Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

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^FRANCE AND LLOYD GEORGE Our French Allies are to celebrate ) .Empire Day in a great many big towns in France with fetes and lectures on T-t-slj effort, organised by the commit- tee, L'ET'ort de la France et cle Ses "Allies." In Eennes, capital of Brittany, 2.1. Charles le Goffic will speak on Wales and pay a special homage to Mr. Lloyd George.

¡RAI LWA Y MAGNATE'S DEATH I The death occurred on Wednesday, tEays a Derby message, of Mr. Henry •Tolston Hodgson, of Welcombe, Harpen- ,clen, deputy chairman of the Midland atailway Co. He was also a director of the Glasgow Sou t h Western Railway, nter Oceanic Railway of Mexico, and chairman of the Mexican Eastern Rail- way.

BABE'S SHOCKING DEATH r Mrs. Coppen, of Lockiey-road, Limc- Jiouse, placed her infant daughter, Ada '•Ivy CoPPPlI, in the bottom of a dress j*basket, which she placed on a table near •the open window. She turned away for a :moment, and on looking round saw the basket and child disappearing through the window. The distance to tne ground was about 20 feet, and the child died shortly afterwards.

THE NEW OFFENSIVE. I Paris, Thursday.—The Exchange Tele- graph CO.'ô military critic wire-v- Indications of the coming offensive are etill reported in the shape of intense ar- tillery fire and the installation of num- erous new batteries, etc. It is also expected that the enemy will Biake extensive use of cavalry and tanks. I have already leferred to the part aviation has played in delaying the be- ginning of the offensive, and General de la Croix in to-day's Temps," speaks of the role lie wishes to see it play as a re- sult of the intensified output of machines to be reached with American help. The moral of the enemy's troops is very weak, and is shown by the news of a mutiny in the Dvinsk region liefore leav- ing for the western front. Fifty soldiers •were shot and 1,000 imprisoned. At Wit- tinberg also there has been mutiny, in which some officers were killed and others er rested.

Belladonna (deadly nightshade), from (which the drug atropine is obtained, bp- fore the war came almost exclusively from Germany. It is row being largely grown on waste land at Dorking by Mr. Beetham .Wilson, who ha? five plantations. like a hardy annual the foreigners question at Abererave is cropping up again. We probably hear more of it in a week or two. u: the weather should •, a*

THE COUNTRY'S HEALTH. I For the 96 great towns of England and Wales the deaths registered last week corresponded to an annual rate of 14.3 per 1,000 of their aggregate civil population, a decrease of .7 on the previous week; 1,432 births and 1,025 deaths were regis- tered for London, the annual death rate from all causes falling from 14.7 to 13.3.

BROTHERS DROWNED. About 4.30 on Wednesday afternoon Stanley Davids (11)) and Thomas John Davies (20), sons of Mr. Meredith Davies, of Leiswood, were drowned whilst bathing in the river Alyn, at Bontblydden, near Mold. The. younger brother got into diffi- culties, and the elder went to his assist- an&p, but sank immediately. Both bodies were recovered by the police an hour later. The two youths belonged to a family of nine children. The water was 11 feet deep at the scene of the tragedy.

CORONER IDLE. Not a single inquest has been held in the Swansea Borough for the past fort- night. The lowest quarter on record—at any rate, for a considerable number of years—gave 28 inquests. The number held in the prE-SEnt quarter, of which nearly two months has elapsel. is 18. If the present state of things continues, a very satisfactory new record may be created. It is interesting to note that there have been fewer inquests than the aver- age in the portion of the present year that has elapsed. Infant welfare organi- sation, .safety rules in factories and on railways, and other life protection mea- sures,- have no doubt a good deal to do with the present satisfactory position.

KORN ILQFF SHOT. it- Rtf^yrVaVinsterdam nrasftge says that | tho Yo&: iclie Zeitung '"publishes a let- t< r from a German soldier recently re- turned from Russian imprisonment, in which he reports that at the end of Feb- ruary G,meu.tl lvorniloff was taken and shot in open field. General Alexieff was also shot. The soldier states he was present at the latter execution.

MAKING FOR SWANSEA GERMAN WHO ESCAPED FROM LLAKDEBIE Franz Santer, a German naval prisoner, aged H, escaped a Carinartii< i.ihire internment camp at the beginning of the week. The police were immediately in- formed and on Wednesday afternoon, I'.C. Harris, of Pontlliw, apprehended the man near Tenllergaer. Tho police officer was doing his rounds at the time, aRd he saw the German, a big man in sailor's uniform coming towards him. The sailor's cap bore a strange name, and the officer immediately 6toppcd him and asked where he r.-zis lie replied in good English, that he was proceeding to Swansea, and tt he wanted to go to sea. P.C. Harris waf; soon fatisfied that the man was "wantrd" and took him into custody. Later in the day Santer was taken baek to the internment camp under armed escort. -1-

TWO WELSH V.C's. Two Welsh recipiont.s are inclucHl in a list of seven new V.C:s awarded for gal- lant deods, and issued officially on Wed- nesday evening. One of the recipients is Lieut, (a Capt.) Thomas Tannant Pryoe, M.C., of the Grenadier Guards, and the other is Corpl. John Thomas Davies, South Lancashire Regiment, whose parents Tcgide J St. Helens, but who hailed originally from North Wales.

