THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Civil war on an alarming scale is being waged throughout Germany. A Reuter Copenhagen message says an agreement was reached in the negotiations between the Labour representatives and the military authorities on Wednesday night with a view to the restoration of peace in Leipzig. The workmen, however, rejected the agreement, which included their disarmament and fighting recommenced at 12 o’clock. Major-General Pilsch proclaimed the city in a state of seige.

50 years ago

The Scottish Prison Officers’ Association yesterday approved a motion calling for the retention of the death penalty for the murder of prison or police officers while on duty. Mr Richard Black, of Perth, the chairman, told the annual conference : “It seems that the only way life can be ended is by legal abortion. We have lent our full support for the retention of hanging for certain crimes and for the murder of a prison or police officer on duty and we shall never reverse our attitude.”

25 years ago

Scotland’s gallant rugby stars received a rousing welcome when they touched down on home soil yesterday. Scores of fans gathered at Edinburgh Airport to cheer the lads who lost out on the Grand Slam to England at Twickenham in the hard fought 24-12 battle. A loud cheer and a rousing round of applause went up when the team – which had gone south with such high hopes of clinching the Five Nations championship – arrived. Fans were still seething at England hooker Brian Moore’s scathing attack on the Scottish team.

One year ago

Closure-threatened Pitlochry High School has been saved after a hard-fought campaign by parents. Education chiefs are poised to formally drop proposals to shut the secondary school, and instead carry out a wider review of senior education across Highland Perthshire. The move has been welcomed by the parent council who led a tireless crusade to safeguard and improve the high school. Chairman Andy Charlton said it was an “important milestone” for the campaign.