The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-20
ALL QUIET AT SAMOA NOW.
THE RumoRs OF WAR uNFouNDED.
Martial Law Withdrawn From the Island
BY the Germans And the American And
English COnsuIs Recognized BY
Bismarck's Subordinates.

blsfnarCks
APIA, Samoa, March 2, per steamer Zalands
at San Francisco March 16.-[ Copyright, 1882
During the past month the German authori-
ties, both consular and naval, have maintained
state of inactivity This condition of affairs
dates back to the arrival of the steamer Walnut
with dispatches for the German consul on Jan.
%, and is no doubt the result of the orders
then received. The declaration of a state of
war in the Samoan island seems TO have be-
come dead letter, while the military occupa-
ton OF Apia, which the declaration OF martial
law would seem to have implied, has no exist
ence save the maintenance OF strong guard at
the German consulate. A guard is still kept at
the American and English consulates in view
of the fact that there has been no official re-
traction of these declarations and of numerous
proclamations with which the town was flooded,
ond consequently no settlement of the matter
at issue.
The German consul has made repeated over
to Mataafa looking toward the adjustment OF
the quarrel and the conclusion of terms of
peace, but the terms proposed always embodied
a strong German interest in the future admin
istration of affairs TO, which Mataafa declares
he will, under circumstances, consent. Ne
gotiations have, therefore, been of no avail,
and German officials occupy the unenviable
position of men who have deeply compromised
themselves without seeing their way clear TO
retreat consistently with the preservation OF
their dignity.
Mataafa in the midst of his warriors rests
secure in his intrenched camp and awaits the
arrival of Admiral Kimberly, having full faith
in the support of the United States. His
picket lines extend down the coast for dis
lance of five miles, close espionage being
maintained on the road leading from Apla to
Lauly and Lutumui. Tamasese, with his
forces, now reduced by deserters to about SIX
hundred warriors still occupies the large fort
at Lutumui. \ great number of his former ad-
herents have joined the standard or Mataata,
or, grown weary OF war, have returned to their
own districts.
There has been no collision between the OPP
posing forces for a long time. On Feb.
small detached party of MalietO's men, which
was accommodating IN The vicinity OF the forts,
fell in with a fOraging party of the enemy and
succeeded in killing one OF Tamasese's greatest
leaders and staunchest supporters one Solo
Futi, ruler from Natauta in Savoy.
On Feb. , III. NJ. :. CalliOpe. Capt. III. j.
Kline, arrived from New Zealand to relieve the
Royal and the latter sailed FOR Auckland on the
4th inst This change has been a source OF I'M
told satisfaction 10 the English residents IN
Samoa, as well as to their consular representa-
tive. The eensure showered upon Capt. Hand
OF the Royal by the colonial press simply
voices the indignant feeling of of his country
men in Samoa, whose interest he looked after
in a dilatOry and lukeWarm manner, and whose
property he announced himself, without au-
thority, to protect There can be no doubt
that the cordial feeling and unity OF purpose
which characterized the relations between his
predecessor, Commander Pell of the Wizard,
and her majestys consul had no existence IN
the case of Capt Hand.
Early in the month Capt FritZe made known
the TACT that the consular courts-the American
and English-were considered by him as open
for the hearing of causes, despite his procla-
nation of martial law, reserving to himself, how
ever, the administration of the police under the
regulations of Jan. Is, 1888. Thus, by acknOwl-
edging the ability of these courts to perform
their civil functions Undisturbed, Germany vir-
tually abrogates the necessity for the estab-
lishment of martial law, and gives rather a
farcical aspect TO that arbitrary act on the part
OF the German commander.
Another fact proving that Germany recog-
niZes its original stand TO be untenableis found
in the reissue of the Samoan Times, the En-
glsh newspaper which was suspended by the
German consul as a dangerous organ. The
editor felt the pulse of the press censor on Feb.
by the publication of a single sheet Extra"
and on March 9, the regular sheet again. The
revival of the suppressed paper has called
for no comment from Dr. Knappe the German
consul, who has evincej far calmer frame of
mind than that displayed in his dictatorial
actions of three weeks ago.
On Feb. 5, the steamer Lebeck left this port
for Sydney, carrying with her Brandies, the
ex-German artillery officer, and Tameses pre-
mier who has for so long time been the bone
of contention in Samoa, and who has done so
much 10 precipitate the present crisis. 1t is
rumored that he has been ordered home to ex-
plain his conduct TO the government at Berlin.
On Feb. II, the German maD-of-war Eber,
which had been sent TO Auckland ostensibly to
communicate with Berlin, returned to this port.
Her arrival and dispatches the tenor OF which
is unknOwn) have in nowise changed the con-
ditiOn OF affairs. Whether the German gov
eminent will endeavor to maintain the posi-
ton taken BY its officials here, or whether il
has issued instructions TO concur in such ulti-
mate settlement as Admiral Kimberly may pro-
pOse,'i a mere matter OF conjecture.
The L. s. S. Vandalia arrived on the evening
Of Feb. 25, and the arrival of the flagship
Trenton Is anxiOnsly awaited, as IL Is hoped
that Admiral Kimberly's instructions will en-
power him to speedily terminate the uncertain
~ as to the outcome of the present struggle.
Mataafa is firm In his belief of ultimately
receiving the support of the L. ). government,
and has reiterated his determination TO do
nothing until the admirals arrival. fully appre-
eating the TACT that in treating with Germany
he must be seconded by the patron whose
power can compel proper recognition of right
desertlOn, sink into secondary factor, and, in
deed, have almost entirely disappeared from
the scene.
The Americans and Englishmen still accuse
the German officials Of intercepting their mail
matter and reading the contents for the in
formation of their government. The schooner
which met the steamship Alameda at Tuitilla
and took on board the mails for Apia. was met
by the German corvette Olga when midway be-
tween Tuitilla and Apia, which took all the Of
fetal and private mail matter, directing
the schooner to return to TUT
mail intended for the United States.
All the mail matter taken by the Alameda for
Apia therefore was first taken on board the
German man-of-war before being turned over
to the postofice in Apis. As the American
mail steamers do not touch at Apia, American
mail matter must pass through German hands
before reaching the Samoan capital 1t is
thought that hereafter one American man-Of-
will meet the mail steamer at Tuitilla