The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

L CHARGES AGAINST FU81HEK OFFICERS 1 COURT MAETIALS AT EiNMEL. I A court martial lasting the whole day was Slw>o ld on Wedncsday at Kmir.el Camp under the presidency of Colonel Wynne Edward? .ft?21? Royal WeLsh Fu6Ïlis. A chaJg? ?t??h, a??t Captain Douglas B, 20th wS H?nt. cf?i?J?m? and in- ?pab? of discharging his duties as captain S?day of h? battalion ? Kmn?ICamp, on Sunday, December 12th, The caoe for the prosecution was that on the afternoon in question accused temporarily took the place of another officer as oaptain for the day, and sorio time after wae found to be in such a state of intoxication that Major Broad, v.ho was in command at the tírn, ordered him to hie room. Accused's caso was that he wae perfectly sober aU day, having had but three whiskies "d aB. Major Broad was, for eomo reason, in a violent temper, and shouted blufitering- IY d and provokingly at acctusedj arousing his m Ignabon and anger. t C I .V.L. Colonel Ivor Bowen, in summing up a43 judge advocate commentoed upon tho extra- ordinary conflict of evidence, including that f t '1' Ine 11 Jug a of two military eurgeone, and eaid tho ease was ;er-y difh--ult to dmia,. Accused, who wae represented by Mr S, R. JDew \Baugor), was found not guilty, and Ie. leased He served with the Glamorgan Mili- tia in the Boer War. Another court martial was held yesterday, when a charge of drunkenness was investi- fated agMBst Captain J L. Down, of the 21st Rc?rve Battalion Welsh Regiment, ma- t-io-ned at Kinmel, and formerly of the i(oth (Pirsf. Rhonfldia) Battalion. Colonel Wynne Edwards, 21st Royai Welfeh Fusiliers, again presided, and the prosecu- tion was conducted by Second-Lieutenant Allan, of the Welsh Regiment, while Mr Dew, solicitor, Bangor defended. The find- ing of the court has to be eubmitted to higher authorities before the decision is promul- gated, and accused nicanwhile remain* under arrest.

I A BANGOR OFFICER IN THE I TRENCHES. Lieutenant Llew. Lewis, of the 17th Battalion R. W. Fusiliers, writing to his motiher, Mrs Lewie, Bronwylfa, Bangor, from Somewhere in France," savs:— "We went up to the firing line on Boxing Day. Well, I have been in the trenches, and out onoe more for a rest before going in again. I have marched through towns that have been occupied by Germans and been shelled by them. These towns are nearly all void of their former inhabitants. It is a truly sad sight to sec- theso French towns—houses blown to bits, churches with their roofs completely off and huge gaping holes in the walls." Roferring to his experience in the firing line Lieutenant Lewis writes:—"The din of the ar- ti))eiy is terrific at times; the shells whistle over your" head, and it is a most curious sensation. I am quite at home amongst them now. We just have to take our chance. If they do drop amongst, us it only means half-a-dozen have gone. The Germans did manage to drop three shells into the place I was in last week, two men were hit, and they are now in hospital. It is rather curious marching along a road with shells dropping on either side of you. An ex- plosion occurs, and earth etc., goes up sky high For four days I have lived and slept in a dug- out with Lord and we got on well to- gether. In our dug-out we had a cat which must have had a most lively time as its leg was broken, and it became so wild that it would not allow anyone to go near it. "To tell you the honest truth I am more afraid of the rats and mice than I am of the Germans. The rata here are like cats, tre- mondous things; they are everywhere all day and night in their thousands. "I have never felt so fit in all my life as I do at present, althought one never knows which in one a last moment. Day and night it is just the same, the din at times is terrific. We are now resting behind the 'firing li lie.'

