The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-17


ship. Soon after Q o'clock in the morning
proclamation. printed IN English ana Ger
man. but not in samoan. was issued py tno
German consul as follows;
BY order OF the imperial German governmenfs
i herewith proclaim state OF war IN the catnoap
islands. Any assistance 90 rebels VIII be- pun
ished by martial law, irrespective OF any nation
ality, and introduction OF confraband goods anu
munitions of war are prohibited An boats are
liable TO search. The police OF Apia VIII hence
forth act under instructions from the Imperial
German government Residents OF Apia are re-
quested TO assist in keeping law and order
DR. KSAPPE, Imperial German Consul
Alta, Jan. 10, 1osS.
This peculiarly worded document was
looked upon with surprise by both the
United States vice-consul and the British
consul The Germans proceeded to act IN
accordance with the spirit of the proclama-
tion. Half an hour after the document had
been issued boat belonging TO III. :.
Moors. an American merchant, which had
gone along side the Richmond Is obtain
freight, was seized by the German guard
boat and secured near the vessel. When
the fact of the seizure was reported to Vice
consul Blackjack, some time afterwards, he
at once communicated with Captain Null
Ian, who wrote to Captain Fritze. of the
Adler. demanding an explanation OF
tns Sos seHOas se n Onoe nes resass bs Rss Gene
man captain replied that Germany
had declared war against Samoa, and that
Mr. Moors's boat was seized because he had
wharf and allow them 70 be examined by
Mr. Becker, of the German firm, before
they were delivered to an American. At
o'clock in the afternoon the German cap
tain gave his consent that the boat be re-
leased and allowed Moors TO land a few
head of cattle and sheep ct his own wharf,
but insisted that all other than live freight
he landed at the wharf Of the German firm.
Vice-consul Blackjack addressed letter &c
Consul Knappe, requesting him to explain
i'm plain terms whether Germany had de-
clared war against Samoa. and also IL
martial law existed. Alter several hours
the German consul sent reply saying that.
''By order of the imperial government, the
German consul has proclaimed martial law
for Samoa until further notice. No refer
ence was made in the letter as TO the decla-
ration of war. Captain Mullen thereupon
called upon Captain fritse and inquired IL
war had or had not been declared by Ger
many The German captain informed
Cartain Mullen that war had not been de-
clared by Germany. When an officer from
the Nipsic had occasion 20 pay an Official
visit to the Adler, some hours Later, Captain
Fritze once more changed his statement
and told the American officer that war had
been declared, and soon iafterward wrote d
letter TO the same effect to Captain Mullen.
on the afternoon of the 2Oth, the British
ship Longfellow arrived IN port from the,
Pauline islands. bound TO Queenstown and
London with guano. having been obhged TO,
put in for provisions. She was lmmedi-,
~
boat from the Adler, followed momeno.
later by O boat from the Royalist. The
German officer stated he was IN
strgcted to keep guard on the ,,'s,;s vessel.
orders, and the Longfellow's captain not
vet having been able TO visit the British
consul to prove that his papers were clear,
the British naval officer Withdrew. Ihe-
Germans kept armed men and officers on,
board until morning when the Longfellow'al
captain, having proved his papers to bo
clear, the Royalist sent an armed boat 10,
the ship and forced the German guards To-
leave. Indemnity bond having been given,
the Germans by the captain of the Rlch>,
mond, that vessel iTas given PERMISSION
to land her freight at the Ger
man wharf. Mr.. Moors was not allowed to,
land three barrels Of cement at his own
wharf, and therefore declined to receive II,
A proclamation was issued by the Brltlsh'
consul on the afternoon OF Jan. ~, IN
which all the British subjects in Samoa,
proclamation of the German consul declar-,
ing martial law, they were subject solely to
the Jurisdiction of her Majesty the Queen
and the authority of himself, and Also oa
Within two hours after the Engliskj
consuFs proclamation had been issued'
Captain Fritze had issued a counter-procla-'
nation notifying the British subjects that.
Notwithstanding the prociamanon Just Is
sued by the British consul, all English sub-,
| jects in Samoa We're under martial law, and
| that if they should IN aDy way interferel
with the German authorities they would be-
tried by martial law. On the evening or
tions were issued. John c. Klein, an Amer
lean newspaper correspondent, received.
information from friendly German that
| the German consul and captain OF the Ger-'
man men-of-war had resolved to arrest him
under martial law, take him on board OF
| the Adler, try him there by martial law att
once, and shoot him or else transport him,
| immediately 10 the Marshall islands, wherel
| the former King Maietoa is now confined.
| In his capacity as a newspaper corre-
| spondent Klein was Tor one m0ntn and
| half an occupant of King Mataafa's q,
house in the village of Lauly wheTe'
/ Mataafa's army was encamped. While,
there he had full opportunity TO witness,
| the acts of the Germans In assisting lama
sese and attempting TO secure Mataafa's de-
feat. The fact that the acts OF the Germans
| were given q publicity which up TO that
| time. had not been fully known TO the outs
! side world, aroused their dislike towards
/ the American correspondents At O'Clock
| on the following morning an armed guard
from, the Adler went on board the hlcn;
| Gillian while he was in. his bath, and
| without giving him time TO put on
his stockings. but merely his coat and,
| trousers, took him on board the Olga. Con,
| sui Goetloson and Captain Hand were In,
formed of Gillans arrest, and went on board
| the Olga and demanded an explanation.
| Captain Ehrbardt said Gillian had been ar>
| rested because it was believed he was a
| spy. The German captain was told that.
unless he sent the prisoner on board the
| Richmond at once, an armed Doa1
from the Royalist would 60. to-
| the Olga and take HIM of OF the ship.
| Gillian was returned TO the Richmond with-
| out delay. Consul Goetloson has lnforrned
| his government of the fact that an armed
| German boat forcibly took british sub
ject from under the English nag.
Proclamation was issued on the mornin
| of Jan. 81, by Nice-consu! blackiock, In
which he announced that having been in
| formed by the German consul that the
| German Government had declared war
against Mataafa and his followers, he
notified all citizens Of the United
States that they were 1orpldden 10
take part in any hostle opera
tions on either side. and that as long as they
| remained non-combatants they were en-
titled TO personal immunity ana protectlon.
1 1t was further announced that any onense
committed against American SUBJECTS or
their property would be an onense against
the laws of war. and ought 70 he at once re-
ported to the United States ylce,consul. in
order that the offender or Offenders might
On the afternoon of the Esd the German
| consul. Knappe. went to Mataafa's camp
and was received by the latters chiefs,
Mataafa not appearing The German con.
sul fold them that declaration of war and
establishment of martial law had been
directed against American ana English
residents of Samoa who nad been giving
/ -<.A ~ - a. -