Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

MONEY. THE SWANSEA MERCANTILE CO. CLtd.) J 8, PARK STREET, SWANSEA, Make Cash Advances Daily, from £ 10 to £ t3000. No Charge unless Business done. Strictly Priv-ate and Confidential. I For further partiealars apply H. B. JONES, Manager. MISCELLANEOUS. I SOME b?inn?rs 6Je getting 5 eggs from SO LI?H bird ?very wt??k by using Kars- wood Poiuicry rijiice, containing ground insects. cd., ls.-Willi2.m s "d Son, 46. Wltj<ify»r-road, Neath. ny.-v n f."{XTILL HOOLEY ("famous poultry expert) I Apt says Karswood Poultry Spice, con- t^inins ground insects, is h^urmle«s to liver and increases egg orifcput. Ct^tomera say go, too.—Ho-bbe, Corn Merchant, High-etreet. yeath. Al-6 QOME beginners are 5 eggs from O each bird every week by using K •wood Poultry Sjpioe containing ground in- sect; 3d., 6d.. Is.—Llewellyn and Son. Ltd., 6, WintlL, ..Yeat-h. 179A131 -(r» HENS paid one user's rent after 16 adopting & are-wood Meal (Sussex Ground;, -1rb. bag- Vd.. end Karswood Spice (oontaiifing 2~o:u)d in); 211., 6d.. la.— Levi James, Hong Kong Stores, Neath 176A1-2Q BUY YOUR APPLES DIRECT, AND SAVE MONEY. Californian. Newtown Pippins, Jonathans. Wiuesaps, Spitzbergs. Rome Boautiea and Winter Bananas lall paper wrapped), lis. 1'Wi' <-a.ss of 40/42. 42 lbs. net. American Eating Pears in nice-Condition, 15.3. 6d. per Case of 48 lbs net. Prompt Dispatch. Cash with order. R. MACPHERSON, Fruit Merchant, I 26-30, Beach-street, Swansea, PUBLIC NOTICES. KILL THAT INSECT, TOMMY fiend pale "out yonder" some tins of HARSJSON'S NURSERY POMADE —they'll be very aco&prtable. When you haven't time to wash there',s a big chance have companions." A littie EAR- ]Ll&)N.S POx-k-LI-V KILLS EVÐRY INSECT on hair and body. Ineiat on having KAB- EISOX'S POMADE. "Time of Comfort," at *d. and 9d, Sold by all Oheamisto-or by poet from HARRISON, Ohemi&t, Seadine. SEASONABLE PRESENTS. 3OLD FITTED SPECTACLES AND EYEGLASSES OF THE BEST QUALITY. EYES TESTED FREE OF CHARGE. PRICES FROM 5s, 6d, IVOR L. t JONES, Chemist and Optician, Windsor Road, NEATH. PULLETS, LAYING, MARCH HATCH, 3s. 6d. Each, 40s. Six and Cock, 216. List Free. HUMMELL, STRATFORD, ESSEX. 207th YEAR OF THE 9 mm, fir FM \S Ti. fi^fice IUlE OLDEST INSUBAWCB OFFIQE IN THE WORTID CtBiti torn AQa U80 Ine'irahces effected on the iollowing risks; FIRE DAMAGE, Sesultent Loas of Beat and Profits. BSLPLOYBBS' LIABILITY. I PSB903AL AOOIDENT. SICKNESS AND DISEASE. FIDELITY GUARANTEE. BURGLARY, PLATE GLASS. gwtuisea office:- VICTORIA CHAMBERS. I TO21 A. DAVIES, District Inspector, L land & QXF.Q&C! STffEEI., SAILINGS. AUSTRALIA BY THB ORIENT LINE. VIA CAPE OP GOOD HOPE. Under Contract to carry His Majesty's Mails to FREMANTLE, ADELAIDE, MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, BRISBANE, Through booking to NEW ZEALAND and TASMANIA. Saloon Tickets Interchangeable with P. and 0. Line. Steamers fitted with Cabines de Luxe, State Rooms with private bath, eingie berth cabins. Managers—F. Gresn & Co., & Anderson, Andepson & Co. For paasage apply to latter firm at 5, Fencburch Avenue, London, E.C., or to Bertie Perkins and Co., 11, Somerset Place, and T. E. W. Mason and Co., 2, Mount-st., Swansea.  South & East Africa UNION BOYAL MAIL ROUTE. CASTLE The CaPataI. Transvaal, Rhodesia, nMp East Af?can Port? LINE Mauritius, Ac. For Sailings and Other Information apply to the Head Office, 3, Feaxchurch Street, Loudon or in Swansea to T. R. W. Mason and Co., or Bertie Perkins and Co. WHITE STAR LINE. Liverpool to Australia. Fares: To Australia, JM1 to < £ 32. to Caps Town, L-15 15a. to £24, 3& These steamers are twin screw, fitted with bilge keels, and have been specially constructed for the Colonial trade. The accommodation 'comprises Smoking, Read- ing, and Dining-rooms. Surgeon and Stewardesses carried. For further particulars apply to the local Agents: WHITE STAR LINE, Liverpool; 1, tm-kspui-street, S.W.; and 38, Leadenhall-streeA, E.C., London.

