A most enthusiastic public meeting in connection with the British Red Cross Society was held at the Council Schools, Ammanford, on Thursday evening, the attendance being large and representative, ladies predominating. The meeting was the last of a series held at various points in the Amman Valley district, of which Mrs. W. N. Jones is the vice-president of the Society, and judging from the result, her interest in the beneficent work which she has at much self-sacrifice undertaken, is an intense one. She has brought to bear upon her noble task those keen powers of organisation which go a long way towards securing success, and, aided by the influential Alderman and also Miss Florence Jones, upon whom not a small portion of the detail work has fallen, every nook and corner of the district have heard the arresting appeal, and the aid and co-operation of the towns, villages and hamlets secured. It should be mentioned that the scope of the Society’s activities locally is the provision of additional comforts and of such general help as may be considered beyond the reasonable scope of the medical departments of the army and navy, under whose control the society is acting. Mr. B. R. Evans, J. P., who presided over the gathering, said they had met during a very critical time in the history of our country. It was a time when Great Britain and her Allies were launched in a fight for freedom, for home and for the overthrow of that despotie tyrant, the Emperor of Germany (Hear, hear). Thy wanted to crush the Kaiser, so that the small States of Europe may have the right to live, and that the large and free countries of the continent may in the future have no menace from Germany. Then there would be a great peace that would reign all over the world, once the overthrow of the tyrant, who had been the bugbear of Europe since 1870, was accomplished. He went on to allude to the great work of the society, and the circumstances under which it was formed. It had as its object the alleviation of the sufferings of wounded soldiers and sailors, and, as well as kindred societies, should be most heartily supported, for linked with its past was the name of that noble type of womanhood, Florence Nightingale. (Hear, hear). Alderman W. N. Jones said not only did he feel it a great pleasure to be present, by his duty as well – his duty to his wife, for should he decline to attend he was puzzled to know what would become of him (Laughter). He was glad to see so many present, to show what Ammanford could do. As they had already heard the Red Cross Society was formed in consequence of the battle of Solferino. A Swiss gentleman had interested himself so much in the work that out of courtesy to the Swiss people the emblem of the Red Cross on the white background was adopted. However, he was not there to talk so much of the Red Cross Society, as to tell them that there was a Carmarthenshire branch of the Society. That was what they wanted to come to. It had for its president Mrs. Pryce-Rice, a lady who was doing all she possibly could for the furtherance of the work of the Society in this country. Then as to why he was there, and why his wife was there, Mrs. Jones was the vice-president for the Amman Valley district. She felt it was her duty to help to the best of her power the good work so far as the county was concerned. Already most enthusiastic meetings had been held in Brynamman, Garnant, Blaenau, Llandebie, Penygroes, Tycroes, and now they had come to Ammanford for the last of the series. Here, he felt certain, every endeavour would be put forth to further the interest of the Society. The Chairman had referred to other deserving bodies. He was pleased to find that Ammanford had decided to make one collection to be divided amongst all those organisations, and, in passing he observed that the county fund existed or the alleviation of distress directly arising in consequence of the war. He proceeded to say that our thoughts now turn instinctively to our brave soldiers and sailors who risk their lives for the honour of their country and safety of the homes of Great Britain. A great and responsible duty devolved upon those who are left behind, to lessen the sufferings of privations of those gallant men, and, in this connection the British Red Cross Society had for its primary object the alleviation of those hardships which attend a terrible war, the present time called for self sacrifice and whole hearted support of the society. Our soldiers had gone forth to fight our battles – brave men had gone form the Amman Valley as well as other parts of the country – and they were fighting on the huge battlefields of Europe to protect our homes. Surely it was not too much for us to do something in return for them. (Hear, hear). During a conversation he (Ald. Jones) had fought at Mons, the horrors of the war had been forcibly brought home to him. That officer spoke of the heartless cruelty of the Germans. “Coming from