The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-23
Looks Like War.


man war vessels. The accounts run
about as follows;
At 2 o'clock on the morning Of
Tuesday, Dec. Is, so sailors from the
Olga were landed at Mataafa, and 40
more were sent in boats along the
coast, the so men marching on land to
meet Mataafa at q German firms plan.
tation, Vailele. The shore party we're
reinforced by all the imported labor,
said to be New Britain men, so that
Mataafa was between the 200 men who
came down the day before and the
German sailors and foreign laborers
Mataafa, knowing the danger of in.
terfering with the German soldiers,
retired inland few hundred yards.
The Germans followed up and fired
into Mataafa's people, killing young
man, son of the chief The chief, get
ting terribly excited, was only pre-.
vented by his own people from firing
into the Germans, but while struggling
against the formers efforts he himself
was shot, and fell dead beside his son.
Mataafa's people could not stand this,
and by common impulse, without or.
ders, returned the FIRE. Their first
volley killed six Germans and wound
ed others. Several Of Tamasese's men
fed and the laborers refused to fight
it out. The United States steamer
Nipsic steamed to Saluafata OH Tues
day on hearing that German war ships
we're going to shell Mataafa's strong.
hold. Captain Mullan had communi.
cations with the German commanders
and entered his protest against their
reported project. His protest was not
taken notice of, however, for the Olga
threw shells into the spot where Ma.
taafa was supposed to be, but which he
had vacated.
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
Concurrent testimony of the action of
the Germans shows that the Germans
brought upon themselves the fate that
overlook them, as it was not until two
Of Mataafa's chiefs we're killed that be
ordered his men to fire on the Germans.
The marines were only saved from ex.
termination by the prompt arrival Of
their gunboats. After their defeat the
Germans bombarded the village of
Mataafagatele, although warned by
the American Consul, Blackjack, that
three houses in the place belonged to
an American citizen. Over these
houses an American flag foated, yet
the fag was torn down and partially
burned by the German sailors, who
landed to complete the destruction Of
the place. Correspondents also give
accounts of insults to an American in
the neutral district of Apia, Mats alta
has threatened that if the Germans
again attack his men he will destroy
all the German property on the islands.
The San Francisco Eraminer prints
a long letter from its correspondent at
Apia, which describes the assault made
by the Germans and their repulse, and
describes in detail the firing on the
American flag and American houses,
and the assaults made on the American
residents. Speaking of the matter
editOrially, the Examiner says: Iu the
devastation Of Samoan towns they
seemed to take especial pains to single
out the property of Americans for de.
struction, and riddled the flags that,
if sent to Washington, would be evi.
denee of friendliness that need no
commentary. While the United States
man ofwar Adams was at Apia, early
in December, it appears that an
Americana house was invaded and his
country's flag found therein, cut ia
pieces by Tamasese's men, from the
stronghold at Mulinuu Point.
The Samoan Islands are situated in
the Pacific Ocean, and consist of 1
. group of nine islands, with an area 0
1850 square miles, aud containing
: population of $4,000, mostly natiy
, Indians. Some few years ago a com
promise was made by the American
and Germans with the natives L
jointly control this group of islands
f 1t was considered a very desirabl
! point by our nation, as a suitable an
= convenient coaling place for vessel
t and steamers, being something owe
. 1000 miles from the Pacific coas
d Apia, the immediate vicinity of tn
a shooting, is town Of about 300 POP
y ulatiOn, of whom 100 are whites.
t is the residence Of German, Englis