THE WAR OFFICE AND! INFLUENCE." Some aspects of the case reported) upon in the "White Paper issued un I Wednesday evening may be left to the public without further comment than that contained in the findings, Mrs. Cornwallis-West will have her own punishment to bear, and it is sufficiently heavy. It will be inter- esting w follow the course of events in the county of Denbigh after the opinion expressed by the Court of Inquiry. Exit, then, Mrs, wallis-West. What, however, about i the greater questions of public policy involved? What of the fre- quent 1 v*0roc 1 aimed charge that the War Office can be influenced," if the wire-pullers are persons of social ii ii port ane c ? We do not think it receives any real corroboration from the facts now elicited in the first caSt. In the second, that re18,ting to Hon. Lieut.-Col. (late Brigadier- General) Owen Thomas, the cir- cumstances are different, and in the findings is a sentence that is highly important: It is obviously undesirable for a lush War Office official to eTiter into private correspondence on official questions, re- lating to the capacity and advance- ment of offioere, with a lady who has nothing whatever to do with buch questions. It is, indeed, obviously undesirable! And let us hope that the proceed- ings now blazoned over the country will be in the nature of a warning to the section of society with a capital S that imagines it has back-stairs p6wer. Its pretensions, amusing enough when they are concerned over its own trivial affairs, cannot be tolerated when they affect the careers of men who are working to de fe-at the enemy. In our opin-j ion," says the Court of Inquiry, dealing with Mrs. CornwaJIis- West's interference in the second case, her intervention in military! matters which do not concern her is strongly to be deprecated. Depre- cated" is a mild word! But Society will be very dense if it does not heed the warning behind the word. Me British Ambassador in Petro- grad said this week that the "comer- -tone of our policy is to assist Russia by ""ery possible means, and; permanently to .•iablish the friend- ship between the two countries. In reviewing events, he cited the agree- ment regarding Constantinople and the Dardgfnelles as the best refuta- tion of the bogey that England wished to secure the lion's share of the spoils of war. This week also an important Minister of the Russian Government made a decla- ration to a group of Italian journal- ists in Petrograd that The agree- ment regarding Constantinople and the Straits is a proof of the perfect harmony which reign amongst the! Allies. 'I The point at which pacifist orators become most tense is when they speak of the obligations we have entered into with Russia. At Merthyr, and several times at Swan- sea, they have asked whether it is in cocsonance with our war pledges that we should fight with the Russian agreement a6 one of our, motives. They are in perfect agree- ment with the German wireless —the one authentic comment we havo on the Allies' reply—which says: It may be pointed out as especially remarkable thai) the Note mentions the right of nationalities, j in spite of the fact that one of the I avowed purposes of the Entente is the conquest of Constantinople and the Straits." We can imagine an ironical hear, hear!" proceeding from the lips of these orators of ours as they read the German communi- cation. We do not know why they should believe that thev score heavily in these references to Russia, unless it is that they are disposed to see not only that Germany is kept from humiliation, but the Turkish empire restored! We do not understand their z-eal for the Turk and his rights unless we are. to take it thai iJiey aM agreed to iocget w.s. i foul crimes, his systematic mas- sacres—massacres by the side of which Belgian atrocities seem trivial. We do not envy the persons who can champion the race respon- sible for these unspeakable acts. We have before us the documents, pre- sented to Viscount Grey when he was Foreign Secretary, recording a i body of testimony from people who were either victims or eye-witnesoes of the Turkish atrocities. It is the most terrible book that has ever; been print-ed in this country. It is too terrible to continue reading long, One reads, as a grim duty, a fewj pages and then is compelled to close j the volume. has beeu presented' The evidence has been presented I primarily as a contribution to his- tory, but partly also for the purpose: of enabling the civilised nations of Europe to comprehend the prob- lems which will arise at the end of the war, when it will become neces- sary to provide for the future govern- j ment of what are now the Turkish i dominions. In this country we have' not realised the nature of the catastrophe, conceived on a scale quite unparalleled in modern history, which was contrived for the Ar- menian inhabitants of the Ottoman! Empire. Our attention has been engrossed on matters of nearer moment. Belgium is at our