16
Australasian
United Steam Navigation
Company,
Limited.
24. R.M.S. China stranded at Azalea Point, Perim. subsequent!}- floated and taken home for repairs.
Was
26. Oxford and Cambridge boat race. W o n by Oxford. This completing the ninth year's win in succession. 28. Port Arthur and Ta-lien-Wan handed over by China to Russia " on lease." APRIL.
1. Indian Frontier troubles terminated by the Sakka Khels giving in and paying the full fine and giving up all the rifles demanded. Sir W i l l i a m Lockhart, on 13th M a r c h , had given them their final choice of peace or war. 2. The judgment in the Zola trial quashed on appeal. 4. Great industrial disturbance caused by strike of the South Wales ( U . K . ) coal m i n e r s ; nearly 100,000 men thrown out of work. 5. M r . Balfour stated in the House of Commons that Great Britain had obtained from China a lease of W e i - H a i - W e i , in order to restore the balance of power which had been disturbed by Russia's acquisition of P o r t A r t h u r . 8. Battle of the Atbara. The Sirdar, General Kitchener, with an Anglo-Egyptian force, attacked the Khalifa's forces commanded by the E m i r M a h m o u d , utterly defeated them, and captured their leader. 12. Resignation of Sir H u g h Nelson, Premier of Queensland, after five years in office. 16. The independence of the Republic of Cuba recognised by the United States Senate. 20. President M ' K i n l e y sent an ultimatum to the Spanish Government regarding the situation in Cuba, and the Spanish Minister at Washington asked for his passport. 20. Cape T o w n connected by telegraph with Blantyre, British Central Africa, an approximate distance of 2000 miles, thus completing a section of the intended line from the Cape to Cairo. 22. The American blockade of Cuba commenced. 24. The Regular A r m y of the U n i t e d States increased to 61,000 men, and a call made for 125,000 volunteers. 24. The first shot in the W a r between America and Spain fired by the Spaniards at the entrance to Havana Harbour. MAY.
1. United States squadron, under Commodore Dewey, completely destroyed Spanish Fleet, at M a n i l a .