5/11/1914

AMMANFORD AND THE BELGIAN REFUGEES. COUNCIL'S PLAN OF ACTION UPSET. Matter Left to the Relief Committee. P1

At the meeting of the Ammanford Council last night, Mr. B. R. Evans presiding, a communication was read from the Local Government Board in response to the application for sanction to the expenditure of £200 for the purpose of lodging Belgian refugees. It was to the effect that while appreciating the spirit in which the Council’s suggestion was made, the Board were not aware of any authority in law for the levying of a rate for the purpose. Mr. W. N. Jones: I thought it was understood that their sanction was given in the present circumstances to such applications. We knew what they now state before writing up. Mr. T. Fletcher said all they could do was to fall back upon voluntary contributions, as was done in other places. Mr. D. G. Davies said they could take it for granted it was quite impossible for them to have the maintenance of the Belgian refugees placed upon the rates, and now they should consider the best ways and means of entertaining them. In other towns what was usually done was that a chapel or a church undertook the cost of the accommodation and maintenance of one family. He therefore moved that they ask all the places of worship in the town to appoint two representatives to meet the Belgian Refugee Committee appointed by the Council for the purpose of the formation of a joint committee. That of course, he believed, would give general satisfaction. Mr. W. N. Jones said there was a relief committee in existence in Ammanford in connection with the Prince of Wales Fund, and it consisted of representatives from the various places of worship as well as workmen of the district, who were represented to the extent of one for every fifty. In fact, the suggestion as to the lodging of the Belgian refugees came to the Council form that committee in the first instance; someone having stated in the committee that the Local Government Board would agree to the expenditure involved being put on the rates. In view of the turn of events, he believed they should now inform that committee of the circumstances and let them deal with the matter. It was an entirely representative committee and he believed that that would be the more satisfactory way of dealing with the question. Mr. T. Fletcher quite agreed, because if they multiplied committees like that the work would never be done. This Relief Committee had already got the matter in hand, and he did not see why it should be referred to some other committee. If it was confined to chapels and churches there was a good number of people who would not by brought in although, probably, they would like to contribute, but by referring it to a representative committee and getting up a system of collections the support of all in the district would be secured. The Chairman also believed the better plan would be for the Clerk to reply to the Relief Committee informing them of the position and asking them to take the matter up. A resolution to that effect was proposed by Mr. Evan Evans, seconded by Mr. Evan Lewis, and carried.

LLANDEBIE SOLDIER AT THE FRONT. P1
Private Tom double, working at Tirydail, and living at Llandebie, has sent a long letter to Mr. J. Rees, Tynewydd House, King’s Road, Llandebie, giving thrilling experiences he has had to pass through, and describing how some of his companions were literally blown to pieces at the front. He went out during the first week in August, and has been in the fighting until recently, when he was invalided home to Sandgate, where he lies in hospital. He writes very severely of the bombastic talk of people who say what they would do if they were in the trenches. They have, he said, never been in trenches or met any German soldiers, or they would not talk and write as they do. Among the interesting items of his own work he gives incidents connected with scouting and with the awkward position of a man like himself, put on guard to show officers their way to headquarters, and, being spotted, becoming target for the “potting” game of the enemy.

A "SLUMP” IN RECRUITING AT AMMANFORD. P4

Now that the first wave of enthusiasm has subsided, the rush of young men to join the colours has flagged. Indeed. There is what may well be described as a "a slump in recruiting.” To be precise, we are officially informed that for about two months, all the people who came to the Recruiting Station to volunteer were from the outside districts – 11 in 34 days. The only explanation that seems to be forthcoming is that there has been no pubic meeting, and the "big drum” has not been sounded in the streets of Ammanford. It cannot be that all the brave ones or even all the eligible have already enlisted. It is not apathy, but a difficulty in realising the actual position of our country in face of the terrible German menace. As has been pointed out, the military authorities were not ready when the great onrush of recruits came, and the sudden check then put upon enlistments has had an effect which was not anticipated; but it is certain today that the men are wanted, and every effort should be put forth to prove the might and voluntary character of Britain's available resource in men as well as in armaments.



