Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
24 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
I ARMENTIERES -GIVEN UP
I ARMENTIERES GIVEN UP I CREAT BATTLE OF FLANDERS IN PROGRESS iViolent fighting on the La Basee- Ypres Commines Canal was in progress at the time of writing, the British having withdrawn from the gas-filled ruins of Ar- mentieres. The battle is also de- veloping in the neighbourhood of Ploegstreet and Messines. When we left off last week our story of the war, with a mere record of a quiet Klav," it was only to be expected that, at jRny moment, that quietude would be iibroken, and the incidents which go up to make this week's story, with its surging ftnd swaying, its violent bombardments en both sides, may well be* taken as an in- dication of what may be anticipated, with Variations, during the coming weeks, and •(if one may take Mr. Lloyd George's esti- ffrrate in Parliament as a prediction) dur- ing many months—unless the unexpected happens. It may happen on either side. Take last Friday's British official, and 'it will be found that between the Luce Stiver and the Somme, heavy fighting took place (of course it referred to the previous ( ) ?day?s work—Thursday?), which con*"[med hintil a late hour. The enemy employed etrong forces in ddivering repeated as- Br.ults on our positions, and those attacks jvvorc beaten off with loss to the enemy; gbut our troops were pressed back a fihort Vlirtance to positions east of Villers— < £ >erettcneaux (a withdrawal over a dis- tan co of 100 yards. according to a French ( looiumentatqr). BEGINNING OF THE PUSH. M • The Havre communique told us that. a (Horth of the Somme the euejny's artillery I jliad been active during Thursday night :in the neighbourhood of Bucquoy and the 1 Scarpa Valley. Hostile concentrations | twere,. early on Friday morning, engaged 4 Xy our artillery. I I Then taking the French communique (| cg our source of information, we find that 1 Jnn the same Thursday night, the Germans 1 Vantinued their attacks with a determina- tion which dd not relax, and threw li-esh forces into the brittle. On that j Jiosition of the front no fewer than 15 ferman divisions were identified, includ- ing seven freEh divisions. Yet, despite his anarked superiority in "effectives" (ex- pended regardless of life), the enemy failed to reach his objective, which' were jthe railway lines from Amienlermont, as is shewn, by orders found on prisoners, French resistance, foot by foot, and energetic counter-attacks, enabled our i -Allies to maintain their line as a whole, end to inflict heavy losses on the enemy; ;-wbil-st, to the north, the French carried ] their positions in the neighbourhood of j itld drove Imek- the enemy from lBoifl de Larrienne Gourd Wood to the west Mailly-MinevaJ, and the eauth-eest of ?Gi?vesnos. And between Montdidier and  'Noyon the artillery dnel assumed great i iintensdty. The French troops attacked ({the German line and captured the ?".t? ? part of the Bods de Lepmette Wood, 600- t )netres to the north of OrviIJers Soree ENEMY STOPPED DEAD. If What a change from the "quiet day" fwhicfe we had had to reooi'd! Next day came a report that the enemy Ijh&d been U stopped dead," and that on account of the British counter-attack, jMjuth-eaafc of Gounuecuurt (midway he- tiveen Albert and Arras), resulting in the iciiptilre of 120 prisoners. With all this to our acmunt for only a I -couple of days, we eonfe to the story, on .Monday, of the enemy artillery sending gas shells near Lens and Armentieres. aDd 1 greater activity on the whole front, lead- I ting to the question— Is this the new i <e?'r'nsive??? Well, we know it is now.  The most cheerm? part of the day?e |-j f mpssa?e waa that wh-eh m&ntioupd that f our line had been slightly advanced. It is only natural that we should ask, lit this juncture, What is the new Bri- tish liner" And for reply, let us quote from Reuter's expert commentator, whose -iiit,-r,estiii.g narrative was1 issued oil Wed- tnefidny of this week. li THE GERMAN CHANGE OF FRONT. Dating it Paris, Wednesday, he says:— j Yesterday was comparatively calm on £ he French front. In the Somme region there was no infantry engagement, but ,tlie cannonade was most active. On the left bank of the Oise our troops com- pleted their evacuation of the pronounced I ffalient formed by our line between If Chauney and Anizy le Chateau. They finished their retirement at the Oise- |Ai6ne Canal always remaining in coa- II tact with the Germans and inflicting severe losses upon them. The Oise- kA.isne Canal now coustitutes for us a de-I fensive position much stronger than the marshy land which we have abandoned could ever be. It does not seem likely that the enemy will continue his effort in this region. So sudden a change of front in German disposition seems al- most impossible. It is also probable that the enemy attack in the direction of Soas- eons will not be carried further. I PRESSURE ON THE WINGS. I Meanwhile the plan of pressure on the wings attempted by the Imperial General Staff having obtained but little success on the extreme left between Chauney and Couey, the enemy carried his action with more vigour to the extreme right be- tween La Bassee Canal and Armentieres on a front of about twenty kilometres. a German artillery activity in this sector a and the use of poison gas shells caused this new attack to be foreseen. The Ger- i, mans began it in the morning, favoured k by a thick