The Portland daily press., 1899-03-30
UItimatum Was Disregarded and
the Slaughter Began.
Bombardment Has Continued for Eight
Days and Many Villages Have Been
DestrOyed--Several Casualties Among
the American and British Seamen---|
Not known How Many Natives HaveI
Been killed---Grcat Indignation
Against Germans.

ness to officials here and displaced for the
time being the attention given to the
lighting around Manila The shelling of
Mataafa was looked upon as of secondary
Importance, but the deepest interest is at
taohed to the attitude OF the German gov
eminent.
AT first apprehension was felt that
grave International complications might
ensue. but those most familiar with the
latest official exchanges between WASH
ington, London and Berlin did not take
such a gloomy view of the outlook.
While recognizing that the bloodshed at
Samoa created very serious and delica
situation, yet it was said to be situation
which ad been clearly apprehended and
hai been discussed In advance between
the representatives OF the three govern
nents ghe real trisis from an inter.
national standpoint occurred last week
when the apprehended outbreak was dis.
cussed. Although relations were greatly
strained, 1t was possible TO secure an un-
dartanding which is said to make sure
that the outbreak now reported will lot
cause u rupture in the relations betwe
the United states and Germany or he-
tween Great britain and Germany.
The details of the hombardment, as
conveyed in the Associated Press d.
spatches were read with eager interest ny
leading government and diplomatic Off
GERS who have been most directly con-
cerned in handling the Samoan question.
There was nothing Of an official character,
however, either at the state or navy de-
partments or at the British or German
embassy to augment the very full press
IeIorts Upon this officials based their
views. In all quarters there were ex
pressions o., concern and surprise at the
seriousness and extent OF the homtard-
ment and the resulting loss of life. That
some overt act would take place has been
apprehended for many days, but there
was little idea it would take broad
sweep and lead to sucn heavy loss Of life.
In this aspect of the case the actual re-
suits were regarded as lar mole serious
than those which had been expected and
provide for during the recent diplomatic
exchanges between the three, ee,9oyernments.
the results rs oabied today involve un-
known possibilities OF serious compllca-
tions While they had been guarded
against so far AS possible by the resent
anticipatory exchanges, yet 1t was felt
that the German press and national sentl-
ment might he wrought to a high pitch
by the events which had occurred aud
that this outourst of popular feeling
might overcome the strong efforts Of Off
cials to keep the snbjsct within pacific
bounds.
There is sa,d to be q growing DISPOSE
tion on the part of Germany TO hold Herr
koss accountable for the difficulties into
which re has dirscted his government.
For time he was sustained with natural
desire 70 protsct him III the proper dis
charge Of his duties, but the German au-
thorities have not contemplated that he
would carry the matter to an open rupture
and result in bloodshtd.
The diplomatic exchanges leading up to
this crisis have beeu very sharp within
the last few days Early last week the
Eerlin government received direct infor-
nation from Samoa that Admiral kautz
had arrived there and had summoned a
meeting of all the officials for March IL.
The German authorities felt sure this
mesting would result In serious trouble.
The Berlin foreign office therefore in
structed the German amba ssador here,
DIR. Won Holleben to present note en-
bodying 6ermany's views 1t argued that
a naval commander had no right to act
save in executing the will of the three
consuls, acting unanimously and not
through majority. The German nots
intina ated quite plainly that Germany
would hold the other governments re-
sponsible II serious trouble resulted from
the action of the naval authorities in
Samoa, The strained conditions caused
by this note were somewhat aliayed by
tine answer of the state department which
was friendly and reassurlng although it
made plain that the Ame rican naval COM
mander would act in an emergen cy even
though the consulS were not unanimous
in requesting action. There is no appre-
hension here that an actual clash will o.
cur with the German civil or naval forces
in Samoa This is due mainly to the
official understanding that Germany has
given positive orders to the commander OF
the German warship Fake to refrain
from any active move.