A well-known Ruabon farmer, Mr Frederick John Lloyd, of Tj-ddyn Ucha Farm, was on Tuesday found lying dead in a field near hie home with a gun by his side. The police view of the tragedy is that Mr Lloyd acci- dentally shot himself while getting over a fence. He wae 33, and leaves a widow and three children.

t TROOPS AT BANGOR I CATHEDRAL. I CANON DAVIES AND THE WAR. I HOPE FOR A NEW AND BETTER LIFE. The detachment of the West Lancashire Royal Engineers billeted in Bangor attended the morning service at the Cathedral on SUJr day. An abbreviated form of service, and which included two favourite hymns—sung with wholehearted fervour, was used, and at the close the -National Anthem was sung. The JWv. Canon Daviea preached, and took for his text the first four words in the Bible, Genesis i. 1—"In the beginning God," said that the book of Genesis was the book of birth, or of beginnings. Wo had here the beginning of all things, the beginning of that strange or wonderful nation, the Jews, the beginning of those strange mysteries which encircled all mankind, the mystery of sin, the mystery of sorrow, and the mystery of death. We had here the beginning of those two blessings God has left to us as a sample of the bliss there was in Eden before em entered—the beginning of the Sabbatn, and the beginning of marriage. Wo had here the beginning of the world itself; but the beginning of all beginnings is God: "in the beginning God. Let this text be our motto at the beginning of another year. The year 1915 had flown into 1916; but it might ue asked were not these divisions of time purely arbitrary, a mere matter of clocks and sundials? iSrue, the years rolled imperceptibly into each other; but divisions of time were useful for practical purposes, and each month was (in a real sense) both a beginning and an ending. They started with January, the month which for centuries had been to Europeans what the month of Abit was to the Jews—"the first month of the year." January was derived from Janus, the greatest of all Roman yod.,3, the god of be- ginnings. To him the Romans dedicated aJI their beginnings. If for Janus we read Jesus, and dedicate aU our beginnings to Josue, life will go better for us all, and we can expect Trod s blessing on aJl our under- takings. Again, it was the first month in the year; and there is something sacred about the first of anything; the first Com- munion, the first chiidj the first home-leav- ing; they had all their own indefinable some- thing, -pud could not easily be forgotten. Beginnings controlled endings; and much would depend upon the way in which we started the first month in the new year. January opened the door to all the other months. the word meant a door. Life was full of doors, and each was the opening to a fuller, wider life. The pious Roman of old prayed every morning to Janus, the god of beginnings, as the father of the morning. We, too, had our "father of lights," and might do worse than begin each morning with a prayer, and an aspiration to Him, as our father of lights. But, alas! what had become of the old family altar? The throne of grace had been sadly neglected. And how few attended early services in God's hou.<?e Janus was worshipped by the Roman as the two-faced god: two-faced, and not double-faced. Two-faced would imply but one and the same face with two expressions. Janus looked back- wards with one face, and onwards with the -other. This symbolism was both suggestive and instruc- tive: we enter January Janus-faced, with eyes behind and before. looking back wistfully to 1915, and looking forward hopefully and anxiously to 1916. By God's mercy then, we stand on the threshold of the new year. At no time, probably, was there more eerious reflection on the past, more thinking of what lies before ue, than there was during the first ten days or eo of the new year. Each new-born year brought with it. not so much a sense of certainty, as of uncertainty We cannot divine futurity. He solemnly be- eeeched them not to attempt to live this j( ar without God. Let them not loee touch with thei; very best friend. He WM to have the first place; "in the beginning God." Let Him have the first place in their hearts, and in their life-a:ni3. Let. Him be the first to whom to fly in the time of trouble—the first one whose counsel they asked in time of difficulty. Let the four words of the text, then, be deeply engraven upon each one of their eouls—"in the beginning God." "Let me," eaid the preacher, "ask you one im- portant compreliciisive quetsti-on on this second Sunday of the new year-where do you stand to- day as regards God, as regards heaven, as regards Christ, and ae regards eternity? After you go home, consider and ponder this great question seriously, honestly, and prayerfully. What we all need is-to face this question in prayer. You can never know where you stand until God shows you. What we all need to realise, what we need to have burnt deep into us, is this,—that religion is real. downright, hard spiritual work—splendid work; but it is work, 'labour of love.' This Christian labour embraces three thing-interest, enthusiasm, and sacrifice;" I FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE I WORLD. Canon Davies concluded his sermon in the fol- lowing words:—"Anno Domini 1915 will ever be a memorable year in the history of Great Britain, but 1916 will be even more fco. A time of war is a time of perioue thought: it ie time when all duties of a public character have a fuller and deeper significance. Let us hopo that out of all the suffering entailed by this war, there will emerge a new and better life. It must be con- fessed that luxury, indulgence, and love of plea- sure, had eaten their way deep into our national life; and alienation from the Church and its ordi- nances was colossal in its dimensions. We must go back to God in prayer, in penitence and ashes. Out of this war, goodness must come, and right- eousness must be triumphant. We are fighting not only for the freedom of our own country and our Colonies, but for the freedom of the. world, for international honour, and for the tenets of Christianity as the governing principles, of the world. This is a war in defence of freedom, jus- tice, honour, and religion; it is a. war in defence of everything that makes life worth living. I firmly believe that after the war, we shall have a clearer view of our religion, and a better faith in it. The extension of the war is simply bewilder- ing. Sacred Biblical places, familiar to us all, are within the war zone; such as Persia, Meso- potamia, Syria, Egypt, and Palestine. The Sea of Galilee is in the "war zone," and the hills around Capernaum are fortified. Sentries are stationed on the Mount of Olives, and Calvary, on which the Cross was upreflred centuries ago, again trembles with human passion! There is war where Nebuchadnezzar erected "hanging gardens" to gratify his Median queen, and where Belshazzar saw the fateful handwriting on the wall. For the moment, interest is centred in Serbia, the latest victim of Germanic insolence. There have been cloudy and dark days during the past year; there may be still more in front of us. As the war goes on, sorrows and sufferings will be multiplied. Now we must not be dis- couraged this year. No Christian ought to be a pessimist. Every Christian ought to have an optimism which will carry him through every- thing. We have put on Christ. He is our Commander. He is our Chief. When A bra- ham Lincoln was asked (in the American Civil War) whether he was sure that God was on their side his answer was: I have not thought about that, but I am very anxious to know whether we are on God's Aide." rLincoln had seen at least one vision of true happiness—to do God's will and not his own. If God is on our side, ive are bound to win; no one can withstand Him in the beginning God." I am glad to welcome once more to our Cathedral some of our brave defende-s Let me wish you, my dear soldier-friends, a "Faonv New Year," and may God's blessing rest on all your undertakings, and bring us peace.

