The Cambria Daily Leader

I V.A.D. PRESENTATION. I At Derwydd mansion on Tuesday a pre- sentation was made by the members of the Llandilo and Ammanford V.A. detach- ments of the Red Cross Society, to Miss S. Gulston, the commandant, of a valu- able gold brooch. I There was a large attendance of the members, who were entertained to tea, and invited to an inspection of the house, with its historic relics, and the beautiful grounds. There were games and dancing to the music of the Ammanford Tferu}, At the close Miss Gulston made each V.A.D. inember the recipient of an auto. cached »hftto h&peli ia uniform. P

Mr. Worrell's Optical Sale. Mr. Worrell Yields to Popular Pressure • i h.— And Decides to Extend His Visit in Swansea One More Week. Owing to the success of this Sale, Mr. Worrell is remaining in Swansea the whole of pext week. As advertised, anyone calling at the Dockers' Hall can have their sight tested free of any charge whatever, and, if re- quired, can purchase gold-filled spectacles or eyeglasses for the marvellously low price of 8/6 AT THE Dockers' Hall, Elysium Buildings, HIGH STREET Swansea. Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

I CARMARTHEOOD CASES. J'ive cases under orders of thp Ministry of Food were heard at Carmarthen on Thursday.—Mr. W. J. Wallis Jones, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution. Daniel Morris, Priory-street, was fined I £1 and 10s. advocate's fee for selling half a pound of ham to Inspector Berry for Is. 3d., at the rate of 3s. 6d. per lb., in- stead of 25. d. Defendant pleaded ignorance. George Jones, Crown Stores, was fined £2 and 10s. advocate's fee for selling to Inspector Scott a tin of salmon for 2sk 3d. instead of Is. lid. Defendant bought the salmon at 2s. Id. A summons against Dd. Lewis, Gwalia House. Priory-street, for selling a tin of salmon at 2s. 3d. instead of Is. 8id. was dismissed on a technical point, the Bench not being satisfied that he was the owner of the shop. Mr. T. Howell Davies de- fended. Elizabeth Arthur, Don Stores, Priory- street, was fined 1:1 and 10s. advocates' fee for selling a tin of salmon at 2s. Id. in- stead of Is. 8. For the defence an in- voice was put in showing that 2s. 3td. per tin was paid last July. v A charge against Mary Jeremy, Jack- son's-lane, of selling a loaf f-oz. under weight was dismissed, the Bench stating that it was a trifling case..

GOWERTON COUNCIL. I The monthly meeting of the Gowerton Parish Council was held on Wednesday, Mr. J. C. Davies presiding.

A SWANSEA TRADER. I Lloyd's agents' news includes the fol- lowing casualty to a local trader:— Bonne Tante.*—The French sailer Bonne Tante, from Swansea for Areaehon .put into Brest damaged (m bad w??t?er. and ?etisoned seven tons -?saaL a? an?st??S§ .? -E§??s:? .Qf._g VAL A-LqPkir-s,