GERMAN RETREAT IN BELGIUM YSER ABANDONED WAR WITH TURKEY DEVELOPS
06/08/14 13/08/14 20/08/14 27/08/14 03/09/14 10/09/14 17/09/14 24/09/14 01/10/14 08/10/14 15/10/14 22/10/14 29/10/14	AMMANFORD TERRITORIALS NOW STATIONED AT SWANSEA. P4 The Ammanford and Carmarthen Companies of the 4th Welsh Regiment, numbering about 300, have arrived by train at Swansea to take the place of the 6th Welsh Regiment. The men created a very favourable impression as they marched from the railway station to the headquarters. AMMANFORD SOLDIER'S NEAT SHAVES. COMRADES KILLED ON RIGHT AND LEFT. THRILLING LETTERS FROM PRIVATE FINCH. HIS REGIMENT BRITISH TO THE CORE. P5 A highly significant letter containing interesting details of the movements of the regiment to which he is attached since their arrival in France, has been sent home by Pte. Joe Finch, of Ammanford, now serving with the 1st Shropshire Light Infantry, to his brother, Mr. W. Finch, of Pontyclerc House. Faith in the success of the Allies and the nearness of the end form the keynote of his communication, and it is worthy of note that his regiment, although operating with the British Army in France, was within seven miles of the Belgian frontier on Sunday, the 18th of October. It was on that day he wrote the letter. We reproduce the letter below, feeling sure that Pte. Finch’s many friends will be pleased to hear that he is in first rate health. Should any of them desire to communicate with him the address should be, “Pte. J. Finch, No 8323, C Company, 1st King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 16th Brigade, 6th Division, British Expeditionary Forces on active service.” It reads thus:- Dear Will, – I now write you these few lines hoping to find you all at Pontyclerc in very best of health, and, I am pleased to say, I am still in first rate health myself at present. Dear will, very many thanks for your kind letter and also parcel which I received quite safe and in splendid condition. Both pears and apples had kept fine; in fact the pears were as nice as jelly and custard. “Well, old boy, I have not told you very much so far about my movements during the time I have been in France. Well, when we got off the boat which brought us over we had two days’ ride in the train, as the Germans were then retiring rapidly towards the River Aiane. Then, the night we got off the train, we marched seven miles before resting for the night. We then were marching for another six days and got into the trenches during the seventh night. Well , we were in the trenches for eleven days and nights, and afterwards we went into trenches in the rear of the front firing line for another ten days. But although we were there all the time we did not do much firing, as it was chiefly artillery firing at one another over our heads. However, we may have enough of fighting now as we have moved again and are now only about seven miles from the Belgian frontier, but we cannot move farther till our Engineers have repaired a bridge which the Germans blew up after our troops had driven them on. They keep on retreating and cannot hold on long anywhere, and I don’t think it will last much longer.” “Dear Will, I don’t think I have any more news to tell you now, so I will draw to a close with kindest regards and best wishes to you, Sarah,. Maud, and Mabel. I remain, your ever loving and affectionate brother Joe.” He sends kisses to Maud and Mabel, his nieces, and on a postscript says, “Please kindly thank Messrs. Lloyd Bros., and Mr. Lloyd Morgan for their kind wishes for my health and safe return; also give my kind regards to Dai and Bess, Dai John and Katie, and to P. Reece.” A THRILLING NARRATIVE. Another letter which he sent on the 26th ult. gives a vivid glimpse of the thrilling experiences he has undergone. “I told you (he says) I was moving to a fresh part. We did move, and I can tell you I have seen something during the last eight days. In the firs place, I have had only one drink of tea, and I have not had a wash at all during the whole of that period, and hardly any sleep at all, as we have been firing and under fire almost day and night. But one thing I am proud of – my regiment has shown itself British to the Backbone, or we should all have been either prisoners or dead by now. One regiment in our brigade surrendered yesterday, but by our holding on we saved the remainder of the brigade from utter defeat. We managed to hold on till midnight, when a lot of other regiments came u and we were able to retire, but we had heavy losses. For the remainder of the night we went into a church, but suddenly this morning German shell started to burst over us, and we had to scatter in all directions like a lot of sheep looking for shelter. “Well, about myself. I have had some near shaves. Friday morning a chap on my right got wounded, Friday night the one on my left, and on Saturday morning a Corporal who had come up on my right got killed, being shot right through the brain. I had my hat blown off twice by shots hitting the top of the trench, but I am pleased to say they did not quite find their mark. We had the first lot of letters this morning for eight days, but I did not get one from you, nor a parcel from P. Reece, which I expected, but I got a parcel and letter from home. Perhaps yours got lost when we fled from the church.” He again sends his love to all the family at Pontyclerc House.	