BANDSMAN'S EXPLOIT. Private William Isaac Kennel, North- ants Regiment, of Wellingborough, who has been awarded a military honour for gallantly rescuing two officers from the enemy when he was himself wounded, is 32 years of age. He joined up at the lw- ginning of the war, previous to which he was a farm labourer. He was a bands- man in the Salvation Army. He was home on leave three weeks ago, and is now at Gillingham. His mother is a widow. h

LABOUR'S CHOICE.. Messrs. Geo. T. Owen and Harry S. Batey, of the Aberavon Labour Party Executive, have written another long let- ter to the Press regarding the controversy over the choice of a Labour candidate for the d sion. TLie the division. The writers ridicules Mr. Wm. Jenkins' assertion that of 11,000 trade unionists represented at the recent con- ference 9.000 were miners. They assert, that the N.U.R., the Steel Smelters' and the Dockers' Union$ have joint member- ship of over 5,000 in the constituency. It is further denied that Mr. Robert Wil- JiMns is an I.L.P. nominee, or that he is a member of that organisation. --4--

r NEATH AND DISTRICT BILL-POSTING CO. ADVERTISING CONTRACTORS. Owners of all the Principal Hoardings in NEATH and District. For Terms. etc., apply— MANAGER, 45, LONDON ROAD, NEATH.

J— ? C?r Men WatGhr.g a?d  V/aiting. iI Waiting. | jGood Work in a n t i n. e. I The period of waiting for the renewed UGerman onensive has been stretched over another week. Our men are still wait- ing. The French are still waiting. The Americans have arrived in strong force, nnd are likewise waiting. And great ?ork has been done, while waiting, in preparing etron?er defences to meet the |enemy whsrever and whenever he may [again wh?,?rever and w h c-iienei- he, miy It is thOl)g1 by some war correspon- dents that the d?'ay in the German at- t tack has bl caused by our airmen's i]-  trepid activity, hampering the enemy's operations and disarranging his pTe- f parations. And the French success, around Loere, a manifestly perturbed the German (High Command considerably, if we may :jl:dge by their effort to minimise it. The iin wireless official communique des- cribes it as an attempt to retake Mont fcemmel, and adds with pride that the defence of the hill was completely suc- cessful. One likes to see these wild ex- .aggerations, for, as I have commented be fore (says Reuter's representative), the (German official statements are truthful f-jrt proportion to the measure of reality ;]Jl the successes they claim, and therefore t',ieir lying is of a barometric character. GLANCE BEHIND GERMAN LINES. I js It is said that far behind the front they are continuing to train divisions for a fresh effort to win the Kaiser's ,battle." A good many of theae must have been in need of something more than j mere training. Rather more than 150 rliviÚons have been employed in the Ger- man offensive down to date. Of this 'total, not far from half have been, in 'battle once, more than one-third of them twice, while well over a score have been engaged three time?, and one division four times. There is a tendency on the part of the enemy to extend his raiding tactics, and there is a fairly steady in- crease in his artillery work against cer- tain sections of the line. k FRUSTRATED COUNTER-ATTACK. p- Then, referring to the counter-attack against the Surrey troops, the correspon- dent adds:—Between the west of Mervdlle r <and east of the Bois de la Motte enemy waves came across on a front of nearly X .t hree-quarters of a. mile, apparently truat- ■dng to get to grips with the Surrey men I)ef,o,re these could consolidate their gains. A lifting barrage of great violence "heralded their approach. Between the I &iver Doume and the Merville road the remysueceeded in reaching the trenches tve had captured from lnm, but eVE:Y vrjan who scrambled over the parapet was r either killed or taken prisoner. A bomb- iing party made an entry on the left of the j. ntt.uk, but supports promptly closed in, fand the Germans were outflanked on both > flide3. TJl ey attempted to be rub their way gut, and for a considerable time our rifle- iiien were crouching and sniping at them. Then the Surrey lads made a dash and cleared the trench of what remained of (the bombers. Our new line was com- pletely intact at the end of the counter- attack, and in addition to some thirty prisoners we captured nine machine-guns. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW ON WEDNESDAY. To summarise the situation on Wednes- day, one may point out that our troops continue to show great raiding activity, and during the past 24 hours have carried out several small but highly successful enterprises against various rectors of the enemy's line. The German troops suf- fered heavily in these local tights. Fierce artillery duels are going on at many points, and their intensity may be judged from the statement of a French correspondent that three British ai-iiiy corps are using as many as 150,900 field- gun shells on a certain sector of the front. Even on Thursday morning, as we | write, there is still no definite indication of the place; and time sclccted hy the Ger- mans for their next attack. The French correspondent alluded to says it is pre- sumed that it wil come north of the Somme. OFFICIAL REPORTS TO HAND. The British official report issued at, 11.35 on Wednesday morning, quoted the following telegram from Sir Douglas Haig A number of successful raids were carried out by us last night on different parts of the front. In the sector south- east of Arras our troops entered the German trenches at two points and cap- tured fourteen prisoners and a machine- gun. Other raiding parties brought back a few prisoners from the enemy's posi- tions in the neighbourhood of Locon and in the Foret de Nieppe-Meteren sector. North of the Ypres-Comines Canal six- teen prisoners were captured by us. A hostile raiding party approached our lines last night north of Albert and was repulsed. The enemy's artillery showed some activity during the night in the neighbourhood of Dernancourt and con- siderable activity east of the I- oret de Nieppo. The sector north-east of Bcthunc was heavily bombarded with gas-shell. At 8.50 p.m. tJie same day the following was issued:— Early this morning the enemy made a second attempt to raid our positions south-east of Mesnil, but was repulsed. Another successful raid, in addition to those reported this morning, was carried out by us last night in the neighbour- hood of Hebuterne. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy in th ese en- counters, and we captured a few pris- oner.?. On the remainder of the front there is nothing to report beyond artil- lery activity on both sides in different sectors. ENEMY RAIDERS REPULSED. But, of course, we must bring the week's war story up to date, so as to com- plete, as far as possible, a chapter of varied incidents constantly going on in this incidental watching and waiting. We will do it by citing the British official communique which reached our office at mid-day on Thursday :— The enemy rushed one of our posts in the Avcluy Wood sector last night. Two of our men are missing. We carried out successful raids in the neighbourhood of Ayette and the Bois leux St. Marc, in- flicted a number of casualties on the en- emy, and captured a machine-gun. The en?my also attempted to raid our posi- tions in the vicinity of Riexdu Vinage, 'but was driven off by riMo and machine- gun Dre. Hostile artillery was active last night in the Ancre Valley, south of Lens, east of Robecq, and east of the Foret do Nieppe.

