Abergavenny Chronicle

■v WAR AND AGRICULTURE. I COLONEL SIR IVOR HERBERT'S VIEW. I A Council meeting of the Central and Associ- Wted Chambers of Agriculture was held on Tuesday at the Surveyors' Institution, London, Major-Genefal Sir Ivor Herbert, M.P., presiding. It was announced by the Chairman that a resolu- tion from the Monmouthshire Chamber con- tended that farmers should be considered as "starred" men. Regarding a resolution that threshing machine engines should be released for usual work, Sir Ivor Herbert, in suggesting that he should personally see the Secretary of State for War on the matter, thought that a difficulty was being met with everywhere. In several counties there were War Committees, and if the officers of those committees would act in con- junction with the gentlemen who had been locally appointed and understood the local con- ditions, then all would be well. Sir Ivor promised to lay this view before the War Secretary. 6

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A GIRL. I At Blaenavon on Tuesday Edward O'Keefe, labourer, who has been temporarily discharged from the Army, was summoned by the N.S.P.C.C. for assaulting his step-daughter, Rhoda Buckley. The girl said defendant dealt her a violent blow in the face. She went into her bedroom, but defendant followed her and punched her in the stomach, causing her severe vomiting, and also kicked her on the leg when she fell to the floor. Defendant pleaded in extenuation that he was in drink at the time, and did not remember what happened. The Bench characterised the assault as a very bad one, and sentenced O'Keefe to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour. ..&.

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THE CONJUNCTION IF." If the clash of arms should cease, And the Kaiser should survive it, I'd bind him in a motor-car And let the Devil drive it. And when he reached his home below, I'd place him in the middle, With all the Imps to dance around- The Crown Prince at the fiddle. 25th January. BOB. +

I Pleasant Evening at Gcytrey. The Squire of Monkswood (Mr. D. F. Pritchard, J.P., Goytrey House) for the fourth time invited the churchwardens, sidesmen, and members of the Parish Church choir to meet him at the Nantyderry Schoolroom, where they sat down to an excellent supper. The room and tables had been decorated by the household staff, and very pleasing and effective was the appearance. At 8 p.m. a happy party of 40 sat down and did ample justice to all the good things provided. A musical programme was arranged by the organist (Mr. Merrick), and two sketches were performed which caused much amusement. The Rector thanked the genial host for his generosity, and made mention of his keen interest in the welfare of the Church of which he was a devoted member, Mr. R. Jenkins supported, and the vote was carried with enthusiasm. Mr. Pritchard mad e a happy reply, expressing his pleasure at meeting the party once again, and hoping that before next year the war would be at an end. The singing of the National Anthem brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. <A~-

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I THE GREAT SKIN CURE. BUDDEN'S S.R. SKIN OINTMENT will cure Itching after one application; destroys every form of Eczema; heals Old Wounds and Sores acts like a charm on Bad Legs, is infallible for Piles prevents Cuts from festering will cure Ringworm in a few days removes the most obstinate Eruptions and Scurvy. Boxes 9d. and is. 3d. Agent for Abergavenny Mr. Shackleton, The Pharmacy. Agent for Pontypool, Mr. Godfrev C. Wood, Chemist. Printed ana Published by. M. MORGAN AND Co., at 26, Frogmore Street, Abergavenny in the County of Monmouth. FRIDAY, JAN. 28, 1916

THE MONMOUTHSHIRE HOUNDS. I On Monday, the 20th 111st., the Black Bear saw the meet of these hounds. W hat a morning Dark clouds, full of angry menaces cold ram mingled with hailstones, a violent wind from the nor'-west, then vivid flashes of forked lightning, H'A recultinir lieavv thunder—measured in '-U' '-J" distance bv a'second to the mile approximately- drowning all elsu for the time being And this the prelude to a day's hunting as hounds left their snug kennels at Coldbrook Park to face the elements. Half way to the meet the rotund Blorenge thought he would show his conforma- tion to those wanderers below. It was not a bad omen and then appeared in the sky just enough blue to mak2 a sailor's jacket. The clouds rain and