Some thought the expedition was to hoist the American flag over the Caroline Islands and remain there until reinforcements arrived for a stronger descent upon Manila.

[10] Along with the sealed orders were warnings of possible Spanish men-o-war in San Luis d'Apra, the main port of Guam, and notification of it being protected by a heavy battery of guns.

Definite information of the size of the Spanish garrison was not given, and in the absence of direct knowledge, Glass had to assume that there might be more than a thousand fighting men on the island who were thoroughly familiar with the terrain.

[10] It was soon noticed by the troops that Charleston expected a fight, since the cruiser began firing subcaliber ammunition at boxes tossed from the City of Peking.

This mild training continued until the afternoon of 15 June when Charleston started circling and firing service charges at pyramidal cloth targets set adrift from the cruiser.

The range was about 2 mi (1.7 nmi; 3.2 km), and the gun crews (which were composed largely of recruits who had not seen combat, under the command of Second Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers) were shooting accurately enough to cause Glass to smile pleasantly.

The captain of the port, the naval surgeon, and a native Chamorro named José Paloma got into a boat furnished by Francisco Portusach and went out to welcome the visitors.

They were then paroled for the day when they promised to return to Agana to inform the governor of the war and notify him to appear on board the American ship immediately.

[13] Francisco Portusach, an American citizen, agreed to provide the crew the use of two lighters and a boat to transfer coal from City of Peking to the bunkers of Charleston.

[13] When he arrived home, a letter was waiting for Francisco from Governor Marina which said: "If you give any assistance to the American men of war, you will be executed tomorrow morning at the beach.

It would give me great pleasure to comply with his request and see you personally, but, as the military laws of my country prohibit me from going on board a foreign vessel, I regret to have to decline this honor and to ask that you will kindly come on shore, where I await you to accede to your wishes as far as possible, and to agree as to our mutual situations.

"[15] Then Braunersreuther called the governor's attention to the fact that only 30 minutes were allowed for a reply, and casually reminded him of the three transports loaded with troops and the formidable war vessel in the harbor.

Braunersreuther, amid protestations from the governor, broke the seal and read the message which contained a notification of the surrender of the island of Guam.

Braunersreuther replied that he had merely been instructed to deliver a letter and since he was now in possession of an offer of complete surrender, the Americans were permitted to make any demand they wished.

Afterward, Marina and his staff were taken to City of Sydney after sending an order to Agana for the Spanish soldiery and native militia to be at Piti landing no later than four o'clock that afternoon.

Lieutenant John Twiggs Myers, later known for his command during the Boxer Rebellion, marched the Marines through the boathouse and lined them up so that the Spanish and native troops were between the Americans and the ocean.

Glass went ashore and raised an American flag over the fortifications while the bands aboard Australia and City of Peking played "The Star-Spangled Banner".