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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Caspar F. Goodrich to Colonel Sanchez Pieron

U.S.S.NEWARK,          

Manzanillo, Cuba,

August 12th, 1898,

Sir:-

          I have the honor to present my compliments to your excellency and to make, in the name of the United States, the following demands:

          1.   The unconditional surrender of Manzanillo and its dependencies, with all the Spanish forces therein, military and naval, regular and volunteer, civic guards and firemen; also of all vessels of every description now afloat in the harbor, the latter to be delivered to me intact and uninjured. Also of all guns in the fortifications with their ammunition, mounts and appurtenances; all field guns with their carriages and caissons, as well as ammunition and equipment; all in efficient condition.

          2.   The police department and fire department to deliver up their arms, but to continue on duty as before.

          3.   The civil authorities will retain the exercise of their functions during the pleasure of the United States.

          4.   All lights, beacons, buoys and other aids to navigation shall be continued as before, and the authorities both military and civil must assist to the utmost in replacing and re-establishing any buoys which have been removed. The light on Cape Cruz shall be immediately lighted and maintained. The charge for this service shall be born by the United States.

          5.   Public property of every description belonging to His Majesty the King of Spain1 shall be turned over to the custody of the United States. Seals and guards shall be placed by you upon any such property which is liable to pillage or destruction.

          6.   All telegraph lines, instruments and offices shall be kept by you intact and handed over to me in perfect working order.

          7.   As the religious authorities will be left undisturbed in the exercise of their holy office they will be expected to diligently and actively exert their influence to preserve order and quiet.

          8.   If the foregoing conditions be accepted and carried out in good faith, the same treatment and disposition which were granted to the Spanish troops at Santiago will be extended to the forces surrendered by you.

          9.   These terms must be accepted immediately. If you decline them, I pray your Excellency to immediately notify all women and children and other non-combatants, now present, of my intention to bombard and assault Manzanillo within 3 hours from the moment of handing you this communication. Upon your Excellency’s head will then rest the grave responsibility of causing needless bloodshed. Begging your Excellency to accept the assurances of my distinguished consideration,2 I am;

Your obedient servant, 

             

Captain, U.S.Navy,

Commanding the U.S.Naval Forces present

Delivered at

     ...12...30...P...M, August...12th..., 1898.

          ______________________________________

                             Lieutenant, U.S.N.3

Source Note: CbCy, DNA, RG 313, Entry 45, pp. 455-56. Addressed before opening: “TO/HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MILITARY OFICER IN CHIEF-COMMAND/AT MANZANILLO, CUBA:.”

Footnote 1: King Alfonso XIII.

Footnote 2: This surrender demand was never delivered. See: Goodrich to Sampson, 13 August 1898.

Footnote 3: Lt. Victor Blue, commander of the gunboat Alvardo, was to deliver this surrender demand but his vessel was fired on before he reached Manzanillo. See: Goodrich to Sampson, 13 August 1898.

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