IN THE DISTRICTS. ABERAVON-PORT TALBOT. Mary Ann Bees (14), of Abercreggan, who was charged at Aberavon a fortnight ago with stealing a purse by finding, was or Thursday committed to a home in Exeter for five years. LOUGHOR. live Lioughor Choral Society, unoer the conductorship of Mr. Iorwarth Thomas, intends performing an public in the near future the operetta, The Merry Milk- maids." E. S. Chappell, High-street, allows 10 p.c. Discount to Discharged Sailors &nd Soldiers. SKETTY. rn1 me members of the Skettv Sisterhood ivent this year to Portpynon for their an- nual-picnic. Luncheon and tea were kindly provided qy the- president, Miss M. L. Bees, of Brjnygroes. Mrs. T. J. Rice gave every satisfaction with her cat- ering. In every respect the outing was a thorough success. E. S. Cha-ppell, High-street, allows 10 p.c. Discount to DisobarW fbail-ore and Soldiers. t.; BRYNAMMAN. T A oapirai smoking concert was held at the Brynamman Bit Badge headquarters, presided over by Mr. T. Morris Walters (Butts). Messrs. Sam Williams and ex- Sailor Fred Harries accompanied. Mr. Aneurin Daniel, organising secretary, ad- dressed the meeting. A splendid pro- gramme was provided. E. S. Cha-ppell, Higb-street, allows 10 p.c. Discount to Discharged Sailors and Soldiers. LLANELLY. The funeral took place on Wednesdav. at Bangor, of Mrs. Edwards, the widow of Capt. Edwards, and mother-in-law of the Rev. R. Gwylfa Roberts, D.Litt.. Llan- elly. who died at her home in Bron-Heli, at the age of 75 years, on Sunday. Mr. Tom Daniel, Parcvphil, fireman at the Glynea Colliery, has been admitted to the Llanelly Hospital suffering from injuries sustained through a fall of roof at the colliery. A modal awarded by the Carmarthen- shire County Council has been presented to Sarah Gwladys Derrkk, of the Felin- foel Council School, for seven years' un- broken attendance. The re-union supper arranged for the 15th Welsh Regiment (Carmarthenshire Battalion) will take place at the Llanelly Drill Hall on July 12th. GOWER. I On Wednesday a choir of Industrial School boys was entertained to tea at the Porteynon Parish IJall. In the evening the choir gave a concert. The hall was packed with visitors and residents. The proceeds were to provide funds for the forthcoming peace celebrations at Port- eynon. The wonderful lakes which filled the hollows of the burrows in the winter and spring-one of them was 300 vards long, 25 to 30 yards wide, with a depth of 8 feet-haye now qiiitk- disappeared, and the burrows have fesumed their normal aspect, Not for 40 years had there been such an accumulation of water. The earlier holiday movement this year is in full swing. Already Port- eynon and other Gower resorts have jjuite an imposing array of visitors. those who have been so far-seeing as to book their apartments before the August rush are being amply rewarded by longer days and greater comfort. AMMANFORD. I Ilie committee of the Ammanford Choral Society have come to a final de- cision to enter the lists at Corwen National Eisteddfod. Rehearsals are now in full swing. It i s expected that the town will render the choir full financial support in their enterprise. Thursday was the tradesmen's annual holiday, and all the shops were closed. There wag no organised outing, and shop- keepers and their aesistants spent the day in accordance with their individual inclinations. Quite a few made the journey to Cardiff for the show. The marriage was solemnised at the Ebenezer Chapel of Miss Mary Allen, ilaughter of Mr. W. Allen, 72. Margaret- street, who has been in London for nine years, with ex-Gunner David Williams, }U' .A., son of the late Mr. Thomas Williams, Margaret-street. The Rev. J. Griffiths, B.A., B.D., performed the cere- mony. The bride was attired in fawn iotarhardine, and attending li-ar as brider, maids were Mias Edith Allen and Miae Blodwen Williams (sisters of the bride and bridegroom respectively). The beet man was Mr. W. Alln, junr. Following the ceremony a reception was held in th^ bride's home. The honeymoon is spent at Cardiff. Panama Hat", Gent.'e, Youths' and Boy'. ifF-00 iie, JaifeikS:

