbeir own debt, the contribution to the repayment of debt, the working expenses, and over and above these makes a contri- bution to the rates of between CI5,000 and £ 20,000 per annum to help to pay the debt charges on the other portions of debt. Now it must be obvious to anyone of ordinary capacity that if the Corporation did not own these undotrakings and es- tates, the debt per head would be con- siderably less, but the financial position of the borough, in spite of this, would be considerably worse. "The Swansea Corporation, too, is in a better position than most of the other Corporations named on account of its ex- tremely valuable estate. "There are few, if any CorporatioM in the country with such an estate in pro- portion to the size of the town, and the in- come from it is increasing yearly on ac- count of leases falling in. The net profit, after paying all debt charges and work- ing expenses, is now about til.000 per an. num, and this will greatly increase in the course of a few years/' "Did you, Mr. Ashmole, see the state- ment about the assessments?" asked our reporter. "Yes. I dicl, and again the person who made it either did not know or wanted to mislead. I thought, everyone knew that the Corporation had nothing whatever tn do with assessments, which are con- trolled by the Assessment Committee ap- pointed by the Guardians, and the peculiar part of it is this. the Rallie com- mittee to-day controls the assesments in Swansea, Clase, Llansamlet, and Pen- derry, as they are all in the sataie union, and if the borough is extended the sarno committee will continue to control them, the extension of the borough not affecting the assessment question in any way. It will also be seen that if. as one gentleman stated, the assessments in a certain parish, are below what they ought to be. then the other parishes, both within and without the borousrh, are being unfairly taxed for the benefit of that under-rated parish. If such a thing exists it should be put right whether the thorough is extended or not extended, but it is not the business of the Corporation in either casq., and does not affect the extension question; in fact, it is only a red herring to try and mis- lead the ratepayers of the particulai psrishos to whom it is stated. Have you anything else to say, Mr. Ashmole? Only this, that a large number of similar misleading and inaccurate state- ments are being made pimply to mislead the ratepavers in the outer areas, and I hope what I have said will at least make them think before accepting them, how. ever plausible they may seem/