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

The Capture of the Island of Guam
pointed out in all accounts of Guam's
capture is that the Spaniards there
knew nothing of the war. True, they did
not, and this fact was shown by their
coming off shore in an official boat with
the "red and yellow" waving over its
stern. The visitors who so approached
were the captain of the port, the quarantine officer, and an interpreter, with the
ever-present Spanish padre. The officials
with their interpreter were received in the
cabin by Captain Glass, Executive Officer
Blocklinger, and Navigator Braunersreuther. There was absolutely no apology
onaccountof their supposingthat the shots
which had been fired at Fort Santa Cruz
were in the nature of a salute. They were
informed in the first speech made to them
that AmeTica and Spain were at war, and
that they were prisoners. They stated
their helplessness as regards defenses.
The only mention of the word "salute"
caine from Lieutenant-Commander Gutierrez, who said: "Why, Captain, we
are without defenses at this port, as all of
our forts have been dismantled. If it
were only that you were entitled to a
salute from us, we could not have fired it
except from Agaiia, as we have not even a
field-piece on this bay." Historians who
have covered this event have painted these
Spaniards as coming over the Charleston's
side with uncovered heads, and bending
low in apology at their inability to return
the salute which they supposed the
Charleston had fired. All very pretty
from the standpoint of the writer who
desires to belittle the efforts of a brave,
daring commander who did his duty, and
did it well, but mighty poor history to
those who know the facts! These
Spaniards knew that the Charleston had
"swatted" their ancient fort with solid
shot, and they never for a moment considered these shots a salute. They never
attempted to define it as such; and one
or two of the chroniclers who have given
out the salute theory as part of their
/4
U. S. S. Monitor Afonadnzock in the Harbor of
229
San Luis d'Apra, Island of Guam