Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

y ABERDULAIS. A welcome home was given to Ptes. Willie Evans (Forest House) and Ernie Evans (Glynmeal), at the Baptist Hall on ^Tuesday evening.

BRITONFERRY. The Union of the Discharged Sailors and Soldiers at Br.itonferry have jn- creaaed in number up to nearly a hun- dred members. They are shortly to have a, visit from Mr. John Hogge, M.I' the pensioner's friend, as he its termed. Britonferry received a visit on Satur- day evening of a contingent of the. W.U.C.s. Tennis was started at the steelworks grounds, Briton ferry, on Saturday. The Britonferry Choral Society has in- creased in numliers so much' that they have had to seek fresh and larger rooms for practice. —————

PORT TALBOT. Anniversary services were held at Cal- faria, Welsh Baptist Chapel on Sunday find Monday, the preacher" being D: Morris (Trcorky) and Hev, R. It. Phillips (Cilfynydd). H Death from suffocation was the v< rdicf at the in mi est held by Mr. Lewis Thoiaas at the Sandtields. Aberavon, on Thursday night on Michael Waters (2n, soryof Patrick Waters, Water-street, who i feU into the River Afan on the previous zlight while playing. Passion music was rendered -by St. Theodore's Choir, Port Talbot, on Thurs- j day night, the work selected being Stainer's From Olivet to Calvary." Mr. F. R. H. Sea ton was at the organ, and the solo Ms were Messrs* Ivor Jenkins and R. W. Henry, and Mis.s Beryl Baiu- ford. At an inquest held at Port Talbot on Friday on John Griffiths (31). collier, who was killed at the Dyft'ryn Rhondda Col- liery, it transpired that while he was wait- in* to get accustomed. to the darkness offer going down the pit some bricks fell r f1'9@ arching on to Ldti head. The workers at Port Talbot Graving Dock were on Monday afternoon ad- dressed by Mr. J. A. Sed<lon at an open- air meeting, presided over by Mr. F. Cornelius, secretary of the company. At the close a resolution pledging those pre- sent to untiring effort in accelerating the reconditioning of ships in support of national safety," was carried without I .opposition. Talbot Do{'.k8 during the I.CPPO&lOon. Port Talbnt Docks during the past week ?va? as follows:—Exports: Coal and coke, H,G09 tün, patent fuel, 5,600; general, 11; total. 22,016. Imports were: Ore, 9; pitwood. ?1(i; bal- l?t. 203; and scrap, 56. The total ton- nage was 23,790, compared with 27.157 in I the corresponding week of la,A year.

I PREMIER SEES THE KING. Mr. Lloyd George went to Buckingham Palaoe. on Tuesday evening, and was re- ceived in audience by the King. Earlier in the afternoon his Majesty gave audi- ences to Gen. Maurice, Director of Mili- tary Operations, and to Gen. Sir Ralph Paget, British Minister to Denmark. I

I LUXURY TRAVELLING. I I It is learnt that a statement regarding fui-ther railway travelling restrictions will be issued witni- the next week. The Railway Exeoutivo have been considering several proposed new regulations, the adoption of which- will further reduce the number of passengers. Several com- panies have decided to withdraw aU four- a-sido corridor coaches, and to substitute tho ten-seater carriage. A considerable reduction in the number of first-class coaches is contemplated, but it is im- probable that they will lie withdrawn al- together. It is believed that drastic measures will be takeu to roduce luxury travelling, and an important announcf*ne,nt may also be I exnectcd with regard to the issue 01 season tickets. j

I WESLEY AND MR. WARDLE. t The March quarterly meeting is an important event in the Wesleyan Metho- dist Church, inasmuch as at that meeting the ministers are invited or otherwise for the coming connexional year. The Conference has urged upon all circuits to retain their ministers, if possible, so as trave l c-td. to save the expenee of travel, etc. There are three of the Wesley circuit ministers who have served one year more than the allotted time—three years—and the meeting held at Swansea on" Monday evening was concerned as to a re-invita- tion for the fifth year. A discussion en- sued, in which the steward of Wesley Chapel pre?'nt?d an unbroken request from the church that Mr. Wkrdle should b? retained for another year. After further discussion, Mr. Wardle de<;Med not to aJlow his name to be put forward. The Rev. C. H. Floyd was unanimously asked to remain a third year; as aiso was Mr. Green, of Mumbles.. The former pro- mised to remain if his health was main- tained, whilst the latter promised his de- cision in a few weeks. The meeting nw stands adjourned. Mr. Buckingham is also in his fourth year, and the question of his re-invitation etc., will be discussed at the adjourned meeting.

1 H E S U G A R S UP PLY. 1 The Right Hon. Sir Alfred Mond, Bart., M.P., having received a large number of { petitions from confectioners and their customers in Swansea and district, com- municated with Lord Rhondda. who has replied as follows:— My Dear Mond, I am afraid that in view of the present stocks of 6ugar in the country the supply of sugar to manufacturers of con feei.ionery cannot be increased. A scheme I i, however, being prepared by my I- partment which should tend to divert sup- plies from concerns selling other goods to tiiOj-o dependent upon the sale of confec- tionery. I hope that this will do something to allev ia to &iiy hardship which may have been felt by the retail confectioners in Swansea owing to the reduced .supplies of confectionery available Tours very faithfully, (Sd.) Rhondda. Forms of application for sugar for jam making may be had by growers of fruit only, from the local food offices, and these must be filled and returned by April If Ji. The total of sugar for this purpose shall in no case exceed lOlbs. per head of the household. For those who have large quantities of fnnt, there is an invitation to state what weight of fruit they are prepared to convert into jam. on the understanding that the jam so made is placed at the dispell of the local com- mittees at prices not exceeding the cur- rent wholesale prices. The form of application, after being tilled up by the applicant, must be signed b> a J.P., minister, clergyman, member of local body, or oth .re peison of position.