LLANBERIS. 1 PRESENTATION. On Wednesday Dr. and Mrs Wynne Jones. Glan y Bala, were presented by the Dinorwio Quarries officials with a silver salver on the occasion of their marriage, Novem- ber 18th. Dr. Wynne Jones, who was practis- jng at the Dinorwio Quarry Hospital prio; to his departure ae lieutenant-surgeon with the R.A.M.C.. is the son of Mr Wm. Jones, of Glav fryn, Bangor. Mrs Wynn Jones is the daughter of Mr J. C. Lloyd Williams, J.P., Glan v Bala, the local manager of the Dinorwic Quarries.

Mr Dixon Moffat. Scottish actor, who played :n "Bunty Pulls the Stringis," was found dead in his bathropm on Tuesday. Five lambs wero born on January 1st, at the Home Farm on the Duke of Westminster's Eaton estate. It i6 officially announced that the King has ap- Eroved the appointment of Mr Herbert Samuel to b? Home Secretary. Newtown lMout.) Urban. Council have re- stocked their reeervoir with 600 yearling brown trout*

I h DRIBBLETS. ■ Now that the Daily Mail has (according to the Daily Mail) got compulsion fairly going, it is preaching a new campaign. < « Mr McKenna has already issued a warning note about this. He said he would very shortly want half our incomes. The Daily Mail is now in- augurating the "compulsion of money" campaign. They have got the men; now they are going to get our monev. Someone eaid the other day "I bought a new piano (one of the things not to be purcna?d during war time) after reading an advertisement in the Daily Ma?. Now it lectures me for spending money on luxuries. What am I to do?" o < Socialists say "conscript wealth." That's just what the Income Tax collectors are doing. There won't be much left for Mr McKenna at the rate they are gathering in the shekels. < The Chancellor ,itys all classes must 6ave. There will be nothing left to save after the Christmas bills are paid, and its going to be a big job for I some of us to meet those. • • The Daily Mail includes plate glass in its ist of luxuries. This is a new and startling definition. If our shop windows get broken it will be a luxury to replace them. « < « But let us be consistent. The papers who aie warning us against spending our hard-earned in- comes on unnecessary luxuries are in the same breath, and on the same page, enticing us by means of cleverly-worded advertisements to buy cigar bargains ranging from 50s to 70s per 100. Magnificent sets of furs are also brought under our notice. No wonder readers are perplexed. Extract from Aberystwyflr Town Council de- bate :— Captain Doughton: Who are on the deputa- tion now? I am quite at sea. Alderman Williams You are always at sea. Captain Doughton: I have been at sea longer than you have. Alderman Williams: I know that. Oaptain Doughton: And if my tongue was us long as yours I should be still more at tie a (laughter). • • • • The Welsh Liberal members have been sum- moned (says the Times) to a special meeting at the House of Commons to discuss the reported breaking up of the Welsh Mounted Brigade of Territorials for infantry drafts. It is this pernici- ous political interference that cripples the military conduct of the war. What on earth have the Welsh members got to do with the matterl J» • « Tragedy and comedy are clearly allied in the House of Commons. Mr Lloyd George defended his action in suppressing Forivard, a Glasgow Socialist paper, reading extracts, which, he said, were likely to spread distruist amongst the work- ing classes and promote opposition to the Com- pulsion Bill. < < < A loquacious member, named Pringle, had, he said, characterised the seizure of Forivard as tyrannical. The paper denied the accusations laid against it, and stated "that they laughed at the fiery slosh of such a paper as the Globe." "I wonder," said Mr George, "whether they will appreciate Mr Pringle's slosh," and the House rocked with laughter. "But, after all," added the Minister of Munitions, "these are not matters for Parlia- mentary sport. We are dealing in tragedies" (cheers). Some of the horrors of war have been brought home to Bangor residents- (especially thooe with an ear for music) this week. Some West Lan- cashire Emgineers practising bugle calls 1 The most effective fancy dre36 at the Bangor V.T.C. ball, on Wednesday, was worn by On second thoughts (bearing in mind previous experiences) we won't divulge the secret. As usual, there were more maids than men pre- sent. Where were the V. T.C's.? # ■» are $a,iiiiiig c?our- The "armleteer?" of Bangor are gaining cour- age, but there are still many eby ones left.

