The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06
SAMOAN CORRESPONDENCE.

German Aggressiveness-.-A New
sBraddOck.s Defeat,.--A Fires
Queer Fire Apparatus--.IrreguIa
Martial Law.-.MalfetOa.s Superior
ity.
APIA, SAMOAN ISLANDS,
January 81, 1899.
Dear Neighbour, ~
Since last writing you on the subject
of the civil war in these Islands, affairs
have assumed quite new phase.
On the 18th of December the Ger
man men-of-war Olga, Adler, and
Eber landed troops of Vaileli, viii
lage three miles east of Apia, and al
tackled o division of Malietoa's army.
Owing to the nature of the country the
fighting was nearly all in the bush"
and among the cocoa-nut groves.
This placed the foreign soldiers at a
great disadvantage whilst Malietoa's
men were perfectly "at home.n After
the Germans opened fire, Malietoa re-
strained his troops, not wishing to
come into open war with Germany, If
it could be avoided. In a few mo-
ments, however, it was ascertained
that Chief and his two sons had been
killed, and then Malietoa opened fire
upon his enemies. 1t must have SEEM
ed to the Germans that every tree was
q warrior and every limb rifle, so
fierce and deadly was the fire poured
into their ranks from all sides. At the
first volley two officers and eighteen
privates fell, and at once the Germans
became demoralized and began pre-
cip;tate retreat. In this movement
they were closely pressed by the ma
tives, and q large number took refuge
in barn near by, where they were
completely surrounded by the Samo-
ans, who riddled the house with bullets,
killing five of the Germans, and
wounded thirty-two more. The Sa-
means lost only five, killed and wound
ed.
This disaster greatly disconnected
the Germans and the captains of the
men-of-war have been trying to throw
the responsibility Of the action upon
the consul, whilst the latter has retali-
ated by having the German citizens of
Apia hold a meeting and express their
belief that the affair was wholly due
to the ship captains. From what ] can
learn of the matter, am persuaded
that the Consul is entirely to blame in
the case.
The slain Germans were buried ,on
the 18th ultimo, with usual military
ceremonies, officers and men from the
American and English ships attend
ling.
Officers from the American and Ger
man ships were sent to Auckland.
New Zealand, on the next Pacific mail
steamer, to cable to their respective
governments the state of affairs and
receive instructions as to future action.
On the morning Of January 8, fire
broke out in the Kitchen of the Ger
man consul, and owning to the crowd
ed locality, it was quickly commnui-
Gated othe surrounding buildings. AS
soon as the fire was discovered sailors
from the ships in harbor were sent
ashore to assist in extinguishing the
flames and in saving property. The
crew of the Nipsic, In charge of ofii-5
GERS of the ship, was the first to arrive,
bringing hoes, axes and other fire ap-
paratus; next were the English sail
ors similarly equipped, and last were
the Germans armed with rifles and
cutlasses. The tardiness of the Ger
mans in coming to the rescue of Ger
man property, (the frewas confined to
buildings owned by people of that ma
tionality,) and their peculiar equip
ments, are worthy of mention. In
stead of going to work like everyone
else on the spot, they simply mustered,
and stood still. After more than two
hours of inaction they commenced
work, but kept their rifles slung across
their backs. The only explanation Of
this singular proceeding that l have
heard is that the Germans were afraid
the fire was started by Malietoa, and
that he was lying in wait for them in
case they should come ashore to assist
in putting out the flames. Since then
it has been fully established that the
fire originated in the German kitchen
whilst the cook was preparing food for
parties in the consulate who were hold
| inc midnight orgie. The losses re-
sulting from the fire amounted to
about 100000, half OF it being
covered by insurance. Copra (dried
cocoa-nuts) burned for six days after
the fire, although frequent heavy rains
fell uDon it during that time.
The German Consul proclaimed war
between Germany and Malietoa on the
10Th of January, and at tonce announced
Martial Law to be in effect in Samoa.
Because of the irregular manner in
which the proclamation was issued
both the American and British Con-
suls refused to recognize it, and conf
manded their subjects TO recognize
only the legal representatives of their
respective governments. On the 23rd
instant, however, the steamship
''Wainui" arrived from Wellington
New Zealand where it had been charter
ed by the Germans to bring dispatches
from the Imperial Government in Ber-
lin. immediately after receiving these
advices, Capt. Fritze, of the Adler,
proclaimed the war again this time
it was legally dnne, and by the senior
military officer esent,-whereupon
the American and British Consuis re-
cognized it, except as to the establish
ment of Martial Law. This exception
was made because the Germans had
not occupied the territory, and there
fore could not, of course, maintain the
law they had proclaimed. Much an
noyance hasbeen occasioned by these
tickle movements, and great regret is
felt that Great Britain and the United
States have not sent instructions to
their representatives, as it is conceded
on all sides that, hy uniting, these two
great powers could at once stop the
war, and settle the Samoan difficulties
in iust-ifn not tisfactory-manner
for all parties concerned.
Since the German attack in Decem-
her. the usurper, Tamasese, has made