In the Divorce Court on Tuesday Col. j Sidjjey Francis Crocker. C.B., a retired ot?WSf. was granted a divorce from hM l'Vj. g,n t?e ground of her adultery wit.h I Ma?r Thomas TraUI..

SMILING TROOPS I 4) — Full of Fire and Dogged Courage. j Unabated confidence permeates the latest messages from our correspondents at the front. They, seeing all, under- standiing- much, realising, the magnitude and t'he gravity of the situation, are still able to write cheerfully of the position. The following extracts show how little our troops are depressed. It will be noted that the Welsh troops in the 40th divi- sion has gained the highest praise. I Welsh Division Gains Praise. The battle continues without filackeai- ing along the whole great front. The Ger- mans have made more progress, but no- where is that progress comparable with their aims or their expectations. Every- where tily arc faced -still by t.he line xwhich bends and sags and seems to yield, but is always there, confronting them ■ (writes Mr. Perry Robinson in The Ti iiief. In moving, as a correspondent must, In- hind the lines. 1 have been impressed with j nothing so much as with the cod, orderly j determination of our men. Their man- ner and speech a re eloquent of confidence in themselves. Those who go up to the line know what is ahead of them, and they go up laughing and tossing jests about. Thos^ who coma out. weary, bc- draggled huw weary and bedraggled I have seen sonic of tll(\Jll:Î are full of firo and dogged pride. They have fallen or been ordered hact. but then comes the tle 01 how they have dealt with the o;vmiy. And the tale is every- where the s i me. The German lasses are, beyond doubt, enormous. | Mention has been made in the commu- niques of tho 17th and 40th Divisions, j The t-0th were in the area of Ecoust and N ore nil. There they did splendid in con- junction with the 3rfl Division on their left, and it was largely owing to them that the great drive of the enemy in this sector met with sticti comparatively paltry results in the early stages of the battle. [In the 40th Division are many Swan- sea men. ] We must recognise frankly that th-a situation is an exacting one; it is serious,, but not So critical that the fate of tho British armies hangs in the balance (writes Mr. Pereival Phillips in the "Daily Ixpres<s.H) Tho stand of our troops everywhere has been splendid beyond description. They are resisting fresh corps and divisions poured across the desola.ts country which we have evacuated. They have only given ground where the odds have been greater than three to one—sometimes as much as six to one. Lines momentarily broken have beesb bUshed, counter- attacks by liancflrels of Britons have dammed the flood and pushed it back—for it is a flood and nothing else, a tidal wave of Germans loosed in a desperate gamble -and though the first results have given the enemy a show of progress we do not believe that he can win. I believe that the German casualties have been much heavier than ours during the fighting of the past two days. Of the British wounded whom I have seen, the majority were walking cases or men suffer- ing more from fatigue than from serious inj uries. Tho most remarkable feature of the Get- man advance has been the rapid movement ot the heavy guns. This phase of open war- faro ",s been carefully rehearsed for months. Our airmen, the only people who have iull survey of the wonderful scene behind the swaying battle front, can see howitzers lumbering along the roads and endless columns of motor lor- ries bringing shell to new battery posi- tions. Guns come into action anywhere in the open, and field batteries have re- peatedly been seen galloping )ldIY across I rising ground leas than a mile from out troops.

SLOOP STRIKES MINE. I The Secretary of the Admiralty an- nounoos One of his Majesty's mine-sweeping sloops struck a mine and pank on the 22nd inst. Two officers and 64 men were lo.?. Gf his de,,?-trGyci?c; Paii k oyi On? of his Majesty's destroyers f?nk on the night of the 23rd inst. after being in collision. All the officers and the ship's company were saved, except one officer and one man. Tho next-of-kin hare been informed.

"NEVER SAW SUCH A PLACE" I At Poii tarda we Food Control Commit- tee on Monday, Mr. D. T. Jones, J.P., presiding, Mr. Morgan Davies, executive officer, referred to certain shortages of butter at Clydach. Gwauncaegurwen and Ystalyf'orav last week, after the supplies had been &ent to the places mentioned from the Pontardawe dump. At Clydach there was a shortage of 19t, and at Gwauneactfurwen they were three boxts short. As far as the former place was conoerned it was due to lack of system and the need of a proper place for dis- tribution. Mr. J. Nicholas sajd he called at the Clydach dump last week, when the butter WSKS bniup: distributed, and he never saw such a place in his life. The whereabouts of the O, a nncaegur- wen butter is a mystery.

