The Capture of the Island of Guam [pp. 225-233]

THE CAPTURE OF THE ISLAND OF GUAM
THE TRUE STORY-BY DOUGLAS WHITE
A FEW FACTS BASED ON PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF HOW UNCLE SAM BECAME POSSESSED OF
HIS SMALLEST TERRITORY
A DEAL has been written from time
to time regarding the capture by
the U. S. S. Charleston of what is
to-day Uncle Sam's smallest possession
the island of Guam. IMany of the historiarns who have attemnpted a description
of this little( event of war have dealt with
the affair in a facetious vein, giving to the
incident many features which it did not
possess in their endeavor to blend a touch
of comedy into the story of what was to
provoking ones, which have been given
forth a!s, the real story of how the Charleston, commanded by Captain Henry Glass,
took the Ladrones.
The original orders told the cruiser to
proceed to Guam and capture or destroy
any Spanish fighting craft or defenses to
be found there. With these orders information was forwarded which tended to establish the fact that the harbor of Agafia,
or the anchorage six miles farther to the
Main Street in Agafia, Guam's Capital
the participants an extremely serious occasion. Among these writers who have
taken upon themselves the task of telling
how Guam became a portion of the United
States there is not one who of his own
knowledge can vouch for the incidents
which he relates, and perforce of this fact
many mistakes-it is to be hoped unintentional ones —have been put into print.
In relating the veritable facts which
made up the story of Guam's capture I
must therefore negative some of the
serious statements, and all of the mirth VOL. xxxv - 15
south, contained one and possibly two of
the gun-boat fleet which Spain maintained in her Oriental waters. This information came directly from the Navy
Department and further told Captain
Glass that the harbor of San Luis d'Apra
was guarded by a battery of modern guns.
The existence of these guns was vouched
for by reputable travelers who had visited
the islands during the last few years
before 1898. A vague question of doubt
was expressed as to the size of Spain's
garrison at Agafia, the islands' capital,