door;! Armenia is too distant, too little known, to have had much place in our thoughts. Yet in Armenia the! great tragedy of the war has taken! b4 c# place. Victorious Allies can never let Turkey rule again on the Darda-! I nelles, or in the provinces she has! defiled and profaned." They will turn to Gladstone's "'bag and haggage" policy. The Turk will! never again be given an opportunity, on either side of the Bosphorus, to despoil and defame. The doctrine of nationality goes overboard in this' case, Ac Mr. J. A- Spender wrote this week: We do not push the doc- trine of nationality so far as to make I it a cloak for the corrupt and blood-1 stained tyranny of the Turk. There i is a limit to what the civilised world can stand from a race or nation which has perpetually abused its sovereignty to inflict massacre onj its own citizens and disturb thei peace of its neighbours. Any crystallisation of the status quo which goAo Europe in general no, remedy against such a regime as, that of the Turks would be a calamity to the world. Is the destiny of all the Near Eastern peoples to be solved by the crushing of small nations under the I heel of the merciless? We cannoti believe that those who listen to: pacifist lectures will allow their; anti-Prussian prejudice to collour, their views, and to bring them mto line with the folk who would restore the status quo in Turkey. In the words of Mr. Spender, Regard for nationality requires us not to con- firm the Turkish tyranny but to re- lease from it the races that are in] its grasp, and we can find no better! guarantee for the accomplishment j of this purpose than the control by! Russia of Constantinople and thel Straits. -—— ———— The situation in Austria-Hungary l: growing steadily worse. It was, rumoured in Budapest in Christmas week that after his coronation aej King of Hungary, the new Em- i peror-King would take the question of peace in hand and would go to Berlin to discuss the position with the Emperor William. The news- papers express great hopes of his energetic will to attain this end. "If I those hopes are well founded, as is; generally believed here," declares a writer from the Hungarian city,, some most unexpected events j may be in store for the peoples of II the Central Powers. Although the peasantry and the landowners have been stripped of everything in the way of cereals— their stock of seed has been taken from them in many cases—the Army has not enough food to carry it through the winter. The local authorities in the dillerent districts have petitioned the Government to supply food for distribution among the poctF, but the Government can do nothing, for the military authori- ties are supreme.. And the one thought of the military authorities is to continue to feed the Army until such time as the new crops are, available. Available stocks will not last six months. AnotBer six months will only bring them to July, and even' in Rumania the harvest does not: begin until the middle of June, which means that the middle or end of July will only see part of the Ru- manian wheat harvest in the form! of flour. In Hungary, even in peace time, harvesting did not finish until the middle of August, and new flour was never to be had be- fore the end of September. The people are already reported to be desperate, and the troops may be- come desperate, too, as soon as they experience on their own persons the horrors of the present food shortage. Neath people, we are told, are living in an atmosphere of doubt as to the intentions of the Council un- der the Cultivation of Lands Order. True, the matter has not yet been discussed in open Council but pre- liminary measures have already been taken to test the feegs of the rate- payers. Although the scheme is a comparatively simple one, the agi- tation must come from the publi- We are informed that .applications for small allotments of from 5 to 20 II perches must be sent to the borough engineer as soon as pessihle,! and the applicants have t.hli' right to' say in what particular part of the borough they would prefer plots, i When this has been done the Townj CúUÐcil will do the rest. 6\J¡ The rent will be reasonable, and the Council have the power to pro- vide seed, manure, and implements at cost price. It is unlikely that 1 the Victoria Gardens will oe ploughed up, and converted into a.1 I jyot&toc or cabbage patch, but thej inhabitants may rest assured that I under the powers of the Defence of the Realm Act, the demand will be met, and many acres of land denied the public in the past, will be under the plough. | Many, very many, will feel to- day, when they hear of the death of Mr. John Roberts, J.P., that Swan- sea's public life will be the poorer for his loss. Many will miss his per- sonal society, the grave kindly com- j panionship of one who realised in his person the full meaning of the wopd gentleman." He was a power inj his profession, but we believe it will be said that it was as a good and wise magistrate that he left the greatest impress upon the com- I munity in which he lived. He dis- pensed justice—and that statement needs neither qualification nor ex- pansion. He was an example to the youth of to-day, when the avenues to knowledge are wider than in the i time of his youth. He was self- educated, and he rose to eminence I in his profession. Success in life is attained by brilliance of mind and by application. Mr. John Roberts was, naturally, acute in thought, but he had also amazing industry. Let the young man of parts, who sees few openings before him, take heart at such an example, and noM how he won success