the hail passed on to drench some one else; and bv the time the rendezvous was reached, at 11 o 'clock, we saw the sky again in quite a happy humour. But, that wicked hail had far more considered the fox than it had the scenting powers of hounds, as was at first plainly nroved on Mr. Thomas, thelFidd Master, having given orders to draw Coed-y-Bonnett. Foxes simply plcyed with the pack -1 they could even afford to make uglv faces at their helpless pursuers. But our turn was coming later on, time being all in our favour. And by th-- hour we had reached the Clawd Dingle, there was 110 ring-o'-roses game. A fox was viewed away 011 the far side. and made immediatelï for I-Jwvii Celyn and the Dairy Farm. Hounds lost not a second in getting out over the wire netting, and were in full cry ere we couldlall get round and join in the gallop. Away by Penrhos Farm, and thence bv the Grange ood, the pac up to this being fast and the leps neat and sound. On thev raced again into the Pantruciian ood and down as far asaltliat terrible barrier to hunters, the Trothey. His heart did not fail this fox in not heing its cold depths. It was a brave heart, for he continued to keep to the open rather than seek sanctuary in the Talycoed dingle just over this brook. So on up by the Mill House he went, through the Pant covert. then over the road as if for Cefn Garow gorse; but holding this on ins left he swung away for Penrhos Gorse. Not dwelling in the thickness of its dead bracken, he sped on and gained I ark Wood. Here hounds were checked for some minutes before they struck the exit out of the wood our <fox had taken. It just gave us sufficient time in which to breathe again, when the horn indicated it was once more for rard on. And now, after crossing a few hills, one of those mvsterious things occurred which do happen to en-ery pack during a season running full cry into the orchard adjoining the \Vaen Farm, all music stopped quite suddenly. What had be- come of the fox ? The ground in the proper directions.was made good. then some of the out- buildings were visited, the good farmer, his sons and daughters were assiduous in helping to trace the fugitive. Still, no fox. One was somewhat inclined'to sing out as the Dutchman did of his little dog, Oil' where, and oh where can he be < However, we did not find him. So mav this stout fox live to give us another in- vigorating gallop, but on the next occasion may the result be more in keepingj^with hunting ideas under present conditions. BIT AND SPUR. I ♦

FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF NISH BANQUET. OBSEQUIOUS BULGAR1 ANT MINISTERS. The Daiiv Mail publishes an account from •a correspondent, who arrived at Nish on J annary 18, of what he saw of the Kaiser at close range on several occasions at Nish. and what happened at the Royal banquet where he was the guest of the King of Bulgaria and the latter's sons, Princes Cyril and Boris." The following are extracts :— I was face to face with tbe-Kaiser directly I left the train. King Ferdinand had only a few moments before received him on his j arrival from the west, and the Royal couple I were walking up and down the station plat- form without ceremony, arm in arm. I had never seen Ferdinand before, and it was eight vears since I had last seen the German Em- peror. What a change The Kaiser is not the tall man he is represented to be in photo- graphs, and beside the great, massive figure of the hawk-nosed King Ferdinand, who has a curious duck-like waddle, the great War Lord seemed almost diminutive. The Kaiser wore a long grev coat, a brown fur necklet, and a spiked helmet covered with some sort of khaki-like cloth. The people did not show much interest in tne Kaiser, but the Bulgarian Ministers were ob- sequious. The correspondent describes the Kaiser's appearance as follows How did the Kaiser look ? Whether it be due to the fatigues of the war, the effects of a two-days' journey, or ill-health, I cannot say. So much is certain-the face is that of a tired and broken man. The hair is white, though the moustache is still suspiciously dark. There was an absence of the old activity of gesture, the quick, nervous wheeling about and un- stable manner of the man. The Kaiser was obviously out to make him- self agreeable. He examined the medals of Bulgarian soldiers with apparent interest, chatted with royal affability, and smiled right and left. None the less, he is a greatly aged man. He held in his hand a handkerchief