Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-11
THAT SAMOAN RUMOR.
A Growing Belief that There May be
Some Foundation for &C.
n n NOT onRDrTKD, HowEvKR, ErrHKR At THE
STATE on NAvY pKPARrHINTs-No ETroRr TO
ASCERTAIN rs TRUTH Has BEEN MADE n TIE
oOvxRNNINT,

ASCERTAIN rTD Truth Has BEEN MADE n TIE
aovxRNNIxr.
Naval officers continue In their disbelief Of
the story of the sinking Of the Nipsic by the
German war vessel Olga at Apia. They cling
70 the strand that somebody would surely have
cabled intimation of such an affair to this gov
eminent, II it had occurred, whereas il is said
that not Q word, either Of confirmation or
denial, has been received. At the State de-
partment there remains the same state of igno-
rance in reference to the matter, and the whole
story Is regarded there, too, as q huge fake"
devised for some unknown political reason.
Not step has been taken by the governments
to learn the truth; no messages have been sent,
either to Germany or to our consul at
Auckland. naval officer was stationed at the
latter place for some time, but returned to the
Nipsic several weeks ago, SO that the United
States consul is the only person to whom this
government. could look for information.
The opinion, however, Is generally gaining
ground that
THERE IS SOME FOUNDATION
for the story, however slight. There is q feel
ing that the government should not have disre-
garded the rumor utterly, as it appears to have
done, but should have endeavored to obtain
some light. This may have been done, but il
30 it has been kept very quiet.
Capt Mullan was given orders to ''protest
and to use his good Offices" This is gener-
ally understood TO mean that after protesting
against any hostile act he should use his best
means to secure o return to neutrality. This
was also the text Of the orders sent to Admiral
Kimberly when he sailed from Panama on the
Trenton for Samoa. In view Of these facts the
story Of Mullan's firing into the Olga, upon his
protest being disregarded, IL not thought to
be at all improbable.
These orders, Secretary Whitney has ex-
planned to Congress, are as far as he could go
In view Of the absence Of any definite policy on
the part Of the United States in regard to the
Samoan squabble.
Ex-coNsUI-eENERAL sEwALL,
who spent some time at Apia, is reported to
have said that he firmly believes that the Nip
sic was sunk in the manner described by the
reports.
One Of the most potent results of the spread
ing Of the rumor is the general feeling that our
navy Is entirely too small and too weak, being
not at all commemorate with the size. import
ance, and interests Of the country. Naval Off
GERS urge upon the representatives OF the press
the value OF the argument now presented by
the rumor, baseless though it may be, in favor
of liberal expenditures for naval construction
and reconstruction, and
SECRETARY TRACY HIMSELF
seems to have already caught the spirit, having
been reported as saying, in an interview had
with him in Brooklyn, that the country needs
q navy and the people are bound to have one
composed Of the best ships that art and artisan
can construct. I'VE need more and we shall
build and equip them" he went on. within
sixty days we shall advertise for proposals for
contracts for several new vessels" Neverthe-
less the Secretary disbelieves the stories. Side
by side with this popular idea is the belief that
IF WAR SHOULD COME
the naval force of America would be wholly in
adequate for the occasion, and would be utter
ly annihilated in case of naval warfare. As a
consolation for this thought is the generally
entertained idea that in case of war England
would be a ready ally to the United States.
However, the complications Of the European
situation are such as to permit but little conclu-
sion to be drawn from the premises.