PROGRESS OF THE WAR. Back Page.
The war news this week is not of the brightest, the trouble in the Balkans having accentuated the difficulties of the Allies. As Lord Lansdowne said in the House of Lords on Tuesday, the progress of the campaign in the north rendered it highly improbable that the Servian army would be able to withstand for any great length of time the double attack.
He hinted that the larger Allied force on its way will not arrive in time to prevent the junction of the Austro-German and Bulgarian armies. It would be employed to counter the movements of the Central Powers across Bulgaria .
THE ENEMY GOING SOUTH.
Austro-German official information regarding the Balkans war is of some further progress southward from the Drina, Save, and Danube . Austrian cavalry detachments have, it is stated, entered Valievo, on the west bank of the Kolubara, some 30 miles from the northern frontier.
The Germans do not seem to be making much headway from the Danube , but stat that they have taken heights and some 960 prisoners during the fighting of the past three days.
THE RUSSIAN FRONT.
Regarding operations on the Russian front, the German Headquarters reports re-crossing of the Ilukst, north of Dvinsk, that Russian attacks at the centre have been repulsed, and that in the Styr region some positions have been taken and 1,450 Russians captured.
Russian official news is that the enemy offensive in the north has sustained severe check after furious fighting particularly in the Dvinsk sector, whilst in the south the Austro-German forces attempted to advance without success, and have had enormous losses.
FRENCH SUCCESS.
In the Western theatre of war the chief event is the consolidation by the French of their captures in the Champagne at the enemy salient of “La Courtine.” The success is of great importance, straightening the French line and preparing the way for a further advance.
The Germans, however, claim that some part of “La Courtine” was retaken.
BRITISH TRANSPORT SUNK.
The War Office announces that the British transport Marquette has been torpedoed in the AEgean Sea . It is understood that only 99 of the personnel are unaccounted for. No further details have as yet been received.
GERMAN GUNS IN TUMULUS.
A Russian giant aeroplane has dropped bombs on a village to the south of Barinovitchy occupied by the staff of a German infantry division and German supply columns. Squadrons of four and five Albatross aeroplanes respectively attempted to fly over Minsk , but were driven off by Russian artillery.
They dropped a dozen incendiary bombs on the outskirts of the town. One Albatross aeroplane was brought down. Near Czartorysk the Russians found 30 enemy guns in good condition in a newly heaped tumulus resembling a common grave.
LATEST POSITION.
The Austro-German armies have, after twenty-one days fighting, got into touch with the Bulgarians. Up to now it is only a frail connection – a meeting of patrols on the banks of the Danube at Brza Palanka, south of Orsova. The gallant Serbians, who have made a pathetic appeal to England to hasten to their aid, are still, however, maintaining a wedge some 40 miles wide between the left wing of the German main front and the Bulgarian right wing. The Orsova force is much nearer, but it is a small separate body only concerned in opening up the Danube .
The Serbians have re-taken Veles, which gives a gleam of hope that the enemy's surrounding plan may be frustrated. British troops in Greece are co-operating with our French Allies on the Greco-Serbian frontier. The Italian artillery has for two days past been pounding the hostile lines again, probably the prelude to a fresh onslaught.
On the Dvina and Styr a hard struggle continues.

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BLOWING UP THE GERMANS.

Private T. M. Williams, of Pantyffynnon, who is with the Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry in France , writes to Mr. Rhys Owen, Dynevor Arms, an interesting letter in which he states : —
“Hope you are all in the best of health the same as me and Jim Barlow and Edwin Davies, Cumbach. We are all in the pink, so far.
We have just come out of the trenches after being in them for four days; but it was very cold in the night, as we are having white frost here. We have had a very hard time with the Germans, and they had a bad time with us; we lost a few men, killed and wounded, out of our regiment from Swansea .
The Germans blew up a mine, which gave us bad time, but we blew up two or three, which gave them a bad time; so you can see how it is going on.
We have come out for a spell. We were not long after we came over here before we went into the trenches; but the Germans are getting it awful. We can't get things here the same as in our own country. It was about fifteen yards from our trenches to the Germans in one place where me and Jim were. The thing we have got to do is to keep our heads down.
I hope everything is going on all well in Pantyffynnon. Give my best regards to all the boys of Pantyffynnon, and I hope to hear from you before long. We can't understand the French people. I wish I could speak French. Our guns do work well.”

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GERMAN LETTER FOUND ON BATTLEFIELD. P?
The following is a translation of a letter written by a German woman to her soldier husband, and found on the battlefield by Corpl. Morgan Jones, 2 nd Welsh, of Gelly Fryn House, Gelly Road, Glanamman. It is interesting as showing the domestic side of life in Germany at the present time, and reveals the anxiety felt by the wife for the safety of her husband from whom she has had no letter for some time. It is addressed to Musketeer Emil Wenzel, with his regiment at Western, and was posted at Neustadt.
[The translation is by Miss Roberts, of the Ammanford County School ]

 “Buchelsdorf,

“29 th —— 1915.