? PROGRESS IN ALBANIA. ] A telegram from Athens on Tlmrsday pays that reports from Salonika 6tat.e that tho French troops have made oon- jsideratile progress in Albania during the last three days. Their left wing has hreuchNJ a depth of over 11 miles.

COLOGNE CASUALTIES. Amsterdam, Wednesday (received Thursday).—To-day's Cologne "Gazette" [ states that the total number of casual- ties caused by the British air raid on Cologne has reached 112, viz., 35 killed j nnd 87 wounded.

SWANSEA BAKER'S APPEAL. At Swansea Tribunal on Thursday a baker's employe who had under a misap- prehension entered a claim for exemption on occupatioTial grounds was allowed to amend his claim to personal grounds. Exemption was refused. Three months exemption was granted to a master butcher, agt-d 25, Class Cl. A rigger applied for exemption on per- sonal grounds. His wife had lost two brothers in the war, and since then had suffered from insomnia.. It was a1.0 pointed out that applicant was working on a now process, .-applying the' Xd- miraliy. nnd on that score decision was adjourned for a week.

NEW GiANT GOTHAS. The following paiacuiar.s are. given of the new giant Gotha bombing plane which the Germans employed in the last raids on France and England. The "giant" has a wing spread of 130ft.. and is driven by three motors each of 300 horse-power. They cun carry nine pu^engers, but when on raids they re- i duce the crew to five or six in order to carry more Ixitnbs and petrol. Each machine carries usually about two tons of bombs, including one of nbout a. ton in weight, containing over 1.8001b. of explosive. Owing to the extreme difficulty of landing at night with machines of 6tich size it is probable there will ba a high proportion of loss through accident among the giants."—Renter.

o-eph Mansfield (87), a Yeoman of the -,It Croydon oil Wednesday. Enlisting at 16. he served with the a.rtillery in the Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns,

