From the archives

25 YEARS AGO Gruinard Island in Wester Ross officially came in from the cold yesterday, 48 years after scientists conducted wartime experiments with anthrax. Ownership of Gruinard reverts next week to the trustees of the last civilian owner at the original price of £500, although its value has been estimated at £50,000. Future owners of Gruinard will not be legally liable for any outbreak of anthrax that might occur there in the next 150 years.

50 YEARS AGO The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri, said yesterday that India must resist Pakistani incursions in the Rann of Kutch, the scene of recent clashes on the disputed border. He appealed to the Indian people to stand together “to fight this menace.” A New Delhi spokesman said India has not ordered mobilisation but is taking “adequate precautionary measures.”

100 YEARS AGO The authorities of Glasgow are taking further steps for the protection of the city against possible air raids. Some time ago there was a great reduction in the street lighting, and now the tops of lamps which are still lit are to be darkened. Illuminated clocks, advertising signs, and other distinctive lights which might guide hostile aircraft are not allowed to be lit.

150 YEARS AGO Yesterday afternoon, between two and three o’clock, fire broke out in an extensive piggery in a field at Keppochhill. Since piggeries were interfered with by the introduction of the Glasgow Police Act, a field at Keppochhill was let to a number of persons who erected several pig and boiler houses. The flames were extinguished, but five swine were burned to death.

200 YEARS AGO We have received this morning the Paris Papers. They repeat with increased confidence a report of a battle between the Neapolitan and Austrian armies in Italy. They report the battle was a most sanguinary one; that it was fought near Modena; that the Austrian General Stefani was killed; and that the loss of the Austrians in prisoners, among whom is Count Nugent, amounts to 15,000 men.