1879 DEFEAT OF THE "HUASCAR" by divers. Captain Laterre, who had distinguished himself on the "Magallanes," was placed in command of her. When she emerged, after a month of repairs, her speed was eleven knots-one knot faster than that of the "Huascar." Admiral Riveros of the Chilean fleet now went in search of the “Huascar." Dividing his strong fleet into two squadrons, one of which was to steam inshore so as to drive the "Huascar" into the path of the other steaming on a parallel course, Admiral Riveros proceeded to Angamos Point. Early on the morning of October 8 the "Huascar" was sighted, together with the "Union." Her commander, Grau, steamed away at a speed of ten knots. Admiral Riveros, outdistanced as he was, held steadily on with the "Blanco" and "Covadonga." Next morning Grau sighted the smoke of the "Cochrane" out at sea, and tried to get out of his bad position between the two Chilean squadrons. His convoy, "l'Union," succeeded in getting away to the north, hotly pursued by the "Loa" and the "O'Higgins." The "Cochrane" overhauled the "Huascar," and, with the aid of the "Blanco," engaged her in fight. One of the "Cochrane's" first shots entered the "Huascar's" turret and put twelve men out of the fight, besides jamming the turret. The "Cochrane" manœuvred astern of the "Huascar," where her big turret guns could not reach her, and poured a hot rifle-fire from her high fighting tops and bridge on to the "Huascar's" upper deck. A nine-inch shell from the "Cochrane" struck the conning tower and Grau was blown to pieces. An officer at the steering wheel just below the Admiral was likewise killed. Commander Aguirre, upon whom the charge of the ship had devolved, was killed by another shot, which burst inside of the turret. Lieutenant Garrozon, the last surviving officer on the "Huascar," finding that he could scarcely move her, resolved to scuttle the ship. Rather than go to the bottom some of the Peruvian seamen ran forward and waved towels in token of surrender. Both under the Chilean flag. A little later sh turing the Peruvian gunboat "Pilcomay of this vessel to the Chilean fleet destro upon the sea. Henceforth Peru and H disadvantage. Late in the year, as the disasters inflicted by Chile, insurrection President Prado was forced to resign t flee the country. Pierola was proclaimed In the beginning of December the 1 had a narrow escape from assassination. from Livadia to St. Petersburg, stoppin By accident or design the train conveyin gage was following instead of preceding On entering the outskirts of Moscow a under the second train. Most of the ca the track, but no lives were lost. It was f which was laid in a carefully built tunnel had been set off by electricity from a hous It was during the same week, some General Roberts's arrival at Kabul, that behest of their most fanatic leaders rose in their country. One hundred thousand Roberts tried to prevent a coalition of th tribesmen by sending one brigade unde ward, and another under Baker toward 1879 BATTLES ABOUT SHERPUR the British military post at Sherpur in a dangerously weak state. On December 11 McPherson's cavalry attempted to cut off a force of about 10,000 Afghans. The British lancers were repulsed and routed. Roberts now hastened up with his Highlanders, barely in time to secure McPherson's line of retreat. Baker's brigade was hastily summoned. On the following morning Colonel Money, with a part of McPherson's force, tried to dislodge the Afghans from the crest of the Takt-i-Shah. All day long the British fought without making material gains. On the next day the rest of McPherson's brigade and Baker's column, which had just arrived, threw themselves into the fight. The Afghans, dislodged from one position, held themselves in others. Their reenforcements were on the Asmei Heights. Colonel Jenkins of the Guides succeeded in storming these heights, but was soon after dislodged from the crest, losing two guns. It was at this time that Captain Voustan led a dashing charge of twelve Punjab horsemen up a steep conical hill, and himself killed five Afghans. For this he received the Victoria Cross. General Roberts was compelled to abandon the Asmei Heights and the Bala-Hissar. He fell back on his defences at Sherpur. The British were hard beset at Sherpur. On December 23 the Afghans attacked in force. The fighting lasted all day, the Afghans bringing scaling ladders to enter the works only to be repulsed with great slaughter. At nightfall a heavy snowstorm set in and the Afghans gave up their assault. The British casualties were sixty-five killed and wounded, among whom was BrigadierGeneral Hugh Gough. On Christmas Eve British reenforcements arrived under General Charles Gough and Colonel Hudson, and the Bala-Hissar was reoccupied. With the death of James Clerk-Maxwell, the famous Scottish physicist, a thinker was lost to England who contributed much to the advancement of electrical science. gian Violinist-Cossacks Beat Turkomans at pudiate British Annexation of Transvaal Potchefstroom and Heidelburg Road. N Russia another attempt was made Czar. As the Czar and his guests we the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg the dining-room was blown up. Ten m guard were killed, while fifty-three were w affair Count Melikov was put at the head tive committee with extraordinary powers relax the severe restrictions on the stude ties and higher technical schools. Count originator of these laws, resigned. Ear Czarina died. Two months later the again. The campaign against the Turko about the same time. For some time no were made on either side. Gustave Flaubert, the most refined w the French school of realism, died in M year. Originally an ardent admirer of Byron, he suddenly changed from his ex to that of realism. The result of this cha work "Madame Bovary," the forerunner productions of Goncourt and Zola. His " erful romance of ancient Carthage, is On ion under Primrose was left at Kandahar. wart's column, while approaching Ghuznee, ene Afghan swordsmen at Ahmed Khel. The the Afghans was so impetuous that the British was thrown back some 200 yards, and the left d by the Afghan horsemen. The British rearg up turned the scale of the battle. Altogether, soldiers were put out of action. General Stewother engagement beyond Ghuznee on April 23, f the enemy with a loss of 400 men. On May at Sherpur. Stewart's march from Kandahar, o conspicuous for results as Roberts's famous rewas a brilliant achievement. June Ayub Khan, younger brother to Yakoob a prisoner by the British, set out from Herat en, resolved to seize Kandahar. General Burndahar, marched out with a British brigade and with the Afghan governor. Within a fortnight fghan troops mutinied and deserted to Ayub July 27 the two armies came within sight at The British, instead of resorting to their usual ics, formed in compact masses, and lying down various onslaughts of the Afghans. Once or tish cavalry attempted to charge, but lost heavily |