THE RECRUITING TRIBUNAL.Back Page.
AMMANFORD URBAN COUNCIL.
The letter from the President of the Local Government Board with reference to a tribunal to hear appeals from men asked to join the Colours who are engaged in essential work, or whose employer thinks him necessary to his business. Mr. W. N. Jones said there were starred men and unstarred men, and it might be the starred man was a young unmarried man whose employer might think if he went to the Front a local industry might suffer, and he might appeal.
The local tribunal would sit and give their opinion as to which should go, and the recruiting officer would have a right of appeal to a higher tribunal. The Clerk said that was exactly as he understood it. Mr. D. G. Davies said it would also give a man an opportunity of being placed in a lower class. It was agreed the five members should be from within the urban area, and Chairman proposed Mr. D. G. Davies as one. Mr. D. G. Davies: We might as well have the Chairman.
The Chairman: No, the Chairman is of recruitable age. Mr. W. N. Jones, on his name being proposed, said he thought anybody who had taken an interest in canvassing had better be left out. If there was an appeal it might be thought they were not impartial.
Mr. Wm. Evans: Then the applicant will go to people who take no interest in the war. Mr. T. Fletcher did not agree. There were people outside the Committees who took as much interest in the war as the Recruiting Committee.
Mr. Wm. Evans: I know a good many scores have been invited to attend but they don’t.
Mr. T. Fletcher: Anyone who has refused to go on the Recruiting Committee should not be asked. Mr. D. G. Davies said there was no one in the town who knew everybody like Mr. W. N. Jones, and he ought to be on. Mr. W. N. Jones, I don’t object, only I am pointing it out to you.
It was decided the five members should be the Vice-Chairman, Mr. W. N. Jones, Mr. D. Richards (Tirydail), Mr. J. C. Shaw, and Mr. Wm. Evans.
Mr. D. G. Davies: And if anyone refuses, I propose Mr. B. R. Evans.
Mr. B. R. Evans: I won’t be a substitute or convenience for anyone.
Mr. W. N. Jones: I will withdraw in favour of Mr. B. R. Evans.
Mr. B. R. Evans: And then I would not accept it.

MEDICAL REPORT.
The Medical Officer reported five cases of diphtheria, five of scarlet fever, three of tuberculosis. There was an epidemic of measles and German measles, some of the cases being of a malignant form. Five births were notified – three girls and two boys.

