Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-21
CONGRESS- MAY TAKE A HAND
The Flag of Our Union Torn Down and American Citizens Arrested In Neutral Waters-Oficers of British Vessel Also Shot At-The vandalia Sails,

burned the American houses and torn down
 the United States flags, besides seizing some
 or the American citizens in neutral waters
 Of Apia harbor and taking them as prisoners
 on board the German men of war
 The captain and lieutenant of an English
 man of war were also shot at by the boats | crew of German man of war
 Yesterday afternoon the man of war Van
 dalla left Mare Island navy yard, in this
 harbor, bound for the Samoan Islands. the
 present seat of warlike disturbances
 The San Francisco Examiner prints lon 2
 letter from its correspondent at Apia, which describes the assault made by the Germans
 and their repulse, and pictures in detail the
 hiring on the American flag and American
 houses and the assault as made on the Ameri-
 can residents. Speaking of the matter edi- | tor1ally The Examiner says: ''It is easy to
 see why the German officials spread reports
 of American interference. They had treated
 American citizens and the American flag | with indi2nlties that demanded exemplary
 reparation, and they thought 1t advisable to | put in counter complaint in time. In the devastation of Samoan towns they seemed to | take especial pains to single out the property of Americans for destruction"
 While the United States man of war Adams was at Apia early in December 1t appears that an Americans house was in-
 vaded and his country's flag found therein
 cut to pieces by Tamasese's men from the stronghold at Mulinuu Point. Capt. Leary.
 of the Adams, sent a categorical question to the German consul as to whether Tamasese's headquarters were under German protec- tion or not. Failing to get a reply iwithin reasonable time, the captain of the Adams
 began making arrangements for landing a
 battalion and throwing up Qualifications facing Tamasese's fort He was determined. if no satisfaction were given for the out rage, to march his men upon Tamasese's stronghold and take that chieftain prisoner
 The intention of the captain becoming known, great commotion ensued in Tama- sese's camp, and at 10 o'clock on the same night the evacuation of Mulinuu point was begun with vigor. The Adams sailed from Apia prior to the occurrence of Dec IS, and Is now at Honolulu,
 The Chronicle says that concurrent testi- mony of the action of the Germans shows that the Germans brought upon themselves the fate that overlook them, as it was not until two of Mataafa's chiefs were killed that he ordered his men to fire on the Germans The marines were only saved from exter- imitation by the prompt arrival of their gun boats
 One Samoan correspondent says Mataafa has threatened that if the Germans again attack his men he will destroy all the Ger man property on the islands
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 21-At the state de- partment and at the German legation there Is considerable anxiety and apprehension concerning the state of affairs at Samoa. The German minister keeps his mouth closed. and eludes, as far as possible, all interview CTS. Secretary Bayard says as little as he can make serve tho purpose The secretary said to correspondent that the state depart ment had not received any information of, an alarming character from Samoa since he transmitted all the correspondence on the subject to congress last week. Subseauentl dispatches, he says, are rather of reassuringI character
 'Fhe lives and property and treaty rights Of all Americana said the secretary, ''will| be protected, and so will the Samoans in \ their right to self government without any interference from without. In confirmation or this statement, the secretary referred to his communication of Jan. 12 to the German minister, in which this language is used:
 Il received with especial satisfaction your assurance of the intentions of your govern ment to maintain and carefully respect the treaty rights of this government under all circumstances, and this, as stated to you. necessarily included respect for the existence of Samoa's autonomy and independence, which is the basis of the three treaties with the United States, Germany and Great Britain, the first named being earliest in date"
 "Rear Admiral Kimberly, commanding our naval forces in the Pacific, has been ordered to proceed in his flagship, the Trenton, to Apia I have great confidence in his wisdom and benevolent discretion as well as in that of the naval commanders of the other national vessels which have been sent by their respective governments to the Samoan waters to promote a satisfactory arrangement. take it for granted that the | same spirit of comity and perception of the equal rights of all three treaty powers which induced your government to invite the active cooperation of the United States in restoring law and order in Samoa will cause instructions embodying the same prin- ciples of friendly justice and considerate moderation in framing 6 plan of settlement to be sent to tho German officers in con- mand of the imperial forces in that region. There is no obscurity in the several treaties and none whatever in the understanding proposed by the United States, first arrived | at between the treaty powers in June, 1886, and since then from time to time set forth | in their correspondence. On Jan. IT last the | views of this government were fully con- ! veyed to the government of Germany by my l instructions of that date to our minister at | Berlin, and have since that time undergone | no change, and no intimation of dissent l therefrom by the government of Germany | has since that time been received"
 T think" said the secretary, "that the l tenor of that communication, taken in con- junction with Secretary Whitney's instruc- tion to Admiral Kimberly, meet the situa- tion at Samoa as it has been represented to us. In Secretary Whitney's telegraphic in- structions to Admiral Kimberly, who is to start for Samoa immediately on the frigats Trenton, the secretary said:
 "'You will at once proceed to Samoa and extend full protection and defense to Ameri- can citizens and property. You will consult with the American vice consul, examine his archives and otherwise inform yourself as to the situation and all recent occurrences. Protest against the subjugation and displace- nsnt of the native government of Samoa by Germany as in violation of positive agree