The record-union., 1899-04-14
From Accounts Which Have So Far
Been Received
His Course Was In Pursuance Of Policy OF
Defense Of Foreign Interests.
The Samoan Commission to Sail for
Apia on the Naval Transport
Badger on the Twenty-fifth
Inst, Germany Having Named
Her Member of the Body.

Inst, Germany Having Named
Her Member of the Body.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Admira
Kautz's actions in Samoa, as far as
they are set forth in the official dis
patches, are approved. He was in
structedl by the last mail steamer from
Auckland to avoid needless collisions,
but to protect property and lives until
the three treaty Powers decided how TO
deal with the-sdtuation- No further in
structions have yet been sent to him,
and if any go forward by cable within
the next twenty -four hours, which IS
the limit of the time available for the
outgoing steamer which is to be caught
at Auckland, they will be simply
repetition of former orders.
Department officials point out that
from accounts SO far received, Admiral
Kautz appears to have acted in con-
junction with the British forces only
in pursuance of the policy OF defense
of foreign interest. 1t is expected that
he viii not abate his efforts to secure
the restoration of peace, and it is prop
able that when the High Commission
arrives at Apia it will find its work
facilitated through the suppression or
the rebellionA
The commission will sail for Apia on
the naval transport Badger, leaving
San Francisco on the 10Th instant.
This arrangement was made to-day
after Baron Speck Won Sternburg, First
Secretary of the German Embassy, had
called on Secretary Hay and advised
him of his appointment as the German
member of the High Commission. This
completed the body. AS the plan to
have the members get away on the
Mariposa, sailing on the 18th, was no
longer feasible, the transport Badger,
now at Callao. Peru, on her way to San
Francisco, was placed at the disposal
of the commission.
The formal announcement of Baron
Sternberg's appointment was received
to-day from the German Foreign Office
and gave general satisfaction among
officials and diplomats, as throughout
the recent troubles he exerted his in
fiuence in such a way as to win the
heartiest approval of the State Depart
ment as we'll as the British Embassa :
dor. His choice therefore. was ac-
cepted as an evidence that the Com
missioners would be able to cooperate
and to reach the unanimous decision
called for by the agreement. The early
sailing of the commission is regarded
as evidence that the recent collision at
Apia will be automatically settled.
Baron Sternberg. who belongs to
distinguished German family devoted
his early life to the study of military
and naval science He fought through
the Franco Prussian war in the Second
Saxon Dragons. was promoted Lieuten-
ant at the age of II, and was decorated
for personal bravery. He served as
Military Attache in Washington prior
to entering the diplomatic service. He
was appointed Secretary of the Ger
man Legation at Pekin, serving as
Charge d 'Affaires during the important
period of the China Japanese war.
Later he was appointed Charge daft
faires at Belgrade. Servia. In 1897 he
was appointed Counselor and First
Secretary of the Embassy in Washing
ton and has served here since then.
GERMAN PRESS COMMENT.
BERLIN, April 13.-The United
States Embassy at noon to-day gave
the correspondent of the Associated
Press the following statement: I'VE
have received from the Foreign Office
an account Of the latest conflict in
Samoa. The German Government ex
pressed sympathy, and took occasion
TO urge the adoption of the unanimity
rule in the findings of the Samoa Com
mission, in order that the German Com
missioner, Baron Speck Won Sternburg.
might sail for Samoa at the earliest
moment possible The German Gov
ernment urged that only the early ar
rival Of the commission would prevent
further serious bloodshed. This morn
ing Baron Won Buelow informed the
American ambassador that Great Brit
ain has at last agreed to the unanimity
rule, the United States also agreeing to
it, and the commission can probably
proceed to the island without delay"
The German press this morning gives
it's news calmly and mostly without
comment
The Cologne Gazette" remarks: 1--WE
need not say that if the guilt of the
manager of the plantation is proven,
Germany will approve of his arrest and
demand for his punishment. We will
not defend the behavior of a German
abroad, merely because he is a Ger
man.
The Cologne Gazette" also admits
that DR.. Raffel (the German President
of the Municipal Council of Apia) acted
illegally in closing the Chief Justice s
office. and says: 'The other Powers,
we also hope, will admit the Illegal
acts of their representatives.
The 'Tageblatt'' calls the arrest of
the manager of the German plantation
where the ambuscade took place lille
GAL" saying: Our Consul is the only
competent judge"
The "Lokal Anzeiger'' expresses the
opinion that the affair shows the need
of prompt action by the commission.
The "Vossische Zeitung'' says: What
ever action the German Government
takes. il will find itself fully backed up
by the Reichstag'
A number of leading papers, like the
"Deutsche Zeitung," .sSchlesische Zei-
tung, and Hanover Courier point
out the necessity of larger navy, and
urge the fastening of the pressing in
crease in its strength and the adoption
of an additional bill for the collection
of other vessels.
The Reichstag Interpolation on the
subject of Samoa is signed by ma
5ority Of the Center-Reichs party, Con-