The morning news., 1899-04-13
OFFICIAL NEWS IS LACKING.
ACTION OF AMERICAN OFFICERS
WILL BE UPHELD.

ure OF the joint High commission
May BE DeIayed-British Action
lis Backward-If Germany Wants
War She Can Get 1t.
Washington, April 12.-The acute situa-
tion in Samoa gave rise to grave appre-
hension among officials during the early
day in Washington, but the conclusion
was reached as the departments closed.
that the situation is one that will yield
to sensible and cool treatment IL all the
parties to the Berlin treaty are sincere
in an effort to prevent further trouble.
AS put by cabinet officer the killing
of the sailors has not materially changed
the general problem, though it has un-
doubtedly added to the difficulty of deal
ing with the specific situation.
The only official news received touching
the last incident was contained in the
following cablegram from Admiral kautz:
Auckland, N. H., April 12.-Secretary of
the Navy, Washington. On April l, while
the combined forces of the British and
United States, under Lieut.. Freeman,
British navy, were reconnoitering near
Apla, they were ambushed. Deeply re-
gret to announce the death of Lieut..
Philip B. Lansdale, Ensign John r. Mon
aghan, Coxswain James Butler, Ordinary
Seaman Norman Edsal and five men
wounded belonging to the Philadelphia.
The British loss in killed, two men and
Lieut.. Freeman. kautz.
TO Send More officers.
Secretary Long said that no additional
! instructions were to be sent by him to the
admiral. The Secretary of State, however,
has been told that he is at liberty TO for
ward any instructions to the admiral that
! he may deem necessary. but that if he
| concludes to do so, he must act immedi-
ately, as the mail steamer leaves the
nearest cable point for Apia tomorrow.
The Philadelphia was short handed for
officers before the loss of Lieut.. Lansdale
and Ensign Monaghan, and the depart
| ment to-day promptly sent telegraphc or
| ders to Mare Island, to dispatch some off,
| GERS to recruit the force. Lieut.. Scheutza
| goes out as executive officer with Lieut..
| w. S. Huges, Lieut.. Schofeid and Lieut..
| Hetherington Surgeon Steel is ordered
from the New York navy yard to the
Philadelphia. All of these officers are ex-
pected to take the mail steamer on April
| 19 for Apia.
The diplomatic negotiations of the day
| were not directed particularly to the en-
counter, as the official information is too
| meager thus far to warrant positive Off
cial action There were many inquiries.
| however, and the state department and
the British and German embassies ex-
changed such advices as they had on the
| subject.
Commission May BE Held Up.
In the main the diplomatic negotiations
continued to center around the high COM
mission On this subject a breach is grad
| ually opening between Great Britain and
Germany because of the refusal of Great
Britain to have the commission leave San
Francisco on April 10.
While the Germans are anxious and our
officials are willing that the start should
be made on April 19, Great Britain In
sists on proceeding with deliberation, al
lowing full time for instructions to the
British commissioner by mail, and not by
cable. This. of course, would make it
impossible for the commission to leave IN
body this month.
To overcome this stand by the British
foreign Office a suggestion has been made
that the appointment of an umpire, which
is one of the points still i'm dispute, be
settled after the commissioners start. If
this is agreed to the commission can get
away, though with some branches of IT,,
instructions incomplete.
The remaining features including that
as TO how a desclsion shall be made. and
in what case an umpire shall be called in.
would be forwarded to them later
This German proposal does not meet with
favor among the British officials who have
determined that the British commissioner,
Mr. Eliot, shall not leave until his func-
tions can he exactly defined
Lieut.. Freeman, killed in Samoa is Civ
en- in the British naval list as Lieut. An
gel II. Freeman. the senior lieutenant of
the cruiser Taurauga and next to Capt.
Stuart in command of the vessel. AS
chief lieutenant he was executive officer
of the Tauranga
Location of the Fleets.
The British admiralty has a number of
ships not far from Samoa in the Austria
lasian Islands, a special design of small
cruiser being used in that locality. The
chief naval station accessible to Samoa
is on the China coast where the Asatlc
squadron embraces some of the largest
warships in the British navy. In num-
ber armament and tonnage the British
ships on this station far exceed those Of
Germany or any other power.
The chief German naval station near
Samoa also is on the China coast az Kiao
Chou, where Admiral Prince Henry is in
command.
Admarl Dewey's feet at Manila is the
nearest assemblage of American warships
TO Samoa. The sail from Manila to Sa-
moa is about fourteen days.
Senator Davis. chairman Of the Senate
committee on foreign relations. was one
of the earliest of the Presidents visitors
to-day When asked for his views on the
situation, he said:
1--WE must be careful and not lose our
heads. We must not form an opinion un-
til all the facts are known"
Must Know All the Facts.
Representative Hun Of Iowa. chairman
Of the House military committee, was also
one Of the Presidents visitors He said:
This government will not attempt 10
discredit our men there unless Il Is shown
clearly that they are In the wrong. II
Germany persists In her present course
there may be war. ] do not believe THIS
administration will allow Germany 10 run
this government as she seems 20 be try
ing 70 do now. IN my section OF the coun-
try the feeling has been strong against