Ze880

Ze880. I selected this picture thinking it is in the Philippines. If I’m right, this picture is a big surprise! The Marines got it wrong when they labeled this ship HMS Cormoran, circa 1909. It must be the German Auxiliary Cruiser SMS Cormoran and it should be circa 1914 to 1917. The Marines can claim that they fired the first shot in WW One at the SMS Cormoran in Guam. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

A brief history from this URL: https://www.visitguam.com/smscormoranguam/a-brief-history/

The SMS Cormoran II initially came to Guam in December 1914 out of coal and weary from avoiding enemies throughout the Pacific. While the US was not involved in World War I, Guam’s military governor decided against refueling the vessel, but did allow the German sailors to come ashore. The Cormoran and her crew stayed in Guam for two and a half years, becoming very friendly with the people until the day the United States officially entered World War I.

On that day, with the US now at war with Germany, the Guam military governor ordered Captain Adalbert Zuckschwerdt to surrender the Cormoran. Unaware of the new conditions, a supply boat returning to the Cormoran with supplies failed to stop when ordered to by US sailors who then fired a warning shot over its bow. This was the first official shot fired by the US in World War I.

Rather than surrender his ship, Captain Zuckschwerdt decided it would be more patriotic to scuttle her instead, which he did. For the next 26 years, the SMS Cormoran II lay undisturbed on the sea floor, until August 27, 1943. On this day, a US submarine torpedoed the Tokai Maru, a Japanese freighter during World War II. The Tokai Maru came to rest lying perpendicular against the Cormoran. The two ships are the only place in the world where divers can touch shipwrecks from two different World Wars at the same time.

Ze879

Ze879. The drydock Dewey in the Navy Yard of the Olongapo Naval Station, circa 1910. The mountain behind the drydock is the PLDT Mountain which has the communication towers on top, these days. I have been on that mountain several times. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze878

Ze878. This looks like a neat small native hut but the USMC Archive doesn’t say where. But it is safe to assume that it could have been in Olongapo circa 1910. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze877

Ze877. The Marine Corps officers wore riding breeches and boots after all, so the horses were not gone completely at this time; this picture is in Olongapo next to the officer bungalows located along the waterfront of the Olongapo Harbor, circa 1910. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze876

Ze876, Two officer bungalows on the waterfront of the Marine Corps area in the Naval Station Olongapo circa 1910; not exactly triple A accommodations. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze875

Ze875. This must be the future Dewey Ave. circa 1907-11, it is amazing wide already and I see only one lonely restaurant. This view must be towards Kalaklan Ridge. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze870

Ze870. A warship, circa 1909, the picture says Subic Bay but I wonder whether that is correct; the mountain profile doesn’t seem to match.

Ze869

Ze869. The USMC Band Barracks, one of the two barracks on that side of the future George Dewey Ave., circa 1909 The other 5 barracks are on this side. The people in white may be a school class and other children are hanging around in front of the barracks. I see a long ladder leaning on the barracks and Marine seems to be marching towards us with a rifle. Some of the ground is muddy and I see some one did walk thru mud, perhaps the man with the push card; look at the tracks.

Ze874

Ze874. A view from the backdoor of one of the officer’s bungalow across the Olongapo Harbor. The near shoreline is the today Boton area and on the nearest high peak is where the former Naval Hospital was. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.

Ze873

Ze873. Olongapo and Olongapo Naval Station, circa 1910. The Mountain profile in back has not changed, that is the way it still looks today. This is a picture of the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis collection in the U.S.M.C. archives.