I p- ?t I 77:c Creamiest Cust4ard I i"- i 1

inODiON AR BYNCIAU YR WYTHNOS. I -—— (G/VN AWSTIN.) Nid yn ami y daw gair i'r golofn lion o helynt Cymry Glannau Afan a Margam, er fod Cymdeithas y Cymrodorion yno er gwaetha'r wasgfa bresennol yn parhau'n flodcuog. Cynhaliwyd y cyfarfod blyn- yddol nos Wener, ac yr oedd yn dda dywed gan yr ysgrifenydd ariannol (Cynghorwr Ll. H. Nicholas, Y.H.) fed y cyllid mewn eefyllfa foddhaol, ac fod yr yspryd cenedlaethol yn dal i iosgi'n glir. Yr oedd y Parch. D. Marlais Davies, B.A., Cwmafon, yn gorffen ei dymor yh y gadair, ac fel olynydd iddo dewiswyd Mr. W. Pritchard Williams (Bottwnog), un o golofnau praffa'r gymdeithas o'r dechreuad. Ail-etholwyd ø, James Nicholas yn drysorydd, a than fod Mr. David Jones, yr ysgrifennydd diwyd, yn tael- geisio rhyddhad, dewiswyd- Mr. D. M. Evans (Cymro) yn ei le, ond cydeyn- iodd Mr. Jones i weithredu fel ysgrif- onnydd ariannol. Buwyd hefyd yn enwi darlithwyr y tymor nesaf. -Pabam, tybed, y cyfyngir cyfarfodydd y rlian fwyaf o'r Cymdeithasau Cymreig i dymor y gaeaf? Beth sydd yn rhwystro trefni niter o wibdoithiau yn yr hat? Y mae o fewn cylch deng milltir i Aber- afon lawer mangre lawn o swyn i Gymro, a chyforiog o banes, a byddai llawcr un yn falch o gyfie i ymweled a hwynt, a chlywed rhyv. un dan awyr las y nef yn dwyn y gorffennol etdn ol. Y mae Mabinogiou Abertawd, a rhai Field Clubs i y gwyddoui ani danynt, yn gwneud byn. Wrth gwrs y mae'r rhyfel or y fiordd ar ( hyn o bryd, ond pan dderfydd y gwae a-'r gotid, a phan ddelo'r bechgyn o bellter y drill i dre, bydd mwy o hud nag erioed yn tui bryiHjiu'r hen wind, a goheithiwn weled mwy o gyrc-liu nag erioed at leoedd cysegredig a rhai y bti banes pwysig iddynt yn y dyddiau enbyd gynt. };wyd gweithrediadau tymor cvntaf cangen Sciwcn a Mynachlog Nedd o Gym- deithas yr laith Gyrnraeg i ben drwy ddarlith werthfawr gan DyfnaIJt ar I Owain Glyndwr." I (idechreu rhodd- J odd ddarlun byw o sefyllfa ein gwlad- ynghyfnod yr arwr, tua chwarter olaf y 34eg ganrif. Dangosodd rhai polisi'r Norman a'r Sais oedd yspcilio a gwasgu'r CymTO, ac eg oedd modd yn y byd, dwyn eiddo a darostwng y penuaethiaid Cym- reig. Mor isel y syniad am y Cymro, fel nad oedd ei air i'w dderbyn fel gwir- ionedd mewn llys iKirn. Cyfeiriodd at hafog y Marw Du. ac fel y bu i brinder llafurwyr ddilynodd hynny osod gwerth j llawer mwy ar y werin. Cododd pris gweithiwr yn y farchnad. Drwy hyn a dylanvvadau r ymddyg- iadau anheilwng ar du y barwniaid, eymerodd deffroad llafurawl Ie, Gwnaeth loIn Gocli arwr o'r ila- ^wr yn ei fardd- oniaeth, a mynegodd ddyheud y werin mewn llinellau fel:- Dyna ran dy garennydd, Dwg ni o'n ihwym dygn yn rhydd." Gwelsom Owain Glyndwr yn dafod i'r fatft ddeffroad, i'r symudiad- addysgol liefyd, drwy ddatgan hawl gwerin i addysg, fel gwyr mawr. Bu yn gryf dros yr ysbryd newydd mewn llenyddiaetli, fel y cynrychiolid gan Iolo Go-c-h yn Nghymru a William Langland yn Lloegr, wnaeth yr aradwr (Tiers the. Plowman) yn arwr, ac nid y marchog. Soniodd am ddylahwad cymeryd rhan ym mrwydrau y Cyfandir ar y Cymro. Gwelai y Ffanood yn ymladd fel un gwr, a'r Ysgotiaid hwythau yn llu unol. Daethai yn ol, we-dr ei argvhoeddi y dylasai yntau fod yr un fath, ac fod eisieu uno'r Cymry. Nid rhyfedd felly i'r symudiad cenedlaethol dyfu mor gryf. Daeth pobl y mynyddoedd, na choncrwyd mo honynt erioed gan y Sais, i well deall- twriaetli a phobl y gwastadeddan a'r tiroedd bras. Ac wedi eiifcilT buddugol- iaeth ar ol buddugoliaeth yn y Goglffid a'r JJe, a darostwng castell 'rol castell, yn y flwyddyn 1402 daeth Cymru gyfan am y tro cyntaf erioed i gydnabod un tywysog, a bwnnw oedd y gwron o Glyn- dyfrdwy. Tair gweledigaeth fawr gafodd Owain: (1) Fod Cymru i gael prif-ysgol—un yn y Gogledd a'r llall yn y De. Am 600 mlynedd buwyd yn disgwyl am sylwedd- oliad o'r weledigaeth. (2) Fod Cymru i gael Senedd iddi ei hun. Ni ddaeth hyn ?t?, ond ?all fod yn n?s nag a dybiwn. (3) E?Iwys g?nedlaetho!, a phob un i hregethu yn iaith ei fam. Nis gwyddom beth ddaw, ond daeth dydd eisoes pan y cadd y Gymra?g le 8mlycach a mwy anrhyd?ddus yn Y5go}ion a cho!?ga.u ein gwlad nag erioed. Boed i ysbryd an- farwol Owain Glyndwr, yr hwn nas gwyr neb fan ei fedd, barliau i ysbrydoli gwerin ein gwlad i g-6isior dyddiau gwell. Yinhlit h damweini-au anucheladwy y rhyfel, rhaid cyfrif y cklamwain a ddi- jrwyddodd i swyddog ieuanc CymTeig, genedigolo Sir Benfro, Jrent: Davies, mab i chwaer Mrw. David Harries, Treforis. Pan yn ehedeg yn Spfttlegate. Grantham, collodd ei fywyd. ac y mae cydvmdeimlad dwys wedi, ac yn, cael ei tirddaugo3 gyda'r teulu. Lleddfir y cur. er hynny, gan gof- ion am gymeriad dilychwcn a gweithgar- wrh Cymroaidd y Swyddog ieuanc a gar- iai i weithgaTwch a'i sel grefyddiol gydag ef o'i gartref i'w grssylltiadaw ml-lwrol. Derbpniwyd llythyrau caredig iawn gan y teulu oddiwrth y Caplan (yn profi yr liyn a ddywedwyd yn barod am ei aidd- garwcb crefyddol, a'i fedrusrwydd fel siaradwr cyhoeddusi, ac oddiwrth Capt. Goodfellow, y Swyddog: mewn awdurdod ar y Royal Flying Corps y perthynai Lieut. Davies iddo. Dywed y Cadben forI medrusrwy-dd y Cymro ieuanc wedii llawn brofi ei hawl i swydd uych yn y dyfodol buan, oni bai i'r ddamwain angeuol dorri yn fyr yrfa addawol neillduol. Tal yntau devrnged. o barch i Lieoit. Davies fel gwr ieuanc nwyfus, gweithgar, lien,gar, cyfeill- gar, poblogaidd a gobei thiol. Gallwn gofio gyda hyfrydwch hefyd ei fed yn Gymro i'r earn.

