Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/440

 16 CHBONICLE. [march

15. The German Reichstag, by a decisive majority, composed of Clericals and Radicals, having supported the decision of the Budget Committee on the Army Bill, the Minister of War, General von Gossler, announced that the Government would agree to the proposed increase of the infantry being reduced by 7,000 men.

— Eight British ships, one American, and one German, involving the loss of 300 lives, given up as lost in the Atlantic during the recent storms.

— The Spanish Cabinet decided that the Queen should ratify the Peace Treaty with the United States after the dissolution of the Cortes, and without its consent.

16. The election for North Norfolk, consequent on the elevation of Mr. Cozens-Hardy (L.) to the bench, resulted in the return of Sir W. B. Gurdon (L.) by 4,475 votes against 3,610 polled by Sir K. Kemp (C.).

— Mr. Rhodes left Berlin, having signed a treaty concerning the construction of the Cape to Cairo telegraph across German East Africa.

— The German Emperor attended at Friedrichsruh the transfer of the coffins of Prince and Princess Bismarck to the mausoleum erected for their reception.

— Apia, and several adjoining Samoan villages, occupied by the supporters of Mataafa, shelled by the American and British warships, the Germans taking no part.

17. The Spanish Cortes having been dissolved, the Queen-Regent signed the ratification of the Treaty of Peace.

— The Windsor Hotel, one of the largest and finest in Fifth Avenue, New York, totally destroyed by fire in the course of a few hours. About twenty lives were lost, and a number of persons, chiefly attendants, seriously injured, and fifty were reported missing.

— Three men, whilst working in a drain in Osnaburgh Street, Regent's Park, entombed by the giving way of the earth. One was extricated with some difficulty, but the other two were dead before they could be rescued.

18. The international football match (Rugby Rules) between Ireland and Wales, played at Cardiff, resulting in the victory of Ireland by a try to nothing, and the international championship. The match (Association Rules) between Scotland and Wales played at Wrexham ; Scotland won by six goals to nothing.

— A deputation of 500 Finlanders, bearing a petition with 563,000 signatures, praying for the maintenance of their constitutional rights, arrived in St. Petersburg. The Czar declined to receive the petition, and directed the bearers to return home.

— President Kruger, speaking at Heidelburg, said he intended to propose a reduction of five years on the necessary period of residence, making it possible for settlers to obtain full burgher rights in nine years, but only old burghers would elect the President.

19. At Marseilles an explosion took place at the Government cartridge factory by which four soldiers were seriously injured, and