MUDDLING SOMEWHERE. The Pon ta rda we Tribunal sat on Tues- day to hear about 40 appeals. Mr. Morgan Davies presided. Captain Harold Wilhamas N'¡; the military representative present. When appeals by a numbtr of married men with families weib heard, several mmbers complained of the unfair- ness in sending the appellants into the Army when there were single men walking about the roads in the district who had been refused exemption by the Tribunal. The question was asked as to why these m-on had not b:'¿n called up. f It wa? decided fchat the attention of tie authorities again be drawn to the matter. In regard to the appeals by several farmers, tie Clerk (Mr. Wyndham Lewis) said he was at a k»s to know what to do with the ewers referred to. He had re- ceived a circular from the Board of A-gri. culture instructing the Tribunal not to call up any farmhand until further in- i vp d whil,-t the structioxis were reooind, whilst the Local Government Board had aeked them to call up farmhands up to 25 years of age. There was muddling going on somewhere," added the Clerk. A milkvpndor who appealed, was asked if he would eell milk at 5d. per quart if the Tribunal gave him six months. Applicant eaid the milk cost him Is. 4d. per gallon, and he had to fetch it from the farms. Under the eircum- stances it would not pay him to sell at 5d. He was given three months. )

FATAL FALL FROM BRIDGE. An inquiry was held at Swansea on Wed- nesday into the death of James Lang, re- siding at Grove-road, Clydaeh (35), em- ployed at the Mond Nickel Works, ivho fell from a bridge and died at the Swansea Hospital on Sunday last. Mr. Frederick Plummer, work -3 manager at Mond Nickel Works, apueared on behalf of his em- plovers. Mr. Hilditch, H.M. Inspector of Factories, was iLlso presei. i. Seth Lang, 100, Grove-road, Clydach, a labour at the wox-ks, identified the body as that of his brother. The accident oc- curre-ri on Tuesday, Lecombar 36th. Gordon Jones, 37, Brooks-street, a labourer, was working with deceased on the 26th, wheeling casks. Deceased was: wheeling a truck, when his foot caught in a piece of iron, and in attempting to stop the cask he went through the rails and ovet the bridge. Dr. Wood said deceased was admitted to the Swansea Hospital in a semi-diliirlous, condition. Dr. Trevor Evans, who made the post- mortem examination, said he discovered a fraotixie of the baso of the skuU and cerebr-al compression caused by hemorr- haW- The jury returned a verdict of Death from injuries accidentally received.

BIG, AN D LITTLE REASONS, to Little children and a big business keep me at home," remarked a fruiterer to the West Glamorgan Appeal Tribunal at Neath on Tuesday. At the outbreak of the war I volunteered for service, but was rejected. I had one baby then, now I've got three little ones." The President. Do yon put that forward to qualify your rejection? (Laughter.) Appellant: No, sir. I failed with my sight. I Questioned by Captain Williams, appel- lant said his weekly turnover was over £ 50. Mr. Wm. Jenkins: Have you your bank I, book here? Appellant (smiling): Oh, that's a thing I never keep. Too much old bother (Laughter.) Exemption to January gist was made I finaL

SWANSEA A.B.'s FUNERAL. I On Wwiiiesday afternoon the funeral of i A.B, Wm. John Bowling, R.N.V.R., 12, Ebeneaer-street, Swansea. took place with military honours at Danygraig cemetery. The cortege left Ebenezer-street headed by the tir-ing party from the Shropshirea, under Sargt. Westbrook, followed by the Swansea Police Band, who played the Dead March." The coffin was placed on a gun carriage drawn by a company of the Royal Naval Reserve men, and cover- ing it was a large Union Jack, which was also nearly obscured by the floral tributes. The inaval men were under the charge of Lieut. John Hodgens and Second- Lieut. W. K. CoUistor. The Rev. R. G. James (Sailors' Rest) officiated, sup- ported by the Revs. J. T. Rhys and D. M. Davjes (Congregational ministers). On i the lowering of the body the Last Post" was sounded.

THE IRISH PROBLEM. I The K Daily Express" understands that one of the questions which will be placed before the Imperial War Cabinet when it meets in London next month will be that I of the government of Ireland. Mr Walter Long, the Colonial Secretary, -will, it is announced, be a member of tlio Imperial Conference.