Samuel Crawcour, tobacconist, who ap- peared for the 547tii time, and Elijah Max Friedman, confectioner, who made his 228th appearance, were each fined 5a. at Swan set en Tuesday for filing cigarettes a,c.d bi%Rmluteo rewaliveix m a

BIRCHGROVE. A quarterly meeting was held t Saron Chapel on Sunday, Meas-rs. T. I™wis and John Jones presiding. Mist; Linda Mor- gan accompanied. Following the services in the different denominations, an open-air prayer meet- ing was hold near Nazareth Chapel. The meeting was conducted by the Rev. Percy Moss Weston. (SwanseaJ, ————— —————.

f GLYN-NEATH. A concert was given in honour of Pte. Dd. James Williams, eon of Rev. D. Glannedd Williams, at-Bethamia (C.-M.). Mr. W. T Rowlands presided. There was also a reception to Pte. Tom Morgan, eon of Mr. Ivor Morgan (Peneaefallt), at Capel-y-Glyn. Mr. Dd. Price, M.E., Cwm- gwraoh, presided. At the meeting of the Foresters' Friendly Society, photographs were pre- sented to Mr. and Mrs. Win. Llewelyn, Cwmgwrach. Mr. Llewelyn, had be&n treasurer to the Society for 15 years. Mr. D. M. Davies, C.E., Neath, has been elected president of the Glyn-Neath Allotment Association. Concerts to welcome soldiers home on leave have been given to Private Lewis Thomas and Private Reggie Sims at Betlibl, to Private D. T. Jones at Addoldy, and to Driver D. Thomas Jenkins at Bethania. At the New Theatre the Capel-y-Glyn Dramatic Society gave a second perfor- mance of Beddau'r Proffwydi." Don't miss Eisteddfod at Libanus (Cwm- bwrla.). April 20.

LLANSAMLET. .t.M. l. M. J±ooper (machine gunner), who has lost his left leg 'and right foot, was presented with a cheque at Bethel Chapel. At the competitive concert at Calfaria, Morriston, the prize for the aolo for boys under 14 was won by Victor Morris, Llan- samlet.

NEATH. Mr. J. l^oo-fc-iieefs^ ivl.b.A., Tseath, has been re-elected president of the South 3Vales Institute of Architects. The unsatisfactory attendance at Ne^th schools was said yesterday to mean hun- dreds of pounds lost in grants. The recent visit of the Milford Haven Garrison Troupe, The Wangles," who were assisted by Sr Robert Hale, Drury Lane pantomime oomedian, and other well-known London stars, delighted the Tommies" at the Neath and District tWar Hospital. The series jit concerts and entertain- ments heldlabt week at the Neath and district War Hospital, was wound up on Saturday evening by Mr. llal Bound, the popular comedian, Port Talbot, who brought a first-class concert party, in- cluding Mies Uren, Miss Ethel Thomas, Miss Ethel Emery, Messrs. R. D. Thomas, Martin Phillips, and Emlyn Thomas {violinist). Miss Jones was the accom- panist, and Mr. T. Davies presided. According to official returns, Neath, with a population of lt-,586, su hscribed in National War Bonds during the fortnight ending March 16tli £ 347.430. As the result of a hostile incident be- tween the public and police, Thos. Davies, Canal Side, Neath, was at Neath on Mon- day nned S3 for drunken and disorderly conduct and assaulting P.C. Watkin Jones. John Lemon, St. Anne-rterrace. Tonna. was also lined £2 for obstructing the police. Organised by Mrs. F. W. Gibbins, presi- dent of the local corps of the W.A.A.C.'s there was an interesting demonstration at Neath on Saturday afternoon, in which a (,onipa.-ny of the "lchaki lapses" from Bristol took part. The W.A.A.C.'s were welcomed by the Mayor (Alit. Hopkin Morgan. C.B.E., J.P.), Commandants Mrs. Moore-Gwyn and lirs. F. W. Gibbins. At Neath on Monday. ArthAii- Ifarding, described as a horse dealer, was sentenced to six months' hard labour for obtaining by false pretences a cheque ford38 from John Tltomas, farmer, Trefadog, St. Davids, imbrokeshire. The quarterly report of the Neath Nursing Association,.issued by Miss Doris [Wales, assistant secretary, shows that 1,743 general visits -were made, 650 maternity visits, and 3,(151 health and school work. 560 of which were measles cases. Gifts were received from the following: Mrs.. Moore-Gwyn., Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Davies, Mr. Powell, Miss O. Davies. Mrs. Grandfield, 1 Mrs. Wales, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. James, Mrs. Griffiths, Urs. and Miss Morgan. Mrs. Thirrcs, Miss Gibbins, Mrs. Pearns, Mrs. Tennant, Mrs. B. W. Davies, Mrs. Bevan, Miss Ken way. and Mrs. Jenkins. At a meeting of the Governors of the Neath' Group of Schools on Monday, a letter was read from the Clerk to the County Council explaining the proposal for the erection of middle schools at Britonferry, Resol ven, Seven Sisters and Skewen. A committee was appointed to (select suitable sites.

