The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-20
A CHANCE FOR A BIG WAR
GERMANS BURN THE AMERICAN
FLAG IN SAMOA.

Residences on the Island owned by
American Citizens Reduced to Ashes
Americans Taken as Prisoners on
the Teutonic War Ships-English
Naval Oficers Fired On.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19.-The steamer
Alameda arrived here this morning from
Samoa. A correspondent writing from
Ania Samoa, under date Of Jan. l, starts
ont With a declaration that a most serious
state Of affairs existed in Samoa. He gives
PARTICULARS of the affair of Dec IS, previ-
ously reported as to the main facts by
telegraph.
WHAT MADDENED THE GERMANS.
The correspondent summarizes his views
as follows; On the night Of Dec. IS some
sailors from the German men-of-war Adler,
Olsa and Elber attacked Mataafas soldiers
upder direction Of the German consul and
Capt Fritz, the senior German naval
officer in the port. AS a result of the en-
counter twenty-five German sailors were
killed and thirty-two wounded.
INSULTS TO AMERICA AND ENGLAND.
Since then the German war ships have
down United States flags, seized some
American citizens in the neutrality water of
Apia harbor and taken them prisoner on
board of the German-man-of-war.
ENGLISH NAVAL OFFICERS FIRED ON.
Boats crews from a German vessel in
command of an officer have shot at the
captlin and lieutenant of an English man
OF war.
THE EX-KING BROUGHT BACK.
APIA, SAMOA, Jan. 5.-On Dec - the
German mau-of-war Olga arrived from
Marshall Island, having on board the ex-
KIN, whom the Germans had decided to
bring back from Africa, where he had been
taken. On the night of Dec. l6 large
party Of German sailors, numbering lS0,
came ashore q. Apia and entered stores, sa-
looms ard native houses III search of Ameri-
cans, Englishmen and half castles They
entered the residence of George Scanlon,
the United States marshal in Apia. He
was not in, but the soldiers found him and
Morris Snyder, also an American, further
up the street, and, starting a quarrel,
stabbed both Of the Americans in the back
The Americans escaped to a native church,
where their wounds were dressed and found
not to be fatal.
swARdNG THE STREETS.
Germans sailors ran through the streets all
the persons they met, except Germans and
H adhereni of Tamaasee, and among the num-
Der were native women and children.
Fl Some of Mataafa's soldiers came in from
E the bush, and were anxious to begin shoot
h ing, but were urged by the United States
consul, MIR. Blackjack, not TO fire. On Dec.
II the United States consul sent protest to
the German consul serting that the con-
duct Of the Germans mad been outrageous,
aud had placed American lives and prop
erty IL jeopardy.
FoREWARNED OF AN ATTACK
/ At7o'clock on the morning Of Dec. II
the Olga left Apia ami steamed up the
] coast and returned last evening with Ia
massees secretary on board That night
the secretary wrote letter to his wife in
Apia, stating that the Germans would at
tack town named Mataafastele during
the night and would attack MataaIa's men
willie they wero sleeping. This town is
situated two miles above Apia. The
woman told the news to one of her rela
uveS in Apia, who in turn sent word to
Mataafas soldiers.
WAITING IN AMBUSH.
Before midnight 2l0 armed men had as.
sembed on the shore q snort distance above
the Englis consulate and, cOncealiug them
selves in the bush, waited for the Rppelr.
ance Of the German boats, which, it was
said, would contain a number Of Tamasese's q
men as veil as berman sailors, who had
been brought from Salafala. An American
newspaper man uafnol john Klein, accom-
panIeJ Mataafa's men to witness the battle
IN the interest Of his paper
APPROACH OF THE GERMANS.
About o'clock in the morning three
herman men-of-war appeared about half a
HAe ao We the British consu ate and were
uE'lnci iy se0n by the British consul. 1t
was evidently rheir intention to land and
sea TO Aataafastee on foot. The sol-
W,Fs OF MataGia gathered on shore and
ssA,d ar. Klein 70 ask the Germans not 70
EAa, Is IL would ba regarded as a hostile
az N.Y. and that they would be fired upon.
IlIs was shouted to them when their boats
were hity yards from shore Tho boats
.'-'s On The shore, when they received the
second warning.
CONCLUDED NOT TO LAND.
Two boats then pulled out toward the sea
@ a-l went O. village called Vailele. four
ME rom Apia. A third boat kept along
I 'eg goaS', 6-li still followed by Mataafa's
1us' When opposite Mataafastele a
a' pulei straight across tie bav to a
~ I.s1 yA the other extremity. The Ma
raa r'a'a cAIel, followed by eight or nine men.
~. a uld the edge of the bay to intercept
W. pla,, When opposite tie village Of
shore PN''0N iNPiHiy lo' the
MAKING A LANDING.
h.1t lle same moment three men on horse
sT4 -alfy ying Lanterns rose out Of the bush
S.. d. EIaHed the men in the boats,
s1J1,'aueousiy a number of German
,gt-- t-,s's rose from the bottom of the boat.
80 tueE hal been concealed, and began
ts5 e @ ashore Some of Mataafa's men
me e3Ae UP IN the meantime, and the Ger
dtl dim ,,3 o. gan shooting al them The Datives
sog, ',l ". return the fire. The Germans were
ri.i-a .alaed, and took shelter behind some
BEGINNING THE BATTLE.
ore1s3 o,''.Cn el as they gained this position tbev
fee, uIe on Mataafos men. Within a
bv tt' 5'les fully 200 shots had been firod
Il ,,..S i. uerInans and black laborers. native,
Go-r-se., N'anus, who were employed on the
N.ts'F1 p'4AtAtlons In the meantime. Tho
from I. Iei1Iolcements began 10 arrive
ie.y.. ''"'1 ..'l. Iastele, and as they came M.
the a.r'... ,,..tys Of firing could be beard from
ue. Hon ot Nailele, aud in a few min.
ua r." chief arrived and said
tasfo's mans were firing on Ma.
10 rst,..ueen ueen there, who we're afraid
bad s,rsat ," ,"e iire, although thelGermaus
s-r T,1l! Killed SayHy, a chief. ana his
s.sss tIs lief who came as me,sepeer
10 rs'g-.,.. hIeln # they fwould be justified
d.e.g.a. ths fire on the Germans. He
't't'4 lg.kIl. tI..... 80