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FRENCH FARMING. P6
The following interesting letter has been received from Private G. Thomas, A. S. C., by Mr. John Harries (Irlwyn), chairman of the Ammanford Urban Council : —
“I daresay you will be glad to have a few lines from me and to know that I am in good health, and have been during the time we have been over here. I have the Amman Valley Chronicle sent out weekly by Mrs. Thomas, and you would be surprised how one looks for it and reads every word, you must admit, is not very ‘pleasant time,’ pardon me, eh? However, I was ever so glad to read the Amman Valley Chronicle last week, and note that you were the most prominent promoter of lighting the schools, and finally you were able to carry it through, which should be the means of adding greatly to the comforts of the Evening Classes, &c.
I should like to have been there to just listen to the confab, as I noticed you had the usual opposition. I hear from Blaenau that they are going on with the proposed scheme of long ago. Viz., extending the electrical plant, which will, no doubt, be the means of putting them in a better position in the coal trade, and also the electrical schemes at Penybank, Tycroes, and Saron will be able to extend theirs, too.
“Well, perhaps I had better give up writing of home affairs and try to give you a little of what we do out here, which I can assure you, is no easy matter, as we are not allowed to give our whereabouts or any information whatsoever in connection with the present crisis. During the time we were at Cheltenham, which was practically four months, we had a real good time, in fact, too good, considering we were soldiers and bound for active service. However, I am pleased to say we have now settled down to the business and getting quite satisfied.
We have just been served out with extra wearing apparel, gloves, &c., and expecting an extra blanket shortly, then we shall be right. We sleep generally on top of the ammunition boxes, which we carry from 3 to 5 tons of, and I cannot say that they are by any means a good substitute for feathers; but still, they are preferable to the wet ground. We did a lot of travelling for the first two weeks, but for the past five weeks we have made our headquarters in the one place, which is a village, where we are able to get practically anything we want. I assure you the whole of this country has never seen such ‘good times,’ because you know partly what Tommy is at home.
Well, out here they get paid regularly, and, of course, are not sparing with same. You have got a rough estimate of the number there are out here, and average them at 10 francs each per week, it means something to France. “The one thing I am amused at is the fact that they don’t seem to move with the times, like at home. For instance, the whole of the industry is farming, and about this time you can walk along and see the many framers and wives beating the corn on the threshing floor with a stick, and finally it is placed in a machine (hand driven), and corn is separated by a process of placing the corn in a screen, where a fan is worked and the light husk is carried away from the corn or ear, which drops down. Very funny, is it not? No collieries about here. Most of the women work a jolly sight more than the men.
Sanitary arrangements are bad; in fact, Ammanford is a king to it. We see plenty of troops, &c., but must not say more until I see you at the termination of this great war, which I firmly believe will not be so far off; and I am sure all will be glad of the day. “The language is the great drawback, and I am afraid that I will be just as bad in this as in the Welsh; I can just manage to make myself understood now. I would like to say that for any young men in Ammanford desirous of joining the Motor Transport, it is no doubt the finest thing in the Army, and an experience they should not miss, as I am sure it will be the means of adding to their income or wages when returning to civilian life again.
We are within sound of the guns, but as safe as if in Ammanford. Sorry to read of local casualties, and have written conveying my sympathy. “We get plenty of rest. Roll call 8.15 p.m., up at 5.30 a.m.  We do our own washing, but have cooks provided. I have not seen anyone yet that I know out here. Please excuse scrawl, as I cannot carry ink about in lorry. Weather rather frosty just now. Kindly remember me to all the friends at home. Am constantly thinking of them, and in conclusion, believe me to remain, your friend.”

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Three employees of Mr. Rees Jones, cabinet maker, Quay Street, Ammanford, have answered the call of their country within the last few days, viz., Bert Culley, married, of Park Street; J. R. Evans, the well known soloist; and Syd. Davies, of High Street.
They have all joined the Army Ordnance Corps. Back Page

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.Corpl. Jos. Scarsi, of the Mechanical Transports, A. S. C., writes to a friend in Ammanford respecting the King’s visit to the Front to inspect the troops, that he was detailed to drive the car of the Provost Marshal to clear the road in front of His Majesty’s car.
He is expecting to be sent to Salonika, but hopes to have a few day’s leave before he is transferred. Back Page

