Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/488

 64 CHRONICLE. [ocr.

19. In the House of Commons the debate on the Address closured, and an amendment censuring the South African policy of the Govern- ment having been defeated by 362 to 135 votes, the Address was agreed to.

— A serious railway collision, due to a thick fog, occurred near Wolverhampton, on the London and North Western Railway. An excursion train, running at thirty miles an hour, dashed into a goods train, and the latter was completely wrecked, but both the driver and fireman of the former were killed.

20. The first important engagement in South Africa took place at Dundee, Natal, when the Boer force under General Lucas Meyer attempted to cut off the British at Dundee from the main body at Ladysmith. After a severe struggle of six hours the Boer position was stormed and their guns captured.

— In the House of Commons, the Under Secretary for War, Mr. Wyndham, proposed a supplementary estimate for 10,000,000/. and 35,000 men.

— The third and deciding race for the America Cup won by the Columbia beating the Shamrock fifteen miles leeward and windward by 6 min. 34 sec.

— Mr. G. Farwell, Q.C., appointed a judge of the High Court (Chancery side), under the resolution of the House of Commons of July 31.

21. The Boer force under General Koch, which had cut the railway at Elandsiaagte, and established itself there, driven from its position by the British troops under Major-General French. A few hours later another battle took place near Glencoe, which enabled General Yule to join hands with the main army under General Sir G. White, but with heavy losses on both sides.

— The Elcho Challenge Shield, won at Bisley for the fifth time in succession by the English eight, formally handed to the Lord Mayor for keeping in the Guildhall.

— Trafalgar Day celebrated in London and elsewhere with much enthusiasm.

23. The greater portion of the West Ham Technical Institute and Free Library almost totally destroyed by a fire originating in the chemical laboratory. The damage was estimated at 80,0002.

— Disturbances took place in various towns of Bohemia, arising out of the repeal of the language ordinances, and many lives were lost. At Pilsen, Hoileschan (Moravia), and elsewhere the riots assumed an Anti- Semitic character, and many Jewish shops, etc., were plundered.

— The Canadian contingent within a week of the issue of orders for its formation, commenced assembling at Quebec. A citizen of Montreal paid the premiums to insure the lives of the officers and men to the extent of $1,000,000.

24. President Kruger announced that Bechuanaland and Griqualand West formed part of the Transvaal, and President Steyn issued a proclamation annexing to the Free State a portion of Cape Colony north of the Vaal River.