HAD RUSSIA HELD FIRM I LAST SUMMER'S CRISIS IN CEHMAKY 1 Lord Robert Cecil, speaking at a Man- sion iiousf. luncheon in London on Wed- nesday to commemorate the third anniver- sary of It?ly?s entry into the war, sadd the woilu Wü cUÜ recognise the disinterested- ness of Italy in entering the war. The fact was that Italy would have no part or lot in the aggressive designs of the Central I'owers. Our arms were not going well at the time, but Italy joined the Entente,because her statesmen were convinced by the righteousness of our cause and not because tfeev wero blind to the difficulties that be- set our path and which would enable us to gather the fruits of a possible victory. The past year had been a very eventful one. It had been a test of all the belligerents. And, with the single exception of Kussia, the Allies had comu out of the tt'iSt with renewe d strength. Italy had had as severe trials as had, fallen to any oi the Allies, but she had been glorioas. The way in which she had retrieved the position had won the ad- miration of the elliialrous world. Her I victories on the Piave would live amongst the most famous battIC6 in all ages. THROWiNG BACK THE INVADER. L'xie cause of the Allies woui,i-h, e k) I J fe-red severely ii Italy had nut turned round and succeeded m frustrating the I eiforts of the invading foe. At the same time no believed the on- slaught of the Austrians had been of enormous service to the Italians them- selves. They had come out oi that triumph. with greater unity, seil'-conh- denee, and if it was possible to t;ay so, with greater courage than they had ever done before. It had also been a greater c,ii,Ci more scaroh-ing time for our enemiea. They had had superficially some suc- cesses, and as was the case with some individuals nothing showed them up so much as success. They would all remem- ber the saying when the Devil was sick the davil a saint would be. but when the I devil was well the devil a saint was he." That was very much what had hap- pened in Germany. IF RUSSIA HAD HELD OUT. Last summer the situation in the Cen- tral Empires was very serious, and the lieiclistag was in a weak trarie of mind. Indeed, so serious was the situation in Germany and. Austria that if Kussia had but held out a littlo longer the war would now have been over. Now, however, Russia was out of the war, and Germany, no longer sick-of the war, was no longer a saint. That was proved at JBrest-Litovsk. He had never really known what the Jlciehstag resolution meant, although it was said to a desire for a just peace. Some people estimated the value of words in an extraordinary way. It is constantly lx'ing' said of 115 If you would adopt a more,conciliatoxy atti- tude towards Germany the Germans would come and eat out of your hands." We have had a very fair evidence of what conciliatory attitude towards Germany means in the Brest-Litovsk negotiations. I SLAVERY OF RUMANIAN PEOPLE. Regarding the peace which had been imposed upon Rumania, Lord Robert said it was a peace with the. Entente Powers I regarded as being about as valuable as a German promise, but for the time being it has meant the slavery of the Rumanian people. The Italian Ambassador said everyone t desjjed a peace which was the accom- plishment of the aspirations of the peoples for liberty. After three years Italy proceeded in calm determination towards this goal, which she was confi- dent of reaching.

SECRETARY OF THE N.U.J. Mr. William Newman WaU, chief re- porter of the Manchester Evening News," and hon, s"retarv of the Nitiolal? Union of Journalists, died on Thursday morning at Manchester. Deceased was in I his 51st year.

THE MONTH'S LOSSES. r The monthly return of losses of British, Allied, and neutral merchantmen shows that from January to April inclusive 916,089 tons of British shipping was sunk from all causes and 431,813 tons built in our yarde-an adverse balance of 484,276 tons.

LATEST LOCAL CASUALTIES. Lce.-epl. OJConnor, 7, White-terrace, Waunwen is a prisoner of war. l'te. W. Helbert, 8, Brynmelin-street, Swansea, is a prisoner of war. Sapper Dumphy. 33, Ebenczcr-etrpet. Swansea, has died in Netley Hospital, after being gassed in France. He is to lie buried in Swansea on Saturday afternoon,

PETTY THEFTS. Francis Davie. Pcn darvis-street, A ber- a von, was charged at Aberavon on Thurs- day with stealing stra-w value 5s. from I track of Government hay stored near the. sands. Defendant pleaded guilty, but added that he was quite innocent. He ex- plained that 'his kidney beans were coming up days before they were expected, and he wanted something to cover them. Supt. Bon Evans caid the man was very resectable. Mr. Charles Jones (chair- j man), in dismissing the case on payment of costs (15s.), said the kidney beans I would be a bit expensive.

BRAVERY REWARDED. I Mr. David Thomas, who presided over the Swansea Bench on Thursday, had a very plca-sing duty to perform when he presented on behalf of the Swansea Cor- poration, a certificate of bravery to Emlyn iiavies (19), of 15, Pwll-street. Landore, and em-ployed as a clerk at the Morfa Copper Works for life-saving. It appears that young Davies was at work in the works office on the afternoon of April 12th last, when, through the office window, he saw the bare armsr and hands of some child in the Swan sea Cand. He immediately ran out and. without divest- ing himself of his clothes, jumpff) into the water and rescued a four-year-old little boy named Thomas Kerkin. The lad \v;:s uno?rscious, and fhwies applied artificial respiration. Undonbt- I ?V -11 y but for his gallant act, the cMld Jj ??d Q b?a d?va?;??''?"??  J

CHILD IN THF TUBE. An open verdict was returned by a Westminster coroner's jury on Tuesday oil the six-months-old male child found at Charing Crof's Tube Station. In spite of exhaustive inquiries, no information had been, obtained as to the identity of the child. l)r. Jewesbury said death was from suffocation, which might have been caused by convulsions or intentionally.

