Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-11
AN Ex-NAvAL OFFICERS VIEWS.
Dispatches Which Have Not Been Sent
to the Senate-Some Serious Trouble.

''My information is" said an ex-naval officer
to STAR reporter this morning, "that the last
official dispatches left Samoa about the last Of
January and reached Frisco about the 18th or
18th of February. These dispatches were
never transmitted to the Senate, which was
looking for SO much light on the vexed ques-
ton only two weeks before. Other dispatches
had been before promptly sent to the Senate,
and the query naturally is why we're not these
last as promptly transmitted"
'.Why were they not SO transmitted, do you
Think" asked the reporter.
'.Well think that the milk lies in the fact
that Bayard maintained that the whole problem
could be solved in q peaceful way. Germany
had made overtures to this government to
have a convention in Berlin, where the wrecked
convention of Washington could be healed.
Bayard thought that by accepting Germany's
proposition he had been successful as a diplo-
mat. But, at the same time, he dismissed
Consul-General Sewall for swearing to the true
condition Of affairs in Samoa. And, don't you
see, it would not appear very well for him to
lay before the Senate particularly as those
certain dispatches had not been called for)
matters which would show still further ag-
gression on the part Of the Germans.
''These matters, or rather serious wrongs"
he continued, shave been permitted to drag
seem to be satisfied that the American officials
protested Again, they knew we had only one
ancient vessel (she and the ark would make a
good pair), while the Germans had three well
manned and equipped modern built vessels,
and vet Mullan, in his single ship, was in his
glory, though not monarch OF all he surveyed.
The Germans came in for that. Nay, more.
While all these outrages were being perpe-
trated none of our vessels could be spared from
their snug berths in coy harbors. either on
the Atlantic or Pacific, till Mullan sent special
messenger, hundreds of miles away, to Auck-
land, in order to request, yea, demand that he
be supported by the presence OF other vessels.
And it was not till this action on his part that
the department seemed to wake up to learn
that all was not lovely and quiet in the smooth
Pacific"
But" said the reporter. "Admiral Kimberly
has been ordered there, and when he arrives
some positive action may be expected"
admiral Kimberly" was the reply, will
simply continue to do what Capt. Mullan has
been doing for months-protest and use his
good Offices" These are his orders and he has
received none others. And i am of the opinion
that he has been too long in the ruts OF disci-
pline and naval regulations to, for movement,
do an act ,citto,a orders, and prove himself
another Ingraham of Kosta fame"
Suppose that these reports as to the Nipsic
should prove to have some foundation?'
If the Germans have fred into unprotected
men, women and children and destroyed or in
jured American life and property, then
believe Dennis W. NJ. has opened his battery on
the German ship, determined to let the conse-
quences be what they may. know the man.
My own idea is, and know that ground
thoroughly, for was stationed in the Pacific
for many years, that there has been very serious
trouble Of some kind, all of which we may learn
in ten days. II anything has befallen the
Nipsic, there is no possible way for our people
10 communicate only by a small boat which
might be chartered to go from Apia to Tutuila-
20 miles away-a stopping place for the Cali
fornia steamers. All other modes Of convey
ance are in the hands of the Germans
So it would not surprise me il we should have
no news for at least ten days, and perhaps
longer. Yet the steamer next due in Frisco,
say on Saturday next, may bear some intelli-
gence. II, however, the German iron-clads
now on their way to Samoa reach there safely
| then they will bid defiance to our whole feeble,
disjointed and scattered navy. While our peo-
pie sleep on soft cushions, the Germans are
bufeting the waves to our newly-found FL Do
4 RADIO"