The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-15
WAR FEARED IN SAMOA,
King Mataafa's Subjects Are On a
Strike Against Their Ger
man Rulers.
Some of the Europeans at Apia
Fearful of a General
Massacre
The Cause of the Trouble Is Burdensome
Taxes and Hatred of Teutonic
Domination.

The outbreak among the natives against
German rule in Samoa has already begun,
says a correspondent of the tho New York
World under date of Oct. 2. So far it has
been confined to the burning of a number
of houses of natives who nave declared
themselves to be loyal to Malietoa, but as
Mataafa remains enoamped at Malie, sur
rounded by 800 we'll armed men who pro-
claim him to be the king, the situation may
become vastly more serious at any moment.
MOI a few of the European residents at Apia
believe that a general massacre OF the for
eien population is not improbable.
The trouble arises from the deep and
widespread dissatisfaction among the ma
tives with the present administration of the
government. which is almost exclusively in
the hands of the Germans. II there is any
thing on earth that a Samoan despises and
hates it is a German. This feeling of hatred
has become intensified since the Berlin
conference of 1888, which was intended to
insure the autonomy of the islands, but
which, in reality, only gave the Germans n
iirmer grasp upon the Samoan government.
The Germans, it will be remembered,
seized Malietoa, the king, q few years ago,
and carried him into exile, placing on the
throne Tamassesse, who Was prepared to do
their bidding in all things. Then Mataafa,
to whom Malietoa had transferred the title
of king during his exile, declared war on
Tamassesse and the Germans. He was de-
feated, bat the Berlin conference restored
Malietoa to the throne, and Mataafa went
into retirement at Male, where he has since
Lr n a~- r.-. II
natives who declare him to be the rightful
king. Malistoa, they say, has become only
a tool Of the Germans, just as vas the case
with Tamassesse.
Most of the followers Of Mataafa are ma
tives of the island of Monono. A few days
ago some of the Monono men said that they
intended to go to Mulanuu and declare allie
glance to Malietoa, having been pursuaded
to take that step by German emissaries.
AS a result of this declaration, the Monono
chiefs who remain faithful to Mataafa or
dered the houses and belongings of the
faithless natives to be torn down and
burned. This was promptly done.
When the news reached here, United
States NicG-Consul Blackjack and Baron
Eenft Won Pilsach, president of the munich
pal council, proceeded to Monono on the
United States man-of-war Iroquois, Com
mander John j. Reed. The natives who
haA AoiiS NV culAihS WGle hIICnLeu, b|lcll
and convicted, and sentenced to six months'
imprisonment. No attempt was made to
dispense the armed force surrounding
MataufA at Mealic.
The disatected natives complain that
the government as reresented by Malie-
toa, is run altogether in the interest of the
Germsns. They say that the Germans
have stolen 100000 acres of their best
lands, which they are cultivating by slaves
brought from the Solomon and Fiji islands
10 support the German oficeholders, the
natives say they are taxed beyond their
power to pay, and in default more of their