On June 21, 1898, 230 years of Spanish rule over the Pacific island of Guam came to an end when U.S. forces informed the local governor that a state of war existed between the nations. The isolated Spanish garrison consisting of just 54 men and two officers was completely oblivious to global geopolitics. They mistakenly assumed the explosive warning shots fired by the cruiser USS Charleston (shown) were a friendly, ceremonial military salute.
Because the last mail ship from Spain had arrived months prior, the Spanish governor was entirely unaware that the Spanish-American War had even broken out. When the Americans landed, the Spanish authorities actually apologized for not firing a reciprocal salute, explaining they were entirely out of gunpowder. Realizing they were completely outmatched, the Spanish surrendered the vital island territory within hours without a single drop of blood being spilled.
Image by RADM Ammen Farenholt, navy.history.mil via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.
