Everything about Capture Of Guam totally explained
United States
|combatant2=
Kingdom of Spain
|commander1=
Henry Glass
|commander2=
Juan Marina
|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 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. On
June 20, Glass arrived off the shore of Guam. He noticed a
Japanese ship anchored in the harbor.
Charleston fired upon the island from three of its cannons. The barrage apparently did no harm, since a ship flying the Spanish flag soon appeared, and the Spanish officer climbed aboard
Charleston and asked to borrow some powder from the Americans to 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.
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 and also began to row ashore. Because the Spanish had no adequate defenses (the only cannon the American force could later locate were four almost antique guns deemed unsafe even for ceremonial purposes
(External Link
)) and were without powder for their cannon, Governor Marina surrendered, despite his protests of being attacked without any knowledge of the
declaration of war.
Surrender
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. The
Philippines,
Wake Island, and
Hawaii all became U.S. possessions in the Pacific by the end of the war. Guam has since remained under U.S. control, except when it was briefly captured by the
Japanese Empire during
World War II.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Capture Of Guam'.
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