I PORTHCAWL. I I Although no official information is I forthcoming, it is understood the.project of building concrete ships at Porthcawl is making satisfactory progress, and the Government view the proposal with favour. A syndicate is known to have been formed some time ago, and it has now secured a lease from the Great Wes- tern Railway of the old site of the docks and other adjacent property, upon which it is intended U> proceed with the con- struction of barges and smaller craft for the time being. The promoters are assured by experts that no better site can be secured.

SKEWEN. At Tabernacle Jlall. Skewen, on Fri- day Pyoning,, a wolcorae homo was given to Ship Steward's Assistant Rhys 0. Davies, Ptes. W. T. Taylor (Australians), Q. H. ltarris,or.P. W. Bendle, J. Tajnma, j and W. H. Cook. Ou Thursday evening, at TDhernnde Hall, the closing m&pHj]? of the local br:mci<. of the Welsh Language Society W8 addressed by the Rev. J. Dyfnailt Owen, Carmarthen, ?pon Owain Glyn- dwr." The Rû". Tbos. Morgan presided. Under the baton of Mr. T. J. Noot, the UDited Methodist Choir on Thursday even- ing rendered the sacred cantata, The Gaiilaxin," the different characters being susta-incd by the following: Miss Katie Abbot, Miss Esther Follant, and Mr. Fred Curtie.. The readers were the Rev. Wm. Cann and Mr. W. 1). Johns; accompanist, Ms-s D. Evans Jones. During the even- ing 'oello and violin solos respectively were given by Mr. Reuben Tajior and Master Emyr L. Jones. At the Crown Hotel, on Thursday even- ing, a social was held to give a hearty send-off to Pte. Phil Evans (Canadian). Councillor John Morris (Neath) presided. At Calfaria Baptist Chapel, Skewen, on Saturday evening, the Neath Abhey Juvenilft Prize Choir (conductor, Mr. Richard Evans) provided progmmmo of music, etc. Mr. Richard Maiden pre- sided the accompanist being Mr. Daniel I. John. The death has occurred of Mr. George Tossell, 1, Grove-lane, Skewen, for many years a G.W.R. signalman. On, Monday evening, at Bethania Welsh Independent Ch&pùl. S wen. the Rev. D. J?Ioyd Morgan, D.D., 'Ponbrdulais, de- livered his lecture on Abraham Lincoln and hia country." The Rev. S. Evans Gealy presided. During the last 32 months a record num- ber of books were issued from the Skewon Public Library.

CHUNG LING SOO SHOT. j "Chung Ling Soo," the well-known Chinese magician," who. however, wa not a Chinaman, but an American named Robinson, was fatally shot during his per- formance at the Wood Green Empire on Saturday night. The accident occurred at the second house, and in connection tvith the final trick of the evening. Chung Ling Soq) was,taken to the Wood Green Ho-suital, where lie lived only a few hours. Tho trick, familiar to audiences at the Swansea Empire, consisted of firing at a china plate, with which the conjuror was suppo.sed to deflect and catch the bullets. An a matter of fact the bullets never left the rifle. The failure of the rifle mech- anism, however, released the bullet, on Saturday, aiid it passed through the un- lucky entertainer.

——. .— CONTROLLED PORT. A meeting of the committee appointed to advance Swansea's claims as a con- trolled port was held at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon, under the presidency of Mr. A. W. E. Wynne, Amongst those present were the Mayor (Aid. Ben Jones), Mr. T. J. Williams. M.P.. including representatives other bodies and labour. A dra-ft statement was submitted- and approved setting forth Swansea's claims, and this will in a few days be Frnt to every public body in the town and district, coalowners and sliipoing aectons, and M.P.'s. Mr. T. J. Williams, M.P., was congratulated upon his recent speech in Parliament urging Swansea's claim to be put on a similar basis to several other shiping ports. It was stated that the Secretary of the Board of Trade is expected in Swansea early in April in connection- with. the matter. The draft statement states the character and volume of Swansea's trade for several years past, and the justice#and necessity I of the port being controlled.

The Appeal Court; on Tuesday ms- mied the appeal of Mr. Hugo Wein- berger from the judgment of Mr. Justice Astburv, dismissing his action .against the Committee of the London Stock Ex- change. Mr. Weinberger claimed a de- claration that he was entitled to he re- flected a. nituLbei QJ;