WAR uFHU £ bUANDAL. Lady in the Case Exposed. Ligiit is thrown upon a most amazing scandal by a White Py.per issued on Wed- nesday night of the court of inquiry set up by a special Act passed in August last to ciea.i with allegations of influence in the Army. The court was composed of Lord Nicholson, Lord Cheylesmore, Mr. Justice Atkin, and Mr. Donald Maclean, U.i,. PEOPLE IN "LHE CASE. The dramatis persouee of this drama are:— Mrs. Cornwallis-West. Mrs. Oornwallis-West is well on in the sixties. Before she was married, 44 years a-so, to Colone} GormvaJiis-West, a great Welsh iand-owner, who is in his 82nd year, she was Miss Mary Adelaide Vir- ginia. Eupatoria Fitzpatrick, eldest daughter of the Rev. Frederick Fitz- patrick and his wife. Lady Olivia, a daughter of the second Marquis of Head- fort. In her girlhood Mrs Corawallis-West was famous as an Irish beauty. She several 'times sat to ^air.ters, and was Mrs. Langtry's grroat rival as the beauty of society. She n still a beautiful woman and a. great social power Her two daughters are married respec- tively to Prince Hans Heinrich of Pless and the Duke of Westminster. Rer son. Mil George CornwaIlis-West. married first Lady Randolph Churchill; but the mar- riage was dissolved in 1913. and in the fol- lowing year he married Ltrs. Patrick Cam pb all. Sec.-lieut. P'. Barrett. was formerly a, corporal' in the Welsh Futihers. and owin-z to influential recom- ^piefcdation obtained a oommiesion. General Sir W. H. Mackiririors. After a distinguished military career WaÆó appointed last year Director of Recruiting at t0 War Office. It wa-s announced in tno House of Commons at the end of De- cember that Sir Henry had retired under the age limit. Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. S. Cowans. Quartermaster-General of the Forces since 1912, member of his Majesty's Army Council, 1914. Rp has been informed of who displeasure of the Government at hie actio in thi-s case. but is, on public ei-ounds, retained in his position. Lieut.-Co!. Delme Radcliffe. In oollimaJ?, of tyP, 12th 13CLttalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, from which he has now been removed. Mr. and Mrs. Birch. Mr. Eirch is the agen?. to the West family ana to o?her landowners in North Wales. A nummary of the caae is set fortti as a pref, atory note to the report as follows:— Tlio case is that of a young officer narnMMcond Lieutenant Patrick Barrett, or tne Royal Wclsn Fusiliers. A sergeant in the regiment, he was strongly reeom« mended by his commanding officer, Lieut.- Col. Delme-Radclifre, and his military superiors tor a coaimiseiap, and his claims were supported by frien<is outside official circles. On the strength of the recom- mendations Mr. Barrett was gazetted to a commission on December 24tii, 1915. Re- presentations were received by Lieuten- ant-usacral Sir J. Cowans, the- Quarter- master-General to the Forces, from Colonel and Mrs. CorHwallis-West, who were old friends of Sir J. Cowans, and Mrs. Birch, wife of the agent to the West family and to other lalldowners in North Wales, was aiso among those who pressed Mr. Barrett's claims. Probabiy before this time, and eertainly later, Mrs. West began to take a more than ordinary interest in Mr. Barrett, to allien he consistently failed to respond, and eventually he wrote her, in February last, a letter of remonstrance, whicn tili placed in the hands of his commanding officer. Lieut.-Col. Delme Itadcliife. Thia officer took the matter up as one of (lis- cipline, and decided to apply for Mr. Bar- rett's transfer to another battalion, and so remove him from the locality. He made a recommendation to the War Office for his transfer, but gave no indication of any special reasons for such a request. Up to this point the Com- manding Officer made no investigation, nor did he call for any explanation from Mr. Darrett as to his version of the cir- iu whic h L-c cumsiances in which the letter to Mrs. Cornwallis-Wcsl nad been written. Be- fore the reply to his recommendation had been received from the War Office, Col. Delme-Radcliffe, hearing that 2nd Lieut. Barrett was in the camp on some other business, called that officer before him in the presence of the Adjutant of the battalion and Mr. Barrett's Company1 Commander, and on the following day again summoned him, on both occasions cemmring him. Mr. Barrett hat; • com- plained that practically no opportunity was given to him of explaining the letter to Mr6. Cornwallis-West to which 6he had i taken exception. N Meanwhile, this lady had learned that! Mr. Barrett's friends were taking action on his behalf, and she appealed to Sir J. Cowans, but by the time he received her appeal Mr. Barrett's posting to an- other battalion had been ordered, in ordi- nary official course. The only imorma- tion on the subject which was before the War Office was that Mr. Barrett was j not serving with the battalion to which ho properly belonged, and the transfer i was sanctioned on this ground alone. Mr. I Barrett and his friends, however, not having full information as to the facts, took the order to be an official endo ment of the Commanding Officer's cen- sure. As a consequence of this treat- ment, Mr. Barrett's health, already im- paired, became worse. The late Sir Arthur Markham took up the ca? with a view to righting the wrong done to him.. and the present: Prime Minister (Mr Lloyd George), when, as Secretary of State for War, he became aware of Sir A. Markham's representa- tion, proceeded to take the necessary steps to deal with the case by Court of Inquiry, applying to Parliament for the requisite legislation, with the result that the Army (Courts of Inquiry), Act was passed into law. Tho Court in their report record at con- siderable longth their opinion with regard to the conduct and discretion of the parties concerned. Getneral Sir W. IL Macfcinnon is criti- cised for having interfered with the affairs of the Western Command after he had re- linquished that command. His conduct in entering into a private correspondence with Brigadier-General Owen Thomas about the case is held ;to have been