which he was perpetually using, and I noticed later at the banquet that he seemed to require it to assuage his continual coughing. I also noticed at the banquet that the handkerchief was a huge Turkish affair of red, embroidered with the white Turkish star and crescent in the comer. Nish, which but a few weeks before had been decorated with the flags of the Allies, who were expected to come to the relief of Serbia, had I already settled down to a comparatively con- tented frame of mind. Little damage seemed to have been done to the town, and business, the correspondent was informed, had not been so brisk in the whole history of the place. The German soldiers were spending money freely, and nearly all the larger houses of the town had been turned into hospitals. The scene at the banquet in the Town Hall is thus described :— It was of the usual Royal stiffness. King Ferdinand sat at the Kaiser's right, and on the Kaiser's left was placed the Bulgarian Premier, M. Radoslavoff. On the right of King Fer- dinand sat General von Falkenhayn, the Chief of the German General Staff. Interested as I was in the Kaiser, I was hardly less interestad in the personality of von Falkenhayn, who is the brain of the great Germanic armies. Although a man well into the fifties, he looks as if he had not yet crossed the half-century mark. He is trim, alert of movement, has close-cropped grey hair, and seems the personification of vigour, vivacity, and virility. At any rate, he is bearing the strain of the war and his tremendous respon- sibilities well. From the fact that the Kaiser ate and drank practically nothing at the banquet, I was led to believe the story that he always eats before proceeding to these State functions. Cer- tainly he spent more time in coughing than in eating at Nish. At the close of the dinner the German and Bulgarian National Anthems were played, Bismarck cigars were handed round with the coffee, and the little gathering broke up quite informally. The whole scene left on my mind the impression of simplicity. Here were the great actors in the greatest drama in the -world's history performing not for the benefit of the Kaiser and King Ferdinand or for the 40 people in the room, but for the whole of Central Europe."

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I FEAR OF THE BLOCKADE. Î I COUNT REVENTLOW'S ADMISSIONS. While other journals were treading delicately the "Deutsche Tageszeitung published 011 Saturday an article by Count Reventlow which rudely disturbs the pretence that a stiffening of the British blockade would not hurt Germany. Count Reventlow says that England's intentions are, of course," a further violation of all inter- national law, and he invites learned men at last to understand that such paper is not one of the weapons in the present struggle. He proceeds The German Press almost unanimously describes the English decision to strengthen the blockade as a matter of almost complete in- difference. We do not share this opinion. On the contrarv, we are convinced that we have to face a measure the carrying out of which cannot possibly be a matter of indifference to the German Empire and to the German people. From every point of view it would be wrong to deceive one- self about this. The intensification of the blockade is the strongest of Britain's arts people on the other side of the North Sea have seen that nothing else is of any use. It is a lying phrase when the motion in the House of Commons speaks of goods which Germany needs for the carrying on of the war. In reality the object of the British Government is to increase to an intolerable point the privations of the non- combatant German population. Everything else is subordinated to this noble purpose, because Great Britain cannot, and sees that she cannot, overthrow the combatant part of the German people. The German people, it is hardly necessary to say, will hold out in this case also, but it is not a matter of indifference." The article ends with the usual demand for absolutely ruthless warfare against this infamous enemy." MOTIVES OF BRITISH POLICY. Count Reventlow's direct methods at any rate I save him from the contortions to which other German writers condemn themsel ves. The Frankfurter Zeitung," starting from the assumption that a more strenuous blockade will not hurt Germany, writes The mad idea that it may yet be possible to starve us out seems to have reached the highest level. Many utterances of pompous statesmen give