THEFT OF COAL. At Aberavon on Thursday Ar.nie Taylor. Cornwall street, Aberavon, pleaded guilty to stealing coal from a siding on the Rhoudda and Swansea Bay Railway at Sandtields. Mr. Horne (Messrs Deer and Deer), prosecuting, said the coal was valued at Cd. Supt. Ben Evans said the sidings were continually infested with women and children after coal. A fine of '40s. was imposed.

RECTOR OF NEATH. The Rector of Neath, the Rev. Arnold Frederick Evans, died in a nursing home at Margate on Thursday morning, at the age of 53 years. He had been suffering from a nervous breakdown for some time, and his condition on Wednesday night was reported as hopeless. He leaves one surviving brother, Mr. Wallace Evans, who resides in London. Deceased had been rector of Neath for 21 years. He succeeded the late Yenerable Archdeacon Griffiths.

DROWNED AT LANGLAND. An inquest wa? hdd on Tuo?day at Mumbles Police Station bdore Mr. Ed. Harris (deputy coroner) touching the death of William Francis Jackett, 12, Glenalla-road, Llanelly, who was drowned while bathing, in Langland Bay. Mr. J. R. Jackett, coachbuilder, of ?2, Was sail-square, Swansea, said that de- ceased, who was 23 years of age, was his nephew, and was a coachbuilder. He was inyalided out of the Army. Mr. Cyril Alexander Ferriday, nccount- ant, of 12, Coldstream-street, Llanelly said he and Jackett entered t he water about 3.15 p.m. About 10 minutes after- wards he (witness) heard a shout Lcok out." He then saw the deceased disap- pear under a wave He made towards him and succeeded in grabbing hipa by the arm. He had to release his hold owing to deceased being too heavy for him. Witness then shouted for help and saw the deceased no more owing to his own exhausted condition. The jury, after hearing the evidence of Dr. F. J. de Coverley Veale, returned a verdict of death by drowning.

BURIED IN ENGLAND I Three ot the German raiders brought down on Sunday night were buried on Wednesday in England with military honours. Two of thp graves were in a village churchyard. A military band played the Dead March. The third Ger- man. whose body was found at sea in the ]1 l floating ^wreckage of his machine, v.as buried at Dover, R.A.F. officers carrying (<%} cofila, S