MILITARY NOTES. I The widow of Mr McLeod, who wa-s stage- manager at the County Theatre, Bangor, has just received the Distinguished Conduct Medal won by her husband, who was killed while sav- ing a wounded comrade. Mr Evan Hughes, who served as a clerk in the General Post Office, Bangor, has been pro- moted corporal in the Roval Engineers, now with the Mediterranean Force. He was for about eight months in Gallipoli. News has been received that Second-Lieutenant E. Buslnll, 10th (8.) Battalion Royal Warwick Regiment, has been wounded in action. He is now in hospital, and is progressing favourably. Lieutenant Bushill is a nephew of Councillor It. Newton, J.P., of Carnarvon. The Mayor of Carnarvon (Mr Charles A. Jones), who presided at the Borough Police Court, on Monday, said he was pleased to learn that the Distinguished Conduct Medal had been awarded to a Carnarvon soldier, Private J. E. Jones, 6th Berks, son of Mr and Mrs J. E. Jones, 27, Mountain-street. < < To those named in our list last week of officers mentioned in Sir John French's de- spatches must be added two more relatives of General Hugh S. Gough of Caerhun Hall, namely, General Hubert de la Poer Gough, C.B., and Lieut. Owen Gough, of the 12th Bengal Lancers, whose sad fate in the tor- pedoed "Persia" was reported in these columns last week, ft • • « A convalescents' military hospital has been established at Pentreffynnon Hall, a beautifully, situated mansion on the estate of Lord Mostyn, near Holywell, and there are at present about a dozen wounded soldiers convalescing there. It is in charge of Mrs Alletson, whose husband is serving at the front as an officer. Lady Mostyn and her daughter, the Hon. Gwynedd Mostyn. are taking an active part in the nursing and general arrangements of the hospital. < < < < The War OSce has informed the Dean of St. Asaph that his son, Lieutenant H. Wynne Jones, of the 17th Lancers, has sustained wounds owing to the premature bursting of a hand grenade. Much anxiety prevailed until a fellow officer supplier details of the occurrence, from which it appears that Lieutenant Wynne Jones had a pro- vidential escape. He has been with the Ex- peditionary Force in France since the outbreak of war. The special supplement to the London Gazette for January 6th contained the fol- lowing notice:—"Welsh Horse,—Cadet John Morris-Jones, from the Cambridge Univer- sity Contingent, Senior Division Officers' Training Corps, to be ond-lieutenant." Mr Morris-Jones is the fourth son of the Rev. R. Jones, rector of Gyflin, Conway, to join the forces. w < Amongst those recently mentioned in despatches was Major General John Vaughan, C.B., D.S.O. He served in the Matabele campaign, in the Soudan, and in the South African war. In the latter campaign he was on the staff of Sir John French, and was awarded the D.S.O. He went to France in August, 1914, as chief staff officer to General Allenby, was appointed to the command of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, with the rank of Brigadier-General, was mentioned in despatches, and awarded the C.B. He is now a (temp.) Major-General, and commands a Cavalry Division. < < w < Sir Ian Hamilton, in his despatch on the Suvla Bay operations published on Friday pays a high tribute to the intrepidity of Lieutenant-Colonel Gillespie, commanding the 4th South Wales Bor- derers. Colonel Gillespie married Agnes Rose, the youngest daughter of Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, during his adjutancy of the "Dandy Fifth," at tho time it was commanded by his bride's eldest brother, Colonel E. Pryce-Jones, the member for the Montgomery Boroughs. Sir Ian Hamilton's despatch also contains the following reference to Major C. G. L. Allanson, of the 6th Gurkhas of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade, son of Mr J. B. Allanson, solicitor, Carnar- von And now, under that fine leader, Major C. G. L. Allanson, the 6th Gurkhas of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade, pressed up the slopes of Sari Bair, crowned the heights between Chunuk Bair and Hill Q, viewed far beneath them the waters of the Hellespont, viewed the Asiatic shores along which motor- transport was bringing supplies to the lighters," .reported the General. Not only did this battalion, as well as some of the 6th South Lancashire Regiment, reach the crest, but they began to attack down the far tide of it, firing as they went at the fast retreating jIa. but the fortune of war was against m.