OUR WORKSAND DOCKS. I I A Brief Retrospect. I The Prince's progranime at Swansea was a comprehensive one, despite the time. His Royal Highness saw a typical ex- ample of our manufactures, at the Cwm- I felin Steel and Tinplate Works; saw our biggest dock, whence the products of our labour are despatched, and had a glimpse of Langland Bay, where the tide of weary humanity rushes for recreation. I CWMFELIN WORKS. l Ihe rise and progress of the firm of I Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd., is one of tho romances ot modern industrial de- velopment. The company was formed in 1884 by the late Mr. Richard Thomas, one of the pion- eers of the tinplate trade in this country, the equipment then being eight mills. To- day the firm have 114 mills, as well as two of thefine.st steel works in the country. In 1885 the annual output of tinplates was 200,000 boxes, a total which has now grown i to between four and five million boxes! I Lqually striking is a comparison of the I number of employes and oi the wages bill 20 years ago with that of to-day. While to-day wo are more concerned with the Cwmfelin Works, it is worthy of rote that the firm of Richard Thomas and Co. owns twelve tinplate works, two steel works, a foundry, and a brick works, whilst there are four subsidiary com- panies, acquired within the last" dozen years. It was in 1917 that tb? amalgamation of Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd., with tho Cwmfelin Steel and Tinplate Co., Ltd., the Aber Tinplate Works, Ltd., and the Kedbourn Hill Iron and Coal Co., Ltd took place, arid a resulo of these amal- gamations the authorised capital was in- creased from £ 800,000 to the enormous sum of .25,000,000. THE CWMFELIN WORKS. i The Cwmfelin Works 's one, of the largest combined steel and tinplate works in the country, and is an important con- tributing factor to Swansea's metallurgical greatness. Important extens;ons have taken and are taking place, and with r,b{> advent of peace the enterprising poltc-v of the company will bear considerable fruition. THE WAR RECORD. I -me war activities of the firm oi Richard Thomas and Co. provide interes- ting reading. Right from the outbreak of war every encouragement was given to employes to enlist, and altogether about 3,00d employes entered the Navv or Army Of these 220 paid the supreme sacrifice. Fifty-seven military decorations were won, including two V.C.'s and 34 Military nedwis. At all the works of the com- pany employers and employes jomt war relief funds were established, to which the employers and employes contribute equal dmounts. Out of these funds no less than 950.000 has been paid to dependents of the I employes who have enlisted. EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYES.. I xAery racintv has been granted to employes to invest in war securities on easy terms, and upwards of £ 50,000 has been invested by the emploves in War Loan and War Savings Certificates. It may be added that the relations be. tween the company and its emploves, throughout have been most cordial, and it may be. interesting to know tlïltt in June, 1913, the company initiated an em. ployes profit-sharing scheme, which was revised in September, 1918. At present Do leat; than £ 8! ,000 is invested bv e-lll- plores in the company by way of profit- sharing deposits in the scheme THE KING'S DOCK. I It was alUjjtet.Vr fitting that the King's Dock should be included in tha Prince's itenerary, for besides being associated for aU tame with the name of his grand- father, it is one of the prime factors in the port's commerce and its standing among the other ports of the Kingdom. The great developments in shipbuilding and the consequent demand for bigger docking accommodation, together with the ftteady advance of the port's tonnage, S ? mooting of this new dock nn ??_ With ?r Grinith Thomas a? the head of thi, the boM 6ch?me w? ?n- barked upon, with the idea of providing accommodation adequate to the lm-g>3st I vessels then afloat or under construction. There was a remark3ibk town's meeting, and the Corporation decided to help to I the extent of £ 50,000 at the (1&,Le of the opening for tra?c. with a loan up to! *150,000 in the ten yoa? followi!? i?, ctM? the nnanc?l position of the T?,?,,? demanded it. I THE COST. I -in 1901 Parliamentary powelv were granted for raising £2.150.000. Lord Jersey received for in addition to a large sum at 3d. per ton for sand ileed in the embankment. The designs were by* Messrs. P. W. Reik (Westminster) and Mr. A. 0. Sclienk (resident engineer), and they involved the rsclamation from the sea of nearly 400 acres. I KING EDWARD'S VISIT. I Accompanied by the Queen, King I Edward cut. the first eod on Julv 26th. 1904, one of the days in Swansea's hitory. Sir Gri-ffith Thomas wsm r The opening on November 23rd 1909 was earlier than expected. The Poly- phemus, of the Holt L'ne, cut the ribbon, and it Wa6 Sir Griffith Thomas who puJed the le-vers of the lock gales and declared the dock open. Actually the first vessel to pasn in was the liner Lucania, which a length of 50l feat, beam of 65 feet and tonnage of 12,952 gross, wais larger than any vessel pre- viously docked in the Bristol Channel. At the opening the Mavor was Mr. (now I Alderman) David Matthews. I DOUBLED ACCOMMODATION. I Tha completion of the King's Dock, with a water area of t!7i acr?s, gave Swan. Bèa" with one exception, the largest single dock in the Channe", and doubled the port's accommodation. The Prince of Wales dock is also asso- ciated with King Ed irard tor as Prince lis opened it in the summer of 11. It tvas ex"U?n<ied in 180S.