us to understand that it is now the correct thing to prophesy that Germany will be throttled by the blockade. Lord Rosebery has said something of this sort, and. as is to be ex- pected, we get the echo of these utterances back from the other side of the ocean." The Frankfurter Zeitung then enlarges upon the congenial topic of the rights and dignities of neutral States. MOXTEXEGRO NEW YERSIOXS, I  On Saturday and Sunday the German Press was busily explaining its Montenegrin fiasco as a peculiar state of things due to the extra- ordinary ignorance of the Montenegrin people, which does not appreciate the rules and sweets of submission. In a telegram from the Austrian headquarters the Berliner Tageblatt solemnly explains that the independent spirit of th:> Montenegrins prevents them from understand- ing the necessity of unconditional surrender and indicates that in these circumstances, which are appreciated by the Austro Hungarian Government, it will be some time before the laving down of arms and the occupation of the country can be completed. On Sunday the Cologne Gazette was semi- officiallv informed from Berlin that no real peace negotiations had yet taken place, so that it was quite a mistake to say that negotiations had been broken off, or that the King had declared the proposals to be unacceptable. According to this version the unfortunate state of affairs is simply due to the disobedience of some of the Montenegrin troops, but the trouble will soon be disposed of, and there will be no need for Italy to move in the matter." AN ApPEAL TO RUSSIA. I Notwithstanding the course of events the German Foreign Office has begun to publish documents which it had evidently prepared for the event of Montenegro's surrender. A long official article in the North-German Gazette," called Russia and Germany," contains the following :— It is a fact hitherto not known to the public that shortly before the outbreak of the present war Serbia and Montenegro endeavoured to compose existing differences between them by the mediation and with the support of the Russian Government. Secret negotiations about closer cooperation of the two States in the diplo- matic, economic, and military spheres were begun, while the Russian Government undertook to provide the necessary means and instructors for the organizations of the Montenegrin Army, which was to be considerably increased. It is clear that the proposed welding together of Serbia and Montenegro, with a point directed against the integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, contained a great danger for the peace of Europe.' From this feeble assertion the North-German Gazette proceeds to a violent attack upon Russian foreign policy, and especially upon M. Sazonoff. The article insists repeatedly on the constant services rendered by the Kaiser to the Tsar. It is claimed that the Kaiser helped Russia to get out of the difficulties caused by the Japanese War, and it is even asserted that, so far from supporting reaction in Russia, the Kaiser gave the Tsar good advice about the need for reform, and told him of the dangers which threatened his dynasty if he continued to resist the wishes of his people for the introduction of Parliamentary representation.' Without commenting on the peculiar character of such advice from the King of Prussia, who is still resisting the wishes of his people for the introduction of Parliamentary representation," the North-German Gazette ends with the usual attack on Sir Arthur Nicolson and the Entente policy, and declares that the collapse of Serbia and Montenegro seals the fate of the policy to which the traditional friendship be- tween Germany and Russia fell a victim." The article is, in fact, an impudent appeal for I a change of policy in Petrograd. I ADMIRAL BACON'S DISPATCH. I The Tirpitz Press Bureau issues an angry reply to Admiral Bacon's dispatch about the opera- tions on the Belgian coast. It denies in great detail that Germany suffered the losses reported by Admiral Bacon, and practically denies that Germany suffered any losses at all. It ends as follows To sum up, Admiral Bacon has no doubt been compelled to exaggerate his quite un- successful activity into a series of real events- probably in order to conceal from England's Allies and from the English people the inactivity of the English Navy. One cannot assume that Admiral Bacon is so incapable of forming a military judgment that he did not know how to measure his successes."