AMMANFORD AND THE BELGIAN REFUGEES. COUNCIL'S PLAN OF ACTION UPSET. Matter Left to the Relief Committee. P1 At the meeting of the Ammanford Council last night, Mr. B. R. Evans presiding, a communication was read from the Local Government Board in response to the application for sanction to the expenditure of £200 for the purpose of lodging Belgian refugees. It was to the effect that while appreciating the spirit in which the Council’s suggestion was made, the Board were not aware of any authority in law for the levying of a rate for the purpose. Mr. W. N. Jones: I thought it was understood that their sanction was given in the present circumstances to such applications. We knew what they now state before writing up. Mr. T. Fletcher said all they could do was to fall back upon voluntary contributions, as was done in other places. Mr. D. G. Davies said they could take it for granted it was quite impossible for them to have the maintenance of the Belgian refugees placed upon the rates, and now they should consider the best ways and means of entertaining them. In other towns what was usually done was that a chapel or a church undertook the cost of the accommodation and maintenance of one family. He therefore moved that they ask all the places of worship in the town to appoint two representatives to meet the Belgian Refugee Committee appointed by the Council for the purpose of the formation of a joint committee. That of course, he believed, would give general satisfaction. Mr. W. N. Jones said there was a relief committee in existence in Ammanford in connection with the Prince of Wales Fund, and it consisted of representatives from the various places of worship as well as workmen of the district, who were represented to the extent of one for every fifty. In fact, the suggestion as to the lodging of the Belgian refugees came to the Council form that committee in the first instance; someone having stated in the committee that the Local Government Board would agree to the expenditure involved being put on the rates. In view of the turn of events, he believed they should now inform that committee of the circumstances and let them deal with the matter. It was an entirely representative committee and he believed that that would be the more satisfactory way of dealing with the question. Mr. T. Fletcher quite agreed, because if they multiplied committees like that the work would never be done. This Relief Committee had already got the matter in hand, and he did not see why it should be referred to some other committee. If it was confined to chapels and churches there was a good number of people who would not by brought in although, probably, they would like to contribute, but by referring it to a representative committee and getting up a system of collections the support of all in the district would be secured. The Chairman also believed the better plan would be for the Clerk to reply to the Relief Committee informing them of the position and asking them to take the matter up. A resolution to that effect was proposed by Mr. Evan Evans, seconded by Mr. Evan Lewis, and carried. LLANDEBIE SOLDIER AT THE FRONT. P1 Private Tom double, working at Tirydail, and living at Llandebie, has sent a long letter to Mr. J. Rees, Tynewydd House, King’s Road, Llandebie, giving thrilling experiences he has had to pass through, and describing how some of his companions were literally blown to pieces at the front. He went out during the first week in August, and has been in the fighting until recently, when he was invalided home to Sandgate, where he lies in hospital. He writes very severely of the bombastic talk of people who say what they would do if they were in the trenches. They have, he said, never been in trenches or met any German soldiers, or they would not talk and write as they do. Among the interesting items of his own work he gives incidents connected with scouting and with the awkward position of a man like himself, put on guard to show officers their way to headquarters, and, being spotted, becoming target for the “potting” game of the enemy. A "SLUMP” IN RECRUITING AT AMMANFORD. P4 Now that the first wave of enthusiasm has subsided, the rush of young men to join the colours has flagged. Indeed. There is what may well be described as a "a slump in recruiting.” To be precise, we are officially informed that for about two months, all the people who came to the Recruiting Station to volunteer were from the outside districts – 11 in 34 days. The only explanation that seems to be forthcoming is that there has been no pubic meeting, and the "big drum” has not been sounded in the streets of Ammanford. It cannot be that all the brave ones or even all the eligible have already enlisted. It is not apathy, but a difficulty in realising the actual position of our country in face of the terrible German menace. As has been pointed out, the military authorities were not ready when the great onrush of recruits came, and the sudden check then put upon enlistments has had an effect which was not anticipated; but it is certain today that the men are wanted, and every effort should be put forth to prove the might and voluntary character of Britain's available resource in men as well as in armaments.	05/11/14 12/11/14 19/11/14 26/11/14 03/12/14 10/12/14 17/12/14 24/12/14 31/12/14