History

August 29: ON THIS DAY in 1945, Yanks raise flag over Japanese soil

August 29, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Eagle file photo
Eagle file photo
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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Okinawa, Aug. 29 (U.P.) — The first American flag was raised over Japan’s home soil at 12:10 p.m. yesterday on Atsugi airstrip by members of the 5th Air Force’s ‘Flying Circus.’ The Stars and Stripes slipped into the breeze from the peak of the Japanese field’s radio mast. American officers returning from the first reconnaissance landing declared today the Japanese had smothered them with politeness, feeding them turtle soup and roast beef at a flower-bedecked table.” 
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ON THIS DAY IN 1854, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Hook and Ladder Truck No. 1 — This company brought home their new truck yesterday, and safely ensconced her in Firemen’s Hall, Henry street. The apparatus is painted red, and ornamented with the figures of eagles which are placed on each side, above the wheels, giving the whole a fine appearance. The company, which turned out in full numbers, was accompanied by the Brooklyn Band, and in the evening all hands and invited guests made themselves merry at a table spread with seasonable viands and exhilarating fluids. They had a good time. May they have many such.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1883, the Eagle reported, “An island inhabited by some millions of people and studded with volcanoes suddenly became the theater of the most extraordinary manifestation of those activities for which science is able to give but a poor explanation. Some time ago a small volcanic island a few miles off the coast and containing a volcano was observed to be in a state of excitement. This was not an unusual occurrence, it appears, and though the wonderful phenomena were watched with intense interest, no especial alarm was felt in the main island. The glow and detonations on Krakatoa were distinctly perceptible forty-five miles distant, and a few hours later a shower of red hot rocks and ashes began to fall. The deposit increased for several hours; the water which separates the two islands was observed to be in a state of profound agitation, literally boiling or approaching that state. The bed of the strait was undoubtedly heated to a tremendous temperature, sharing the condition of Krakatoa. For 500 miles round the sea gave evidences of similar disturbances. But the sinister energy at work was traveling steadily toward Java carrying death and devastation with it.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Eagle reported, “Berne, Switzerland, Aug. 29 — Tourists while crossing the Loetschen glacier yesterday saw deep down in the clear ice the faces of two dead men. Guides accompanying the party chipped out with their ice axes the frozen bodies of the two men and brought them to the surface. The bodies have not yet been identified, but they probably are those of two London tourists named Bemebecke and Coin, who disappeared fourteen years ago.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle published an Associated Press story which read, “Kussnacht, Switzerland, Aug. 29 — Astrid, 29-year-old queen of the Belgians, was fatally injured today when the automobile her husband, King Leopold, was driving swerved off a country road and hit a tree. She died within five minutes in her king’s arms and with his lips on hers. The king was only slightly injured. The couple’s chauffeur, who was riding in the rear seat while his master drove, suffered broken legs and possible internal injuries. Physicians said he might die. King Leopold told members of his entourage after the accident: ‘I leaned over to look at the map (which the queen was holding). It lasted only a second and when I looked again at the road, the car was almost on top of a tree.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “London, Aug. 29 (AP) — Prime Minister [Neville] Chamberlain declared firmly amid tremendous cheers in the House of Commons today that ‘we shall hold fast to the lines which we have laid down’ and ‘we are ready for any eventuality.’ In a speech of 16 minutes, delivered in a serious but at times challenging voice, he asserted Britain’s policy — to stand by Poland against attack — remained unchanged and the issue of peace or war now lay solely with Adolf Hitler. He was almost apologetic for some of the defense measures affecting private citizens, but said sharply in an obvious reference to Germany that ‘at any rate we have not had to begin here by issuing ration cards.’”

 


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