I HOME RULE WELSH CONFERENCE AT I- LLANQRIHD8D f (By Our Own Correspondent). I Fair-minded advocates of Home Rule for Wales, who 'do not let their enthu- siasm run away wiih their judgment, will be constrained to admit that the great cause they have at heart received little impetus irom the Welsh National Conference at Llandrindod Wells on Tuesday. And they had been promised great; things; a fact which will render their dis- appointment the more acute. Perhaps there was one distinct gain scored; the preliminary joust the few participated III (the while others unwillingly played the part of spectators, their voices in the Conference being perforce limited to a yea and nay) revealed to all the chinks In the armour of the movement. It may be that that the revelation will point out to the armoiner the work to be (lOne. and the manner in whifh it should be done. Tile Welsh Nabonalist Pn's, it is true, I had prepared the enthusiast for failure; but a Ixmdon evening paper had declared that it was to be a great conference of representatives of all parties and creeds ia the Welsh nation"; that "practically a. the institutions of the Principality will be represented," that Liberal, Labour and Nationalist organisations will be very strongly represented, and many independent Conservatives have signified their intention of being present to support the programme." That was the promise; but the perfor- mance was otherwise. One connected with the organisation stated that some 1.200 invitations had been sent to repre- sentative "Welshmen; if so. the accep- tances must have ben much fewer. There were «ome 21;0 or so people pre,sent; but hardly half these could by any stretch of imagination be termed representative, and they were by no means representa- tive of every party and creed. Nor can it be said that the speeches reached a high standard. One striking feature was the absence oi some of the real Welsh leaders, who were to have dealt with the resolutions. For instance Ald. Hopkin Morgan and Aid. C. M. Williams, respectively mover and seconder of the first resolution, were both absent. Mr Ivor G wynne rose to support the resolution. He was not on the pro- gramme, but he was well received by a section of the audience. His reference to our stern duty was followed by a declara- tion of loyalty to the Government. "Past Prim* Ministers must not be allowed to create debates in the House of Commons." he declared. Is there a man in the Em- pire who can take the place of Mr. Llord George? No!" The applause had harely subsided when Dr. Llovd Owen, of Criccietli. rose: Mr Chairman, can we vote on this resolution ? Some of us have come a long distance But the Chairman declared that that was a f-r,-c conference, an open confer": How tr. the audience learnt a minute tr two later. Mr. Gwynne resumed by de- claring that it was Mr. Lloyd George, not I Mr. Asquith, who found the shells, aId that he was going to move a rider to the resolution: and further, that this Conference desires to express its strong condemnation of the misguided action of those Welsh Members of Parliament who. in opposition a There were croe-s of Xo, no," and Dr. Lloyd Owen was again a protestant. The Chairman cried. Sit down. sit down." and declared Mr. Gwynne out of order. Mr. Gwynne bowed before the storm. Then Mr. Tom John, M.A. (Llwynypia), one of the old and enthusiastic Welsh Nationalists, demanded of the chairman if he was to take it that no amendment would be accepted, and when the. chair- man indicated his unwillingness to accept any amendment, Mr. John rejoined, amidst laughter that was pretty general. Well, if you will not admit an amend- ment, all I can say is that there is a last rose of summer' of autocracy a!x>ut it." Mr. J. E. Powell, J.P., of Wrexham, moved the second resolution. v.-Licli read in its original form:— "That this Conference recalls with ffra- titude the rrre.it work of the pioneers of Welsh Nationalism, and resolves that the time has arrived when the claims of the Welsh nation to complete autonomy must be recognised by the British Parliament." Mr. Powell said that a umall meeting .•. as held the previous night of those who were to speak at the Conference. A little alteration had been decided upon in the resolution, and a further little alteration had been decided upon at a preliminary ponference that morning. The main effect was to substitute the words: a comprehensive measure of self- government on Federal lines" for the words "complete autonomy" in- the original resolution, and the following addition: "and that we call upon our repreGpnt?th-es in Parliament ? <V> their u?most to Becure the real?aticn of there claims." The seconder was the Rev. n. Hughes (Cardiff), who, in the course of some very brief references to real point' of issue, said they wanted something 11,: only on the lines of a glorified County Council, but something empowered h: legislate within certain limits ;n matters ,i t ioj. that pertain to us as a nation. The third and final resolution was moved by Aid. D. II. Williams, and, into: II for the creation of a committee of 20. with power to co-opt more. I It was here that the audience got a surprise, and found they were to be ~wed the labouk- of selecting the twenty; for that task had been done for them. The movei eventually read the list. Professor Joseph Jones, M.A., Brecon. who was the seconder, candidly declared that a good many things had been shid that afternoon that were not exactly vo the point, and a good many more tilings could have been said that would have been move to the point. He would have liked to have heard more of the preciso form the movement was to assume. A good deal had been said of Welsh M.P.'s, said the speaker, but Wales ought to have made up its mind upon this matter long ago, if desirous of securing action upon the lines indicated. Professor Jones expressed regret at the absence of representatives of the Church of England, and particularly of the Labour element, on the platform. The meeting was now breaking up, and after the resolution had been formally put Aid. Williams came forward with the list of names referred to. Local repre- sentatives were Aid. Ben Jones, Mr. Ivor Gwynne, and Aid Hopkin Morgan, Neath. From various, parts of the hall came objections. This county and that county had been ignored. This man and that wan had done good work. Someone ••hami'ion.ei the claims of Dr. Lloyd Owen, whf* had a Welsh Nationalist' CCwtiuusd at foot of nest cohunn). J

SEVEN BROUGHT DOWN ANOTHER LONDON AIR RAID The casualties in the great German air raid on London on Sunday night, when four Gothas were destroyed, were as fol- lows (according to a communique Is;ued at 4.30 p.m. Oil Monday):— London Metropolitan Police District. Killed. Injured. Men 17 83 Women 49 Children () 3 Totals 37 155 Provinces. Killed. Injured. 2 Women — 3 Children — 1 Totals — 6 The communique adds: Considerable; damage to house prop-prty is reported. | The casualties are the heaviest s'l ffered in any single raid since January 28th, when 58 people were killed and 173 injured. A Press Bureau message issued on Tuesday morning states that probably between 20 and 3f) machines participated j in the raid. In addition to (he tour Gothas already reported as brought down, a fiftli came down in flames into the tea, while a sixth was also reported to lJn observed falling into the sea, and further reports make it appear that a seventh raider failed to reach home and fell burning into the sea.