mist. As they have been in the habit of doing throughout this off en- f give in their principal operations, they < threw, powerful effectives into the at- 1 tack on the trenches held in this sector by Portuguese and British troops. The t, fight was very hot and went on all day. I OUR NEW LINE. I (Towards the evening the position was I approximately as follows:—On the left of the British wing, south-west of Ar- fcientieres, our Allies maintain their line •e far ag Fleurbaix. It then bends west- ward and follows the course of the river L-rs between Bac Saint Maur Estaires. The Anglo-Portugue&e centre having ) given way before v the violence of shock, t the front is then outlined by Laventie [ Keuve Chapelle and Richebourg Saint I Vaast, and ends at Givenchy. I .WHY TH!S PARTICULAR ATTACK? I (Fighting is continuing with great keen- ness, and it would therefore be pre- i mature to draw from these first fluctua- t tions hastily regarding the probable re- suits. There is no doubt, that it is not I much a question of the extension of t the front of attack as of a diversion in- i i 1/ tended to relieve the front before 1 » Amiens, where the Germans feel that they are too strongly held. It is certain vhat our reserves would no longer have any distance to go in order to lend their support to our Allies in the Armentieres —La Bassee sector, if they needed it. Whatever may lie the region where they are held in readiness to intervene, and it is probably with the object of dividing our reserves that the enemy is i making his present effort. The manoeuvre, however, was too easily foreseen for our General Staff not to have made suitable j arrangements to bring about its failure. g 200 P R ISO N E R S. In'the course of the fighting at Leple- mont on March 30th the number of prisoners taken by our troops wr over 700, but the accounts by mistake tht; number as 70. -t .:oi ii i (- t prisoners have since been oounted, so 800 in all were taken. JNow we come to the report from Bri- titili Headquarters, issued at d.40 p.m., on Tuesday, for official details. This morn- ing, after an intense bombardment of our positions from the La Bassee Canal to the neighbourhood of Armentieres, strong hostile forces attacked the Bnitiyh and Portuguese troops holding this sector 01 our front. Favoured by a thick mist, which made observation impossible, the enemy succeeded in forcing his way into the Allies' positions in the neighbourhood of Nouve Ghapelle, Fuuquissart, and La Cordonnerrio Farm. After heavy figh- ing. lasting throughout the day, the enemy succeeded in forcing back the Portuguese troops in the centre and British troops on the flajiks of the line of the River Lys. between Estaires and Bac St. Maur. We hold our positions on both flanks about Give-nohy and Fleurbaix. At both these latter places there was heavy fighting, and the enemy was repulsed. Richebourg St. Vaast and Laventie have been token by the enemy. Severe fighting is co-utin-aing on the whole of this front. South of Arras only minor engagements, in which we secured a few pifvsoners, have taken place during the day on the British front" MOVE FORESHADOWED. I Commenting upon the foregoing, a cor- respondent pointed out that the continued activity of the German artillery on the British front, especially Armentieres—La Bassee sector, foreshadowed some# new move. Thjis was made on Tuesday morn- ing in the shape of a big attack on the British and Portuguese positions on a front of eleven miles, between Armen- tieres and the La Bassee Oanal. The exact extent of this fresh development is not yet clear, but Sir D. lIaig reports that the enemy had captured the villages of Laventre and Richebourg. St. Vaast, The result of -the attack has been to ex- tend the northern part cL the enemy's La Ba-twee salient. FlenrlKvix is throe miles south-west of Armentieres, and two miles behind our front, while Laventie lies two miles behind our front line and three miles Houth-west of Fhnir-barx. Rieh«bovr;r Yr«*.<»t •'« one and a half mile, west of our line, throe and a half miles south-south-west of Lnventie, and four and a half miles north-west of La Bassee. Throughout West Wales, as in many other parts of the country, the anxiety for news on Wednesday was tense, and in the critical phase which had by then been reached, the feplhvgs of the people nt home, at such a time, can be well under- stood. Others asked whether the great decision was really in the balance. COMFORTING NEWS. Over Tuesday ni^ht fierce ifshtinfr had been reported on the battlefront north of La Bassee Canal, and our troops were holding the line of the Rivers Lawe and Lys, being heavily engaged with the enemy at the river crossing at Estaires and Bac St. Maur. As :wainst the tension which has been allurb:l't'Û C3.me a crumb of com- fort in the crisp official announcement, issued at 10.23 n.m.. from the British Headquarters in France:- On the south flank of the attack, Givenchy, into which the enemy at one timo had wrced his way, was re-captured later in the day by a successful eo-untf-r- attaek by the 55th Division, who took 750 prisoners in the fighting in this amt." To this was attached a brief reference to a heavy bombardment on our positions east and north of Armentieres, and as far a% the Canal; fighting actually going on upon the southern por- tion of that front, and local fighting, with- out change in the situation, south of the Somme. Unofficially, it was later in the after- noon stated that on Wednesday morning the enemy, obviously carrying out another phase of his programme to exhaust the British Army, had renewed his attacks, which he carried on to the eoast of Armen- tieres and thus to Messines, where he entered our first lino t>f trenches. He captured part of Ploeg-street. Arpien- tieres has (continued the message) .been turned in to a very awkward sabmt, the enemy beins on both sides of that place. Still Armentieres, which is a heap of ruins, has not being lost, though it may be/" FeT?o?-, of !no'- And with this exeatin? seT?es of inci- dents in the Wt",s Rtcry of the W?r," '1tt1te had to peruse until the morrow for the sequel to close t'he chapter—but, be it borne in mind, only a chapter; ijot the full story—leaving "Armentieres in the balance." I
