There was a Dutch proposal to build battleships in 1912, after years of concern over the expansion of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the withdrawal of allied British warships from the China Station. Only four coastal defense ships were planned, but naval experts and some politicians believed that dreadnoughts would provide a stronger defense for the Dutch East Indies. In August 1913, a Royal Commission recommended acquiring nine battleships to protect the colony from attack and help guarantee the country's neutrality in Europe. Five of these would be based in the Dutch East Indies, while the other four would operate out of the Netherlands. The proposal led to a debate over how to best protect the colony, and the question of how to share the cost of the ships was not settled until July 1914. After considering the recommendations, the Dutch Government decided to acquire four battleships, and sought parliamentary approval in August 1914. However, the proposal was withdrawn following the outbreak of the First World War that month. A new royal commission into Dutch defense needs held after the war did not recommend that battleships be procured and none were ever ordered.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_1913_battleship_proposal

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1506:

Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania achieved one of the greatest Lithuanian victories against the Tatars in the Battle of Kletsk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kletsk

1777:

American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Oriskany, one of the bloodiest battles in the North American theater of the war, was fought about six miles (10 km) east of Fort Stanwix, New York. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Oriskany

1806:

The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved by its last emperor, Francis II, during the aftermath of the War of the Third Coalition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor

1966:

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became emir and ruler of Abu Dhabi, succeeding his brother, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was deposed in a bloodless coup d'état. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zayed_bin_Sultan_Al_Nahyan

1988:

New York City Police officers charged a crowd protesting a curfew for the previously 24-hour Tompkins Square Park, sparking a riot that led to more than 100 complaints of police brutality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tompkins_Square_Park_Riot_(1988)

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Olympiad: 1. (historical) A period of four years, by which the ancient Greeks reckoned time, being the interval from one celebration of the Olympic games to another, beginning with the victory of Corbus in the foot race, which took place in the year 776 b.c.; as, the era of the olympiads. 2. An occurrence of the Olympic games. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Olympiad

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I am part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' Gleams that untravell'd world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move.   --Alfred, Lord Tennyson https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alfred,_Lord_Tennyson