Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-01
THE SAMOAN IMBROGLIO.
Secretary Bayard Defends the Course of
the State Department.

Sn0 0toSc DcpdIVncuS.
GERMAN REINFoRcEMENrs TO BE SENT TO SAMOA
1UsHINo WORK ON TIE CRUISER CHARLESTON
CAPT. LEARY, OF THE ADAMS, TELLS HOW HE
CHECKED GERMAN AGGRESSION.
In discussing the latest news from Samoa
last night Secretary Bayard said that the State
department had received dispatch from Con-
sui Blackjack stating that war had been declared
against Mataafs and that martial law had been
proclaimed by the German consul at Apia. He
did not know whether the state Of martial law
referred to included all Of Samoa or only Apia.
Referring to criticisms on the Department Of
State, Mr.. Bayard said he would like to have
the gentleman who made them point out a sim
gle instance in which the department had
broken the law or permitted others to violate
it. There has been a great deal of misrepresen-
dent his countrymen would, in time, dis
| cover that all had been done that could be
done. No American had been injured or
any OF their rights as defined by law
and treaty tazen away IN Samoa. "Oar
policy has been fixed and steady in the
direction of the preservation of American
rights. The German government has con-
stantly given assurances that Germany would
not violate any American right, and Prince
Bismarck in his last letter TO Count Arco Valley
lousy respect these rights. The department
cannot stop the fighting in Samoa; we cannot
prevent rival commercial companies quarrel
ing and fighting. 1t is not for us to try and
give every country q stable government"
Secretary Bayard said that he had not yet re-
ceived the proposition which Count Arco VAL
ley had informed him Prince Bismarck had
sent for a conference between Germany and
the United States in regard to Samoa. He
could not, therefore, say whether or not it was
g.
of the conference suspended about year ago,
at which the Secretary said he had endeavored
to bring about an understanding between Ger
many and the United States to better the con-
dition of the unhappy natives.
1t is reported that the German government
has ordered Lieut.. Eckardstein to report at
once to the German legation here as military
attache.
Germany Will Send Reinforcements.
Berlin dispatches say that it is not expected
that German military operations in Samao will
commence until sufficient reinforcements are
sent to the islands. At present there are at
Samoa three German warships. with an avail
able landing force of 800 men.
A FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT EXPECTED.
"White Book" on the Samoan question will
shortly be presented to the reichstag. The
National Zitung announces that friendly set
Element with America may be expected, based
upon Prince Bsmarck's proposal for joint
discussion.
RUSHING WORK ON THE CRUISER CHARLESTON.
It was published in San Francisco yesterday
that the Union iron works had received a dis
patch from Secretary Whitney ordering them
to get the cruiser Charleston ready for sea
within twenty days, if possible, at no matter
what extra cost. The working force on the
Charleston has been largely increased, but
r,xth
ton or not is not stated. There are at present
four hundred and fifty men employed on the
vessel Her engines and machinery are all in
and her boilers are being cemented. When
completed the Charleston will be taken to
Mare Island to have her armament placed on
board. This is much heavier than that of any
German man-of-war at present in Samoan
waters. 1t was not expected that the trial trip
of the Charleston would take place before the
middle of March, but the present activity in
dicates that she will be ready considerably
sooner. Superintendent Dickie, of the Union
iron works. was asked how soon the vessel
could go to sea IN fighting trim if necessary.
We'll, she might get away in thirty days if it
was absolutely necessary to have her ready by
that time"
The cruiser San Francisco, now builing at
the Union iron works, will be completed in a
much shorter time than was the Charleston
The superintendent estimates that it will re-
quire eight months to complete this vessel
deal Of space to the Samoan question, and gem
orally demand that American interests on the
Islands be fully maintained at whatever cost, if
only on account of American shipping interests
in the Pacific.
CAPT. IEARY's BOLD COURSE
Commander R. P. Leary, of the United States
steamship Adams, which arrived at San Fran
cisco from Samoa via Honolulu, Wednesday, in
an interview Saturday said: There was great
deal of commotion when / was at Apia. I
went down there with all kinds of orders suited
to time OF peace, but when war broke out
threw the orders to the wind. They would do
n, IN. time ns Of peace; but were not applicable to
Brandies, the German minister, leading 500
natives in support of Tamasese wrote him
letter asking him to desist / said: Il am here
to protect American citizens and American
property, and will not wait idly by and see
You plnnging the country into trouble. when
their i've and property may be destroyed If
you do not desist shall take such measures to
protect them as deem the circumstances de-
mand'
HE sent word back that no American nor
American property would be molested. In a
little while. though, much the same tactics
were repeated. There was a meeting of con-
suls aboard the German war ship Adler, and
at the meeting said to the Germans: Now,
just let the natives fight it out between them
selves oh, no; they could not do that They
said that they had proclaimed Tamasese king,
and they could not leave him now to fight
alone. Then l said / would take a hand in
this. If you persist in aiding Tamasese and
fighting for him will participate and pulled
the Adams in ahead of the Adler and would
have done my part in the fray if the Germans
had decided they must have it. l had made up
my mind that the Adams could throw some
shells too. At this they eased down and prom
ised that il should be hands off,
Next there were notices posted by the Ger
mans stating that the bridge over the river at
Apia and separating all the back country where
the natives were would be taken up. 1 tore
these notices off. l said there should be no de-
molition of bridges. Then l ordered my car
penters up the next morning, and meantime,
word having got out all around, scores of ma
tives came to aio in repairing and maintaining
the bridge. also threw some marines ashore
to protect it. 1t is not necessary to say that
the bridge was not destroyed. The Adams left
Samoa December and was not present during
the recent battle between the Germans and Ma.
taafas forces"
The Samoan Times, which has been SUD-
pressed by the Germans, was published by an
English subject named Cusack and was re-
garded IN San Francisco, where many copies of
II were taken, as fair and unbiased The Tunes
however, placed the blame for the battle of
December IL OH the Germans. and the latter
dlshked him In consequence. On one occasion
ne was compelled to seek protection in the
British consulate from the Germans.
COMMANDER DAYS EXPERIENCE IN SAMOA.
Commander b F. DAY. who recently returned