GIFT OF A CASTLE. I
GIFT OF A CASTLE. I At Tuesday's meeting of the Swansea Rural Council the clerk read a letter from Messrs. Rooper and Whateley, saying that as the Borough of Loughor was now within the jurisdiction of the Swansea Rural District Council, they wrote to in- quire whether the Council would care to have the ownership of Loughor Castle, and about tbreequartere of an acre of land adjoining, to be maintained as a public open space. If no, they had in- structions from the Duke of Bea.ufort to AAY that he will be pleased to make a g"ft of the Castle to the Council, feeling that as a National monunifnt it should be in the hands of a public body. H If continued the letter, the Borough of Loughor ha.s any independent corporate capacity, the gift should per- haps be to the Borough, but you will no doubt kindlv advise us on this head." This had been sent to the Loughor Town Trust, who had replied thanking his Lord- ship for his generosity; and glfedly ac- cepting the gift on |behalf of the inhabi- tants nf Loughor. Mr. CyrrJ Jones, who tants of Loughor.
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At St. Peter's Church, Pontardawe, on Thursday, the wedding was solemnised between Mr. Willie Davies, third son of the late Air. and Mrs. John Davies, Rock, Alltwen, and Miss Sal Evans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Wauncoed, Pontar- dawe, and until lately a bachr at the Infants' School, PonUrdawe. I' :J.1J .I. f4.o,(.J
SIX SHIPS SUNK. I
SIX SHIPS SUNK. The number of British merchantmen reported sunk by submarines last week was the smallest for many weeks. Four vessels over 1,600 tons were lost. com- pared with six in the previous week, and two vessels of lesser tonnage, against seven.
IN POOL OF BLOOD.
IN POOL OF BLOOD. Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, P.C. Jones, of Pontardawe. was called to 56. Ynisberw-road. In the kitchen he found I Ilewis Watkin.9, steelworlier 54 veara of age, lying on the floor in a pool of hlood There was a big gash on the throat and three stabs round the heart.
TEACHER ASSAULTED. !
TEACHER ASSAULTED. At Swansea on Wednesday, Win. G. R. John, school teacher, Fforestfach, sum- moned Wm. Evan John and Rees Morgan, colliers, for assault. Mr. W. R. Francis prosccat&d. and Mr. Edward Harris de- fended. Each defendant was fined 403. I
KILLED WHILE CYCLING.__I
KILLED WHILE CYCLING. I A fatal accident occurred on Monday evening oai the road leading from < yng- hordy to Llandovery. A young tad named Idris Jones, aged 12 years, grand- son of Mr. Jones, Dolaubran. wû, cycling in the direction of the town.. Near a farm called Little Hall he came up with a traction engine drawing two loaded tim- ber wagons. Here he dismounted, and spoko to the men in charge, who then pro- ceeded on their journey. After they had gone ftbout a mile and a half, one of the men happened to look back, and eaw some- thing lying on the road gotre distance away. He shouted to the driver, and the engine was brought to a stand sb ll. They then went on to where the object had been eeen, and found the deceased, whose head was wedged in between the frame and the handlebars of the bicycle. Thev released him. with wim<, difficulty, and found that b. was terribly injured, but was still breathing. He, however, died within a few minutes. Deceased, whilst riding, is presumed to have in gcnne way oonjo in violent contact with the wagons. -¡"
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Orr the Black Se:* • I Tnrkish forces \re before R;il nm
A.S.E. MAJORITY.--I
A.S.E. MAJORITY. The result of the A.S.E. ballot on the man-power proposals was: < For. 58,650 Against. 4-6,332 v 1 2, 'tl 8 1 Majority for ]2,30]8
RECTOR OF OXWICH. I
RECTOR OF OXWICH. I The little churchyard at Oxwich was a scene of great solemnity on Monday, when the mortal remains of the late Rev. Stephen W. Jenkins, Rector of Oxwich, were laid to rest. There was a large assemblage of the people of western Gower who came from all parts of the Peninsula to pay their last tribute of respect to the reverend gentleman.
\JUGS AND PLATES.I
\JUGS AND PLATES. I At Aberavon on Thursday, Arthur Tre- harne (16), collier boy; Evan J. S. Davies, labourer (16); Stanley L. Jones (16); Ed- ward Charles Shaw (17): and Hubert Thomas (17) cull;er boys, of Aberavon, were charged with stealing 33 jugs, 37 plate,s, etc., value I'5, the property of Ernest Charles Cliappell. second-hand dealer. Water-street, Aberavon. Prose- cutor said he missed the china from a crate in his shop on the 3rd inst. P.S. Swaftield said that all the boys admitted stealing the china.—were bound over and ordered tC r the costs and value of the china.
