Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/439

 1899.] CHEONICLE. 15

10. The Russian Government, in view of the strong remonstrances of Great Britain, withdrew her opposition at Pekin to the Northern Railway loan, leaving on record a protest against the action of the Chinese Government.

— Mr. Cecil Rhodes arrived in Berlin to discuss the construction of a section of the Cape to Cairo Railway through German territory. He was subsequently cordially received by the German Emperor.

— A severe hurricane swept over the coast of Queensland, causing the loss of 400 native divers and twenty Europeans, and doing enormous damage to property and pearl-fishing.

— The Lower House of the Hungarian Diet passed without debate the Ministerial bill prolonging the Ausgleich with Austria.

— Signor Martino, Italian Minister at Pekin, insisted that the Tsung-li-Yamen should ask for the returned despatch, accede to its demands, and resume negotiations. This act was disavowed by the Italian Government, and Signor Martino recalled.

11. The Queen, whose departure had been delayed by bad weather in the Channel, left Windsor, and travelling by Folkestone and Boulogne reached Cimiez on the following afternoon.

— Two new line-of-battle ships, The Implacable at Devon port, and The Glory at Messrs. Laird's, Birkenhead, successfully launched.

— The international football match (Rugby Rules) between England and Scotland played at Blackheath, and won by Scotland by one goal to nothing.

13. The American troops under General Wheaton inflicted another severe defeat upon the Filippinos, capturing their fortified position at Pasig with slight loss.

— At Rome the hall and galleries of the Italian Chamber were nearly empty on account of an expected anarchist outrage, but nothing occurred.

— At Vienna, Herr Schonerer, the leader of the Pan-Germanic or Nationalist group in the Reichsrath, issued an appeal to his followers stating that it was desirable that the secession of the first 10,000 con- verts from the anti-German Catholic Church of Rome should take place as soon as possible.

14. At the statutory meeting of the London County Council, Lord Welby was elected chairman, Mr. R. Strong, vice-chairman, and Mr. T. L. Corbett, deputy-chairman for the ensuing year.

— At the Seine Assizes, M. Urbain Gohier acquitted by the jury of the charge of defaming the Army.

— The House of Lords, sitting as Supreme Court of Appeal, by 7 to 2, affirmed the decision of tbe Court of Appeal in the case of Powell v. Kempton Park Race Course Committee, that a reserved enclosure for bookmakers was not " a place " within the meaning of the Betting Act, 1853.