The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-08
CAPTURE OF LADRONE CAPITAL
sHREWD WORII BY THE CHARLES
TONS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

TcnFing Open OF n Note Addressed to
the Commander of the Cruiser Be-g
Iieved TO Have Fooled Any COnten@
plated Resistance by the Spanish
GOvernOr-HnrbOr Affords "A VaIu-
able Conling station for United
Stntes Navy.
Wheeling, w. Va, Aug. THE first de-
tails at first hand of the bloodless capture
of the principal OF the Ladrone Islands
reached Wheeling to-day in letter to
Hon. Augustus Pollak from the naval Of
ncer who figured in the leading role Of The
exploit Lieut.. William Braunersreuther.
executive officer of the cruiser Charleston.
The letter follows:
~. s. S. Charleston, At Sea- and 1900
miles from Manila, June "A, 1s9S-We have
just carried out our orders to capture tho
Spanish authorities at the capital of the
Ladrone Islands, Agana. 1 was selected by
the captain to undertake this job and
given 100 men to land with as a starter I
went ashore 10 have a talk with the gov
ernor about affairs and the results We're
that l did not lose even a single man. The
matter was all settled in one day, and we
are carrying with us hflyfour soldiers
(Spauish) and six officers, besides a lot OF
Mauser rifles and nearly 10000 rounds OF
ammunition. l had the whole to handle
and did II up quickly.
"The captains instructions were to wait
"a half-h hour for his answer to the ultima
tum, then use my troops. I waited and in
just % minutes the governor handed me
his sealed reply, addressed to the captain
of my ship out in the harbor about four or
1--WE miles off.
II knew this was sealed with the sole OBJ
ject Of gaining time, and hence broke the
seal, read the contents, the governor pro-
testing and saying that was a letter for my
captain. / replied Il represent him here.
You are now my prisoner. senors, and wiil
have to come on board ship with me-"
"They protested and plead, and finally
the governor said: You came on shore to
talk over matters, and you make us pris-
oners instead
Il replied, I came on shore TO hand you
a letter and TO get your reply; in this re-
ply now In my hand you agree to sur
render all under your jurisdiction If this
means anything at all, it means that you
will accede TO any demands l may deem
proper to make. You win at once write
an order to your military man at Agana
(the capital This place was five miles
dstanO directing him TO deliver at this
place at p. m. dt was then lO:30 a. ri,
June 2D all ammunitions and flags on the
island and each soldier 20 bring his own
rifle and ammunition and all the soldiers,
native and Spanish. with their officers,
must witness this.
"They protested and demurred, say
ing there was not time enough to do It.
But l said, 'senors, it must be DONE
THE letter was written, read by me,
and sent l took all the officers with me
in a boat at p. m, went ashore again
and rounded in the whole outfit. l was
three miles away from my troops, and had
only four men with me. At p. m,
when i dsarmed l0S men ana two officers,
/ had forty-six men and three officers
with me.
"The key note 10 the whole business
was my breaking the seal Of his letter and
acting at once. They had no time 70 de-
lay or prepare any treacherous tricks, and
| got the drop on the whole OUTFIT as
they say Gus West.
"rhe native troops / released and allow
ed to return to their homes unrestricted;
they had manifested great joy IN being
relieved from Spanish rule While it was
harsh Il was war, and in connection with
the Spanish treachery it was all that
have-yes, believe even four hours with
a leader such as the governor was, a leu
tenant colonel in the Spanish army-given
them chance to hide along the road at
Agana and at intervals in the dense trop-
ical foliage they could have almost anni-
hiiated any force we could land The ap-
prOaches to the landing over shallow coral
reefs would have made a landing without
terrible loss Of life, almost an impossibiu-
ty-but, all Is well that ends well.
I'VE have increased by conquest the
population of the United States by nearly
1900 people. The capital has a popua-
tion of 5000 people. This harbor In which
we were is beautiful, easy of access, plen-
ty Of deep water and admitting of the
presence Of a large number Of vessels at
the same time, and is an ideal place for a
coaling station.
IF our government decides to hold the
Philippines 1t would then come in so well;
San Francisco to Honolulu, 2i00 miles,
Honolulu to Island OF Guiana $780, and
thence to Manila 1850 miles. With
chain OF supply stations like this we could
send troops the whole year round if nee
essary and any vessel with steamlng
capacity Of $500 miles could reach base
of supplies.
THE details I have scarcely touched
upon but had the officials and soldiers
dreamed for one moment that they We're 10
be torn from their homes, there would [
feel sure, have been another story 10 tell
and l am firmly convinced this letter would
never have been written
'The captain, in extending to me his con-
gratulations, remarked: 'Braunersreuther
you'n never as long as you live have an
other experience such as this / congratu-
late you on your work"
AN this whole affair was transacted In
Spanish. / had an interpreter with me- but
forgot all about using him. / did not want
them to get chance 20 think even before
It was too late"
TURKEY REFUSES TO PAY.