IF THEY ONLY KNEW. I
IF THEY ONLY KNEW. I Happy, though wounded, and full of confidence, a convoy of wounded soldiers, numbering S.S. arrived at Courtsart on Tuesday evening, and was eoon made comfortable in the Neath War Hospital. The local V.A D under commandant J. Cook Rees and Capt. Godfrey, carried out the duties of transfer from the station to the hospital. Pushing hack the bandage to put a oijrarette into his mouth, one of the lads declared that the Germans were hopeless. If they only knew what was in front them they wouldn't be «> eager to pnsh on." They'll get a push back very soon," shouted another
ABERAVON'S GIFTS. i
ABERAVON'S GIFTS. At thf- Old Town Hall, Aberavon, on Wednesday, Mrs. Koss, secretary of the local Voluptarv War Workers' Commit- tee. was presented with a Worcester china afternoon service on her leaving the district. Mr. W. J. Williams, J.P., president of the committee presided. The Mayor, in making the presentation, complimented the workers and Mrs. Koos upon the [ splendid work they had performed. The Chairman announced that L.irjn the past year they sent over £ 1,200 worth of helmets, knitted scarfs and SOCKS, irittens, hospital socks, -tad in-s- quito nets to the soldiers, and this year they hoped to do better. The commit- tee regretted the departure of Mrs. Koos from the district. Mrs. Kooe suitably replied. „
TOWN TALK.
TOWN TALK. I  grow on a new 'L? The easiest thing to grow on a new a! k,tment is-TIRED 1 — :o r— There is quite a colony of Pontardui.. and district tinplaters at Sheffield. -:0:- We suppose that The M.A.A.C.'s v. i be the new name for the W.A.A.C.'s. — :0 In a local restaurant:—Waitress- Hr. did you find your meat. sir? Commer- cial Traveller: I didn't! 0: It is computed that the Army consume. 4,000,000,000 cigarettes a year. So go easy, for the soldiers have got to come first. —: O; — Although three Neath collier boy- sought the Fair Field to play cards i. cost them 35s. to find out that it was no; a fair place! -:0:- From the sublime to the ridiculous," remarked Mr. J. W. Jones at the Police Court, when one defendant was fined ,D 5s. Od., and the following delinquent 5s. :0 The old siyirg. Happy is he thcJt hah his quiver full," does not apply to the father of ten children who has informed his food committee that he is allowc i more food than he can pay for. — :0 Counsel (,at Quarter Seasions): -You ar. rf- bted — Witness: Yes; his uncle married my sister. This little connundrum com- pares favourably with the well-known That man's father is my father's sen, etc. — tO I— Lcmghor, in the days of its civic glory, had its portreeve, aldermen and burgess- You will see the last resting place o" Aair of them in the churchyard. To-day. a Town Trust! How have tHe iiiighit fallen. —: O: — Tram conductresses and other you1 women workers are, consciously or unem.- douslr, reviving a mid-Victorian fashiei. wearing ringlets curled at the side oV the ears. Several have adopted the sty" ',n local cars recently. —: o: A lady in UniorL--L-t-reet, Swansea. l., Monday was heard to remark as a num- ber of young men passed that they oiig, to be in the Army. The irony of th" situation was that the men wore on till-Iii r.-a.T to the station to go to Cardiff t J join np. -:0:- Chief among the feathered rfttracticn- in Brynmill Park just now is the peacock, which has been in fine form lately. Displaying his wonderful plumes with all the pride of his species, he has been drawing old and young in large numbers over the week-end. —. o. — The late rector of Oxwich was the wm of a preacher of the Calvinietic MethodfcH" Connexion. On one occasion father and son alighted on a Saturday evening fron. the same train at a village, where bn, were due to preach. Then the fit, stepped ftito an awaiting farmer's and the son into a carriage. -:0:- t>he many boat mots regard ins; the ler Hertor of Oxwich is one re-told by a lo<' <; scnlieman of a chat in the local church- yard. Talk fell on a well-known cleric, and the Rector remarked, His fathej was connected with this parish. I've grit him here! {tapping a tombstone). Oil. have you?" was the response. "Then keep him. my boy, keep him." —: 0: "T Talk about war economy! Gower far- ijiors are evidently determined to carry- out the precepts of the Government. Swansea Police Court was thronged with applicants for exemption from dog licenoes theother day. Many came from considerable distances, and employed ad- vocates. Personally we should have pre- ferred-in the interests of economy—to pay the H seven and sixpence." —: Ot — From flying wagons to the present "pc r- fection of flying machines is a far cry. A writer in an old magazine, referring to Neath Valley, says of old Humphrey Mackworth, of the Gnoll. that as an inventor his nbme is deserving of record, for he experimented with many kinds oi machines, aye. even with flying machines. for he had a service of coal wagons with sails, which sailed over the hill in to Neath, bringing coals to market." —: O- — All I can say is that to call