j GRAND THEATRE, SWANSEA. I Monday Next, June 30th. Six Nights at 7.30. MATINEE SATURDAY at 2.30. Return Visit of the Inimitable Actor, MR. ALBERT CHEVALIER ø AND HIS COMPANY In the DELIGHTFUL PLAY- "M Y 0 L D D u T C H" ? 1 n 4 Acts, by ARTHUR SHIRLEY and ALBERT CHEVALIER.

HOUSING IN WALES. I Wales again this week heads the fult with the largest housing scheme sub- mitted to the Government for approval. Among the site schemes submitted are (urban) Cardiff 530.12 acres. Abe-ream 57.30 acres; Aberdare, Brecon and Tre- degar submit one site each within the stated area. Among the rural schemes is Swanfeea with two sites of 24 acres.

LLANELLY STEEL FURNACES For several weeks a large number of the laxg,-) furnaces at the South Wales Steelworks, LlajaeZly, have been idlle, and operations have in consequence been -eriouc-Ir affetVred. During th", past few days some of these furnaces have b-eii restarted, and indication^ point to a busy itjS&S-ifl a lutum I

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. BIRTHS. SHEA.—On 23rd inst at 45. C-olbourne-ter. race. to Mr. and Mrs. Miob.aei eihea. a eon. 30SA6-30 MARRIAGES. WILLIAMS—ALLEN.—On June Z4, at Ebep- ezer. Ammanford. ex-Guuner Dd. Wil- liams, R.F.A.. to Mary Allen. Margaret- street, Ammanford. C6.17 PACKHAM-PRESSWELL-On June 24th. at Holy Trinity Church. Exmouth, Bert Pack. ham. of Swansea, to Frances May, dauxh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Pressweli, CaFtle Park. Esmouth. 306A6-Z7 DEATHS. I JCXE,S.P.A.RRT.-At Kurachi. India June íth. 1919. of fever on his way home from Mesopotamia, Bslr. J. Jones-Parry, late of L C. and M. Bank. dearly-beloved hus- band of R. Parry Marley House, Swansea, eon of Mr. and Mrs. E. Parry. Abcrffraw. Anglesey. 308A6-28 LAKE.—On June 25th. at No. 36, Gerald- street. Hafod. Ma-ry Louisu (Mar the 'x-- ioved wife of David Philin Lake. Funeral for Betheeda, on Saturday, at 3 Gemle- nicn only. 307A6-27 J->MES\—On June 24th. at 33. Compa^>- street. Manselton Meean daughter of Mr and Mrs. David Jamep. act. Si years Funeral Saturday. Z. c.m.. CP'TUCCIIT. Gentlemen only. 30746-28 THANKS FOR SYMPATHY. ORIHL.—Mr. John Oriel and family wish to thank all friends for the kindness and sympathy shown in their recent and be- reavement; also fcr the many letters anri floral tributes. 507A627 HAYES.—Mr. and Mrs. Hayes and Family Brynhyfryd. wish to oonvey their thanks to all their friends for the kirdnees ;nd sympatay shown to them in their recent sad bereavement: also for the manv let. ten! aDd floral tribute*. 307At-°? IN MEMORIAM. JCIF.-1n }GYing mem ort- of my dear hu? Mnd. W;Uiam John Jones <WUIie' of 12 .Morcan-?trect. Hafod wh?. parsed ? awav June ^th. 1918..Sadly ini?ed by eorro? in* wife and children. To memOM'" ever ■ dear- and childr?i?. "To memor&y 7A6-27 

