Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/487

 1899.] CHEONICLE. 6S

13. The King of Sweden, whilst regretting the resolution of the Norwegian Storthing to introduce a purely Norwegian flag, sanctioned the promulgation of the law in accordance with the constitution.

— The Theatre Royal, St. Helens, Lancashire, completely burned down, the loss being estimated at 20,000/.

— The German Social Democratic Congress at Hanover, by 261 ta 21, adopted Herr BebePs Opportunist programme against the followers of Herr Bernstein, the advocate of a Socialist Republic.

— The Queen directed a sum of 400/. to be paid from her Privy Purse to the father of the fisherman Loth who was killed by a shot from H.M.S. Leda while attempting to escape from capture for illegal trawling.

14. General Sir Redvers Buller left London to take command of the British forces in South Africa, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cam- bridge and others being on the platform.

— Anti-taxation riots broke out in Barcelona, where many of the merchants refused to pay their taxes. The students, divided into Spanish and Catalonian parties, paraded the town, adding to the general disturbance.

— A strike affecting 3,000 men declared by the workers of the Alsatian Mechanical Works Company at Belfort, in consequence of the dismissal of a workman for threatening a comrade.

16. After seven fruitless attempts the first race for the America Cup between the Shamrock and Columbia yachts, fifteen miles out and home, sailed off Sandy Hook, resulting in an easy victory by over ten minutes for the American yacht.

— An influential meeting held at the Guildhall, under the presi- dency of the Lord Mayor, to convey to the Government an assurance of the sympathy and support of the City of London.

17. The second race for the America Cup decided in half an hour in favour of the Columbia, the British yacht Shamrock losing her topmast in consequence of carrying too much sail.

— The sixth session of the fourteenth Parliament of Queen Victoria, opened by royal commission, specially summoned on account of the war in South Africa.

— The repeal of the famous language ordinances, which had not satisfied the Czechs, and had infuriated the Germans, officially gazetted at Vienna.

18. In the House of Commons Mr. Balfour brought up a message from the Queen announcing her intention to order by proclamation the embodiment of the Militia, and to call out the Militia Reserves, if necessary, for permanent service.

— The German Emperor was present at the launching of a new line- of-battle ship, and after the ceremony spoke of " Germany's bitter need of a strong fleet."

— The existence of bubonic plague at Santos (Brazil) officially announced, three cases having occurred in that port. D