The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-04
BY FORCE OF ARMS.
Germany and Spain Annexing
the Coral Islands
CAROLINE NATIVES MAssAcRED.
Drunken Spanish Soldiers Laying Waste
Grabs the Gilbert Group.

San FRANCISCO jan XII N lutcGfAEN 49,
q recent arrival FROM the Gilbert islands, today,
many facts we're learned In connection with the
invasion OF the group By the German govern
nent which vss aided by the Jaluif fraaing
agency and other concerns supposed 20 DC en-
gagged in q private and legitimate enterprise
The informant says. Before nominal proteete
rate had been declared By Germany an assoeiat&on
OF American traders has been engaged Tor years
in commerce with she group. They enjoyed
the good win of the natives and never at
tempted to exercise any suthority over them n
the way of taxing them or uniustlF Substituting
their labor for the purpose OF p-osT-
One of the islands was extensively improved,
and harbor was ma q. Understanding snss
the Germans intended TO proclaim pFosee-
,oFste. the Americans petttioned their OWE gov
eminent, through Secretary Blaine, 90 take pos
session OF the group, or at least 70 lend son1s
protection 70 American interests, which were
seriously threatened. The correspondence on
this matter has never been made punlic- ine
petition WAS lost sight os, and Germany es1ao-
hshed nominal protectorase.
The first result was that the Germans estao-
lished two new pests OF entry. and thus de-
stroyed the value Of the American improve
vision to strengthen their position by getting
the kings on the various Islands TO sEFren4leE
their power and petition Germany TO appo.2s
officers for each OF the islands
Once the protsctorste is established BY Ger
many, q system OF taxation viii be introduced
by which the islzncers viii be placed In . posi-
ton Of sb;eet submission to their masters Their
products viii be gathered up for tolls, ana
German nar-of-war, already 81 the isa2ucs- VIII
check any attempts ~ revolt IL appears from
further statements made that the Germans are
iniEical 10 American settlers and traders, and
are doing their best 70 discourage them
The Gilbert Islanders are very friendly 20 the
Americans, and some OF the chiefs, WHO ara wise
enough TO see the drift OF German colonization,
have expressed their willingness 70 come under
the protection Of the United states government
i Is predicted fhst unless the scheme Is dIssl-
p2tsd Germany viii take the Islands during tie
year.
Late adyises from the Caroline islands state
that an era OF instruction and blocdsbed pas
set in between natives and the Spanish troops
quarse-ed IN this group The fact that AoEairal
BeikEap has dispatched the cruiser Alliance 10
Penspe 70 protect American missionaries.
whose lives and property were threatened
equally by the Sp9niszGs and natives,
was made known several days ago By intelA-
genee received from the Asiatie station IL IA
not merely the American residents who are
threatened Every white person on the island.
and the Spaniards in particular, are fearful OF
having their property stolen and being Hur-
dered-
A traveller named Andersen, who has been en-
gagged in inter island commerce for the last few
years, returned 70 JaliDi, in the Marshall group,
lately, bringing the startling intelligence of the
extent OF the trouble and its causes He says
that the natives are g superior species Of the
race, and have always had most tractahle Gispo-
sitio1s They did not object 70 the coming OF
the Spaniards Until tire latter managed TO induce
spain TO proclaim protectorate over the group.
Quite recently the Spanish increased the native
taxation. which has always been 8 feature Of
their administration The natives were op-
pressed by this new levy, and their refusing to
pay il was the Leading cause OF the trouble
Moreover. the troops on the islands are in many
instances drunken. riotous men They have no
regard for the natives, aud hare lately been
guilty OF many oUtrages.
Ar. Anderson. who 10 the authority Tor the
statements, says that his trading store at Ponape
was pillsged By the natives who in their frenzy
imagine every white person 70 be concerned in
the design against their liberty. Anderson nar-
rowly escaped with his life.
Most OF the missionaries scattered throughout
the Caroline group are either fulI-blooded ma
tives or halfbreeds, who have been educated by
white ministers. They have explained % their
people the enercachments OF the whites and
NADIA round Of the twenty cdd islands to
that end The natives armed themselves
and outside the settlement OF Ponspe had several
sharp engagements with the Spaniarss- They
were cut down like grass By Calling guns. and
have now retreated into the bush country. The
Spanish soldiers followed them and were in
turn deeimated By the hidden enemy.
war CRY against the whites has
been sounded throughout the islands.
The natives have armed themselves and left
their farms In charge OF their women.
The Spaniards, it Is said. secretly encouraged
the out-sges committed on American property,
while they were apparently indignant at them
They wiz not retreat from their position and re-
fuse 70 srneliorate the wretehed condition Of the
people.