PARIS TWICE ATTACKED, Fans, inursaay, 1.30 a.m.—i.ast even- ing enemy aeroplanes crossed the line and made for Paris. Raiders were received by violent barrage fire. No enemy mach- ine How over Paris. One of them dropped some bomljs on the Paris area. No vic- t-tii. and no damage arc reported. The alarm was given at 11.15 p.m., and all clear at 12.20 a.m. A sccoud a larm was g i ven at 1.24- this morning. Several relays of enemy aero- planes made lor Paris, and a certain num- .>er of bombs were drented in the Paris &roa. All clear w-s given at 3.35 a.m. 'PLANES IN RELAYS. Pn,ri.. 'Lhursday.—An official commu- nique states that several relays of enemy aeroplanes proceeded towards Pari, and I a number of boml)6 were dropped in the Paris district. Another Pans official communique, j (hté'd'1'ilursd;¡r. says that in the f..r; uir raid no enemy machines succeeded in i reaching Paris, but bombs were dropped nn points in the Paris district, hut there -eve no victims, and no damage was I done. Destroy 57 E:my Machines in Threo Days. Paris, Thursday).—From 1 he l.uh },> the IKth ol Hay, 37 German aeroplanes were destroyed ai:d (>0 seriously dumaped. Eigli cuptlve balloons were set on tira Keci%n;rissaiic<!s *'&r<v 115 tttr tw ] Mezai'jres and 1* riedrickrham. over 120 j aeroplanes taking pnrt in the homhing of .Nestle. St. Qneniin, Cliaiiny. arid Ham. On the loth and P>th May Italian and Am-T^-an air ;aadrons co-operated etfec- I r.ally with Preach airmen.

BABY !N MEATH CANAL. On Thursday morning, tiie body of a child named John Car; huge, three years aad nine months old. a as recovered l'lom j Neath Canal. The child !usd been missing from his t home in the Green since the previous evening, and a party had been an- successful throughout the night.

 PLOT A&AINST ITALY. Geneva, Thr.isday.—It is leei'ivl thirty bombs and numerous boxes explosives were recently found in the Limmat River, Geneva. Investigation I showed the existence of a German plot agnin-st Italv. The bombs, made in Ger- many. were of tremendous explos'vc power, and were intended to blow up several munition factories and electrical stations. The investigations are bein? purt-u«l, and numerous arrest* have been j 1 inadc.—Exchange Message.

A GAME OF BANKER. At Aberavon on Thursday. John Tvenefick (18). Robert Payne (17). William 'oilins (15), ami Archie Cole v.-erf, charged with gaming with cards on 11I1- day. P.C. Osborne lie saw the boys phying banker at Corlanna. He gave chase and caught Kenefick. who had the cards. He picked up Hd. fint, of iOs. was imposed in all cases, except Payne -ho a previous conviction being recorded.

COLLIERS STAY AWAY. I Not. more than 50 per cent, of the o'er- employed in the Welsh coalfield returned to work on Wednesday, alter the j two ofSiei >1 holiday, and a senous ■e.ortage of coal, involving the detention ) ships in dock, arose. AcHon was taken a facilitate the shipments by cutting >'own Hipy'.ie- to home consumers, while i-.lual me:chant* and factors will 1" less in .'one thae V«-y now rcecivo.

FORTHCOMINr WEDDING. The wedding of Miss C.vlady^ Minds, daughter of Mr. John Hinds.-M.P., and Mrs. Hinds, with Major John Cemlyn .Tcnps. Royal Welsh Fusiliers and R.A.F., has been fixed to take place at the Welsh Baptist Chapel. Castle-street, W., at noon on Tuesday, .??ne 4th. Lr. nd ?f'?. f.lo'd George will pubuhh- be ?c.=Mit Ü (lp(,rs"e Will ')0 ?i-e' zeli? il* in?.tiTc-epti?n-'?'?? held in the A!cx- andra-room. Trocadcro R est an r a nt. i