TVB £ £ 3?S- BOUUETS etc.. by KI£ t V LEY'S the SPECIALISTS. in Floral Desum. Oxford.st.. SwaMCa ? 7 ?. Tef is: Antral. A LEXANDERJOHKSTONWREATHE A BOUQUETS. in c&e Latest to? StyJe. r2^27P Oxford.street. Tel. 661 Central. TOO LATE FOR CLASSIFICA- TION. B-lSHOPSroX.-Furni¡¡hed Rooms to Let AJ near Bays and Golf Links everv con- vc-;uerice: ,gerage .-E. Boobier, Carlton. xJisxioDston. :swausea. 308A7-3 HOL1DA1 Jackets.— W anted. nushnn* vounc Draper, to sell Quick; popular prices. Hundred Ladies' High-class Woollen Coafe: newest style: assorted: special bar- cair, Write R 16." Dai'v Leader. 308A7-3 WANTED, two Furnished or Unfurnished Rooms m Swansea —Reply Day¡ Feme!iff. Mumbles.  307A7-3 T? E M OB ILI?E D .—L' eut?CoB?mand€]T T. M D Martin, late Terminus Hotel Director 8wansea Football Club bees to inform his numerous friends that he has taken oveil the Swansea Castle Hotel. Oxford-street. anJ will be pleased to see old faces again.  ? .? Co-28 rorxi), Lady's Purse on Mumbles Tr. .r -Owner ap?iy Mrs. Hann. 76. 3(amae3- terraee, Swansea. 30&A 5-30 iA-NO.-Really trood Piano, 85 guineas to ouick btzyer.-Write. first instance, to "Argus." Leader Office Swar.&ea. 308A"-3 ANTED, a BIa?k?mith used to ?hoein? Al' and CoDiery Work—Apply Manager, Fnmlet Colliery. Llansamlet 30aA6-50 (^LEHK. recently -?twasel on Governmeiit C work. now closed; desires position either as book-keeper or accountant; hae ha'¡ considerable experience, and can fur nish eood references. Address: Box 877. Western Daily Press," Bristol. C7-"5 RITONFERRY Towii Cricket Club want Home Fixture with good club for First Eleven for Saturday. Julv- 5—Apply Secre- tary. Verrion-terrace. Briton.rr.v. 308AjS-3i) ~l"VTANTED, J or 3 sizo Cello, suitable for » » learner, or will exchange genuine old Violin.—E. Lewis, Cinema. Brideend. 309A7.1 WANTED. Cook-Genera] for smaU Priv-nc House; four in family: comfortabie home otfe-red to suitable person.—Apualy. statine walges required to Mrs. Pratt. Z. Maxted Park, Harrow, near London, N.W. 305A7-3 -1-'Âï:r.;o&3nti to make four to six Snits L weeklv: good price offered Write Box R 1.5." Leader Office. 308A7-3 A-GR..U\D Clay Pieecn Shootine Match  will be held at Ystaldera. Saturday. Julv 5th. 1919. commencing 2 p.m. Prises. £3 E2. £1. One man OIle prise- Also Tareet Shooting Match. 3C7A7-3 C. K. Andrews' Announcements. OVERLAND Model 83. in first-class condi- tion: fitted with van body; any trial or examination: bareain fo* Quick sale.— ADDIV C. K. Andrews, Uplands Garaee, Swansea. UMBER. 10 12. fitted with roomy two- Jn- seater body and double dickey; any trial: bargain. APPIV above.  ACRE. 30 h.p.: tw-t- Chassis, nttfd L with lorry body; in &rst-<dMt cond? ticn: any trial or examination. Avaly- above. ALL KINDS OF FOR SPECIAL ARTICLES NEXT SATURDAY'S V SPORTING NEWS."