up men of 50, and leave the likes of these behind. would be more than a scandal," observed a grey-head in a local billiard saloon on Saturday night. And he wasn't far wrong, either, because there were a few hundred apparently eligible young men indulging in their favourite game. A certain pro- portion—by no pieans smiill-wc-re alien, who will neither fight for the country their adoption nor go back to the tries from whence they came. — :o:— The Somme at Amiens is very like, in width, the Tawe near the New Cnt Bridge. But oh the difference in clean- liness and beauty. There are some reaches between Long-le-Catelet and Haugest that are as wonderful sa the most famous parts of the Wye, notably under L'Etoile, a village a little way from Amiens that will be pleasantly remem- tbered by thousands of Welsh boys wh& have explored the romantic Caesar's Camp. -:0:- The tump upon which stan-,d the last re- mains of Loughor -CAstlc--iiow given b.v the Duke into the keepirig of the civic fathers—was use d for de/ensive purpose., be the ancient Briton and may have been utilised by the Romans. Young Rhys feH upon the castle ii his dashing thre- days' raid between Carmarthen and Swan- sea, and made an uglv mess of it. And in the twentieth cental y a Beaufort revengi himself by handing over the remains t the Welsh. o: it was quaint Stephen Jenkins—t- Nonconformist father of the dead Reet' of Oxwioh—who was tho real hero of tale ascribed to many less worthy Once, whilst read ing publicly from th: lbok of Daniel, he oame to the passagv desoribing the H OOnle-t, c flute, eacbut psaltery, dulcimer, &nd all kinds oi music." He pulled through the first time, but not so well the second. When he camo to the third repetition, he struck, and he simply told the congregation, "And the band played as before." -:0:- Mr. Charles Davies, the patriarch of the Swansea Temperance Society, who will be 93 if he lives till next September- a feat in the highest degree probable—is the sole survivor of those who took part in the great education controversy at Swansea in 1851. The question the acceptance or otherwise of State aid for education. Mr. L. L. Dillwyn, M.P., R;, Father Kavanagh, Kilsby Jones, and Mr. Da,-ier, were favourable to it, but the Nonconformists as a body objected t* [ fate interferes*
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I LATEST WAR NEWS.
I LATEST WAR NEWS. THURSDAY'S BRITISH OFFICIAL. General Headquarters, France, Thursday, 11..19 a.m. The battle is continuing on the- whole front, from La Bassee Canal to the Y pres —Commines Canal. Severe fighting has taken place in the neighbourhood of the Lawe and Lys Canals, and from about I/estrem to Ar- montiercs. Our troops have been withdrawn from Armentieres, which is full of gas. North of Armentieres there is little change in the situation. Heavy fighting was continuing at a late hour last night in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert, Messines, and Wytschaete. On the remainder of the British front there is nothing to repdrt. THURSDAY'S FRENCH OFFICIAL. General Headquarters, France, Thursday. Our artillery showed itself active in the course of the night between Montdidier and Noyon. An enemy detachment caught under our fire in the region I Orvillers and Sorrel was dispersed before reaching our lines. To the north-west and to the east Off Rheims we made some successful surprise attacks, and brought in about twelve pri- soners a.nd a machine-gun. In Champagne the enemy attacked our advanced ports to the east of Souain. He was repulsed after a li". ely combat. Another enemy attempt in the Appre- mont Forest failed under our fire. There is nothing t > report elsewhere. I AVIATION. I During the daytime of April 10th, two I German aeroplanes were brought down I by our machine-gun fire.
THURSDAY'S ITALIAN -OFFICIAL.___I
THURSDAY'S ITALIAN OFFICIAL. I R.MU?, Thursday.—Our battouc? en- ?a?pd enemy troops at the outlet of t??' ?an I?-'engo Valify and in the where- a bouts of Salgardo. Hostile columns in movement were also hit. In the Asiago basin we took a few prisoners.
ADVANCE .IN PALESTINE. I
ADVANCE IN PALESTINE. I t Thursday.. The Secretary of the War. Office an- nounces--Early in the morning üf April 9th our troops west of Tulkermi—Ramleh railway advanced their line to a of one and a hnlf miles on a front of 5 miles, and captured the villages of LI Hcfr and Rafat, de-y/te the stubborn resistance • ? the enemy, whose broken \I; by our artillery aud machine- gun fire. The prisoners teken i i -d a fen Germans.
THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.___I
THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. I Press Bureau, Thursday.—-The Secre- tary of the War Office annonnc that in Portuguese Nyassaland, despite H.d diffi- culties caused by heavy rains and flooded friii,i I be coast and from La*ke Nyassa are apfroachiih«r Meds and Meeln respectively, and their ad- vanced troops are in contogt with those of the main enemy forces that are concen- trating in these localities.