TOWN TALK. I Gower farmers wear broad smiles L day. There's a reason! —: 0: Occupying a Pontardulais pulpit vi Sunday was a preacher I)m,,idly vveariii:, his Bit Badge. There has been a slump in soup at t. Central Kitchen, at .Neath. What about ice-cream and pop! — x>- From what was seen of baseball tolJ Whit-Monday, Aberavon sportsmen wor t get very excited over it. -:0:- Aberavon is to have a tank visit. If it were on the beach on Whit-Monday good business might have been done. — x>:— A tip to trippers:—Take your own pr o- vender vha-a exploring rural parts. If you don't, you are liable to a hungry time. 0: There was a great commotion at one oi the Neath Sunday school treats on Mori da v. A currant was found in one of th e buns I -:0:- One of the delicacies missed by th' c hildren—and a good many grown-ups- over the holidays was the trer-popular ice-cream. —: o: — You will marry twice," the. palmist told tho Manselton lady patron. The lady could afford to smile, for her present husband is number three! -:0:- The Bob o' Link," a rare and beauti- ful songster, has been heard in the GLO.. Woods, Neath, during the past few ,!<jj •> Here for the eisteddfod, perhaps. —i o: — There was quite a Sheffield :.ir about Pontardulais over the holiday, many local tinplaters now engaged in munition work up North being home on furlough." o: Neath is going one better than Swan- sea. When the tank arrives a fleet iu aeroplanes will accompany it. It is evi- dent that the tank will not accompany the 'planes. —: or. — Excuse me. sir, I am not going to asr. vou ior a match, but am I on the rigut way to Clyne Valley?, sa.i(i one man to another on Monday. The lucifer is precious nowadays. -:0: Those who went to the "Wells" L the conference did not draw much therefrom. You may lead a Welshman io the Wells, but you cannot make him •drink—" on federal lines." -:o s- The hotel on Aberavon beach disph y; d a notice on Whit-Monday No catering. But most people got along well in 1 Uobinson Crusoe style patertam: gathering the sticks along the shore. — :0:— It is no wonder that Welsh d. fv .succeed." said a speaker at the> 1 A. or Welsh Primers was sent t,) n school and they have been in the <■ <; board ever since — :0 Whoever said the Wele-h language dying r A correspondent says it j", nm:. alive than ever, for he heard more Cyo raeg spoken in the parks, on the sand* and in the streets of Abertawe on Whit- Monday than ever before. — :o:— Welsh troops are quite popular in IT land. This is prohably due to the com- mon Celtic sentiment between them and tho Irish, and to the close relationship hat there has been between Ireland and Wales for many centuries. —: O An old deacon ask",} another at a cr- forenct; of his denomination: "How is the good cause succeeding in your town now;" W ell." was the reply, "it is not very successful, brethren, but, than!! God, it is no better elsewhere." -0-- County Councillor D. W. Davies was a busy man at Ystalyfera sports on Whit- Monday. Although acting as president. he was observed on a few occasions sellim, smdwiches and pop in order to satisfy the hunger and thirst of the crowd. :0 There are Lot maftj* residents in Walf- i who can lieat Mada»e Patti as a li <;nist. The great singer is fluent in En: ik-h. French, Italian, Spanish, Portu- guete, Russian, and German, and doubr- les* she knows a little Welsh as well. — :0 :— There is a milk trade boom in Wtyl Wales. Mere milk is being produced in the Western counties than ever, an.! there is great competition for the sup- plies. Transport difficulties are being overcome in country districts by the use 'O motor lorries. — :o X othing so sweet as filial affection. A leollier was summoned at a local police- court for not contributing three shillings a wrÂ; towards the maintenance of his I iathor. The collier only earns a weekly wage of £7 11. How proud the old man must be of him! 0: Can any parish in Wales beat old IJkm- and importance (,f the industries carried on within its hnrders" Here are some of the works:- tccl works, tin works, collieries, oil Acrks, spelter works, tube works, copper works, refining works, and silver sme't- ing. — :or— Jav Laurier, the well-known comedian, •s ene i jssc.d in golf just at present. Dui- ing the past week he has been a familiar' figure on the Langland Bay Golf Link,. lb- just been discharged from th j Army and is taking up golf to recuporat after a serious illness. A witness from Penelawdd appeared t > unable to follow Mr. Thompson question. The chairman (Mr. A. L Thomas) interposed, and with eommen-. able application +o detail explained i" beautiful Welsh the gist of the advocate'- question. Now do you understand he ooncluded. I don't speak Welsh, sir," was the reply. Love's labour lost _o It may interest Swansea people who hare been unitedly praying to bear that something similar is occurring in Japan. An American lady who is there on a visit tells of a Lord Abbot of the Buddhists, 87 7r<-arc, of age. I-eading crowds to a Shinto Sanctuary, he having been "compelled by the spiritual crisis of the world-war to exhort the whole Japanese people to pray." :— Two children who "got themselves lost at Mumbles on Whit-Monday were easily restored to the bosoms of their families. One was placed on the table of the turnstile to shout O! mam, mam, with a fatherly special constable on guard, and the mother soon responded. rPhe other was escorted to Swansea on the train by a well known and popular local L

V.oague in being ,(,en years. Another poea ker voiced his suspicion that some of those vanned would not be sympathetic, .nd Dr. Williams said inquiries would be made of their willingness to I serve. From anot-.her quarter came a protest against tbe eo--)ption principle. Irtl-ed it has to be said that this busi- ucrvs oi electing an executive committee io draft a" Welsh Nationalist programme Ir )-: it a new Welsh Party?—was (-on- ducted ro hurriedly and amid such con- fusion. that a large number of people Mt th* hall not greatly impressed by the whole business. It was a matter of gen- oral comment that, with two exceptions, the speeches were discursive and off the point, and that as a send-of f to a serious Home Rule movement, the gathering left much V,) be desired. The final business was the nomination of Mr. Gwilym Hughes, manager of the Welsh Out- look." and the Rev. Gwilym Davies. as joint secretaries, and a vote of thanks to the chairman. It is interesting to note that among the '••n.'rs at the baek oi the Jiall was Mr. J). T. John, 24.P. [ .oot1>î. ;¡,LiLi. I; R D W '1,