New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09
THE CAPTURE OF GUAM.
STORY OF THE OFFICER TO WHOM THE
STANDARDS SURRENDERED.

Wheeling W Va Aug S.-The details Of the
bloodless capture of GUAM the largest OF the
Ladrone Islands, have reached this city In let
ter to Augustus Pollak from Lieutenant William
Braunersreuther. executive officer OF the cruiser
Charleston. The letter is as follows:
~. s. :. Charleston, at sea, ana one thou-
sand miles from Manila. June ~, 1919
I'VE have just carried out our orders 70 cap
ture the Spanish authorities at the capital OF the
Ladrone Islands, Agana | was selected py tne
captain to undertake this Job. and given lou
men TO land with A starter. | went ashore 10
have talk with the Governor about aHa'rs'
and the results were that did not lose even
single man. The matter was all settled IN one
day. and we are carrying with us hfty-four SOL
diers (Spanish) ard six officers. besides a lot or
Mauser rifles and nearly ten thousand ROUNDS
OF ammunition. had the whole TO handle. ana
did it up quickly. The captains instructions
were 10 wait half hour for his answer 70 our
ultimatum then use my troops | waited, anu
in Just twenty-nine minutes the Governor hand
cd me his sealed reply addressed to the captain
Of my ship out in the harbor. about four or fve
miles off
81 knew this was sealed with the sole object
Of gaining time, and hence I broke the seal. reao
the contents. the Governor protesting. and say
ing that was a letter for my captain. replied:
4 represent him here You are now my pris-
oners Seniors and will have to come on board
ship with me-
PROTESTS NOT Needed
They protested and pleaded. and finally the
Governor said You came on shore TO talk over
matters. and you make us prisoners instead
/ replied: I came on shore to hand you ie'ter
and to get your reply; in this reply now IN my
hand you agree to surrender all under your
Jurisdiction. II this means anything at all. IL
means that you will accede TO any demands
may deem proper to make. You VIII NJ once
write an order for your military man at Agana
(the capital; this place was five miles dlstahO'
directing him to deliver at this place at 4 p H.
Git was 1870 a. m. June I'D all amHu''i''o"
and flags the island, each soldier 10 or'ns
his own rife and ammunition, and all the SOL
diers native and Spanish. with their ofncers'
must witness this.
They protested and demurred. saying this
was not time enough TO do 1t; but SAID Ne"oi .
It must he done.
1.-THE letter was written. read by me ana sent
7 took all the officers with me In ooat' anu a.
4 n m went ashore again and rounded IN 'he
uho,a outfit I was three miles away from my
troops and had only four men with me. Al +
n M when disarmed los men and two officers
T had forty-six men and three ofhcers WIN
me.
"rhe KEYNOTE TO the whole business was my
breaking the seal OF that letter and acting ae
orce Tbev had no time TO delay or prepare
any treacherous tricks. and got the drop on
the whole outfit. as they say out west.
HAD TO ACT PROMPTLY
1.-The native troops were released ana allowed
10 return 10 their homes unrestricted; they had
manifested great Joy in being relieved from
Spanish rule While it was harsh 1t was war
and in connection with the Spanish treachery'
It was all that could he done. Twenty-rour
hours would have-yes. believe even four hours
with a leader such the Governor was, a lieu
tenant-colonel In the Spanish army-given them
a chance to hide along the road at Agana, ana
at intervals In the dense tropical foliage they
could have almost annihilated any force we
could land The approaches to the landing over
shallow coral reefs would have made a landing
without terrible loss OF life almost an I'M
pOssibfy-but all is well that ends We'll
I'VE have increased by conquest the popuia-
ton Of the United States by nearly l2,Uo peOo
pie The capital has a population or o.oO
pcople This harbOr in which We were. Is Deau-
tiful. easy of access. has plenty Of deep water,
admitting Of the presence of q large number OF
vessels at the same time, and Is an ideal place
for a coaling station. III our Governments ue
cides to hold the Philippines. 1t would then
come in SO well-San Francisco TO Honolulu,
. 100 miles. Honolulu to Island OF Guam 3ouD
miles and thence 10 Manila, 1000 miles. With
a chain Of supply stations like this We could
send troops the whole year round, II necessary.
and any vessel with steaming capacity or
3 500 miles could reach base Of supplies.
The details have scarcely touched upon, but
had the officers and soldiers dreamed for one
moment that they were 10 be torn from their
homes there would. | feel sure, have been an
other story to tell and am firmly convinced
this letter would never have been written.
The captain. in extending to me his con-
gratulations remarked: Braunersreuther. you'll
never as long you live have another ex-
perience such as this. | congratulate you on
your work
"Ai this whole affair transacted in Span
ish | had an interpreter with me. but forgot
all about using him | did not want them to
get chance to think even before 1t was too
late"