Saturday, December 10, 2011

TODAY IN HISTORY

THE BATTLE AT THE PLAZA DE ESPAÑA
GOVERNOR MC MILLIN SURRENDERS GUAM TO THE JAPANESE
December 10, 1941

The Japanese landed at Dungca's Beach (besides other places) in Tamuning sometime around 4AM on Wednesday, December 10 and made their way down towards Hagatña, shooting at anyone in their path.  By 445AM, they were in San Antonio district in Hagatña.  They came towards the Plaza de España from the northeast, by the front of the Cathedral.  The Guam Insular Force Guard (Chamorros) opened fire.  It was enough to keep the Japanese still for a little while, but the superior numbers of the Japanese made all opposition futile.  At around 545AM, three blasts from the horn of a car near the Governor's Palace sounded the end of all fighting.  Within the hour, Governor McMillin signed the papers surrendering the island government to the Japanese.

guamsliberation.com
Pedro Guerrero Cruz (left), Insular Guard member who manned one of the machine guns in the Plaza de España on December 10, 1941.

nps.gov
Capt. George McMillin, Governor of Guam, and family



For the next two-and-a-half years, the Japanese flag would fly over
Guam or Omiya Jima (Great Shrine Island)

No comments:

Post a Comment