RULE DISCHARGED.I
RULE DISCHARGED. I In the King's Bench Divisional Court on Thursday. Justices Darling, Avory, and Shearman heard a case raising a point as to the liability of William Bur- chell Rees, now of High Ilolborn, Lon- don, to pay rates in respect of certain property in the parish of Llanguicke. Mr. Rees appeared in person, and the rating authorities were represented by Mr. A.' M. Latter (instructed by Lambert and Hale, agents for Jenkins and Lloyd, Swansea). Mr. J/ambert so id he had to show cause against an order for a rule nisi for a writ of certiorari, granted by the court to Rees, as to why they Should not quash an order for commi: inent made in 1910 by the justices of Pontar- dawe for non-payment of rates in respect of property in Llanguicke, of which, it was alleged, he was the owner: Mr. Ree6 had been granted the rule on the ground that he had ceased to reeide in Llap- guicke since 1908. Their lordships decided that the rule should be discharged. Justice Darling remarked that it seemed to him that Reffi had puzzled his head over a great deal of law which had no relevance to the case. He relied on a case decided in 1693, but apparently "did not understand the true effect of the decision. Mr. Rees: Will jour lordship commit mp to prison for rjuryr Justice Darling: We do not commit you to prison for perjury, however much you det-igBTe-ifc. <
I OHILD WELFARE I
I OHILD WELFARE I I SWANSEA'S PROUD RECORD I There was a representative gathering I at the Guildhall, Swansea, on Wednes- day, on the occasion of the 'first meeting of the American Red Crc?, Maternity, and Child Welfare Centra The Mayor ?Ald. Ben JonM, J.P.), who was accom- panied by the Mayoress, presided, and among those present were Lady Mond, Miss Edith Eckhard, Mr. Moorhead (American Consul), Mrs. Moorhead, Dr. Thos. Evans (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. and Mrs. Hubert Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. Powell (Hafod), Mrs. B. J. Thomas (Landore), Mrs. GofP Morran, Mrs. 11. Trelewen, and others. Miss Eckhard, representaive of the Children's Jewel Fund, explained that it was the desire of the American people to do something for the civil »> ^nl.^tion of s f)l'rt'JQ -Dl d it-rs this country as, well as f u the soldiers and sailors. They wished not only to benefit the civil population, but to give fiOme token of the whole-hea; tedness of their enthusiasm in the wir rld of their friendship to this country. The sugges- tion was that if something were done for the mothers and babies it won Id not only be very useful, but it would be a practical demonstration of the interest of America. The American Red Cross bad n:\ organisa- tion to administer the fund collected for this purpose, and 60 it was ingested that the Children's Jewel Fund Committee should be ai-ked to administer the funds., The whole idea, of course, emanated from America, and the Jewel Fund Com- mittee were only responsible for the catrving out of the arrangements. When the offer was first made, a small oomnv'ttee met to consider r;hat should lie done. and what towns should be in- vited to establish these centre- The com- mittee was very anxious that there should be one suoh centre in Wales. Naturally. Swansea was suggested, as it vas felt that the people of Swansea woubi appreciate such a gift from the American Allies. T/uly Mond, who had done it much for Swansea in this direction, and Dr. Evans, were communicated with, and were asked whether it would be useful to extend the work already done in Swansea, and whether the establishment ot the centre would be appreciated. Lady Mend had replied that although much good had been done already, yet morn could be done, and she and Dr. would be very glad to have the opportunity of extending the work. Dr. Evans explained that the Ameri- eai Red Cros* offered a granf'of Z500 to- wards il,^ establishment of a nother cen- tra at Swansea. Lady Mond said she feared 'there were a great many people 'in Swan- sea who had no idea what very important .work had been going on in the town for over seven years,, the work of saving infant life. lady Mond went on to refer to a convocation she had had whilst travelling soni-t years ago with Lady Aberconway. Thafi lady had told her that the Population vf France was decreasing «t ¡n fdapnjrlte. ami-- the people had suddenly re; 'titat the best investment they could ma?'' was to try to preserve infant life and to t "y to bring their hoys and girls up to be healthy and etrong citizens. In Paris they instituted dinners for nursing mothers, and asked no questions. Every woman who had a child at her breast was given food whether she was married or not. Lady A berconway's story had so moved her, went on Lady Mond, that she de- cided that if ever she had the power to do 00. she would proceed on these line*. It to happened that a very good man placed this opportunity in her hands.. Sir Alfred Mond was so interested in Swansea that she felt that this was her chance. The infantile mortality of Swan- sea, too, was almost the highest in the land, and she felt that the town was ideal for work of this kind. And with the help of so many efficient people the scheme was launched.. Lady Mond paid a high trihut to Mrs. Horspool, whos-p services, she said, had been given with enthusiasm, and to whom much of the success of the work was due. The first centre was, started in High-street, in a very small way, about seven years ago. The workers* were very keen, and each year they had increased attendances, and the work grew in every direction. For the first four years there was no such thing as a Government grant. The Swansea centre, she believrvd. was the Hrr-t in Wales. When it was first mooted people said, Oh, it's a fad of Lady Mond's, it will soon be over. It doesn't need anything at all, it's not really of vital importance." But they were wrong. When our men were being killed right and left, the care of our infants and our unborn