DAUNTLESS MEN. e THRILLING COURACE AGAINST CHEAT GODS The first four days of fighting has been graphically described by our war corres- pondents, a common feature of their re- ports being a war eulogy of the magni- ficent courage of our troops in the face of stupendous odds and an unparalelled onslaught. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe, in the Daily Mail," writing on Sunday night, said:— On the whole, after four days of the hardest fighting of the war. the general feeling so fai as 1 can gauge it, is that we have not done badly. It was certain that such a blow as the enemy delivered must have some effect. His hope was that it would disable us, and in this he has been completely disappointed. We hare fallen buck in some places to positions a good d'al in the rear of those we held at iir-t, but we have done this without the slightest disorder. In no case has there been anything which could be called a flight. In the preliminary bar- rage and in the course of falling back we luive inevitably lost many men. The lives of brave men that have been yielded U;) are cause for grief and lamentation, but they were sacrificed for the common good. They were interposed alS a barrier to keep tho enemy back whiio their com- rades made. ready to give battle upon positions the most favourable that we I could choose. English and Irishmen's Defiance. I Mr.-i'hillipGtbbs-n-?t?— I The malu attjcl. j?t ?utb of St. Qmm- tin was directed against Urvillers and I Essiguy, and the enemy forced his way tlirough these places by great drives. Our ¡ garrison there was partly destroyed by his stupendous gunfire. He seems to have gained possession of Essigny before mid- day on March L'l, and to have captured Contestcourt on the edge of the canal. This gave him important high ground, of which he made full use. He succeeded by this movement in bending our line at the right ilank of the Ulster Division, north of the canal, which he crossed hereabouts, and by advancing his field artillery was able to bombard the line to which the main body of our troops had been withdrawn down from Maissemy and Uolnon Wooi-l to Savy and Roupy. He pressed forward against this line, but meanwhile several detached com- panies of our men were holding out in redoubts entirely surrounded by the enemy. They were defended by machine guns, and had supplies of food for 48 hours. In one near St. Quentin, in ano- ther near Grugies, and many others southwards past Fort de Liez to Le Fere, til,4e companies of men, English and Irish. Buffs and London men, held out, saw tho enemy streaming past them, knew that they were cut off, but would not retreat. Soma of them maintained their fire until evening, and then, with machine gun ammunition spent, or nearly spent, tried to fight their way through. I fear that many did not succeed in this heroic adventure, but by their ser- vice will always be remembered in our history. They checked the enemy pro- gress and gave their comrades a greater chance. • On Sunday mornin they followed up our withdrawal by clearing up all the ground in the bend formed by the acute angle of the St. Quentin Canal, which has its apex at Tugny, six kilometres miles) east of Ham, and it was reported that patrols entered the town of Ham itself. Another report came through, though it proved to be untrue, that this morning enemy troops were reported ad- vancing in the neighbourhood of Ham, to Guiscard. All the servants of a Head- quarters Staff were gathered together, cooks and orderlies and transport men, and sent up the road to hold it. It proved unnecessary, as I know from per- sonal experience, for. I went into GUIE- j card this morning and met no Uhlans thereabouts, though they were reported, truly, I believe, to have been seen round I' Ham. It wan a Jaeger battalion which at- tacked Quessy and Fargpiier, south of that fort, and there was a raid by the Sixtieth Landwehr Regiment over the marshes at La Frette. During the night they built four. bridg-rs and a dam over the river, and then fired a number of gas projec- tors, but our men saw them, shattered them with machine-gun fire and field-gun fire, so that they had to be withdrawn. It was only a small episode in the larger It plan. German storm troops were able to force their way to Vendeuil-, Ly-Fontaine, j and Ben ay, south of Essigny, and to strike I against and Terguier, on the St. Quentin Canal. I A Wonderfully Good Show." I I "The Times" correspondent writes:— I have talked to-day with men who were in the fighting h<ere and saw or took part in the .counter-attacks. So jubilant were they at what, they called the wonderful j good show" and the fighting of our men that they could hardly tell of it co- herently. At one time when the Germans had driven part of our line back a captain of the LeceosterB, with part of a company, was entirely cut off, but he did not wait for the counter-attack, but fought his way back through two lines of the enemy. In both our counter-attacks which re- established the line the officers told nie that our men were absolutely automatic in the perfection of their movements, and never in rehearsals or practice had they seen messenger service and liaison more beautiful. British Carrying On Methodically. ( spent Saturday on the left of our battle front, between Bapaume and the Scarpe, where on every side there is abun- dant evidence thnt the spi rit of our men is in no wise shaken by the shock of this defensive battle. or the of giving ground (writes )1r;. Pereival Phillips in the "Daily Express.") Everywhere one could find the greatest activity, but it was orderly activity, and the work suddenly imposed by this crisis on organisations in the rear as well as on those bearing the brnnt of battle was beiAg performed coolly ??d fin?rt?y. ?ueh a V?tt dj.ustment ?f ou r front ?nvolvps ?hiftinp much of the intricate machinery of our armies. Stores, equipment, hospitals', ammunition dumps —h.11 kinds of supplies in the old forward .rlts were safely transferred to other places. Transport columns, driven hv weary, dus t -covercd men. rolled along I the mads in perfect order.

EYE BLOWN OUT. I The tale of mischievous prank as a reo- suM of which a litle ifve-ye-ar-old ))ov lost an 4ye, was told at the Swansea Police Court on Tuesday, when three small boys were charged with stealing and receiving four pounds of gunpowder, 30 iron rail dog-, and a-box of detonators. Det. Constable Frances said the boys admitted the offence. One lad said he took one of the cape home and threw it on the fire, and he added: H My little brother is in the hospital througIL it." Mr. Edward Harris, defending, eaid the little child in Question in addition to losing its eye, had its nose split open. The parents and the children were bound over in 9,5 for two years.

TWO FATALITIES. 1 Two fatal accidents occurred at Llan- debie during the week-end. While tin- loading timber at the station yard, a log. weighing abov.t 15cwte., caught Charles Roberts, a married man, 46 years of age, of Blaennautgwyn Farm, on the head, and crushed hitu. Death was instan- taneous. Wm. Thomas, married, 30 years of age, of Tycoch, Derwydd Road, was killed by a fall of root at the 1.1811- debie Colliery. He leaves four children, the youngest being only 10 weeks old.