inju- dicious. "Brigadier-General Owen Thomas' warning about an eminent K.C. and a con- templated libel action might wall have berm ignored by Sir Henry Ma.ckinnon." The Count credit3 Sir Henry Mackinnon with being actuated with good intentions, but is of opinion "that he showed a want of judgment and discretion in intervening in a disciplinary matter which had ceased to concern him as general officer com- manding-in-chief Western Command on his va-ca-ting that position on 8th March, and which in no way concerned him on his new appointment as Director of Recruit- ing." As regards Lieut-Oeneral Sir John Cowans, the Court pdints out that in concerning himself at all in th& promotion to commissioned rank and pasting of Second-Lieutenant Barrett, he was occupy- ing himself in something outside his own department, and that his private letters to Mrs. Cornwallis-West and Second-Lieu- tenant Barrett gave the erroneous impres- sion thalt the War Office had been infu- enced by his representations on Second Lieutenant Barrett's behalf. In regard to lotiers and telegrams,, passing between Sir John Cowans on the one hand, and Mrs. Cornwallis-West and Lieutenant- Colonel Delme Radcliffe on the other, re- lating to the transfer of Seoond-Lietenant Barrett to the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the Court expresses the opinion that it "indicates on the part of Sir John Cowans not merely indiscretion, but a departure from official propriety." The Court regrets that it cannot take a favourable view of Lieut.-Colonel Delme Radcliffe's conduct in regard to the cir- cumM&aces -leading- to Second-Lieutenant Barrett's transfer to the 3rd BattaliflaL It considers that he adopted, an unusual -and unfair procedure in taking steps for this transfer on the receipt of Mrs. Cornwallis West's complaint withont any investiga- tion of the conduct complained of. It nnds that Lieut.-Colonel Debne Ea,dcliSo acted hastily, harshly, and improperly, We regret to think that under the in- fluence of a lady of position in the county j he allowed himself to deny justice to one of his own junior officers. The Court, however, is «itistied that there is no ground whatever for the suggestion made in Sir A. Markham's letter to the Pnuie Minister that it was sought to transfer Second-Lieutenant Barrett to the 3rd Bat- talion for the purpose of getting him sent to the front and so effectively obtaining his removal. As to Mrs. Cornwailis We6t, the Court says:—" If discretion alone had to be con- sidered we think that whatever influence Mrs. Cornwailis West may have had over Sir John Cowans the lady exaggerated it. We have no doubt that her injudicious boasting of the power she wielded at the War Office, which was, however, coniirmed to an appreciable extent by the wording of some of Sir John Cowan's letters, was calculated to bring him and the adminis- tration at the War Office into disrepute. But unfortunately v. e- have not had to con- I Mrs. Ucrnwailis-West. I (" Daily Sketch Photo.) I eider only a question of discretion, and we feel obliged-to record our opinion that this lady's conduct as revealed in this case has been highly discreditable, both in her be- | haviour towards Second-Lieut. Barrett before his letter of 14th February, in her vindictive attempts to iujure him after- wards, and in the untruthful evidence she gave before us. It appealed in evidence before us that this lady holds positions of some importance in the county of Denbigh- shire in various aceosiations of a public character for aSSlsting in war work, in our opinion it is to be regretted that she should hold sue it positions." As regards Mr. and Mrs. Birch the Court thinks that taking their conduct as a whole they have rendered the pub- lic a notable service by their action in defence of a friendless young officer. At the same time it considers them guilty of indiscretion in regard to some of the al- legations contained in a synopsis cir- culated by them. The second report deals with the case of General lOwen Thomas. In the very varly stages of the war special efforts were made to stimulate recruiting in Wales, and advantage was taken for tho purpose of Brigadier-General Thomas's great influence in the Principality and previous military experience. He was given command of a Welsh Brigade which he was, bId to raise. Subse- qu< ntIy ho commanded the 14th Reserve Infantry Brigade, and his case arose over Reports by superior officers on his fitness for that appointment, of which he was relieved on June 21, 1916. The Court say that the terms of a letter from Lord French should have been communicated to the General, and that a War Office letter, which appeared to state inaccurately the facts of the case, doubtless led to General Thomas's suspicion of sinister influence being con- ifrmed, and to his charging General Sir Pitcairn Campboll with having recom- mended his removal from his command in order to meet the wishes of Mrs. Cornwallis-West and Sir John Cowans. The Court filld that the suspicion was quite- unfounded, and think General Thomas ought to have accepted General Campbell's assurances to the contrary. The Court's opinion is that General Thomas has good reason for thinking that his military reputation has been disparaged, and that bis services have been depreciated. On the other hand they consioer that this result is due to an unfortunate sequence of events and to the ambiguous or inaccurate wording of certain official letters, and that his superior officers had no intentdon of doing him any inj ustice in. this connec- tion. The Court expresses regret that a letter from -Lord French to the War Offic-e should have been so ambiguously worded as to Be capable of misconstruc- tion and regards it as unfortunate that Lord French should have concurred m the terms of a il ar Office letter of July 29 to General Owen Thomas. <.oi. C. The Court found in the case of Col. C. A. Wynne-Edwards that he committed a serious error of judgment in reflecting, in a letter to Mrs. Cornwailis-Wast, on his Brigade Commander with the apparent objoot of exalting his own qualifications for a post of the same nature.