AMMAN VALLEY CHRONICLE AND EAST CARMARTHEN NEWS. P5
The Voluntary system of enlisting is now undergoing its final test under Lord Derby’s scheme, and within the next two or three weeks we shall know whether the fighting spirit of the nation is equal to the demands made upon it. There are those who believe it will, and that we shall emerge triumphant from the war without having recourse to compulsion. That there has been a great improvement in recruiting during the last few days is an evidence of the stimulating effect Lord Derby’s letter has had upon many young men, who now see that they can no longer hold back in face of the great national danger, without becoming to themselves a source of perpetual shame. No doubt some of them have had good reasons for putting off taking the final step. Some, we know, have failed to realise the seriousness of the situation, owing to the over-secretiveness of the Government as to what is really happening, but there are others over whom the fear of being branded as cowards has at last prevailed.
In the Amman Valley and adjoining districts there is a good deal of misapprehension as to the position of the collier, and quite a number of people think it disgraceful that young men should be hanging about the streets in the afternoons and evenings – it is forgotten that they have been at work all the previous night – when older men of other trades have gone into the Army.
It is argued that only steam coal and not the anthracite is wanted for the purposes of the war, but enquiry reveals the many uses to which the stone coal is put in connection with war munitions, and there must be something in it, or Germany would not have taken so much of this coal, and made such desperate efforts to obtain control of some of our most important mines. But while there is need for the collier to remain at his work, it is not  pleasant to see others who have not been brought up to that trade, giving up other occupations to rush to the mines in order to escape the pressing attentions of the Recruiting Committee. Such action is a clear case of cowardice, and anyone guilty of it must have a very hardened conscience.
This is a matter in which the Federation Committees might take a hand, by discouraging any person whom they suspect of coming to work at the collieries from that motive. That the Government is desirous of giving fair-play to all who have a legitimate excuse for not joining, either by reason of being engaged on essential employment, or that he is indispensable to his employer, is proved by the setting up of local tribunals to which any such men can appeal. They have further opportunity if the verdict of the committee goes against them of appealing to a higher tribunal. We must undoubtedly have some men to remain at home, for women and elderly men cannot undertake all the work, but certainly a very considerable number of eligible men can be replaced by women in agriculture, local transport, and even in coal mining.
One branch of social life could easily spare a few able bodied men, and it is surprising to find the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of St. David’s following his example, stating they are unable to give permission to any clergyman to enlist in the combatant forces.
If this is the Righteous War they have told us it is, then they ought to encourage their young men to join. There are many fine healthy and robust young men in the Churches, who could do much better work among our soldiers – not as chaplains, but as comrades – than they can possibly accomplish dawdling about drawing rooms and mothers’ meetings, and to their credit some ministers of the Gospel have felt this, and have put on the khaki. All honour to them, and as for those who hold back – let them be put among the women, the place to which they belong. One phase of Lord Derby’s scheme which is most satisfactory is the classification, and the intimation that groups will be called up in their order – the younger unmarried men before the older, and all unmarried men before any of the married men.
It is quite certain that a number of young men, foreseeing this, have made “haste to the wedding,” as witness the notice board in the Registry Office, but Lord Derby has circumvented their manoeuvre by stating that “Any man who has married since the date of registration will be placed in a group as if unmarried.”
The last word has been spoken, and “unless the young unmarried men come forward the voluntary system will not have succeeded, and other methods will have to be adopted.” It is up to the young men to shew their spirit and prove that compulsion is unnecessary.

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Pte. J. PHILLIPS MORTIMER, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, wounded at the Dardanelles and now at Liverpool for the purpose of a trepanning operation, lives at Malvern House, Margaret Street, Ammanford.P6

 

 

 

 

 

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WELSH “GRIT” IN GALLIPOLI. P6
The following letter has been received from Private P. Morgan, 8th R. W. F., who is now in Edinburgh War Hospital, West Lothian, suffering from poisonous gases, by his brother, Private J. H. Morgan, R. A. M. C., Central Hospital, Lichfield : —
“At first we landed at a place called Cape Helles, on the Achi Baba side of Gallipoli, but we were only there for a short time, always on our guard for fear of an attack. Then we were shifted to our new landing, which the Australians had made. We did not have much to do for a few weeks, only digging trenches and wells, until the 7th August, when our captain (Capt. Lloyd) read out the orders that we had to go  and take three lines of trenches along with the Australians. The latter were to make an attack on the right before us. About 2 p.m. the following day (8th August), our Navy opened fire and began to bombard the hill we were going to take. We could hear nothing but the hissing and the bursting of shells, which did great havoc among the Turks. After about two hours of bombardment the Australians started the attack and gained three lines of trenches, but were unable to hold them long, through loss of men and the Turks being reinforced.
We then had the command to move, so we started out with our brave captain (Capt. Lloyd) in front of us. We were ready to follow him anywhere. When we reached the hill which is called Quinn’s Port, we had to enter a trench in single file to cover ourselves from the fire the Turks were pouring into us. After a while the fire slackened, and we once more began to make for the hill. The Turks opened a terrific fire on us once again, but the Welsh showed them this time what metal they are made of. We charged up the hill in single file, and our boys fell like true Welshmen, face towards the enemy, and the wounded were carried back with smiles on their faces, though in great pain.
I can tell you that the boys of ‘Glanau Amman a Dyffryn Llwchwr’ that day showed that they had a bit of grit in them, and were as good as the boys of any other part of ‘Cymru Anwyl.’ We stuck to it all day, though the losses of our company were heavy, until reinforcements came up from Suvla Bay.”

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