“Dear Emil, — it is Sunday again. It is a very sultry day to-day and it is beginning to rain a little. Dear Emil, we have waited the whole week in vain for news of you. Why do you not write? And we do not know either what has really happened to Charles.
Is he dead or is he taken prisoner? He has not written for over three weeks. Do write a little oftener even if you do not write so much every time; then, at any rate, we should not be so troubled.
How do things go with you? Are you still well? We are all well, thank God. The hardest work is over now. We have now taken in even the peas, and we have already cut them down.
We have also gathered in some aftermath. The second grass is finer than the first was. We have another new horse – a black one. We have also finished clearing the fencing. We have already ploughed a little.
Dear Emil, are you still in the same place, or have you gone away? In which part are you now? When I was in town on Friday I came across an acquaintance quite unexpectedly – Zanik Karl.
He has fourteen days furlough. He told me you had gone away from that place. Merfert Joseph, who was inspector, is also here on furlough from Russia . He has a fortnight's furlough, is lance-corporal, and has the Iron Cross. Has Karl yet written to you?
Is it worse where you are now, or better? Dear Emil, have you received the parcel with the butter, and was it good? Has parcel No. 3 yet been found, or have you not received it? Adolf is now in Neuhammer. Has the miller's man, Joseph, written once?
Faithful Karl in Mederdorf is also wounded in Russia . He must have been shot in the knee. Dear Emil, will peace not soon be restored and you come back home? I have no more news, so I will close.
May God protect you and be with you, and bring you safe home again. Love from all. Heartiest greetings from parents brothers and sisters.
Au revoir (Goodbye).”

RISE, MEN OF WALES. P?

Hark to the winds that a message are bringing
Over from France and the ocean to you,
From troops who while fighting to save you at home,
Are steadfast and true.

Come, help us with men, munitions and arms.
Come, follow the drum and the bugle's call;
For bravely we march to the battlefield
While our comrades fall.

We need you abroad to fill up the ranks,
We need you at home with pickaxe and spade;
We need your full strength and extra time given
In every trade.

Our dearly-loved sons and our noblest have gone,
With tneder farewells from mothers and wives;
O! turn on away – with tears they are pleading
To you for their lives.

Shame on the slackers who loiter about,
Spending their days in idling and pleasure,
Or thinking of gain in this hour of trial —
Of money and treasure.

Listen no longer to traitorous lies
From those who desire to bind you as slaves,
For Britain must rise triumphant and free,
Or sink in the waves.

Rise up, men of Wales , for the danger is near;
To Glory and Honour throw open the door,
That the fame of your land in valleys and hills
May be sung evermore.

T. E. R.

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BY THE KING. P?

AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM.

THE END NOT IN SIGHT.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE .

TO MY PEOPLE.

At this grave moment in the struggle between my people and a highly organised enemy who has transgressed the laws of Nations and changed the ordinance that binds civilized Europe together, I appeal to you.
I rejoice in my Empire's effort, and I feel pride in the voluntary response from my Subjects all over the world who have sacrificed home, fortune, and life itself, in order that another may not inherit the free Empire which their ancestors and mine have built.
I ask you to make good these sacrifices.
The end is not in sight. More men and yet more are wanted to keep my Armies in the Field, and through them to secure Victory and enduring Peace.
In ancient days the darkest moment has ever produced in men of our race the sternest resolve.
I ask you, men of all classes, to come forward voluntarily and take your share in the fight.
In freely responding to my appeal, you will be giving your support to our brothers, who, for long months, have nobly upheld Britain 's past traditions, and the glory of her Arms.

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AMMANFORD VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS. Back Page.
The members of this Corps are making excellent progress under their commandant, Mr. W. N. Jones, and instructor, Mr. Pritchard Davies.
On Sunday last, over thirty assembled at the Drill Hall to attend a church parade at All Saints, where an admirable and appropriate sermon was delivered by the vicar, the Rev. J. W. Jones, B.A. The following evening (Monday) they had a march out through Pontamman and back by Pentwyn Road , and thoroughly enjoyed the novelty.
On Tuesday night they were at drill, and on Wednesday evening paraded as far as Ammanford Station and back, preparatory to the recruiting meeting at the Drill Hall.
A considerable number of the public assembled under the presidency of Mr. W. N. Jones to listen to addresses by Capt. D. Watts Morgan and Capt. Margrave, on behalf on the Welsh Pioneer Company. The result of the meeting was that five recruits were obtained.

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PRIVATE STEPHEN PROUT. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, wounded in France, and in hospital at Rouen, is an Ammanford man.

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LETTERS FROM THE FRONT. P6
LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE.
Handel Davies, the motor expert of Garnant, writes from Somewhere in France to his friends : —
“I am exceedingly sorry I have not written you before this to thank you one and all for the splendid reception you gave me when I was there on leave last August. It was indeed a pleasant surprise, and I think it would repay you a hundred-fold if I could only make you understand the pleasure it gave me then and now to know that those at home have my welfare at heart.
I should like to have thanked you personally, but, as you know, that was impossible. Now doubt you remember the few words I spoke there. They are now coming true, viz., ‘that we could get through the German lines, if we only had the shells.' And now we all know it's only too true, and we shall do so again.
I am writing this note, as many, in fact most, of my letters are written, in the car by the roadside. I was quite surprised to understand when I was there how easily the average persons seem to be taking the war at home. They apparently, for some reason or another, do not realise what a tremendous life and death struggle we are now engaged in.
They all seem to think that the Germans are done form and that all our men have to do is to advance with, perhaps, a stiff fight here and there. I am sorry to have to say their opinion is sorry to have to say their opinion is altogether wrong.
The Germans are far from being spent and done with. We shall have to fight all we know to gain ground, and every bit of the way, too, and the sooner the single boys at home will realise it the better. Especially the slackers that have not given in their names or done their duty to their King and country.
But I know there are a tremendous lot of young boys from the Amman Valley who have done their duty and shown to the older boys what they ought to have done. I feel jolly proud of the boys from there, especially the ones younger than myself, who are doing their duty , ‘not like boys, but like men.'
I close with best wishes to all.”

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