babes, the welfare of the expectant mothers were of aupreme importance. The only thing they .could do if they had any love for their- ntrv Was to look after the young hitdren. (Rear, hear.) Proceeding, the speaker said that the American Red Cross had heard of the good work done in Swansea, so they decided th^t Swansea should! be the leading town in this work in Walies. Of course there wero petvpta- «airt t^'t tlv.y did not want charity. That was a pity, because charity meant love One should remem- ber that very often a scheme such as this must really start with a voluntary insti- tution. The voluntary institution could lead the way and mark out the path for the local authority to take over the work. This work to-day was being carried on in every country: but Swansea would always stand ont as the pioneer in Wales, an so far as mothercraft classes were con- cerned, the Dioneer for the whole country. The- number of attendances in these mothercraft classes wat, 2,165. These came from every school in the borough with the exception of Morriston which was too far away. She moved that the following resolu- tion be adopted:— "That this meeting tenders its best thanks to the American Red Cross for their generosity in offering to give a grant of gsoo towards the establishment of a Mater it. y and Child Welfare centre in Swan-sea%nd the meeting is of opinion that such a centre, besides being of in- estimable value in the preservation of ih- fant life will be much appreciated as a practicable token of the goodwill of our American Allies, and this meeting, to- gether with those invited to attend, con- stitutes itself into a Swansea American Red Cross Maternity and. Child Welfare Committee (with power to co-opt) to for- mulate and carry out a scheme for the approval of the Jewel Fund Committee." Dr. Hubert Thomas seconded, and Dr. Powell supported. l Mr. Moorhead briefly returned thanks. It was decided to establish the new centre as soon as possible in the upper part of the town, and the committee will rnt apin at. ML eftrlfrgata. -ø.c
WOMAN'S OPPORTUNITY I
WOMAN'S OPPORTUNITY I I SPLENDID MEETING AT SWANSEA A Swansea, audience, mainly composed of women. who met at the hwansea Al- bert Halt, on Wednesday night, under the auspices of the womens organisa- tions of the town, were treated to able and lucid speeches on the subject of The Vote and its Responsibilities." The g-peakers were Miss Nina Boyle and Miss Abadam, both of ondon, who have done great work in securing the franchise for women. There was an exeellent attend- ance, the body of the hall and the bal- cony being well filled. Among those on the platform supporting Mrs. Cocllibe Tennant (who presided) were:—Lady j Mond, Mies Dillwyn, Lady Lyons,. Mrs. and Miss Acron Thomas, Mrs. David Harris, and Miss Phipps. The Chairman said that they had gathered to consider the responsibilities which had been laid upon the shoulders of women by the granting of the vote to some six million of them. It was not until the fields. of Europe were red with blood that the men could be brought to do them this little bit of justice. Did they think that if men and women had had equal voting rights under a real de- mocratic constitution the disease of Prus- sian militarism would have corrupted a whole peopie? (" No.") She advised them not to be stampeded by party I cries. (Applause.) Miss Nina Boyle, who was well received. said power meant responsibility, and women were quite prepared -to accept the responsibilities attaching to the new privilege that had been so tardily given them. Women had suggested the Women's Voluntary Auxiliary long ago, to do work as signallers, stretcher-bearers, motor drivers and other things, but when they offered their services they were practically told not to make themselves ridiculous. To-day they had the W.A.A.C.'s. the W.K.N .'s. and other women's units. Miss Abadam, who received au en- thusiastic reception, said that in their great fight for the vote there had been men who had helped them well, and shown that the spirit of chivalry is not dead. There were those who had had a very good eye to business, and who had helped them with an eye on tho women's votes to come. There had also been those who had helped them when the women's question was not so popular as it was to- day, and among these was the sitting member for Swansea. She had received the following message from Sir Alfred Mond:— [Copy]. 35, Lowndes Square, S.W. "April 4th, Hn. Dear Miss Abadnm,—I very -,tii.ch gret that, owing to the reassembly of Par- liament on Tuesday nexv, it is impossible for me to be present personally at the Swansea meeting to celebrate the victory of the cause of Women's Suffrage. As YO;] know. I have throughout my whole politi- cal lif? been an ardent supporter, both in the Hou.?e of Commons and outride, of the • ->o#ihe vvoraeii a& uu. act of elmwnbry justice. Even in tb(Cl daVkest hours of that. long and bitter struggle I never despaired of the ulti- mate triumph of our great cause. Victory has come sooner than many of us had dared to hope. It has come in the midst of the clash of arms and all the horrors of the greatest of world wars. The splen- did and magnificent part played by the womanhood of the Empire during these terrible years has led even those who op- posed us in time of peace at length to grant a measure of jus.tf ce to their fellow- citizens. As a matter of fact, in common decency, they could do no less. The long struggle carried out with so much cour- age, so much patience, and so much per- severance in the face of constant ridicule, has at last triumphed over all obstacles. I am proud to have been one of tie labourers in this field, and to have been permitted to share in the efforts made to attain this end. The vote has been won! Its wise exer. cise in the interest of the country and of the Empire is of the utmost importance for the future of our whole race. A great opportunity is now given, and at the same time a great responsibility is pl-aced upon the shoulders of the womanhood of our country, but I have no fear that in the exercise of their civic rights they will fail to display the same patriotism and sanity that has characterised their action throughout the war.