NO VOTE, NO TAX." I On the ground that it was contrary to constitutional practice that there should be taxation without representation, Miss Winifred Secretin Patch, a London woman doctor, whose affairs elnie before the Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday, had I previously declined to answer any ques- tions in respect of her estate, property, and income, or of her assets and liabilities. Creditors met on Wednesday unoer a re- ceiving order, but the ouly proof of debt It.>dfed was by the Commissioners of In- land Revenue, who (,,Iaimt-a t55 15s. in re- spect of income tax and cost >. „ The case was left with the official re- ceiver to be wound up in bankruptcy.

I CREWS RESCUED. Lloyd's report that the Norwegian steamer Bestik has been picket up aban- doned, and brought in by a patrol boat. All the crew !anded. The ?tenmer Elisabeth Van Bclgie, New York for Rotterdam, has brought in the chief officer and seven men of the Norwe- gian steamer EUik, of Bergen, sunk. The captain and five of th? crew have al- i??en landOO

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES. Among the officers mentioned in dis- patches in last night's London Gazette" is Lieut. Walter H. Lewis, son of Mr. J. Dyer Lewis, lLM, Inspector of Mines. • Lieut. Lewis, who is in the Artillery, was at the outbreak of war in Cambridge University. In August, 1914, he went to Woolwich. A brother, Lieut. V. M. Lewis, is with a local battalion of the Welsh Regiment. Both had been for five years, while at Bromsgrove, members of the O.T.C. there.

SEASON AROUND HIS NECK. As a protest against the new regula- tions insisting upon the production of season tickets, Major P?. L. Thornton, D.L. J.P-. appeared among the magie- trates at East Sussex Q?&rter Sessions wearing his. ticket suspended round his neck by a piece of red tape. Major Thornton, who resides at Fram- field, is a barrister chairman of East Sussex County Council. It is probable leays the Daily Sketch") that the pressure of public opinion may have the effect of securing concessions to travellers on suburban j railways, but as yet nothing has been de- cidsd by the Railway Executive.

NEWS IN BRIEF. Increased pay, says Reuter, 'has beaD granted to the Indian troops. Peaches and apricots from South Africa have just reached Coveut Garden. Leith coal trimmers have been granted an advance of wages of 25 per cent. Lord Furnfss has resigned the- position oi master of the York and Ainstv Hunt. For taking money from foreign seamen, two Aliens ofikr-rs at Barry were on Tues- day fined < £ 5 each. During the war over 250,000 horses have been treated in veterinary hospitals, ami 180,000 restored to health. During three days' prohibition oi spirits last week-end in Carlisle there was no arrest for drunkenness. A German prisoner, named Franz Kovrdt, has esoaped from the interment camp at Raasay, Inverness-shire. Mrs. Annie Duckett, wife and mother of soldiers, was fined S6 16s. at Chertsev for supplying intoxicating drinks to wounded soldiers. A Berlin message states that final judg- ment of the Allies' reply will only be pos- sible after the arrival of the official text of the Note.—Reuter. The funeral took place at. Llanwrda of Mrs. Mary Jones, of Llwynarel, Llandilo, and formerly of Pandy, Llanwrda. De- ceased was 84 years of age. Mr. T. B. Morison, Solicitor-General for Scotland, was returned unopposed for In. verness-shire on Tuesday, succeeding Si1 John Dewar, one of the new peers. Japanese artisans are to be trained by their Government to carve coral for sale in Europe and America. The trade be- fore the war was in Italian hands. A Muswell Hill tramcar got out of con- trol on an incline at Hornsey, and collided with a coal cart, the driver of which was thrown and killed; the car was badly damaged. At Liverpool a shopkeeper and manage*- of an automatic machine company were tined ten guineas each for permitting the use' of premises for gaming with a clown, machine. Commander Noel Laurence, who tor- pedoed two German battleships last November, is to be presented with the honorary freedom of Maidstone, of which town he is a native. A bush fire near Port Elizabeth im- perilled the lives of hundreds of the bun- galo wholiday makers, who were, forced to make a hasty flight. Ten square miles of bush were destroyed. For selling watered milk, some of which was said to have been supplied by a retailer to a hospital-containing wounded soldiers, Geoffrey Cook, farmer, Stretton. was fined 41,30 at Burton-on-Trent. It is claimed for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers that it is