The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21
The Natives Have Retired to
the Hills and Refuse to
:. Surrender.
MANY LIVES SACRIFICED.
Governor Gallet PowerieSs and His
Ultimatum Was Treated With
: SCorn,

Wars and rumors of wars still fill the
air. Spain has her troubles in Cuba.
Greece and the European powers are
sqQabbIing over the massacres IN Crete,
and England is all worked up over the
Armenian question. The row in South
Africa has not yet been amicably settled,
and the Samoans are only awaiting an
opportunity TO get at each others throats
. again.
The arrival OF the Galilee from Tahiti
shows that another country is in the
throes of war. The islanders on the
Marshall group have thrown open defiance
at France, and all the forces at the COM
mand of the Governor of the islands have
proved of no avail against the natives.
The villages of the latter have been de-
stroyed, their crops burned down, their
.strongholds in the hills have been shelled,
and their dead can be counted by the hun
dreds and thousands. Still they refuse to
surrender, and many brave French man
has met his death at the hands OF a ma
tive, and many another will cross the
bourne over which no traveller returneth
before the unequal conflict is over.
According to the story told by the pas
sengers on the Galilee the natives have
been growing and grumb bling for a long
time past. They assert that the taxes are
too heavy and finally refused to pay when
called upon. Those on the main group
were soon brought to terms, but the men
on Raiatea and the adjacent islands held
out. and when the Galilee sailed from
Papeete the men, women and children
had retired to the hills and were keeping
up desultory warfare.
The transport Aube, with several COM
panies of volunteers, and the frigate
Duguay- Trouin were on the scene and the
following proclaim alton was sent to all the
rsbel chiefs:
To the rebels OF Raiatea and of Tahaa: Re-
pested insults to the French flag have tried
The patience of the Government of the repub-
lie. come forward with soldiers and men-of-
war TO compel you to lay down your arms
aud return to obedience. I allow you four
days grace to listen 10 the voice of reason and
make your submission complete.
After that time il you do not surrender our
troops will march against you and punish
you you deserve. ~ '
If you compel me to take arms will take
1 RE most severe measures against you and your
'FeopIe and coufscate your territory.
- Therefore order you 10 evacuate your dis
tricts without delay and to come with your
chief, your families, your arms and smmuni-
ton on January L at the following places:
The rebels OF Tshaa with their wives ana
families to the Island of Toahotu.
:: The rebels of Opoa on the Island of Iriru;
;hose of Tevaitoa on the Island of Tahunoae
and Torea.
The white flag has to be raised on all those
points to show that you have rendered your
,k-,,ze 4
G. GALLET, Governor.
The result of the uItimatum is best
given in the words of the Messenger de
Tahiti:
From Opoa-Teraupo received the ultima
tum, but would not respond
From Tahaa-Would not answer.
From Tavaitoa-Returned the envelope con-
tanning the ultimatum unopened. Later
when the ultimatum was returned to them
the chiefs took the matter under consider
alton.
From Avera-The chiefs refused to recog
. nize the Governor and said the only man thew
would treat with was NJ. Cheese. Later on,
however, the high chiefess OF Avera sent
word that she would treat with Governor
.Gsllet at Uturoa if he would meet her there.
. The Society Islands, or as the Messenger
de TAHITI calls them, "Isles sous lie
Vent" (the Leeward Islands) are the
principal French possessions in the South
ern Pacific. Papeete, on the island of
Tahiti, is the capital, and from there the
destinies Of the group are directed. The
Governor has had trouble with the natives
ever since he arrived there last year. NJ.
Gallet came here via New York and sailed
for Tahiti on the Tropic Bird. Ever since
he took up the reins of government there
seems to have been trouble, and one island
after another has risen in revolt. Now
the entire group seems to be disaffected,
and all the resources of the Govern ment
skem to be taxed to quell the disturbance
AThe Messenger, in describing the sailing
offhe soldiers for the scene of battle, says
o The following is the order of march and OF
EN- barkment:
On the Duguay-Trouin, forming a column
commanded by the captain of the frigate
Daniel:
ID Tahitian Volunteers.
(2) Marine Infantry.
70 ~ Tahoa Volunteers.
. a. Landing force from the Duguay-Trouin.
On the Aube and forming second column,
commanded by the captain of the frigate Cho-
cheprat.
NJ .Raiatpan Volunteers
~ Marine Infantry New Caledonian de-
, tachmenD
~ Landing force OF the Aube.
In conclusion the same authority says
the conscrpts again and again repeated
the cry: "Vive la France Vive lc Gou-
verneur." The Governor rem aimed inhis
Carriage, unconcerned, until the last man
was aboard the transport and then he
himself went aboard the Duguay-Trouin.
When the vessels reached Raiatea NJ.
'Iati was sent ashore to treat with tie
natives and everything possible was done
to avoid bIoodshed. 1t was OF no avail,
however, and when the Galilee sailed the
natives were fortified in the hills and the
soldiers and marines were trying in vain
TO dislodge them.
Captain Dinsmore reports that outside
heihad nothing but heavy west-northwest
wefther. Several sails were blown away
amp the cabin and forecastle were flooded.
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Suing on Chinese Bonds.
Suit has been filed by Attorneys Jones &