Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-28
THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Secretary Whitney,s Communications The Protection of Cur Naval officers A Dispatch From Auckland.

secretary Whitney's Communications The Protection of cur Naval officers l A Dispatch From Auckland.
 l WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The following is a | communication from the navy department to
 the Secretary of State:
 NAVY DEPARTMENT,
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1889.
 Sir-Enolosed herewith send you 8 copy of dispatch just received by the way of New Zealand, from the captain of the Nipsic. now at Samoa. The department is able to send immediately two additional vessels to Samoa
 in response to this request and has given di-
 rections that they be made ready to receive
 sailing orders, and would be pleased to
 strengthen the force at the Samoan Islands.
 by these and other vessels of the Pacific
 squadron, if any useful purpose is to be
 served thereby. If, however, the purpose Of the German government, now made entire
 ly clear, imposes no duty upon the officers
 of the squadron, to strengthen the naval force at those islands, would only place the officers under irritating conditions with no duty to perform, and would in all probabili- ty give rise to trouble. The Nipsio is entire lv adequate for the protection of our consult ate and as an asylum for non-cembatsnts en- titled to the protection of our government. In view of the critical situation at the Sa- moan Islands, it seems to the department that the officers of the squadron, if further vessels are to be dispatched: should receive instructions ot a definite char acter as to their duty in the premises.
 From the correspondence heretofore held between the Department of State and the German government, and from the reports just received from our naval officers and the consular agency at the island, it appears clear that the conquest of those islands is intended by the German government in the interests Of commercial company and is being con- summated by overt acts which are multiply ing day by day. There is no longer any other pretext upon which can be explained the in reference of the German men, -of-war in the contest in progress upon the island of Apia. apprehend that the officers of the navy will not understand without de~ finite advices to that effect what may be their duty under the circumstances, as they are developing. Our antecedent re- lations to this group of islands and to the ! Sandwich Islands have been of an exception al character, and will be likely to give rise to doubts in the minds of officers as to their ! duty under existing conditions. On these l two groups of islands, by treaty, harbors 1 have been reserved for the use of the navy of | the United States, and as to the Samoan | group the three governments, Germany Great 1 Britain and the United States, have up to 1 recent date acted together upon the theory of l mutual cooperation in preserving the auton- l omy of the people of the Samoan Islands.
 A harbor at Samoa will become of national l consequence to us in the future as naval ] power, but if the islands are to go under the | dominion of Germany it would cease to be of l use. The department has heretofore directed l the officers of the squadron to act in accord | ance with the instructions which the consular agent at Samoa shall receive from the De- 1 partment of State, but in view of the late advices and this request for an additional 1 force the department desires to know wheth 1 CT it is the purpose of the government to an nounce any policy regarding the Samoan l group, of which the officers should be ad- l vised. Very respectfully,
 Secretary of the Navy. To the Hon. Thomas E. Bayard, Secretary of
 State, Washington, D. c.
 The despatch received by Secretary Whit ney from the commander of the Nipsic, re- ferred to above, bears the date Auckland, January ,, and is as follows: ''Three Ger man war ships at Apia. Threaten to disarm Mataafa. Landed at Lalendo to prevent Ma taafa's retreat. Engagement followed. Ger mans lost 20 killed, 30 wounded. Germans swear vengeance; shelling and burning native villages. Neutral property not respected. Protests disregsrded. American property in danger. Consul reports American in boat flying American flag seized in Apia harbor by armed German boat, but released after in- vestigation. German captain says no flag was shown. State affairs so serious request additional force. Remain at Auckland three weeks"
 Inquiry at the Navy department this after noon developed the fact that Secretary Bay- ard has made no direct response to Secretary Whitney's letter inquiring as to the policy of this government. It is understood, however, that the Presidents action in referring the matter to Congress was based to considera- ble degree upon the points made in Secretary Whitney's letter.
 In answer to an inquiry on the subject Sec retary Whitney this afternoon said: "There is no antagonism between the State depart- ment and the Navy department in this mat ter. For the protection of the naval officers who are at Samoa, or who may be sent there, l I asked for definite statement of policy for their guidance, and the 18th inst. the l President referred the whole matter to Con l gress and there it rests.''
 Assistant Secretary Rives said this after l noon that the dispatches received to-day 1 from Samoa will be transmitted to Congress early next week. l