starting in Washington, D.C., to assess the possibility of crossing North America by road. This crossing takes many months to complete, because the building of the U.S. Highway System has not commenced. July 11 – The eight-hour day and free Sunday become law for workers in the Netherlands. July 19 – The Foreign Ministry of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is established, by decree of the chancellory for foreign affairs. July 21 – Wingfoot Air Express crash: The dirigible Wingfoot Air Express catches fire over downtown Chicago. Two passengers, one aircrewman and ten people on the ground are killed; however, two people parachute to the ground safely. July 27 – The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 begins when a white man throws stones at a group of four black teens on a raft. July 28 – The International Astronomical Union is founded in Paris, France. July 31 – British police strikes in London and Liverpool for recognition of the National Union of Police and Prison Officers; over 2,000 strikers are dismissed. August August 1 – Béla Kun's Hungarian Soviet Republic collapses. August 3 – The Romanian army liberates Timișoara from Hungarian occupation. August 4 – The Romanian army occupies Budapest. August 8 – The Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, signed in Rawalpindi, ends the Third Anglo-Afghan War, with the United Kingdom recognising the right of the Emirate of Afghanistan to manage its own foreign affairs and Afghanistan recognising the Durand Line as the border with British India. August 11 – In Germany, the Weimar Constitution is proclaimed to be in effect (ratified). August 14–September 12 – Russian Civil War, Southern Front: A failed attack of the Red army against the White Volunteer Army of Anton Denikin. August 16–26 – First Silesian Uprising: Poles in Upper Silesia rise against the Germans. August 18 – Russian Civil War: North Russia intervention – The Bolshevik fleet at Kronstadt, protecting Petrograd on the Baltic Sea, is substantially damaged by British Royal Navy Coastal Motor Boats (torpedo boats) and military aircraft in a combined operation. August 21 – Friedrich Ebert becomes the first president in Germany. August 27 – South African Prime Minister Louis Botha dies in office. August 24–September 12 – Russian Civil War: Counteroffensive of Southern Front – The Red Army commanded by Vladimir Yegoryev attacks the White forces of General Anton Denikin but is defeated. August 29 – Russian Civil War: The Red Army