Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-08
DIRECT NEWS FROM SAMOA.
First Authentic Information Of the
Trouble in the Island.


ADMIRAL KAUTZS PROCLAMA-
| TION AND THE COUNTER PRO-
| CLAMATION OF THE GERMAN
CONSUL GENERAL-DESCRI
TION OF THE FIGHTING BE-
| TWEEN THE REBEL NATIVES
AND THE COMBINED AMERICAN
AND ENGLISH FORCES.
Apia, March 14.-Via San Francisco,
April There have been lively times
in Samoa during the past few days.
The United States and British warships
have shelled Mataafa's forces repeat
eddy and sailors have been landed in
Apia to protect property. Numerous
casualties have resulted on both Sides
Admiral Kautz and the commanders OF
the British ships are anxiously await
ing advices from their governments and
in the meantime the Smelling proceeds
daily When Admiral Kautz arrived
on the Philadelphia he spent two days
meeting of all the consuls and the
senior officers of all the warships in
the harbor. AS a result of the meet
ing proclamation was issued by the
American admiral declaring that the
so-called provisional government under
Mataafa can have no legal status under
the Berlin treaty, and therefore cannot
be recognized by the consular and naval
representatives, and ordering Mataafa
and his supporters to quietly go to their
homes and respect the laws of the Ber-
lin treaty.
Following is the proclamation of Ad-
miral Kautz in full:
A PROCLAMATION
To His Highness, Mataafa, and thirteen
chiefs associated with him. in par
ticular, and to all the people of Sa-
moa, both foreign and native in
general
Whereas, at a meeting held this
day on board the U. S. flagship Phil
adelphia, at anchor in the harbor of
the signatory powers of the Berlin
treaty of 1889. and the three senior
naval officers of the same powers. it
was agreed that the so-called provis-
ional government under High Chief
Mataafa and thirteen other chiefs, can
have no legal status under the Berlin
treaty, and can therefore not be rec
ognized by the consular and naval rep
resentatives. 1t is hereby ordered that
the high chief and the thirteen other
chiefs go quietly to their homes and
obey the laws of Samoa and respect the
Berlin treaty.
Pit is further ordered that all the
chiefs and their people who have been
elected from their homes and who have
been sent to different points in the
Samoan islands, return quietly to their
aforesaid homes without molestation
3-The guarantee of protection as
far as lies within the power of the
naval forces now in the harbor is given
to aid all who quietly obey this order.
On the other hand it will be used
against all who disregard it or the
rights of quiet and peaceably disposed
people.
4-The treaty of Berlin recognizes
the Chief Justice of Samoa as the high
est officer under the existing govern
ment, and as long as he holds his Of
and the decree of the court must be
carried out.
5-Trusting that all residents of Sa-
moa will have the good sense to OBJ
serve the requirements of this procla-
nation, which is issued in the inter-
ests of peace, with an earnest regard
for the rights of all, both foreign and
native, and that there may be no Deco
sion to use power to enforce it., am.
respectfully, ALBERT KAUTZ,
Rear Admiral U. S. Navy, Comman-
der-inChief Z. S. Naval Force on
Pacific Station.
March II, 1899.
This proclamation was taken to
Mataafa and read to him by Flag Lieut..
Miller. 1t was received in silence and
no answer was made. Mataafa and his
chiefs quietly left and went to the
western portion of the municipality and
it seemed as if they were about to obey
the commands to return to their
homes. The German consul, however.
issued proclamation in the
Samoan language. which was distrib-
uted among the Mataafans. The pro-
clamation reads as follows:
Notice to All Samoans:
BY the proclamation OF the admiral
of the United States, dated March II.
was made known that the three con-
suls of the signatory powers of the
Berlin treaty as well as the three COM
manders of men of war had been unan-
imous to no more recognize the pro-
visional government composed of Ma
taafa and the thirteen chiefs.
l therefore make known to you that