August 31: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “SHANGHAI (A.P.) — Because of the increasing peril to neutral shipping from Chinese and Japanese bombs and shells, United States authorities today closed the Port of Shanghai to all vessels flying the American flag other than warships. The order from Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, commander in chief of the Asiatic fleet, and Consul General Clarence E. Gauss was the direct result of the bombing yesterday by Chinese planes of the Dollar Liner President Hoover and the killing of one of her seamen. The effect of the action was to maroon some 2,000 Americans, including 500 women and children, in this war-shattered city. Twelve miles north of the city, heavy guns were crashing out the prelude to Japan’s major push to drive the Chinese armies from the area. The Japanese army presented an ultimatum to the civil authorities ordering all Chinese civilians evacuated by nightfall from the Yangtsepoo and Wayside areas in the northeastern zone of the International Settlement. That order from the highest ranking naval and civil officers here commanded all vessels flying the American flag — freighters as well as passenger liners — to suspend calling at Shanghai indefinitely. Because of the absence of naval vessels suitable to evacuate the remaining Americans, authorities have not reached a decision on the best means of taking United States citizens to safety. The only available navy ship is the supply vessel Gold Star, from Guam. A small capacity of 60 passengers and speed of eight knots make her of limited value.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (A.P.) — ‘Precautionary’ evacuation of school children, mothers and invalids from London and other key cities tomorrow — a movement perhaps involving several millions of persons — was ordered today by the British Ministry of Health. The operation will require several days. The Ministry of Health statement said the step did not mean that war was regarded as inevitable. It was estimated that 3,000,000 persons would be affected. The total population of the designated evacuation areas is about 11,000,000, but only a part of these residents would fall into the first group to be moved. Those falling in the ‘priority classes’ are school children accompanied by their teachers, children of pre-school age accompanied by their mothers or other escorts, expectant mothers, and the adult blind and crippled population if the removal of invalids is feasible. Meanwhile, the diplomatic exchange over the European crisis was said authoritatively to be hampered by the ‘reluctance’ of Germany to recognize the binding nature of British and French guarantees to defend Poland’s independence if Poland also fights.”
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.