January 11: ON THIS DAY in 1944, last 2 Nazi bastions in White Russia fall

January 14, 2019 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported from Rome, “With every hour, as additional and more accurate details are received, the horror of yesterday’s earthquake increases, threatening to place it second in the list of similar catastrophes in Europe only to the Messina disaster of 1908. The list of dead, dying and injured has increased by leaps and bounds from a relatively small figure last night to more than 50,000 according to an official announcement today, and it is expected that this number may be added to before the day is over. The full extent of the property loss has not yet been determined. Here in Rome priceless statues, century-old buildings and structures that for years have been the mecca of all visitors have been destroyed or injured. Though the loss of life, and possibly the amount of damage, may be smaller than it was in 1908, the area of the disturbance greatly exceeds the Messina earthquake and covers the whole central portion of Italy, extending from Naples on the south to Ferrara on the north. The most disastrous disturbance, from all reports, seems to have centered in the vicinity of the town of Avezzano, where 15,000 persons have been killed or injured, according to the latest official reports.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1936, the Eagle reported, “Hundreds of admirers and political associates of former Mayor John F. Hylan continued to file past his bier today in his home at 2 Olive Place, Forest Hills. Messages of condolence and floral tributes poured into the home from persons in all walks to life. The body of the former mayor, who died suddenly early Sunday morning in his 68th year, will lie in state until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow when a cortege of some 100 distinguished persons will proceed from the home to the R.C. Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Putnam Ave. between Ralph and Patchen Aves., where the Rev. John McEnroe, pastor of the church, will offer a solemn requiem mass. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village. At 8 o’clock tonight, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of which Judge Hylan had been a member since as a young man he became an operator of the old elevated railroad engines in Brooklyn, will conduct special services at the home.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “London, Jan. 14 (U.P.) – Soviet Premier Stalin announced in an order of the day today that the Red Army has captured Mozyr and Kalinkovichi, last remaining German strongholds in White Russia. The collapse of the twin enemy strongholds broke open an invasion corridor through the Pripet Marshes, over which German troops were reported fleeing in disorder toward the Polish frontier, 65 miles to the west … Ski battalions and saber-swinging cavalrymen infiltrated far into the German rear, massacring troops fleeing in disorder along both banks of the Pripet River, which separates Mozyr and Kalinkovichi, twin bastions guarding the Pinsk corridor through the treacherous Pripet marshes.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “Belgrade, Jan. 14 (U.P.) – Marshal Josip Broz Tito was elected today the first president of the republic of Yugoslavia. Parliament elected the Communist leader by a vote of 568 to 1. The lone dissenter was from the upper house, but could not be identified by name because the balloting was secret. The chunky, vigorous, ruddy-faced marshal, who has been in fact head of state for more than eight years, thus achieved the status of law … After Tito’s nomination, the chairman asked whether there were any additional candidates for president. A murmur of laughter followed. The chairman then declared the nomination closed and Tito was formally proclaimed president at 12:15 p.m.”