Tuesday, December 4, 1900 General Auguste Mercier, formerly Minister of War for France, warned the French Senate about "the possibility of war with Great Britain" and his strategy for an invasion, adding that "a landing in England is not beyond realization". Mercier suggested that his invasion plan "could be held over the head of England, like the sword of Damocles". Born: John Axon, British train driver, celebrated in song for his heroism in a fatal 1957 accident; in Stockport, Cheshire (d. 1957) Wednesday, December 5, 1900 Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy signed a treaty providing that their navies would work together in the event of an attack on either nation by France or Russia. The "War of the Golden Stool", the fifth and final Ashanti War, was declared over, with most of the British troops and Governor James Willcocks departing Kumasi. Thursday, December 6, 1900 Leopold Godowsky made his professional debut as a pianist in Berlin. Caisse Populaire, the first cooperative bank in North America, opened in Lévis, Quebec. Born: Agnes Moorehead, American film and TV actress, best known for her role in the television sitcom Bewitched; in Clinton, Massachusetts (d. 1974) Friday, December 7, 1900 In the American war in the Philippines, rebel leader General Emilio Verdeflor was killed in battle after being surprised by troops led by Major H.B. McCoy. The United States Department of the Navy invited bids for construction of new ships to double the size of the United States Navy, calling for five battleships and six armored cruisers. Nikola Tesla claimed to have received intelligent communication from Mars. Saturday, December 8, 1900 Pope Leo issued Conditae a Christo, redefining the rights of Catholic nuns. The United States called off scheduled plans to send a warship to Morocco to force the sultanate to pay its debts. "The great annual religious festival of the Moors is about to begin", reported The New York Times, referring to Ramadan, adding "it is the height of impropriety for any truly orthodox person to conduct business. The Sultan could not, without risking his soul, pay any debts, or even receive an infidel who came on diplomatic business." The State Department called off the operation until the middle of February. James Roosevelt, American business executive, 72, and father to Franklin D. Roosevelt died while his 18-year-old son was away as a student at Harvard University. Sunday, December 9, 1900 Claude Debussy's first two