THE BLOCKADE OF GERMANY. I ( LEGAL ASPECTS. (BY A TIMES I,EG.AT, CORRESPONDENT). I From the nature of modern warfare, which presses into its service all the resources of in- dustry, it has been necessary to enlarge greatly the list of articles of contraband, both absolute and conditional. In some degree that necessity was experienced in the American Civil War and in the Russo-Japanese War. But as the present war proceeded it was found necessary to a degree never before known to multiply by some nine proclamations the articles of contraband, which now amount to over 300 varieties, the largest number ever proclaimed. Until the American Courts recognized the doctrine of continuous vovage and that doctrine became, as it has be- come, part of the law of nations, there could, it was said, be no contraband unless the ship conveying the goods was on its way to an enemy port a rule which would have effectually pre- vented us stopping any contraband goods going to Germany by way of Holland or Denmark. It was left to the American Courts to take dis- tinctly a more rational view—to look to the destination of the goods rather than the ship and to justify the condemnation of goods in- tended to go, though circuitously, to the enemy's forces. Our Admiralty and Prize Court have acted upon that doctrine. But a serious risk attaches to the exercise of this power. In the case of conditional contraband (such as grain, wheat, foodstuffs, &c.) it must be shown to the Prize Court not only that they are on their way to an enemy's country, but (which is apt to be forgotten by those discussing the subject) that they are intended to be used by the enemy's forces, naval or military or Government. • That is the law administered by our Prize Court, and it is a law often difficult to satisfy. Though strong suspicion may exist, the proof required for condemnation may not be forth- coming and if the cargo is released, there is sure to be a claim for damages, which may run into large figures. B I I.OCI.ADI. In the course of the war there is not and never I has been a blockade in the strict sense, that is, I the prohibition of ingress to or egress from enemy ports only. The Order in Council of March 11, 1915, did not proclaim one. It pur- ported to do more it actually did less. Nor will the mere proclamation of a strict blockade necessarily avail us unless we go a step further. We are in fact confronted with a difficulty (though in a far acuter degree), such as the United States experienced in 1861-63. Though our fleets have had, for some centuries, ample experience of blockades of individual towns and the adj acent territory—though Howe, St. Vincent, Nelson, and Collingwood did wonders in such operations—the attempt to blockade a long line of coast with easily accessible adjacent neutral territory was made for the first time in 1861. Neutrals took advantage of such ports as Nassau in British territory and of Matamoras in Mexican to convey goods to these ports, and to forward them thence to the Southern States. If the goods were of the nature of contraband, a Prize Court, applying the doctrine of continuous voyage, could condemn them. But what if they were not of that character—if, for example, they were foodstuffs or other articles intended for consumption by the general population ? This question came before the Supreme Court in the cases of the Stephen Hart, the Bermuda, and the Springbok. In the last named case the Court distinctly applied the principle of continuous voyage to blockade :— We do not now refer to the character of the cargo for the purpose of determining whether it was liable to condemnation as contraband, but for the purpose of ascertaining its real destin- ation for we repeat, contraband or not; it could not be condemned if really destined for Nassau and not beyond and contraband or not it must be condemned if destined to any rebel port, for all rebel ports were under blockade. Upon the whole we could not doubt that the cargo was originally shipped with intent to violate the blockade that the owners of the cargo intended that it should be transferred at Nassau into vessel more likely to succeed in reaching safely a blockaded port than the Springbok that the voyage from London to the blockaded port was as to cargo, both in law and in the intention of the parties, one vayage ond that the liability for condemnation, if captured during any part of that voyage, attached to the cargo from the time of sailing." Substitute Rotterdam or Copenhagen for Nassau, railway for vessel," and these words substantially apply to a large mass of imports which have indirectly, through neutral channels, been poured into Germany. Our Government, though pressed by the owners of the cargo to protest against the decision, refused to do so. The counsel for the owners in the Springbok case (the late Sir George Mellish and Sir Vernon Harcourt) did not dispute the law as laid down by the Supreme Court, and the decision was approved by the International Commission sitting under Article XII. of the Washington Treaty. The doctrine in the Springbok case has been much criticised and it is repudiated by the Declaration of London. But it embodies the opinion of the highest Court of the United States. It is also true—and it cannot be too emphatically stated-that under modern conditions as to railways a blockade of any Continental country is impossible unless the doctrine of continuous voyage is applied to blockades as well as to contraband. Without that doctrine a blockade