Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-27

. Victoria, B. c., April 21.-The steam
er Morangi from Australia brings adj
vices that the commander of the Ger
man man OF war Fake at Samoa has
been arrested by the British and is
now held a prisoner on the vessel Por-
poise. He was surprised by a squad
OF British sailors handing arms and
ammunition to Mataafa's men. The
report was brought to Australia by
passengers on the steamer Upola. At
ter the arrest of the Fakes command
er, conference was held between Cap
tain Sturde and Admiral Kautz, and
the Porpoise and Philadelphia steamed
in position on either side of the Fake.
Orders were then sent aboard that if
she made a move Of any kind she
would be blown out of the water No
one was allowed to go aboard or leave
the German ship of war without per-
mission, written and signed by either
Captain Sturde of the Porpoise or Ad-
miral Kautz. April 4th is the date on
which the reported arrest was made.
The fighting continues between the
forces of Mataafa and Malietoa Tanus.
Bush fights with slight losses Of life,
are of daily occurrence. There is con-
siderable sickness among the seamen
on the Porpoise and Philadelphia.
Mataafas cause is waning.
Report Secuted by Officials.
Washington, April 21-The state
ment that the commander of the Ger
man cruiser Fake had been arrested
at Apia by the British naval comman-
der was secuted by the officials to
whom it was referred here. Secre-
taries Hay and Long expressed dis
belief of the accuracy of the report.
Attention was directed to the fact
that the navy department heard from
Kautz by cable via Auckland at a
later date than that upon which the
steamer just arrived at Victoria must
have sailed from Apia on her east
ward voyage. Kautz' dispatch was
dated April 4, and forwarded from the
nearest cable station-Auckland-
April Il. 1t is regarded as extremely
impossible that the steamer could have
made the trip from Apia to Victoria
since April 4. 1t is suggested that
the steamers crew had heard of the
arrest of the German manager of
plantation by the American and Brit
ish sailors who were ambushed, and
of his being taken aboard the warship
and jumped to the conclusion that the
person arrested was the German COM
mander. 1t is pointed out in official
German quarters that the arrest of
the commander of one warship by the
commander of another ship is an alb
surdity. Moreover the cable advices
reached the embassy much later than
these which the steamer could have
brought to British Columbia In them
no such action was disclosed. The
British embassy is without informa-
ton 6f such an occurrence.
Advices Misconstrued
San Francisco, April 21-Mail adj
vices received here by the Associated
Press from Apia, Samoa, dated March
"a told of an incident which occurred
just before the bombardment by the
American and British warships COM
lutHCSu. ilt 0t1 man w do
about to leave the harbor on some
mysterious mission when Kautz sig
nailed her to return and take care of
the German residents. This incident
combined with the arrest Of a promi-
nent German planter for aiding the
rebels is, perhaps, the one referred to-
in the Victoria advices of yesterday
and in some manner misconstrued by
the passengers on the Morangi.