Capture of Guam

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Capture of Guam


caption=
partof=Spanish-American War
date=June 20-June 21, 1898
place=Guam, Pacific Ocean
result=Americans capture Guam
combatant1=flagicon|USA|1896 United States
combatant2=flagicon|Spain|1785 Kingdom of Spain
commander1=flagicon|USA|1896 Henry Glass
commander2=flagicon|Spain|1785 Juan MarinaPOW
strength1=1 cruiser
3 transports
strength2=54 infantry
casualties1=None
casualties2=54 captured|The capture of Guam was a bloodless event between the United States and the Kingdom of Spain during the Spanish-American War.

Background

Guam had been under Spanish control since 1668. The last message the Spanish authorities on Guam had received from Spain was dated April 14, 1898, a month before war was declared. Henry Glass, Captain of the cruiser USS "Charleston", was en route from California to Manila when he opened sealed orders notifying him to proceed to Guam and capture it.

Capture

Glass drilled his untested crew during the voyage to the island, readying them for possible hostilities. The ship's United States Marine Corps detachment, under the command of Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers, rigorously practiced their gun drills to insure their proficiency on the Charleston's 6 inch secondary gun batteries.

On June 20, Glass arrived off the shore of Guam. He noticed a Japanese ship anchored in the harbor. "Charleston" fired about a dozen times upon the ancient Spanish fortress guarding the Capitol from three of its cannons. There was no return fire. The barrage apparently did no harm, since a ship flying the Spanish flag soon appeared, and the Spanish officer climbed aboard "Charleston", apologized, and asked to borrow some powder from the Americans so the fort could return their "salute." Glass informed the officer that war had been declared between the two nations and that the officer was a prisoner of war. He then paroled the officer and sent him back to the island with the message to surrender the island.

The Spanish Governor Juan Marina responded to Glass saying that Spanish law forbade him to board an American vessel. Glass notified him that an officer would be sent to the island the next day to discuss the surrender terms. The next morning, the navigator of "Charleston" went ashore with a message from Glass regarding the island's surrender. In the meantime, landing parties were formed from the ship's Marines and Bluejackets (armed sailors), under the command of Lieutenant Myers, and began to row ashore to disarm the Spanish garrison. Because the Spanish had no adequate defenses (the only cannon the American force could later locate were four antique cannon cast in the 16 and 1700s, deemed unsafe even for ceremonial purposes [http://www.spanamwar.com/Guam.htm] ) and were without powder for their cannon, Governor Marina surrendered, despite his protests of being attacked without any knowledge of the declaration of war.

urrender

The same day, the Spanish garrison and Governor Marina marched out and boarded the "Charleston". Glass went ashore and raised an American flag over the fortifications. His orders included destroying the island's forts, but Glass decided that they were in such disrepair that he left them as they were.

Aftermath

With Guam taken, Glass continued on his way to Manila. Guam has since remained under U.S. control, except when it was briefly captured by the Japanese Empire during World War II.

ee also

* History of Guam
* Battles of the Spanish-American War

References

* http://www.spanamwar.com/Guam.htm
* http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/chronphil.html