New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
THE CONFLICT IN SAMOA.
CONSUL. sEwALL BELIEVES THAT THERE WILL
BE FURTHER BLooDsHED-GERMAN
AGGRESSION.

AGGRESSION.
washington. Jan. Acknowledgement sewall, OF
Samoa. who has been at home for several months
appeared before the Senate Committee on foreign
Relations today, Messrs Sherman RYE hSs0o
and poph being present. There was also present eS-
Minister John A. Kasson, who is greatly Interested
IN the Samoan question. Mr.. Sewan was examined
in secret at great length by the members OF the
committee He is reported to have expresseu tho
belief that the next mall will bring news Oh funcr
and more terrible conflicts between the Germans ala
natives than any that have yet taken pace. NC
said that the shedding Of blood since he left Samoa
had radically changed the situation OF anas 'herc'
and that II n were not intended to yield to Germany
entire control OF the islands, some decided action
would have 10 be taken by the Powers He presented
to the committee copies OF the samoan iiihes' a
newspaper published at Apia, containing accounts
Of an unproyoked and unexpected ATTACK ny 'nc
German war-ship upon the natives, and OF meeting
BY the consuls of other nations cenouncng the act
and also the misleading and unfair statements py
ne German Consul. Mr.. sewal spoke OF the studied
and systematic efforts of the Germans In sending
out news from Berlin concerning samoa 70 give inc
impression that an American was inc agsrossor ~
every case Of trouble. German oppreSsoh' nc 10
further reported 10 have said, If entirely respohsipe
fr any apparent division of the nauves ih'o hosu'o
ACTIONS He described Tamasese's followers as COM
DzradyeIy khdful, who were threatened ps an
unpleasant dilemma If they failed 10 Keep up the
agitation against the native Government they ieareu
Death at the hands Of their German allies II they
escaucd them the same fate awaited them at ue
hands OF the natives who considered them traitors TO
samoa
AS to the Importance of maintaining at least the
neutrality Of the group Mr.. Sewan called the AZ
iention Of the members OF the committee 70 inc
szcs that they lie In the paths OF commerce rum
the western States Of this country to NewHcaiahd,
and of much commerce going around the Cape oil
Good Hope to China and Japan. When the American
nferoccanic canal Is completed the traffic passing
through there VIII be carried directly by the Samoan
ponp !.
Much or Mr. Sewan's testimony was listened 10
With great interest by the members Of tho committee
70 whom much Of It was new. Mr.. Evarts was
PARTICULARLY Interested for tho reason that no was
Secretary Of State when the treaty concerning inc
ssd and q w inn Of
The date s. Of Mr.. sewars to his post Of
state Department to the Senate Committee, and Is
under their decton lie VII probably issye hese
. the report Of George Il Bates special agent OF
the State Department to Samoa, male In December,
lag which be said Is mnc Srg aSan soy On Other s
publication he knows of Mr.. Bates was was sent %
Ee islands in 1856, after tho United states Consul
ast Was disasowed by this Government. The com
ttee has not yet decided whether or not 70 summon
HIM Mr. sewan VIII be heard further to.worow
Berlin, Jan. 1.-THE Boersen zeItuns' says that
steps have been taken to tho restoration Of
order In Samoa
Sydney, MS. w., Jan. 1.-The reports Of the fight
Ing between the Germans and the followers OF the de-
posed King Mafaafs IN Samoa have been confirmed.
Tho Germans aegc that Mafaafa's men fired the first
Mot, vhle The fotev~rs II Mataafa assert iha' the
Vefmaus first shot - important chief and hts son.