The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-06-05
Have Kept Within Limits Pre-.
scribed. but Are Loyal to
Their Chief.
Believed That Unless All the Ma.
tiyes Are Disarmed There
Will Be Trouble,
And That White Men Will Be
Unable to Live There in
Safety.

APlA. Samoa, May 10. via San Fran
cisco. June 5.-When Admiral kautz
issued his proclamation of April %, al
recting Mataafa and his following to
keep beyond certain defined limits
around -Apia. the prescribed districts
covering an area 10 miles long and 6
miles broad, followed by a notification
to Mataafa that unless the rebels were
outside the prescribed limits in "a hours
fire would be opened upon them where
ever they could be reached. this ulti-
matum brought about an immediate
and unconditional compliance with the
admiral's directions.
From that time up to date there has
been no conflict with the rebels. Cap.
tain Sturiee, Of H. NJ. S. Porpoise, ac-
companied by Rev. William Huckett,
of the London Mission society, as inter
prefer, paid the rebel camp at Falenla
a visit the day following and in order to
avoid mistakes in the future. went over
the boundary line with several Mataafan
chiefs who promised to keep the peace
until the commission had time to act.
The district which the rebels have
evacuated is quite large enough to sup
ply food to the Malietoans in Apai. and
thus one Of the great dific ulties Of the
naval authorities has been overcome.
The large fort at Lotopia has been
destroyed by the Malietoans and it is
reported that Mataafa is highly en-
ragged at this, claiming that in the
event of his wishing to return to the
same after the commission has made
known its decision. he ought to have
been allowed 20 do SO. In the mean
time be is building forts inland Of the
town Of Falenla and his followers
stou,ly declare that even if the com.
mission are unanimous against him he
will never acknowledge Tauu as king.
and will fight it out TO the bitter end.
The assertions may be only talk. but as
far as We can judge here the question
of hinsship does not seem TO lie within
the scope Of the commission. Tanu has
been publicly crowned by the American
and British authorities here and has
been saluted with royal honors by
both the Philadelphia and Tau
ranga, on the occasion of his
coronation, and of his formal visit &c
the warshlps. since the armistice has
been i'll force. His chiefs and Tama-
sese, the vice king, are carrying on the
government in a way that performs all
the functions OF a good and stable gov
eminent, ana they are IN possession.
Tanu is king lie facto as we'll as de lure.
and in addition, there are now in Apia
5000 male adults, carrying :, 100 rifles,
supporting him. This means hat abso-
lutely half Of Apla IS at present sup
porting the king of Apia. Ma.aafa is
likely 70 be a disappointed man, and
although a personal friend of his who
had an interview with him a few days
ago, says that Mataafa is prepar-
Ing To accept the inevitable at the
hands Of a unanimous commission, he
will never submit to a minority, even
though that minority be the w great.
est nations on the earth. Farcical, no
doubt TO most people, but serious in
deed to the few white residents Of these
islands.
The great question is will the COM
mission order the disarmament Of the
natives: 1t they 10 not it is the opinion
Of almost every white resident that
these islands will no longer be safe to
live in, and may declare that if the ma
tives are to retain their rifles never
mind what other solution Of the Samoan
question is made, they cannot and will
not live here with their wives, families
and property at the mercy Of the next
lot of rebels.
Thanks to magnificent weather, a
splendid supply Of water and fresh
meat daily, the troops are in the best Of
health, and officers and mel alike, now
that they are accustomed to the islands
and to their work, are all looking
splendid.
1t is the intention Of Admiral Kautz
to leave here three days after this writ
ing. He sees that the commission will
be a long time over its labors, and that
during that time nothing will be done
by the war vessels. The Badger and the
Brutus are both here in American in.
~terests, and the Newark is expected in
three weeks at least, and that therefore
there is no need for him to wait here a
heightened period doing nothing.