the wealthiest and most powerful trade union in the world. It has a membership of 230,OOP and accumulated funds of Mrs. Matilda Swain, widow of the late Mr. John Swain, founder of the Shoe-lana firm of phoro engravers, who was in his early days a wood engraver on the staff of Punch," has died at Camden Town at the age of 87. Two blast furnace workers, Charles Toan and James Shilling, were so badly burnt as the result of an accident at the Gargo Fleet Iron and Steel Works. Mid- dlesbro', on Wednesday night, that both men succumbed. Lloyd's report that the following vessel, not having been heard of since the date specified, is considered very much over- due:—The Serbistan, of Swansea (Griffiths., mastery from Brest roads for Cardiff, on. 16th November, 4916. Many young Welsh farmers say in thei-I letters that they have been impressed with some farming ideas they have seen in Franco, and express their intention of introducing them to Wales when they come back to their native heaths. In an old limestone cavern at Cradley, Staffs, the dead body of an elderly woman was found. She had been missing ainca November, and when discovered was partly covered with snow. She apparently had wandered there to lay down and die. An applicant for exemption at Camber- ley Tribunal had served 22 years in th« Army, including 12 years in India, the campaign in Thibet, and 13 months in the present war, in which he was wounded. He was now called up as he is not yet 41 yeare, of age. Nurse Annie Handley, daughter of Mr, T. Handley, Rose Cottage, New-road, Llandovery, a Red Cross nurse, and one of those who was rescued when the ill-fated Britannic was torpedoed, is home on ten days' leave prior to proceeding to further duties in connection with the war. Sitting at Por-thcawl, the Glamorgan Methodists' monthly meeting resolved to circularise the churches in favour of a war bonus to ministers.—A vote of con- dolence was passed with the Rev. W. Williams, Hafod, Swansea, in the Joes of his son in action. An Amsterdam telegram says:—The Vorwaerts says it is possible a plenary sitting of the Reichstag will be convoked in the middle of this month, as it is ol^ vious the Imperial Chancellor as well as all parties would iike to express an opinion on the ref usal of the peace offer.- Reuter. Whilst hunting with the Beaufort hounds on Wednesday the Duke of Beau- fort fell from liis horse at Marnham Green. Gloucester. He was considerably bruised and badly shaken, but no bonea were broken. His Grace is progressing satisfactorily, but owing to pain and stiff- ness he spent a bad night. A curious grievance is coming to the front in Baptist circles. It is ventilated in a Welsh denominational organ by tho Rev. Ungoed Thomas, of Carmarthen, who asks why it is that the well-to-dl" among the Baptists close their doora; against visiting ministers. Mr. Thomas complains that the old hospitality has to a large extent disappeared. Lord Rupert William Gascoyne Cecil,, 65th Bishop of Exeter, and 72nd Bishop of, the Devonshire See, was enthroned at' Exeter Cathedral on Wednesday morning by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, in ths presence of the Lord Bishop of Crediton, Cathedral dignitaries, and about 304 parochial clergy. The Bishop was weU corned by the civil authorities. Mr. Thomas Protheroe, of Brynawei, Old-road, LIanelly, colliery proprietor who died January 31st last., and whew will is proved by Evan Willie Jones, Coleshill-terrace, Lianelly, has Property of the value of 1:15,297, the pet person* alty being 912,279. The testator gives all his real and personal estate "Whe-resoevee and whatsoever, to his wife and childzon in equal shares as tenants in eornmoa. A startling discovery was made on Tuesday evening in some experimental entrenchments at Aldershot, the body o. Lieut. W. J. Watterman. R.A.M.Cn quarter-master of the Military Isolation Hospital being found in a terribly in- jured condition. His head was battered in, and appearances point to foul play. The police are making enquiries in campt A soldier has been detained for his move- ments to be investigated. Through the efforts of the West Waltl branch of the Married Men's Union, 1 drastic combing out of single clerks ifl controlled works is taking place. Married clerks are required to fill these vacancies A meeting of the local branch is to be helg in the Elysium on Sunday evening. J deputation is coing to London shot-fly 14 interview Mr. J. M. Hogge, M.P., who h;ll agreed to see members of the Assoeiatioi with a view of increased eepa.ra.tien allow 1 ancow for soldiers' wiv-os and dejjt^idaata