Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-22
FROM GERMAN SOURCES.
A Late Budget OF News from Samoa
Reporter Klein's Nationality.

A steamer, just arrived at San Francisco,
brings an interesting budget Of Samoan news
from the Honolulu Bulletin Of the 18th instant
The paper contains q consular letter dated at
Apia, January 80, to the different German con-
sulates, giving the German version Of recent
events in Samoa. Mataafa's men had driven
nearly all the black plantation men from their
land, Is well as robbing farms of pigs,
poultry and horses. The letter quotes
the order of Consul Knappe proclaimins
a state OF war, which alarmed the foreign resi-
dents. The searching of the Richmond's cargo
was rendered necessary from the fact that on
her previous trip she had imported $1,000
pounds Of ammunition in barrels marked salt
meat. Upon the arrest and subsequent re-
lease OF the ships passengers the English con-
sui issued a proclamation advising all British
subjects in the islands that Notwithstanding
the German declaration of war, they were sub
jeot to the jurisdiction Of the British
authority, and enioining them to observe
strict neutrality. This was dated January 90,
and pleased the English residents greatly. The
next move was a written notice by Capt Fritze,
Of the Adler, the senior naval officer of the
squadron, stating that. Notwithstanding the
proclamation of neutrality by the British con-
sui, he declared all British subjects in Samoa
to be under martial law. and that they would
be tried by court-martial if they should in any
way interfere with the German authorities.
This was severely criticised by the English and
Americans, and called forth explanations from
the Germans, who claimed it had been absolutely
necessary to declare war when war had been
the order of the day for about month. They
said that the effects and rights arising from
that declaration were the same as il declara-
ton OF war had been issued. and that martial
law had therefore with reason been proclaimed,
and all nationalities were subject to it. The
English consul issued another proclamation,
which bore the appearance of retracting some
what his previous publication.
United States Consul Blackjack then issued q
proclamation, dated January %, forbidding all
Americans from taking any part in the hostile
operations on either side. He declared that SO
long as they remained non-combatants they
were entitled to personal immunity and protec-
ton, and that any offense committed against
them or their property was an offense against
the laws of war, and should be promptly re-
ported to him, so that the offender or offend
ers might be brought to justice.
KLEIN's NATIONALITY
The German papers assert that Klein, the
American correspondent, was born at Lahr and
served as a sergeant in the German army dur
ing the Franco-Prussian war; and was subse-
quently compelled to leave Germany and went
to America. Word comes from San Francisco,
however. that Klein was born in England, his
mother being an English woman and his father
a Danish professor. The family came to the
United States when Klein was a child, and he
received an education thoroughly American.
In the house of commons yesterday Mr.W. H..
Smith, the government leader. referring to
the Samoan question: said that pending the
conference the government was unable to ex-
press any decided opinion on the subject,
although he might state that Germany had
strongly declared that she would not recede
from any of her engagements as to the rights
of Englishmen and Americans in Samoa.
The U. s. S. Monongahela sailed from Mare
Island, Cal. yesterday afternoon for Samoa.