The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-13
SOMETHING In II
Ideas About the Samoa Affair.
A Naval officer Thinks There Are
Sufficient Grounds
To Believe That Serious Engage
ment Did Take Place,
The Character of Dennis Mullane
OF the Nipsio.
Lack of ofaclal Information and the
Cause-Bayard's Policy--Admlral

WAsuNoToS, March 1.-THE following
is an interesting interview with q naval
officer
"My information is, says this officer,
''that the last official dispatches left Samoa
about the last Of January and reached
Frisco about February 10 or 10. These
dispatches were never transmitted to the
Senate, which was looking for 30 much
light on the vexed question only two
weeks before. Other dispatches had been
before promptly sent to the Senate, and
the query is natural, why were not these
last as promptly transmitted"
"Why were they not so transmitted, do
you Think" ask I'd the reporter
"Well, think that the milk lies in the
fact that Biyard maintained that the
whole problem could DO solved in peace
iul way. Germany had made overturcs to
this government to have a convention in
Berlin, where the wrecked convention OF
Washington could he healed. Bayard
thought that by accepting Germanys
proposition he had been successful az a
diplomat But at the same time he dis
missed Consul General Sewcl for swear
ing TO the true condition OF Affairs In Sa-
moa, and, don't you see, il would not APP
pear very well Tor him 10 lay before the
Senate particularly ~ those certain dis.
patches had not been called ior) matters
which would show still further aggression
on the part of the Germans.
These matters, or, rather, serious
wrong-." he continued, "have been per-
United 10 drag along month after month,
and the departments seem TO be satisfied
that the American officials protested.
Again they knew We had only one ancient
vessel. while the Germans had three we'll
manned and equipped modern built vcs-
sells, and vet Mullanc In his single ship
was In his glory, though not monarch u
all ho surveyed. Tho Germans came In
for that-nay, morn. While all Of these
outragcs were being pcrpetrated none OF
our vessels could be spared from their snug
berhs in coy harbOrs, either on the At
lantic or Pacific, till Mulano sent special
messenger hunlrsds oi miles away to
Auckland In order TO request, nay, dc.
mani thathe be supported 10y tue pres
encc Of other vessels, and Il WIS not I'LL
this action on his part that the department
seemed to wake up and learn that all was
not lovely aud quiet In the smooth Pa.
ellie"
But" said the reporter admiral
Kimberly has been ordered there, aud
when lao arrives some positive action may
be expected"
Admiral Kimberly" was tho reply,
will simply continue 10 DO what Capt.
Mullano has been doing Tor months, pro-
test aud use his good offices. These are
his orders, and lao has received no Others.
And | am Of the opinion that lac has been
too long In the ruts OF discipline aud naval
regulations to do an act without orders
aud prove himself another lngraham Of
kOsia fame"
suppose these reports ~ to tho Nipsic
should prove 10 have some foundation
III the Germans have fired on unpro-
tecicd men, women and children aud de-
stroyed or injured American life or prop.
erty, then | believe Dennis w. Mullano
has opened bis battery on the German
ship, determined TO let the consequences
b. what they may. know the man. My
own idea ", and ! know that ground
thoroughly, for | was stationed In the
Pacific for many years, that there has
been very serious trouble 81 some Kind,
all Of which We may learn In ten DAYS. II
anything has bciallCn the Nipsic there h
no possible way Tor our people To COM
municatc only by a small boat which
might be chartered 10 40 from Apia 10
Tuluila seventy miles AWAY stopping
place for the California steamers. Az
other modes Of conveyance are In the
hands Oi tho. Germans. NJ II would not
surprise me II We should have no news Tor
at lcisl ten days and perhaps longer Vet
the steamer next due In san Francisco,
say on Saturday next, may bear some In.
tclligcncc. u, however, the German
ifonc'a1i, now on their way 10 samoa,
reach there safely, then they will bid de-
ilancc 10 our whole feeble, disjpintcd aud
scattered navy. While our people sleep
on soft cushions the Gcfmnnsarc buiIcting
the waves 10 our newly found EldoradO.