J The Greatest Winter Sale in Wartskils History-Now On. I Buying at WARTSXI'S SALE, ladies enjoy, not simply and as usuali I ■ the best selection obtainable (the fame of Wartski's for ladies' wearable t ■ being assailable), but the advantage of prices bearing no relation to § t the present-day cost of these rich articles, with the pleasure of poss- m essing many really useful articles impossible to replace in the m near future. Huge crowds are daily reaping the advantage of these g astounding Sale Bargains, the stock is however partlcu.. M larly large and offers thousands of wonderful money 1 saving By Bangor Cathedral. 1

MR. ELLIS GRIFFITH AND COMPULSION. SUPPORTS MILITARY SERVICE I BILL WITHOUT RESERVATION. I CARE NOTHING FOR TRADITIONS OF MY PARTY." I In the course of the debate on Wednesday, in the House of Commons, when the second reading of the Military Service Bill wae carried by a maj- ority of 392, Mr Ellis Griffith said he supported the Bill with- out any reservation and without any apology (cheers). He welcomed the Bill as an embodiment of National Service so far as it went. The lion, member who spoke the previous day (Mr G. Har- vey) had made a serious charge against the Gov- ernment when he said it was too precipitate (laughter). A cha.rge of impetuosity against the Government had rarely been Joroyght on such insufficient evidence (cheers). He recognised the (sincerity of those who opposed the Bill, but he mistrusted their judgment. He did not say i-hat because a man was against the Bill he was against the war—(an hon. member; "Thank yott")-but he did say that the men who were against the war were against the Bill (cheers). Of the 36 Liberal members who had opposed the Bill a few days ago 22 were associated with a deputation to the Prime Minister on December 17th. 1913, beg- ging him to limit the Navy (cheers). He was not surprised that those who wanted to limit the Navy in 1913 were not anxious to increase the Army in 1916. The hon. member who had moved the rejection of the Bill had not niade it clear whether he wanted more men for the Army jr not. The hon. member was against compulsion and against recruiting. Mr Anderson: I have never opposed recruiting. Mr W. Thome: You have never heiped it (cheers). Mr Ellis Griffith asked whether the hon. mem- ber had ever lifted a linger or-said one word to increase the Army since August 4th, 1914. The hon. member was against compulsion and against voluntaryism. Wfto the hon. member surprised that people should think wrongly that he was against the war? (cheers). The editor of the Daily News, the protagonist ot the anti-compul- sion movement, writing in his own name on Oc- tober 23rd, 1915, said"Let there .be no doubt in the mind of anyone that the day the Govern- ment is overthrown will be a day of victory for Germanv." The Leader of the Nationalist Party on November 2nd 1915, said ;1 promise the Prime Minister on.,behait of my colleagues that any Government of which he is tne head will receive our constant and loyal support." In connection with those decittratioiit3 it was important to re- member that a vote against the Bill was not only a vote against compulsion, but a vote against the Government (cheers). I am told by many,Mr Griffith continued, that I am acting against the traditions of my party. I care nothing for the traditions of my party (cheers). What I am concerned ilbout is the inter- est of my country, and that is the spirit in which every man who is honestly patriotio will deal with any (situation as it arieee. There is a deputation anv t-ituation as it ari?ec. at 4 o'clock to the Prime Minister to ask him to make certain promises with regard to the future. I do not think any member ot the Government, from the Prime .Minister downwards, has ny right to commit himself to any policy in the 'u- ture, because we do not know what the circum- stances of our country may be in the future, l'he policy of tho Government must depend upon the situation for the time .being, and no man ought to pledge himself or his party to any course of conduct except always subject to the governing consideration that that course of conduct will be consistent with the interests of the country (cheers). Referring to the military necessity of the Bill, Mr Griffith pointed out that, according to figures given that afternoon, the life of an infantry bat- talion at the front