Arizona republican., 1899-04-24
Facts About Army RatiOnS NOt
 Generally Known.
fHE SITUATION IN SAMOA
One Aim of Germany Is 10 Secure a COaIing Station for Herself Alone and She Believes That Mafaafa whom Bismarck Called a Savaoe Monster Tea Years Ago May Aid Her.


 Washington, April 23.-Ona would
 imagine from reading the reports of the testimony before the beef court of
 inquiry thta the soldiers in Cuba had
 nothing to eat but canned beef and
 that this was spoiled or unfit for use.
 The testimony, when it is read in it's
 entirety, is very different from that published in the daily press. The uual- flying clauses of most of the witnesses temper the bad statements as they
 appear in the reports in the papers.
 Of course, there has been much testi-
 mony showing that the beef spoiled in the tropical climate and that some of it was unfit to use The testimony also shows that this beef was not eaten by the soldiers or forced upon tnem, but was condemned or discard ed.
 The belief, however, is strong all ever the country that the government was served with bad canned beef. and not only received it and had to pay for it, but that it was forced on the troops. This is not the fact The government contracted for certain amount of good canned beef. and where the ar ticle was found spoiled CT unfit for use. 1t was condemned and discarded ana the government did not pay a cent to the packers or dealers for s.ll sucn supplies. The accounts in the treas ury will show that ever $3O.O0O worth of canned meats from one packer alone was condemned, and his bill has never been paid, simply because the contractor did not come up to hiS contract to furnish good meat.
 While there has been considerable excitement over the Samoan situa- tion, the officials here have never for an instant considered it sa of a nature to cause an open rupture between the three nations forming the protectorate of the islands. The German course has been irritating and not altogether open and above board, but there is no desire on the part of either Great Britain or the United States to force an issue or bring about bloodshed. It is certain, however, that Mataafa can never be king of the islands again. Ten years ago, when the German sol- diers were killed by his followers and he was upheld by the othae nations. Germany, through Pr.nse Bismarck, protested that he was not fit to reign, because he was a savage and had rnn- tilated and beheaded the bodies of the Germans in a most atrocious manner. This protest was presented and ac- cepted by the other nations, and is on record as the position of Germany in regard to Mataafa.
 The tables have turned, and Ma taafa and his followers have not only American and British off, cers and sailors, bTt have also be- headed and mutilated their bodies. This time Germany is supporting the old king, and should she attempt to restore him to the throne both Great Britain and the United States will produce her protest Officials in the navy department see in Germany's AO01A ] desire to prevent the United States from gaining possession of Pago-Pago as coaling station. Both Germany and Great Britain would like a sta ton in that harbor, but the grant was given to the United States by the king and cannot be reversed by the government of the consuls or any ac- ion of the Samoan government. It can, however, be revoked by the king himself, but only by him. If Germany lad succeeded in placing Mataafa once more on the throne, some off, ,ials here believe that he might have exercised his preroga1ive to revoke the to the United States at 9ago-Pago.