can be effectual only as to insular countries, such as Englnad and Japan. I PROHIBITION OF EXPORTS. I A strict and regular blockade means the pro- hibition of exports from Germany. No doubt there will be attempts, more and more frequent and ingenious, to evade capture by shipping goods in the names of neutral consignors at neutral ports. Prize Courts look with great suspicion on sales to neutrals by belligerents during, or on the eve of, war. If the transactions are merely formal, as they often are, or intended to defeat the right of capture—if the German manufacturer was the real owner, the letter or documents notwithstanding-they would be disregarded. The real difficulty is that in the case of genuine transactions, if the Declaration of Paris is adhered to, enemy's goods would be immune when carried on neutral vessels. To sum up the chief legal issues involved in the discussion I (1) International law is living jurisprudence. The question is not entirely what Lord Stowell decided, hot what he would have decided in the present circumstances and economic conditions. (2) To constitute articles of commerce contra- band a mere declaration is not enough. Nor is the fact that the goods are probably on their I way to Germany there must be some proof that the particular articles are going to the enemy's forces or Government. (3) Blockade, properly so called, is applicable only to enemy territory, not to neutral ports. (4) Blockade of Germany must consequently be ineffectual unless the doctrine of continuous voyage, now part of international law as to I contraband, is applied to it as well as to con- traband. ±

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ALLEGED BURGLARY. CHARGE AGAINST GILWERN COLliER DISMISSED. At the Crickhowell Police Court on Friday, before Messrs. R. G. James, Benjamin Watkins and W. Rosser, Llewellyn Jenkins, collier, of Gilwern village, was charged with breaking and entering into the premises of Messrs. ) ones and Lee, grocers, Gilwern, at 2.30 a.m. on January 16th, and stealing goods to the value of 14s. 3d. Mr. Thos. Vaughan, Crickhowell, appeared to prosecuted, and Mr. D. Gibson Harris, Bryn- mawr, defended Percy J. Lee said his shop was closed at 10 p.m. on Saturday, 15th January, and later he heard knocking at the window and a voice say- ing, Go to the warehouse," and he went there at once the warehouse adjoined the shop. He saw Mr. Looker in the second warehouse, ana ne observed that four boxes had been moved from the place where he put them in the afternoon. The boxes were found behind the door which opened into the road. He and Mr. Looker found accused in the cellar, sitting near some boxes, with his head down. He did not say anything to Jenkins, and Jenkins made no remark. Sub- sequently they sent for the police. The boxes had been taken out of the first warehouse into the second one and placed behind the entrance to the door to the roadway. The doors were fastened, as far as he knew they were secured by inside bolts. The only way accused could get to the cellar where he was found was by a flight of stone steps he would not, personally, go down to the cellar without a light. By Mr. Harris He had no knowledge that the boxes were moved by the accused. The boxes were found some distance away from where Jenkins was found. Defendant was sitting down leaning forward, with his cap over his eyes he did not know whether he was asleep or not. The police arrived in two or three hours. He went to the cellar steps and said to Jenkins, You may come up," but he made no reply. Accused lived about 250 yards away from the shop. The boxes weighed about 141115. each. It would be impossible for a man who was drunk to get to the place where Jenkins was found, without injuring himself. There was a door opening from the cellar into the back road, and it could be opened easily from the inside. Edward Looker, Gilwern, grocer and baker, said he lived near Mr. Lee. He was going to his stable about 11.15 p.m., and saw a man standing by Mr. Lee's shop and two men near his own shop. He noticed, on coming back, that the top half of the door to Lee's warehouse was moving open, and he heard a voice speaking inside. Witness called out, Who is there ? He opened the top half of the door and looked in, and could not see anyone, but heard someone moving about among the boxes. He pushed the bottom part of the door open and met Mr. Lee inside the warehouse. When he got inside and Lee brought the light, he saw the three boxes against the bottom part of the door. Jenkins was crouched in the cellar, and be remarked to witness Who threw me down here ? He replied, Llewellyn, its' no use pretending to be drunk you could not have got down here in the time." He heard Jenkins going down into the cellar he struck a match, and witness saw the light. In his opinion accused was sober. He followed Jenkins almost immediately after he went down the cellar, and it was not possible for him to get out through the door into the back road before he (witness) saw him. a r .L 1- f" T" Meredith Moore, lancuorci 01 tne Lurn rx- change, Gilwern, said defendant was in his house on the night of the 15th January and left at 10 o'clock he was sober. Morgan Thomas, collier, Gilwern, said he and others were in the company of Jenkins on the night of the 15th January, and came up the back road by Lee's shop. They talked by the door of the warehouse for a few minutes or so. The top part of the door flew open-Jenkins had been leaning against it. Then Jenkins