GWAllA CENTRALS SHOULD STILL BE BOUGHT. For some time past (says Financial Opinion ") we have been insistent in these columns upon the excevtional (unique would not in our opinion do more tuan fairly state the ee\ position occupied by this company. Exceptional for two reawns. ¡ to mention no others:— (1) The richness of the gold val, uer al. ready proved in the mine and the simil- arity which exists between the formation of the lodes at depth between the Gwalia Central Mines and those of the most fa- mmis Westralian Mines, where exception- ally rich ore bodies have been met with. (2) The moderate capitalisation of the Gwalia. Central Company compared with the value and potentialities of its assets. That our views axe very correct needs no better demonstration than the manner in which the shares have steadily risen in price since we fiitst drew attention to the company's excellent position That Gwalia Centrals will advance to a much higher ftsnire than their present quotation of 2e. lQikl. we entertain no doubt whatever."

QJ-. 8t' ;f ¡.! \.j I'Wijacarnis' possesses a four-fold power in briu&g 1  New Health to all who are || II Weak A 'N R a ¡. Weak Anaemic, N ervy/ Rund own. |  The wonderful results Wincamis' achieves in promoting new health, are due to its four-fold power. Because 'Wincarnis' is a Tonic, a 'iiIjl II Restorative, a Blood-maker, and a Nerve Food—all combined in one I, || rich, deUcious, life-giviug beverage. And this four-fold ect, acting ¡¡ H upon the system at one time, creates new strength, new rich blood, |1 new nerve force, and new vitality, thus iving the whole body a f ? delicious feeling of new Hte. That is why over io.ooo Doctors recom- jjf I || inend Wincarnis.' !« ? If you are Weak, or Anaamic, or Nerrv.' or Run-down; or a martyr 'ft k to Indigestion or enfeebled by Old Age; or trying to regain strength j after an exhausting illness—'Wincarnis is a positive necessity to you. jji: Don't continue to suffer needlessly. D¡m't envy the good-health of ? others JDecide—to-day—to take advantage of the new health iff a 'Wincarnis' offers you. Will you try just one bottle ? 3? Sma'} Si ?9? f ? ?"? M?ehMM.   SLE,- 4A $Mi,ll SiZe, a.cm?& Grocer-, !p f"l u.. 7-he Wi". f L-re J

SKETTY TRACEDY. SWANSEA MANUFACTURER SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD A tragic incident, unfortunately re- tr.agic .incident, unfortuna rE'-I sulting in the death of a leading Swansea manufacturer, occurred at Sketty on Tuesday. Mr. Charles Down (of Messrs. Down and Son), wholesale cabinet luanu- facturers. High-street, Swansea, had an- nounced his intention of going into the grounds m his residence, High field, Sketty, to shoot crows. Later he w" fpund in one of the rooms of the house shot through the head.. It appears that Mr. Down went downstairs with the gun, and later Mrs. Down, who was upstairs, heard a noise. She came down and saw her husband lying dead, shot through the head, with the gun lying near him. It is stated that the deceased gentleman under- went a.n operation about IS months ago, I since when he had been very unwell. Deceased was 68 years of age, and was the son of the late Ir John Down, and brother of Mr. P. Down, the well known metal merchant. lie leaves a widow and grown up family. Mr. Beor, district coroner, conducted the inquest at Sketty Police Station 011 | Wednesday morning. Mr. Trevor Menter | represented the family. The "widow eaid, that on Tuesday mom- ing deceased appeared to bo in his usual good spirits, and talked about arrange- ments which had been inade for going with witness to laaiidri-ndod. After he oame downstairs, she heard a noise as if a picture had fallen, and in the cloak- room found deceased lying on the floor. Blood flowed from the back of the head. Later a gun was found in tho cloakroom. He had never threatened to take bis life. Dr. A. W. Cameron said there was a gnu,shot wound- on -tim-leit side of the head. The direction of the shot was up- wards. and had carried part of the skull away, and the shot hit the ceiling. The, wound was self-innicted, but from its position he thought it was accidental. The jury, after deliberation, returned a verdict that the wound was eelf-inflicted, and that he had committed suicide.

LOCAL COAL SHIPMENTS. I Arising out of the minutes of the last meeting, with reference to the area from which Swansea, might fchip ooal, Mr. C. A. Cleeves said at Friday's meeting of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce that a list would he issued shortly showing the coal shipping ports and the areas allotted to them. All collieries this srlde of Hendreforgan Junction would have Port Talbot and Swansea a? their shipping port, and the arrclugement wat; one which did no injustice to Swansea. The president read a letter from Mr. J. H. Henderson asking the Chamber's ac- ceptance of the coat of arms of Swansea, which he frad carved in oak, and that it should be placed on the wall opposite the entrance. The president said he was sure that the Ciamber would not allow the beautiful specimen of art to go away. It had been a labour of love on the part of Mr. Henderson, and from the time he had got the piece of oak—weighing three ewt. —he had intended it for the Chamber. It had taken years to execute. He proposed that the gift be accepted with grateful tha.nks, and that a Ifttex of thanks be sent to Mr. Henderson. Mr. C. A. Cleeves seconded, and a-lso made reference to the beauty of the work. Mr. Courtoi9 supported. and the vote was carried with acclamation. The president reported upon the action of the Coal Controller in ruling that brokerage received by the coa-l exporter on coal shipped (one-third of 5 per cent.) should be- refunded by the exporter to the colliery from which the coal came. Mr. Wynne said he had attended a meeting in London, at which all coal shipping ports were represented. A resolution was passed protesting, in the name of the Chambers of Commerce and Coal Exporters' Association, against the action of the Controller as ultra vires, and appointing a committee representa- tive of the various districts to take such proceedings ais might be necessary to pro- tect the rights and interests of the cool exporters. The committee appointed had decided to appoint a solicitor to take counsel's opinion regarding brokerages paid since June last on coal shipped to neutral and allied ports. There was a strong feeling that the Coal Controller was going out of his way, and had no business taking this money from coal ex- porters and handing it over to the col- lieries. parliament was jealous of its rights to impoee taxation, and would no doubt have something to say on the mrt- ter- A meeting of the coal exporters would be held in Swansea. next week, when he (Mr. Wynne) would report in greater detail. The feeling ,s that the broker- ages was undeniably the right of the ex- porter, and until the present action of the Coal Controller—a Government omcial who knew very little about it—no one had ever dreamt of asking the exporter to turn the money over to the oolliery. Every effort was being made to get the regulation broken down. In reply to a member, Mr. Wynne said the suggestion was that no exporter should pay over the brokerage unless the colliery company in question insisted, in which case he mliotilrl pay it under protest, re- serving to himself the right of recovery.