,UNBREAKABLE BONDS. ■ 1 #'l ■ I Poincare's Inspiring Speech. I SIGNATURE ON SATURDAY. I PARIS, June 26 (rec. Frida;^). President Poincare this evening ga-re a dinner at the Ely see in honour of lhi. dent and Mrs. Wilson and the plenipoten- tiaries and delegates to the Peaoe Con- ference. Among those present were thq, Presi- dents of the Senate and the Ohamher, the Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers in Paris, ex-Premiers and Foreign Mi nisters, Marshals Foch and Petain. and the Presi- dents of the chief committees of the Senate and Chamber. After dessert, M. Poincare toasted President Wilson in the following; words: M. le President, at the momeait when you are preparing to leaoe Eurtifcie after having accomplished the noble task too which you set yourself, allow me. again to pay you, in the name of France, a tribute to the high spirit of justicein v/rhich you have prepared, with the representatives of the Allied and Associated Pfowerq, this great and difficult peace, by wlfcieh right, saved by our victory, is definitely going to inscribe its will for reparation. Thus the long collaboration, following on the comradeship of arms, will leftve between the two countries memories wjhich, added to so many others, will enri<dx again the joint patrimony of our oojuamon tradi- tions. "WE SHALL NEVER PORGET." I We shall never forget that under your illustrious presidency Jjour gallant soldiers' crossing, neither skall we forget after so much blood and 80 many ruins heaped up the unanimous efforts to give a nequitable status to lacenated humanity and to raise a durable monument of uni- versal peace. Never has the friendship between the United States and Framcie been strained in the past. Henceforth it will something more intimate, something more deep, something m-ire sacred. Betwepn all the nations which oo-operated with us in the drafting of this Charter of Right, whose delegates I am glad to greet here, there will also exist unbreakable bonds. TO 8e SIGNED SATURDAY. I "Whatever may hare been at certain II times during the complicated nego- I tiations the differences in particu- lar points of view, the Allied and associated peoples have all realised that I the permanency of their friendly rela- tions was for each of them the first guarantee of independence and security. After the Theaty whic his going to be signed on Saturday in the Chateau, where the German Empire at its birth hurled its challenge in the face of Jus- tice, other treaties on which hang the fate of the East, and on which depend to a great extent the destinies of surope itself, arc to be drawn up. APPEAL FOR UNITT. I Scarcely will the signature be dry on the document, in which German yis go- ing to recogmse he rresponsibilities and agree to solemn obligations, than we shall have to continue with Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria negotiations, the prompt conclusion of which are no less necessary for the tranquility of the human race. To bring rapidly to a good conclusion the new conversation, as diffi- cult, perhaps, as the first, let us be closely united let us be neither divided nor surprised. Let us repeat what is well known to us-that it was the com- munity of our interests which alone en- abled us to conquer, and that to lose this vital idea would be to lose fatally the fruits of victory. Once the treaties arc signed they must be carried out in their entirety. The persistency of our agree- ment will be no less indispensable for the execution of these treaties. "The delegates of the victorious oontries have not met for so many months and have not summoned to Ver- sailles the delegates of vanquished Ger- many to obtain p<igsessian of nothing but a scrap of paper. "Like you, M. le President, we all wish that peace shotjld not be a vain word; that it should not be a fugitive hope. A HARMONY OF HEARTS. I Now that we have won the war, a harmony of hearts and an identity of wishes must make w. gain and preserve* the peace. M. Ie President, I raise my glass in your honour and in honour of Mrg. Wilson. I drink to the immortality of the old Franco-American friendship I drink tQ the indestructible union of all the allied and associated nations.

I AT THE DOCKS. r Arrivals and Sailings of Vessels. KING'S DOCK. ▼ ,vJ „- A. LS.—Ra-a s 961. La. Kocbelle; Lewis Preston. Yturri Azka-r s 579. Preston. a SAILINGS.—Cecil Brindley 87. Dieppe- Ardeantock 415. Port Talbot: Eika « 394. DiCDDe; Groningen s 207. Cardiff: Renvoyle s 1176. Bordeaux; Laiurtin-1 8 1126. Odense: Aftra s 349. Dieppe; Banchory a 1317. St. Nay-aire. PRINCE OP WALES DOCK. AERrVADS.—Tfcetea s 267 Nantes; Star. sard s 657. Bristol; Angrleterre a 392; Flea- wick s 257. Dunkirk. AILINGS.—Dundarg 117 Granville; Ino a 777. Antwem; Nordl.vset, s 268. Rouen; CTØd, bain- s 154. Treport; Newglyh s 755, Rouen; Amaid 8 543. Rouen. NORTH DOCK. ARRIVALS.—Toulouse 6 1232. Nantee. SAILINGS.-Rose Harriett 91. Cherbourg: Marmuerite 31. Granville. SOUTH DOCK. ARRIVALS.—ConMrd 24. <?& fish; Mdad 37. R?a. ash: Edmond Rene 99. Fecamp. SAILINGS—Ettrick 465 Belfast • Prin! Mar?- Jo=e 65. Ostende: Marv Peeis 110. Cherboure: Brecon CMtIe 1&7. M<. A-h; Cambria 98, eea, ash: Girl Winnie 22, sea. 'Rsh: Arc en -Mi m b 45. Concarneau; Araok 99. Lisbon: Amroth Ca?t!? 111. sea, &ah: _Sa?c ?Mt? amea. fish. -?

