August 15: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1867, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Although the pre-announced grand meteoric display was postponed, there was still observed an unusual number of these eccentric members of the celestial system. At Central Park there were seen, from 9 p.m. of the 11th until 4 a.m. of the 12th, one hundred and ninety-eight meteors, some very brilliant.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The world today entered a new era of peace in which Gen. Douglas MacArthur summarily ordered Japan to send representatives to Manila to receive Allied surrender terms. He acted as supreme Allied commander. MacArthur is expected to announce that Japan will sign on her home soil or in territorial waters — perhaps Tokyo Bay. Radio Tokyo announced the resignation of Premier Kantaro Suzuki’s war cabinet shortly before MacArthur’s order was dispatched. Suzuki’s war minister already was a suicide. American forces were ordered to cease offensive action last night. Tokyo broadcast to Japanese troops at midnight (1 p.m. Wednesday Japanese time) the announcement of agreement to surrender. MacArthur’s message also ‘directed’ the Japanese immediately to cease hostilities. But Admiral Chester W. Nimitz announced that Japanese planes approached the U.S. 3rd Fleet after 3 a.m. Wednesday. Five were shot down. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks were continuing. Nimitz asked MacArthur to tell the Japs that we will shoot down any planes approaching our fleet. President Truman announced Japan’s agreement to unconditional surrender last night at 7 o’clock. There arose from the vast homelands of those who love democracy a shout heard round the world.”