TODAY in HISTORY

Today is Sunday,

August 31, the 243rd day of 2014. There are 122 days left in the

year.

1704 Forces of Russia’s Czar Peter the Great take Narva in Russia.

1876 Turkey’s Sultan Murad V is deposed on plea of insanity and is succeeded by Abdul Hamid II. 1888 Mary Ann Nicholls is found murdered in London’s East End. She is the first victim of Jack the Ripper. 1900 British forces under Frederick Roberts occupy Johannesburg, South Africa.

1918 Bolshevik troops attack British embassy in Petrograd, Russia.

1922 Czech- Serb- Croat Alliance is signed at Marienbad.

1923 Italy starts a brief occupation of the Greek island of Corfu after the murder of a boundary delegation. 1935 US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act prohibiting the export of US arms to belligerents.

1942 German general Rommel renews offensive against British at Alam Halfa in North Africa in World War II but is driven back to original lines.

1947 The US investigating committee recommends that Great Britain give up control of Palestine.

1957 Malaysia gains independence as Federation of Malaya.

1962 Trinidad and Tobago become independent nation within British Commonwealth.

1977 Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith’s party wins the election and gains all 50 white seats in Parliament. The vote gives Smith a mandate to negotiate with black leaders on greater political representation for the country’s six million blacks. 1980...