The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-21
STORY FROM SAMOA THAT sAvORS
OF THE HIGHLY SENSATION
AL AND DOUBTFUL
GERMAN OFFICER ARRESTED
COMMANDER OF THE Fake SAID
TO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT HAND
ING OUT ARMS TO REBELS
PROMPTLY MADE PRISONER

Taken on Board the British War
fcers Notified to Make No False
Move on Peril of Having Their
Ship Blown Out of the Water
Story Discredited in Washington.
SEATTLE, Wash, April 20.-A specla,
from Victoria B. c., says that the steam
er Morangi, from Australia, brings ad-
vices that the commander of the German
man-of-war Fake, at Samoa, had been
arrested by the British, and Is now held
a prisoner on the vessel Porpoise. lie
was surprised by squad of British
sailors, handing arms and ammunition
to Mataafas men. The report was
brought to Australia by the passengers
of the steamer Upola-
After the arrest of the Fakes COM
mander a conference was held between
Capt. Sturdee and Admiral KautZ, and
the Porpoise and Philadelphia steamed in
a position on either side Of the Fake.
Orders were then sent aboard that ves-
sci that if she made a move of any kind
she would be blown out Of the water No
one is allowed to go aboard or leave the
German ship Of war without permission,
written and signed. by either Capt. Stur-
dee, of the Porpoise, or lJdmiral Kautz.
Fighting continues between the forces
of Mataafa and Malietoa Tanus. Bush
fights, with slight loss of life, are daily
occurrences and business is practically
at a standstill. There is considerable
sickness among the seamen of the Por-
poise and Philadelphia Three Of the
Porpoise's crew died from fever. Lieut..
Garnet, Of the Porpoise, Is among the
sick Mataafa's cause is waning.
April 4 is the date upon which the re-
ported arrest was made.
DISCREDITED IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, April 2O-The state
ment that the commander Of the German
cruiser Fake had been arrested at Apia
by the British naval commander was 1T
once secuted by the officials to whom it
was referred here. Both Secretary Hay
and Secretary Long expressed their dis
belief in the accuracy of the report. At
tention was directed to the fact that the
navy department had heard from Adrni-
raj Kautz by cable, from Auckland, at a
later date than that upon which the
| steamer just arrived at Victoria must
have sailed from Apia on her long east
ward voyage. Admiral Kautzs dispatch
was dated April 4, and it was forwarded
from the nearest cable station-Aukland-
April IL. 1t Is regarded as etremely I'M
likely that a steamer could have made
the trip from Apia to Victoria since April
4. 1t is suggested as an explanation OF
the story that the steamers crew had
heard Of the arrest of the German man
ager of the plantation where the Ameri-
can and British sailors were ambushed
and of his being taken aboard the British
warship, and had jumped to the conclu-
sion that the person arrested was the
German commander
1t is pointed out in official German
quarters that the arrest of the COM
mandor of one warship by the com
mander of another ship is an absurdity'
and, moreover, cable advices have
reached the embassy much later than
these which a steamer could have
brought to British Columbia and no such
action was disclosed The British ON
bassy also is without any Information of
such an occurrence.