NEW BRITISH IRON AND COAL RESOURCES. Not much more than 1,000 miles from British p6l', and directly accessible by water, there are mineral deposits of in- calculable value, the 6erious exploitation of which has but recently begun, and which may be of untold value to British industry. The location of these deposits is West Spitsbergen That principal island of the Archipelago, which lies 400 railes north of Norway, is a no man's land politically, but most of it that is wort h possessing belongs to British in- i terests, chief of which is the Northern I Exploration Co., whose territory coni- priset no lesi; than 2,000 square miles of mineral lands. I Norwegian and Swedish interests, pro- fiting by their contiguity and their com- parative immunity as neutrals, made ¡Feat efforts during the war period, to in d to assert themselves in Spitsbergen, and it must be acknowledged that they are de- veloping coal properties with conspicuous success. British interests, on the other Imnd. wpre precli-ided by enemy activities from exploiting thr far more extensive I and valuable properties till, in the I autumn of 1918, the Northern Explora- tion Co. boldly adventured with an ex- j'edition, landed miners, established camps, and started to produce coal. That coal production should oegin at once without shaft sinking or the instal- lation of winding gear, may astonish English readers; the explanation is that Spitsbergen coal deposits have not to be sought in the bowels of the earth, but are quarried from mountain sides by the adit system of working. There is no land transport, for the deposits are situated close to the shore of a sheltered bay. where depth of water permits 01 direct loading. Other and far more extensive deposits are still untapped, and there is enough available coal-bituminous and anthra- cite—to permit of high pressure produc- tion for many ^ne rat ions to come. Indeed, the supplies seem inexhaustible, and the quality excellent; the Spitsbergen steam coal is said to be superior to the Welsh. There are iron, as well as coal, deposits in the 2,000 square miles area spoken of. Their full range has not yet been sur- veyed, but a wonderful iron mountain, 2.000 feet high, which extends for miles. has been proved. It could not well he missed, for the oxidation of the mountain side is visible on approaching the shore of Recherche Bay, where it is sitiiateti, I and cne outcrop is perceptible for over 200 yarck. The mountain seems a mass of ore, samples of which reveal an iron content of 65 per cent., so that in quality, as in vastness, it is only comparable with the famous Gellivare ironfields of Northern Sweden, which, like those of Spitsbergen, are well within the Polar Circle. In addition to coal and iron, British owned mineral deposits in Spitsbergen in- clude islands of fine marble, and, on the mainland, asbestos, pyrites, molybdenite, graphite, lead, ,silver-lead, and gold. There are indications of peiroleum also, and there is a known abundance of guano. These, however, can wait for more leisurely exploitation, for the present iron and coal situation in Great Britain is such that extraneous reserves cf both are an urgent and a vital necessity. With a diminishing coab output we are unable to supply our own needs, our ex- Port trade is crippled, and our mining industry is faced with unparalleled diffi- culties. Our iron ores are nearing exhaus- tion, their grade is deteriorating, and we cannot supply half our requirements from native sources. Formerly we led the world as an iron and steel producer, but before the war we dropped to third place. To retrieve a situation manifestly fraught with danger, we must avail our- selves of Spitsbergen's mineral wealth, which is now exciting great interest after ages of neglect.