THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The American steamer Algonquin was sent to the bottom by a German submarine without warning on Monday. The captain of the Algonquin states that the German submarine opened fire on them at a range of three miles. Four shells struck the vessel and the crew were ordered to the boats. When the steamer had been abandoned, some of the German crew boarded her with bombs. When asked to give the boats a tow to land, the submarine commander refused saying: “I am too busy.”

50 years ago

Mr Edward Short, Postmaster General, said in the Commons he planned to introduce subscriber dialling for London telephone subscribers to the USA and Canada during 1969. It was intended to extend this in 1970 to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. Technical difficulties precluded the introduction of international subscriber dialling from other towns until after 1970, he said. Extension of the service to include Australia and New Zealand was under consideration.

25 years ago

It sounds like the kind of challenge that could be the subject of a computer game for budding business whizz kids: “Quadruple your company’s turnover, triple the staff, move to gleaming new offices and win a fistful of major awards for your product. Oh and do it in a year.” However, for one Dundee company the challenge has been completed – and the company designs computer games. The firm is DMA Designs whose Lemmings game has become one of the cult games for computer games buffs.

One year ago

A gliding squadron based at RM Condor near Arbroath is to be disbanded after 61 years. 662 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) is among 14 of 27 across the UK to be scrapped following a restructure. The squadron has provided gliding training for Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force since 1955. A spokesman for 662 VGS said: “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that after 61 years of history, 662 VGS is to be disbanded along with several other VGS across the UK.”