The Indianapolis journal., 1889-01-25

How the Utterance Is Regarded by Cover
ment Officials and Congressman.

How the Utterance Is Regarded by Govern
ment Officials and Congressman.
WASHINGTON, Jan. A.-Dispatches have
been received at the State Department from
Mr.. Pendleton, the American minister at
Berlin in regard to the Samoan question.
Their contents are withheld from publicity,
except some extracts from German news
papers giving accounts of, and commenting
upon the fight in which so many Germans
lost their lives. The previous languid tone
of the press in regard to Samoan Affairs was
quickened to fever heat by Das kleine
Journal of Berlin, of the 9TH instant which
says:
According to official reports from Apia OF the
2Sth OF December, the landing corps OF the Olga
was sent to accompany the German consul 10 the
scene of war of the natives, IN consequence OF the
destruction of German property and bodily in
suits 10 men of the marine while on leave, the
consul going there for the purpose of instititing
a disarmament. On the way to the Boilele plan
tation the landing corps OF the Olga was, by sur
prise attacked by the insurrectionists under the
leadership of the American Klein. A landing be-
ing thereupon made by the landing corps of the
Olga, the cruiser Adler and the glIn-boat Eber,
the natives were thrown back and several OF
their villages situated on the coast destroyed.
Lieutenant Sieger and fifteen men were killed.
Lieutenants Spengler and Burchardt, as well az
thirty-six men wounded. A victory; but
costly one, and not one to be feloiced over. The
German meddling in the quarrels of the Kings,
Mataafa, Malietoa and Tamasese, has been
hailed with rejoicing from several quarters for
the reason that the final result of the business
was expected TO be the occupation of Samoa by
the German empire. England and the United
States do not however, agree TO such a con-
summation, and now we have even lost num-
ber of men in battle with the despised islanders;
a leaf in the history of our colonial policy;
laurel leaf, but what sort of onei
The other extracts are of the same gen.
eral tenor. and indicate clearly the press
opinion that the Germans intend TO compel
peace on the islands by disarrning the ma
tives. The dispatches were the subject of
general discussion in this city this evening.
An effort was made to obtain the views of
Secretary Bayard on the subject this after
noon, but without success. A representa-
tive of the Associated Press was, however,
accorded brief interview with him this
evening, just as he was leaving his resi-
dence to attend the state dinner at the
White House. He said that he had read
the dispatches in question, but it would not
be proper for him to discuss their subject
matter at this time He did not know who
wrote the article in the North German Ga
zette nor what authority he had for his
statements. Consequently. he could not
assume them TO be official, and they might.
after all. prove to be mere newspaper
gossip. He said, further, that, although
Germany may have larger interests in
Samoa than the United States it had no
better or later information from that
country than the United States. In regard
to the statement that Germany would vio-
late no treaty in acquiring an ascendency
in Samoa, Mr.. Bayard called attention TO
the declaration concerning the boundaries
of the German and English dominions in
the West Pacific ocean, signed at Berlin.
April 6, 1856. by Count Bismarck on the
part Of Germany, and Sir Edward Malet ON
tht part of Great Britain. Mr.. Bayard said
he thought this agreement precluded Ger
man acquisition IN Samoa. and that she
was bound 10 respect the rights of that
island. This declaration, after de-
fining the boundaries of the re-
spectiye possessions of the two countries
in the West Pacific ocean. provides
that neither of them will make any acquisi-
tions Of o:hsr territory, nor essablish 49,