tried to go in, and they tried to stop him, but he climbed over the lower half of the door and went into the premises. By Mr. Harris Defendant was not sober. There was no arrangement made with regard to the boxes of soap. Sergt. Evans said that on Sunday morning, the 16th inst., he received information by telephone from Gilwern, nad went over to Lee's shop, arriving their at 2.20. He found three boxes (produced) behind the door, and another a little distance away. In the cellar he found accused lying on the floor, but ne did not disturb him; he thought he was asleep, from his attitude. On a second occasion he went down to the cellar, shook him several times, eventually getting him to iiis feet. Jenkins looked around and said, Where am I ? and P.C. Boore told him. Then accused remarked, Who ever chucked me down here ? They brought him up o the storeroom, and accused said, Am I the only one in this ? When charged, Jenkins asked Where did you find the boxes ? and witness I say nothing. informed him. Later he said, I say nothing." By Mr. Harris The man appeared to have been drinking, and was more or less stupid. P.C. Boore, Gilwern, gave corrobcrative evidence. Defendant appeared to have been drinking. Mr. Harris said he did not proposed to call any evidence. He wanted the Bench to seriously consider whether this man had any real inten- tion of breaking into these premises and stealing the goods. According to the statement of Morgan Thomas, one of the witnesses for the prosecution, Jenkins merely went into the ware- house, and he and Sergt. Evans and P.C. Boore had stated that the man was under the influence of drink. He quite admitted that the man had no right in the cellar, but it was obvious that it was a drunken freak. Could they conceive of any sober man going into a shop and taking goods which were practically useless to him, goods which weighed half a hundredweight in the aggregate. Mr. Harris pointed out that accused would be called up in his group on February 8th, and he asked the Court to send him to fight for his country without a stain on his character. The Bench retired, and on returning into Court said they had d cided to dismiss the case. They had considerable doubts as to defendant's guilt, but had decided to give him the benefit. The Magistrates expressed the hope that de- fendant would join up in his group on 8th of February and do his duty to his country. The case lasted considerably over three hours, and the Court was well filled during the hearing.

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I Uangattock Licensee Summoned. I I CASE DISMISSED. I W. H. Rumsey, licensee of the Horse Shoe Inn, Llangattock, was charged at the Crick- howell Police Court, on Friday last, with selling a pint of beer in an open jug to a boy under 14 years, and Alice Wallace, of Llangattock, married woman, was summoned for sending her boy to obtain intoxicating liquors. Mr. Thos. Vaughan, I Crickhowell, appeared to prosecute on behalf of the police, and Mr. D. Gibson Harris, Brynmawr, defended the licensee and Mrs. Wallace. Mr. Vaughan, in opening the case, said pro- ceedings were taken under the Licensing Act 1910. The licensee of the Horse Shoe Inn was serving with the Territorial forces, and had no personal knowledge of the case. P.C. Morgan Lewis said that at 10.10 p.m. on Saturday, 1st January, he was on duty near the Horse Shoe Inn, Llangattock, and met a boy carrying something under his coat. In reply to his questions, the boy produced a jug containing beer. Mrs. Rumsey, wife of the licensee, said her niece supplied the beer, and remarked that she did not know why she did it as she had been there 12 months and was a dressmaker adding that she (her niece) did not know the rules of the house. Witness told her that the beer had been supplied to a boy under age. He then went to see Mrs. Wallace, and told her what had hap- pened she said she only sent the boy to tell Mrs. Rumsey to put the beer ready for her to fetch. By Mr. Harris Mrs. Wallace's husband was serving in the Army, also Mrs. Rumsey's hus- band. Witness had been attested. Sergt. Evans produced a certificate showing that the boy F. H. Wallace was II years and 2 months of age. Mrs. Rumsey said her husband was serving with the Territorials, and was not present when the beer was served. She told P.C. Lewis that she knew nothing about it. Her husband told her niece not to serve boys under age. Mr. Harris said the case bristled with techni- calities. The prosecution had got to prove not only that there was a sale, but that it had been knowingly made. Mrs. Rumsey did not know that the boy was under 14 years and there was no evidence that the defendant had delegated his authority to anyone If he was going to write an essay on the case he should describe it as A policeman on the prowl." Mrs. Rumsey's husband was serving his country, and so was the husband of Mrs. Wallace, who had six children. She merely sent the lad to fetch some supper beer which she had been ordered to take, and surely it would have been more fitting, in the circumstances, if the constable had warned her not to repeat the offence. But he chose to report her, and be could not help thinking that it was very hard lines on these people that they should have been proceeded against in that Court. The Bench stated that th y thought the case was not proved against the landlord, and dis- missed it; and with regard to Mrs. Wallace they were lothe to register a conviction, and ordered her to pay costs. JL.