was only eeven months. There were thousands of men at the front who ought to have leave ,cheem). We were eending wounded men back for the second and third time. His view was "Every one onoe before any one twice" (cheers). Did not these considerations give food for reflection to the opponents of the Bill? Was it not also a matter of notoriety that we lacked men in more than one place, and that we should have done better if we had bad more? Lord Kitchener had eaid that voluntaryism without modification could not maintain the Army needed to secure victorv. Wits not that the end of the discussion? The only question before every mem- ber of the House now was: "Do I or do I -lot want to becure RESIGNATION TOO LATE. I The ex-Home Secretary had «aid to the 1 rime Minifter practically "You don't understand your pledge. Let me tell you what it was" (laughter). He had interpreted with great ability a at" aceinent which appeared in Haneard. Unfortunately that was the wrong document. People did not read Hansard. The real pledges to the married men were the posters on the walk—(cheers)—baeed, not on the speech of November 2nd, but on the letter of November 19th. The late Home Secretiry'. tpoint VKOi general consent. The time to object to a pledge was when it wae given, not when it was lulhlled (cheers) Those who were againet the Bill gave a pledge because they thought they would never be called upon to fulfil it. Sir J. Simon was too late in his resignation. The moment the pledge was given by the Prime Minister was the time when any man who was against compulsion on principle should have resigned. The men who remained in the Government were absolutely pledged to the pledge of the Prime Minister and must abide by the consequences (hear, hear). People seemed to think about the war ew though it were not a national war, but a private vendetta between some people in this -ecitntry and in Ger- many It wae a national war, the conduct of which was for us a national obligation. For ii- stance Mr Redmond had agreed that if the enemy were at Calais then it might be a case for com- pulsion. (Mr Redmond "I did not say that.' ) The hofi. member does not read his own cpeechea as ca "ef ull vm I do, and naturally he iorg^fe those things he wishes to forget. Mr Redmond: I took up the position that with me compulsion was not a question of principle, but a question of expediency and degree. Mr Ellis Griffith: The hon. member also said that although he va* against compulsion, if the enemy were at Calais or in Kent- Mr Redmond: That was an illustration of what m I r meant-(] atighter)-directed to those who were speaking about compulsion as a principle. I wanted to point out that it muet necessarily with reasonable men be a question of degree. I ex- pressly said it was limited to a case of necessity, and that whenever that necessity arose oonficrioi tion would be justified. Mr Ellis Griffith: As I understand that, it -in not a question of principle, but a matter of ex-, pediency, and the expediency varies with the dis- tance (Mr Redmond: "No, no.") If the Germany landed in Ireland then compulsion would be thq right course to take. This country was now in 4 position of peril, and it was entirely a fallacy vO eay that we were not defending ourselves. the Bill was not meant to be a general Bill of com- pulsion. It was limited within the ambit of tha pledge—or what he would prefer to call a stated ment of policy. That was a statement on which! married men acted, and therefore it was quite right to limit it in that way. But he did not foij a moment say that the Bill embodied his views.: It was a narrow Bill. The voluntary system hA failed when the Derby scheme waa begun, and it failed again during the Derby scheme until the pledge was given, and could anybody say that after the Derby pledge voluntaryism remained un-t impaired as a principle? Ite Prime Ministeq eaid, "Let them come as free men. In live weekjj I take you, but come in the meantime as frea men." He did not understand that attituoool mind. There was conditional compulsion of singly men and conditional exemption of married meA.( Although we did not know the exact poiition which the oountry stood or the peril confronting us it was absolutely incumbent on us to provide) the men, and a6 far as he undenstood it there was no other way except by thie Bill (loud aiati prON longed c heers).