the battlefield it was most heartrending,” he said, “to see the awful manner in which the Germans treated the peasantry, and treated poor women and poor children. There were scenes of butchering everywhere – no compassion shown for anybody whatsoever. In the battle (the officer told Ald. Jones) the Germans had ten guns to every one the English had, with the result that every English gun was absolutely smashed and every horse killed; nevertheless, there in the trenches we lay under a merciless fire fighting for out homes, and for our country, and for everything that is good and right and honourable. Then the German infantry came along, moving in masses, over the hilltops. Our men never flinched, but fired and fired until almost every German within range had been shot. There were mountains of dead.” Mr. Jones concluded with a rousing appeal for co-operation and proposed a resolution pledging support to the Carmarthenshire branch of the Red Cross Society. Rev. J. W. Jones, B. A.. spoke in support, and felt proud to think that Ammanford had done its duty by sending a splendid representative number to enlist in the Force. It was a credit to the place that the young men had the spirit and the loyalty to answer to the call of their King and country. And when they sent their men out to do battle for them their next duty was to support them. (Hear, hear). The Red Cross Society was not, as he understood it, taking the place of the medical corps but was supplementing the medical provision. The lists of the thousands of men who were wounded and missing gave them an idea of the number there were no to be looked after, and tenderly looked after – and of the future they did not know. So it became perfectly plain that the Red Cross society was entitled to their best support. (Cheers). Rev. W. Nantlais Williams expressed himself in perfect sympathy with the Red Cross Society in it beneficent work and hoped that Ammanford would not be backward in extending a hand of support. (Hear, hear). Rev. E. J. Rosser Evans did not know that he had a claim to make a speech in such an assembly as that. Any man over 21 was wise enough to know that it was not a wise policy to dictate the ladies anything. (Laughter). He felt glad that the Red Cross work had been organised in Ammanford under such excellent leadership, and was sure that a great deal of useful work would be accomplished. Rev. J. Griffiths, B. A., B. D., said there was no need of creating public opinion; Christianity had already created public opinion in that respect. (Hear, hear). They had heard already that a large number of their own men had enlisted and gone out, while they were tarrying by the wayside. They were there to see that everything is provided for them, and to do all they could. (Hear, hear). Rev .J. Jenkins (Gwili) thought Mr. Griffiths had said the right thing when he said there was no need of speech-making. He had great pleasure in supporting the resolution, and hoped the work would immediately be taken in hand and that it would be fully supported in the town. (Hear, hear). Mrs. Phillips (Parcyrun) said she was heartily in sympathy with the work carried on in Ammanford on behalf of our soldiers and sailors who were suffering so much for us because it was no more their duty than ours to be at the battle, and the least we could do was to care for them and alleviate their pain. She felt certain she was saying what every lady in that gathering must feel that it is our duty to do all we possibly can at home. Some of them could not do very much; at least she feared it was very little she could do, but if there was anything she could do she would only be too delighted to help to do any work, not only with the Red Cross, but all the other societies that had been started in the place. (Cheers). Mrs. Hewlett said there was very little left for her to say. However on behalf of herself and also, she believed, all the ladies present, she could state that they were ready to support that movement. (Hear, hear). The resolution was carried, and the following representative committee was appointed to arrange sewing classes, etc :- Mrs. E Hewlett, Mrs. T. > Evans, Mrs. Phillips (Parcyryn), Mrs. Henry Herbert, Mrs. J. Lewis, Mrs. Phillips (Florence Road), Mrs. D. Gabe, Miss Williams (Quay Street), Mrs. Lloyd (Tirydail Lane), Mrs. Brinley Morgan, Mrs. E. Evans (The Square), Miss Emanuel, Mrs. W. L. Smith, Miss Evans (Talbot Road), Miss Annie Davies (Park Shop), Mrs. E. R. Davies, Mrs. B. Ellis Jones, Mrs. Rhys Thomas, Mrs. Pyle, Mrs. Lewis, (College Street), Mrs. W. Herbert, Mrs. J. R. Jones, Mrs. Levenson, Mrs. Cohen, Mrs. J. W. Thomas, Mrs. Davies, Miss Ivy Lewis, Miss Edith Harries, Mrs. Samuel Roberts, Mrs. T. Phillips, and Mrs. Dr. Brereton. The committee is to have power to add to its number. It was announced that Mr. J. R. Jones, of Rhydyronen, was prepared to place his mills and staff at the disposal of the committee for any two days.