BRYNMAWR MAGISTRATE'S LOSS. I SON KILLED IN ACTION. I Prior to the commencement of the business of the Police Court at Brynmawr, on Monday, the Chairman of the Bench, Alderman W. Roberts, said that he would like to refer to the loss sus- tained by a member of the Bench, Mr. W. M. Taylor. He and Mrs. Taylor had suffered a sad loss in the death of their son. He was a most promising young man and generally respected. He (the chairman) would move that they pass a vote of sympathy with the bereaved parents. On behalf of the solicitors practising at the Court, Mr. Tom. Hughes associated himself with the vote, which was passed in silence. Lance-Corpl. Donald MacDonald Taylor, the eldest son of Councillor Taylor, was 19 years of age, and was a medical student. He was killed in action in France on January 11, 1916.

I SCHOOL MEDICAL TEST. INTERESTING POINT RAISED AT BRYN- I MAWR. An interesting position was disclosed when an application was made by Mr. T. Hughes (Messrs. S. Powell Hughes and Jones) on behalf of the local education committee to the Brynmawr magistrates on Monday for an order to compel the attendance at school of the nine-year-old child of Thomas H. Thomas, Worcester-street, Brynmawr. The child had been attended by Dr. Farrington, the family doctor, for some time, and on November 23 the local attendance officer, accompanied by the Breconshire county medical officer (Dr. Davies) visited the child at the home to make a medical examination. The mother refused her consent, saying that she did not think it fair to Dr. Farrington as he was not present. Mr. Hughes pointed out that it was com- pulsory on the parents to allow the medical examination, and the case was adjourned for a fortnight for the purpose.

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW. The Sun's still shining in the sky," which nobody can deny, although of late old Sol has, only favoured us with an occasional glimpse. On Monday, the 24th inst., he came out in all his brightness and sheered us all as we pursued our daily avocations, but on opening our Express a shadow crossed our path on reading that the Huns were at it again, the East coast being, as usual, the target. We presume the raid of Sunday morning was one of the promised reprisals in return for the urbanity shown by us in rescuing many Huns from a watery grave. Surely the time has come to pay those inhuman wretches back in their own coin, not by way of revenge, but to convince them that a game of solo may be converted into a duet or a chorus when the necessity arises. John Bull informs us that the Government is waking up," and it cannot ye denied that the nap has been a long one, and it is to be hoped the awakening will result in doing and that lethargy and inertia will be banished henceforth. Many of the noble sons of Abergavnny are doing their best to lessen the number of Huns, and it behoves us to do all in our power to cheer the hearts of those who have gone forth to war in behalf of old England. We have perused, with much pleasure, several letters in last week's issue of the Abergavenny Chronicle," from our brave boys at the Front, which go to prove that they have in Major Williams a most sincere and indefatigable friend, and whose efforts in behalf of the Scout movement are well known in Aber- gavenny and places adjacent. All are working with a will and with one aim for the benefit of those who have donned khaki, and as many may „ never return to relate their troubles and trials, hence the necessity for all the sympathy we can show in words and deeds. In commenting on matters local, it may be mentioned that the highways and byeways in and around Aberga- venny have been cleared of the many obstruc- tions caused by the recent gales. In a three-mile stroll on the Ross-road on Monday we reckoned twenty-five trees lying on the ground, between the Junction and the Walnut Tree Inn, and some of the largest will involve considerable time and labour in removal, and when all are garnered we surmise firewood will be procurable on easier terms than at present prevail. The postal arrangements have undergone a change for the better, all the pillar-boxes showing the hours of clearance, and the morning delivery being early enough to meet the requirements of men of business. I BOB. ♦