Pages of history: From The News Journal archives, week of May 1

"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Every Evening.

May 1, 1939, Wilmington Morning News

President Roosevelt opens World’s Fair

President Franklin Roosevelt officially opened the New York World’s Fair yesterday by pledging the nation anew to a policy of peace and international good will….

He made no reference to German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s rejection of peace guarantee proposals submitted by him to Berlin and Rome two weeks ago….

A parade of more than 25,000 artisans, officials and representatives of the foreign exhibitors in their colorful dress led off the day’s events….

At 6 p.m., the fair’s president announced that more than 600,000 persons had passed through the gates….

The exhibit area with its wide, asphalt-paved avenues, clipped cedar hedges, lawns and fountains was about 90 percent completed. A number of the pavilions owned by the 60 foreign nations participating lagged behind, but this was said to be due to the unsettled European conditions.

The pavilion of one of the nations which had planned to take part, Czechoslovakia, will be manned by Czech officials who refused to surrender it when their country was occupied by Germany….

Twenty-eight warships of the Atlantic squadron stood in New York Harbor on opening day and 11 others were to arrive next week….

May 3, 1898, The Morning News

Dewey in hot battle with the Spanish at Manila

On the basis of press dispatches and advices from Ambassador Hay in London, President McKinley and Secretary Long are confident that Commodore Dewey won a great victory in Manila harbor May 1, totally destroying the usefulness of the Spanish fleet.

Not a word from Dewey or any of the United States officers in the Far East came to the government May 2….

The Laffan News Bureau reported that the American fleet under command of Commodore Dewey anchored in the Manila bay at 5 o’clock Sunday morning….

Daylight had broken when the American fleet got inside and headed for the Spanish fleet….

Dewey then ordered his squadron to close in and delivered an awful cannonade, using guns of all calibers for 30 minutes. Both fleets were soon at it, while the forts took a hand in the melee, keeping up a steady fire at the American ships. Dewey maneuvered his ships continuously, thus rendering the marksmanship of the Spanish gunners less effective….

Dewey’s fleet then withdrew beyond the range of the smaller guns and poured shells from his big guns upon the Spaniards, inflicting hideous damage. This fire lasted about a quarter of an hour. The Spaniards, though greatly weakened, continued to reply. Dewey therefore closed in again and renewed his ceaseless cannonade.

After the fight had continued an hour and a half, the Spanish squadron was practically annihilated and all the forts were silenced. Three of the Spanish warships were on fire, one had sunk and the others were riddled and helpless….

May 3, 2011, The News Journal

How U.S. got Osama bin Laden, enemy No. 1

After nearly a decade of anger and fear, America rejoiced Monday at the demise of Osama bin Laden, the terrorist mastermind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks. Navy SEALs who killed the world’s most-wanted terrorist seized a trove of al-Qaida documents to pore over, and President Barack Obama laid plans to visit New York’s ground zero.

Killed in an intense firefight in a daring raid at his fortified hideout in Pakistan, bin Laden was hunted down based on information first gleaned years ago from detainees at secret CIA prison sites in Eastern Europe, officials disclosed.

His body was quickly taken away for burial at sea, but not before a DNA match was done to prove his identity. A U.S. official said there also were photos showing bin Laden with the fatal wound above his left eye, a gunshot that tore away part of his skull. The photos were not immediately released….

MORE ON 9/11: 20 years after the deadly 9/11 attacks, here are 8 ways in Delaware to honor those killed

May 5, 1970, The Morning News

Four slain in Ohio war protest

Four students were killed and 11 other persons were wounded at Kent State University yesterday when National Guardsmen broke up an unauthorized rally.

President Richard Nixon said the incident should remind everyone that “when dissent turns to violence, it invites tragedy.”

The shooting came after guardsmen moved in with tear gas to disperse a rock-throwing crowd of 400 to 500 students at an antiwar rally….

“The guard expended its entire supply of tear gas and when it did, the mob started to move forward to encircle the guardsmen,” Adj. Gen. S.T. Del Corso said. “At the same time, a sniper opened fire against the guardsmen from a nearby rooftop. All guardsmen were hit by rocks and bricks.”

Meanwhile a continuing wave of antiwar demonstrations, focusing on U.S. involvement in Cambodia, swept many of the nation’s colleges….

CATCH UP ON HISTORY: From The News Journal archives, week of April 3

May 7, 1954, Wilmington Morning News

Bannister first runner to crack 4-minute mile

Roger Bannister ended the athletic world’s quest for the four-minute mile yesterday with a monumental effort in which he was timed at 3:59.4.

Competing in his first race of the year and on his own track at Iffley Road, the shy former Oxonian burst through the legendary four-minute barrier as a meager crowd of 1,000, mostly Oxford students, watched the memorable performance….

HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS BREAK RECORD: Delaware sees first (and second) 4-minute mile in Tatnall race

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: News Journal archive Spanish-American War Osama bin Laden Kent State