Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/494

 70 CHRONICLE. [nov.

20. The German Reichstag, after a short debate, rejected by an over- whelming majority the Government " Penal Servitude " Bill, intended to strengthen the existing laws against workmen's strikes.

— The railway connecting Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, with the Danubian ports at Rouan, Shumla and Kaspidjan formally opened.

21. A body of iron-workers, numbering 1,500, on strike in Doubs set out on a march to Paris on foot, but were stopped at Belfort, and two of their ringleaders being arrested, they returned home.

— The French Government received new3 of the safe arrival at Fgades of the Foureau-Lamy mission to the Soudan, which, it had been reported, had been annihilated.

22. The Egyptian troops under Colonel Wingate attacked Ahmed FediFs dervishes at Abu Adil on the White Nile, and completely routed them with very trifling loss to the Egyptians.

23. A conference of Irish Nationalist members of Parliament held at the Mansion House, Dublin, under the chairmanship of Mr. T. Harrington, and attended by eighteen other members. Mr. T. M. Healy moved a resolution to confer with Mr. Redmond, which was carried in the absence of the Dillonites.

— Lord Methuen with the Guards division attacked the strong Boer position at Belmont, on the western frontier, and after a strong resist- ance routed the Boers, capturing their camp and guns.

24. The Belgian Chamber of Representatives by 70 votes to 63 adopted a bill for applying the system of proportional representation to parliamentary elections.

— The Theatre Royal, Newcastle-on-Tyne, a recently erected build- ing, completely gutted by a fire originating after the close of the per- formance at the stage end of the building. The loss occasioned was estimated at 20,000/.

— Colonel Wingate's troops came up with the Khalifa's force seven miles south-east of Gedid, and after a sharp encounter carried the position. The Khalifa and many of his principal Emirs were killed, and others taken prisoners, as well as the whole camp, and thousands of men and women and cattle.

25. Lord Methuen had a second severe fight with the Boers at Graspan, seven miles from Belmont, and forced them to retreat north- wards. The Naval Brigade suffered heavy losses.

— Lady Salisbury buried quite unostentatiously in the churchyard of Hatfield. Lord Salisbury, in consequence of illness, was unable to be present. Representatives of the Queen, the German Emperor and Empress, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were amongst the mourners. Simultaneously a memorial service was held at the Chapel Royal, St. James's.

27. Lord Ardilaun purchased the Muckross estate, including the beautiful shores of the Lakes of Ki Harney, which had been offered at public auction.