ECONOMY AND MARGARINE. (To the Editor. J Sir,—Speculation is rife as to whether thq present enhanced retail price of margarine ia .Bangor is going to be ascribed to "economic". causes, or wnetner the advance is to be associated, as the merest coincidence of course, wiui the, billeting ot the troops. Obedient to the in, junction some time ago of certain ol those in nigh places who preached "economy," many members oi the local "proletariat," with oom mendaoie loyalty, decided (necessity bemg nq doubt a contributory laotor in the decision) u* substitute, "without prejudice," as the iawyerx hove it, margarine lor butter because of its com* parative cheapness. 13ut, alas, twas all in vain I And what's going to happen now 'twere difficult to prognos- ticate. At the moment there would appear ta be only one road for it—"dry toast 1" On re-, flection, however, dry toast becomes a tougn proposition in view ot the increased cost of fuel. which like everything else almost, has recently, and with a rare steadiness of purpose, mani- fested an "upward" tendency. Which suggest* that classes in dietetics may prove a frost unless they be able to produce human fuel through the agency of the east wind, which, however, is not, unfortunately, always available., But there is "always with us," like the poor, the soothing if not satisfying unction that plain living makes straight tor high thinking, which suggests again that should it "get there" this time the thinking" should prove Olympian- always assuming, of course, that the present steady-upward" tendency is maintained. Meanwhile the motto is likely to remain—" Busi ness" as uswaJ I-Yours, etc., CITIZEN.

AN AWKWARD STREET CORNER AT BANGOR. (To the Editor). Sir,-Will you kindly allow me, through th £ medium of your paper, to call atterition to a very dangerous piece of wall which projects on to the pavement of the Holy head-rood 1 It lies just above where Farrar-road intersects Holy head-road and below two semi-detached houses. In the pre sent dark state of the streets at night it is a "MY table trap to the unwary. A friend of mine coming down the road a fortnight ago went bead- long into the thorn fence and severely 6cratched his face, and I have heard of two or three others who have met a similar fate. I feci sure that if the attention of the parties responsible is directe4 to the matter, they will at once see that the wall is built up and rounded off, 60 as to prevent any* one being injured there.—Yours etc. VIATOR. Bangor, January 12th. VIATOR.

BANGOR MILITARY HOSPITAL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—I am writing on behalf of the men in thi hospital who belonged either to tne Britisn l £ r peditionary Force in France or the Mediterranean Uapeditionary Force, to ask why passes are not granted between the hours of two p.m. and fow: p.m. with the use of -khaki overcoats? Practical! every hospital in the United Kingdom grants this privilege, and why could not the same thing br done at the Military Hospital in Bangor? Trir you can walk round the hospital, but it woul4 be a great boon to the men to have two boan- daily for exercise. They say that one matf broke out of hospital and got some drink. Well punish the man and the publican who serve? him, but do not punish the whole lot of men.-a xours, etc., FAIR PLAY,

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS- It is possible, eays the Times, on Tuesday, thai Mr Lloyd George will shortly address his constitif ents on the issues raised by the Service Bill.

SOLDIERS' LETTERS. The Editor will welcome the receipt of letters from soldiers at the front, which will be published In our columns after having been duly passed by the Censor. | GOLDEN GOAT, CARNARVON. jj pLEASE send for Patterns of Flannelettes, Flannels, s Blouse Flannels, Dress Materials, Prints, « Nurse's Cloth, or anything you may want and we fl i will send them by return. J } awr The Cheapest and Largest Stock in North Wales. 1 PIERCE & WILLIAMS. I