The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-31

displaced 1875 tons and was a slow vessel
as things now go, being set down as little
over ten knots in speed. She sailed away
from the United States with $50 officers and
men aboard, making the total strength of
the American fleet at Samoa 500, or nearly
double the strength of the German forces.
The Olga bad 2G0 men, the Adler 1877
men and the Little Eber 81 men, yet with
one-half Of the number of American forces,
these unfortunate vessels appear to have
lost more than twice as many men. Some
naval officers think this is an Indication that
the American vessels had greater structure
strength than the German ships, or supe-
rior seamanship was shown.
A SERIOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS.
By the destruction OF the American fleet
at Aria the navy department finds itself
confronted with serious problem. Short
of the China station where there is a small
fleet OF old wooden vessels, at least one of
which can never hope to successfully cross
the pacific, there are almost no American
vessels worthy of the name in the Pacific
ocean which can be sent Immediately
to Samoa. 1t would not be wise policy to
allow affairs even there to drift along with
out the presence of one or more American
naval vessels. The hostile armed factions
on the island are no longer under the re-
straining influence of men-of-war repre-
senting any civilized nation, and property
rights at least might be insecure if life was
not in jeopardy.
THE MoNONGAHELA.
The Monongahela, an old store ship carry
ing a couple of howitzers, started with
stores for Samoa from Mares Island, Cali
fornia, Feb. 81, and should arrive in
week or two unless she encounters bad
weather. The Dolphin, the dispatch boat,
which is formidable through the possession
OF one great gun, might be ordered from
China, or the old Mohican, now at Panama,
might be sent to Samoa. But this about
completes the list of available ships, and
none Of them would worthily represent the
authority Of the United States. BY dint of
extra work the Charleston, now building at
San Francisco, might be gotten ready to
sail in about three weeks. But her batter
les would not be complete, and the govern
ment would be at great expense as the con
tractors would probably insist upon the
remission of the penalties already &C rued
for delay in the construction of the vessel
as a condition precedent to accelerated
work.
KIMBERLY's LETTER.
Admiral Kimberly's dispatch is taken to
indicate that he had already mailed an &C
count of the wreck. BY sharp work it NAV
have teen possible for him to have caught
the mail steamer which arrives at San
Francisco April Is next, in which case full
advices may be expected in Washington
about April 20. The following telegram
was received at the department of state
this afternoon.
BERLIN, March so, 1889, 1851 Pm
To Secretary Blame, Washington. d. C.:
The foreign Office has been officially informed
that in tYphoon at Apia the Eber and Adler
were totally lost, and that ninety sailors are
dead. The Olga stranded with no losses. Three
American and all the mercantile vessels in the
port were lost. Sixty Americans are dead. The
English war ship was damaged and has gone to
Sydney. PENDLEToN.
THE LEADING TOPIC.
The loss of officers, men aud ships ia Apia
harbor has been the universal topic in
Washington to-day, not only at the de-
partme is and the clubs, but at all social
gatherings, for the officers and the ship;
were well known here. There was painful
anxiety among the relatives and friends Of
the officers on the thre1 ships after
they read the bare announcement
in the morning newspapers that
four American officers had been
lost. Until Secretary Tracy got his dis
patch from Admiral Kimberly which re-
lieved all but the frie ds of Shoemaker,
Ames, Sutton and Roche, none OF whom
had any relatives here The President and
the ladies Of his family had friends on the
ships, especially Lieut. r. N. G. Brown,
husband of Mrs. McKea's great friend the
daughter of ex-senator Davis of West
Virginia, and we're greatly CON
first question asked by everybody waI
why the American and the German men
Of war had not gone to sea like tie English
men? The reply is, that each squadron vas
watching the other aud was afraid 10 leave
the harbor. The President and the Secretary
of the Navy fully acquit Admiral Kimberly |
of all blame Admiral Kimber.v is ex- |
pec Ted to have his hands full now keeDinr |
peace in Samoa. for Mataafa. with his 3. OO] |
men. can easily capture Tamasese and |
his 100 and all the Germans on the island. |
and hold them in hostage for the return of |
Malietoa. Admiral Kimberly has been in |
structed to protect Germans and maintail |
the st1ty q,to. The state department does |
not want any more trouble in Samoa before |
the conference meets ia Berlin
Anv1crs To cvpv.vv
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