—Yours sincerely. "Alfred Mond." That was Sir Alfred's message, and she would be very glad to assure him, in quite an informal way, of the women's thanks for all he had done for the move- ment. (Loud applause.) Sir Alfred had taken the chair for them on man., occa- sions when it was a very unpopular thing to do. (Hear, hear.) So let them send him their thanks for what he had done, and also for what they hoped he was going to'do. (Laughter and applause.) Lady Mond, who was enthusiastically r<»eeived on rising to propose a vote of thanks to the speakers, said she had had no idea when she came to Swansea that she would he on th, familiar platform that night. One had been disassociated with politics during the war. She had heard vaguely that there was to be such a meeting—she and her husband did not .e a great deal of one another in these days;. he was working very hard for the Government, and she with the wounded but when she found that it was this evening, she could not keep away. Thev had heard that evening of the man eating oyster and throwing awayC the shell. Well, in thesbell, th(,v found the pi irl, and they had two Pearls the-re that n. glit. (Laugh- ter and applause.) Miss Nina BoyV; had shown that she had the- courage of the men at the front in standing for Parlia- ment, and Miss Abadam had enthused them all. Mms Phipps, in seconding, said that ae. a sign of the times an M. P. had promised to move an amendment in Parliament on the abolition of e»?x differentiation and equal treatment for men and women teachers of fHjuai qualifications. (Ap- plause.) Miss Dillwyn, proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs. Coombe Tennant. said ¡ that before proposing the. resolution she wished to say one thing. Sh0. assumed there would be an election this year, and it was likely the pacifist question would arise. Would they vote pacifist? Were they going to have a German peace? Were they, after their sacrifice of blood and treasure, to endure a German peace? (Cries of No! ") She trusted the women would not vote pacifist. The vote was seconded by Mrs. Ilutton, and carried with great acclamation. Miss Boyle, replying, thanked Lady Mond for the particularly charming way she had alluded to the speeches during the evening. (Loud applause.)
I THE NATION'S NEED
I THE NATION'S NEED COVERtlMENl'S NEW PROPOSALS The Prime Minister suhmiiUd to the House of Commons on Tuesday the man- power proposals oi the Go\ eminent to •neet the emergency caused by the Ger- man onslaught on our Armies in France. They can be summarised in the following n ay :— (.-A O.M I N I STRATI VE. luota for First Quarter.—We have raised during the first quarter more than its proportion of the original number of men estimated as the minimum re- quired. tfunitivii Workers.—We are making a very struct comb-out of some ot the essential industries. A very large levy is being taken from the munition works; it will amount to tome thing like 100,000 Grade 1 men. «• Miners.—A call for 50,000 men has been iii,itle froin the coal industry..Military needs will necessitate the calling up of another 50,000. TraiKsport Scr\ices.— To be called ninm to release the greatest passible number of fit well. Civil Service.—Further calls to lie madj. It is proposed that no fit man below the age of. 2o shall b, retained. There will t-oni!)-(;Ilt I)ti-oiii] that. L'xemptions Cancelled.— We are issuing orders under the last Act cancelling oc- cupational exemptions in selected in- dustries by age blocks. valling-up -Not'ces.—Period to be short- ened from 1 j, days to seven. Vppeai on Medicui Grounds.—It mai be neccssar- ta curtail this ru;ht. If.-NEW LEGISLATION PROPOSED. I Military Age.—To be raised to 50. In l'tain speLincd cases we shall ask for power to raise the age to 55. but that is only where men w?h special qualifica- <ioj?. ouch as medical men. arc lic?ed?d. ?can Cut.-It is provided that his Majesty may, by pioclamation declaring that a national emergency has arisen, direct that any certificate of exemption thall cease to have effect. This is an- other means of arriving at a clean cut M. as to secure tit young men for the v the men will be taken or left on It medical grounds only. 1 ribunuls.—We propuse to take power to reconstitute the tribunals, to regulate thcir areas of work, to standardise the grounds.of exemption, and to limit the I rights lIf appeal. L'cwal tribunals, like appeal tribunals, will become^ nomin- nted bodies, and will be reduced in size. Ministers of Keligion.—To be brought within the Act for non-combatant ser- vice. The Minister of National Service w;ll net in concert witli the authorities or the different denominations to se- cure l!;e retention of an adequate staff for religious ministrafions in the "ountry. III.—PROPOSALS FOR IRELAND. Military Service.—We propose to extend the bervice Acts to Ireland under rhe same conditions as in Great Britain. As there i, no machinery in existence, »t muiy"take"some weeks before actual enrolments begin, but when the ar- rangements are complete, the Govern- ment will, by Order in Council, put the Act immediately into operation. Self-Government.—The Convention has reported by a majority, but! fear that it is not sucii as to justify the Govern- ment ill saying that it represents sub- stantial agreement. That means that the Government must accept the re- sponsibility of submitting to Parlia- ment with such guidance as the J"{'-1 port of the Convention affords, such proposals for the establishment of self- government in Ireland as are just and can be carried without violent contro- versy. We propose at an early date to invite the House of Commons to pass such a measure with the least possible delay.