The death vha« occurred -of Mrs. Jane Burns Heslop, widow of the late Thomas Ileslop, of Berwick, ageod 102. The de- ceased was one of a long lived family which descended from tUo Scottish bard, (Robert J;1&. 4

SWANSEA SERVICES REMARKABLE SCENES AT ALBERT HALL Wonderful scenes of religi. us Jervour were witnessed at the Albert Haii and Mount Pleasant Ch«]>el, Swansea, Mon- day night. Irrespective of sect or creed, an invitation was extended by the Mayer to the people of the town to join in united Prayer. They responded-r-Churci 1. and Dissent, Jew azd Unitarian. The old Albert Hall has witnessed many a moving tight, but surely never one in which deeper emotion was stirred. Nor was the reason far to seek. 15,000 men from Swansea are se-n ing illih Bri- tish Army and \avy; some have fallen; many mure are at this moment in immi- 1 nent peril. The bulk 01 those who gathered in the Albert Iltill and in Mount Pleasant Church (for the Albert Hall proved totalh| inadequate) had relatives on the battlefield. It early became apparent that the Al- blelt Hall could not contain the throng which pressed to the Prayer meeting; and another was hastily arranged in Mount Pleasant, the RQVS. H. C. Mander and Percy Moss Weston leaving the Albert Hall to lead it. The Albert Hall congregation included a gr>Jsit ooIllpany of ministers and well- -known men. The National Anthem was sung, and then Dr. Watts's grand old hymn, Oh Gkxl, our help," and Mr. Geo. Clarke, the eminent evangelist, "who ia now in charge of St. Barnabas Church, read the Psalm beginning God ia our refuge and strength." After that a pas- &age from Joel, Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." The Vicar of Swansea led in prayers ior our land." and in a very beautiful prayer in veree for our men, which is re- gularly used at St. Mary's. As this prayer went on it aroused sympathetic responses. A Welsh hymn followed, and # the Rev. D. B. Richards prayed in Welsh. As tlxe old hymn There is a fountain wa.s sung, quite a change seemed to OVtJf the spirit of the meeting. Sorrel had vanished, the strange, familiar words were a paeon of trimupli. The Rev. M. Lubner, the Jewish minis- ter, wearing his hat, as is the Jewish custom, read prayers of that community, and Madame Edith Jones Thomas sang a so 1o. Hear, Oh Israel." Major Rogers, cf the Salvation Army, m his prayer, thought of the men at the front. "IDe of fliem we love, and all ot them we admire." After the hyinn, Eternal Father, strong to save. the Rey. Geo. McLuckie gave thanks for the wonderful way in which God had led 8s as a people, and prayed for a righteous and lasting peace. Others who took part were the Rev. Simon Jones (Unitarian), and the Hev. Canon Watkin* Jones (Vicar of Christ Church), Who. in a short addrees. urged penitence, and said he believed God was waiting for us to bow before Him. oon- our sins as individuals and as a nation. After further prayer by the Rev. M. Morgan, a memorable meeting ended with the Doxology Benediction, and t.he Halleujah Chorus. Mr. Ivor Owen, L.R.A.M., was the organist.

SWANSEA GRAMMAR SCHOOL Great enthusiasm was evinced at the annual presentation of certificates and priz# to the scholars of the S'Wa. Grammar School on 1 riday■ The^Mayor (Aid. Ben Jones) presided. He was snip- ported by the Mayoress, Mrs. Ivor Gwynne, .\li85 Gwynne, Lieut. Gwynne, and Mrs. Trevor Owen. Principal Trevor Owen, M.A., in Jiis annual report, said the present time was not opportune for emphasising the ex- amination successes, as oonditioiys were I abnormal. Yet, education in As witiest sense was never more important, and he was very glad that the Government re- cognised thifc essential fact. Apropos the Central Welsh Board ex- amination. his Majesty's inspector had stated they were unexcelled in number and quality, which proved that eound, eolid work had been al-mmpliihed. They could look back with pride or the things accomplished, particularly in the formation of the Cadet Corps, and in the splendid war service of the old bWg. There were about 600 with the forces. 260 of whom held commissions. The Mayoress presented the prizes and certificates The or said he had listened to the report with great interest. It was a far better one than he had anticipated. Evi- dently the boys had combined with the Principal and masters fo overcome all obstacles, caused by the lack of accom- modation at the school, which had re- tarded progress somewhat. The Mayor paid a lrigh compliment fee the staff and Principal Owen, whom ht- cha-racterised as a truly excellent master. Aid. Jones referred with great pride to the school Cadet Corps, pointing out that in addition to getting the boys bealthy and beneficial training, they would be .able, if necessary, to defend our country future. (Cheers.) Regarding the Technical Goliege, it was now almost an established fact; but tfcey had a large sum of money to gather in order io erect a suitable building. On the propo?l of G. B. Skin»w (head boy), the Mayor, Mayoress. &cd visitoe?. ?We're accorded hearty c?e?re. Pj-HMtp?t Owen also received an ovation.

Swansea is included in a JMt Gf towns f which ?ave contributed th&?r qu'jt? in I National War Bo?d< dnrmg trent?--thM- I W-kk gading Maroil 9¡]¡.