Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/486

 62 CHKONICLE. ocr.

9. A typhoon swept over Central and Eastern Japan, doing immense damage to crops and shipping. A train passing over a bridge was blown into the river beneath, and fifty lives were lost. About the same time a terrific storm raged for nearly 150 miles along the Moscow and St. Petersburg Railway, accompanied by heavy snow, interrupting com- munication between the two capitals.

10. The Transvaal Government presented the British agent at Pretoria with an ultimatum, requesting inter alia the instant with- drawal of all British troops on the borders, and the removal from South Africa of those arrived since 1st June.

— The Church Congress assembled in London, holding its chief meetings at the Albert Hall, where the inaugural address was delivered by the Bishop of London (Dr. Creighton).

— A detachment of New South Wales Lancers, who had been training for six months at Aldershot, having volunteered for service at the Cape, embarked, and on their way through the City were enthusi- astically cheered. The other Australian colonies and Canada made offers of contingents, which were accepted by the Imperial Govern- ment.

— A fourth attempt to sail the match between the Columbia and Shamrock yachts again unsuccessful, the fog being so thick that it was impossible to effect a start.

11. The match for the America Cup had to be abandoned for the fifth time for want of wind.

— The time allowed by the Transvaal for the withdrawal of the British troops from the frontier districts having expired, the Boer burghers assumed the offensive, crossing by Laing's Nek into Natal. Simultaneously President Steyn of the Orange Free State proclaimed war against Great Britain.

— Mr. Kruger addressed a message to the New York World, in which, after thanking the Americans for their sympathy, he said that "the republics were determined if they must belong to England that a price will have to be paid which will stagger humanity."

— At the Newmarket meeting the Cesarewitch Stakes won by Mr. R. A. Oswald's Scintillant, 3 yrs., 7 st. (F. Wood). Twenty-two ran.

12. At the Porte an Imperial IradS issued sanctioning the recom- mendations of the special commission on Armenian reforms, and grant- ing money to the sufferers by the troubles in Asia Minor.

— The Free State Boers commenced hostilities by seizing and stopping trains running between Harrysmith and Ladysmith. Mr. Conyngham Greene officially took farewell of President Kruger and left Pretoria.

— An armoured train, conveying ammunition, attacked by the Boers about fifty miles south of Mafeking, and bombarded with artillery from a distance. The train was disabled, and Captain Nesbitt and fifteen men who had undertaken the service, wounded and made prisoners.