The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-11
JUDGE CHAMBERS DECISION
Is Claimed to Have had a Stupcfy.
ing Effect.
THE ACTION OF THE BRITISH
In Espousins the Cause Of Malictoa
Tanus was Calculated to Provoke
JIostilitics- Herr Rose, the German
Consul, Presents Hlmsclrin Very
Pleasant Lisht-Dr. Rnnel's Action
in Closing the Supreme Court is
Defended.

Defended. Is
BERLIN, March lo.--The Relchsun-
zeIger publishes q series Of official dis
patches from Samoa. Herr Rose. the
German consul, in his report OF the
event prior to January 4, dated January
%. says the decision of Chief Justice
Chambers in favor OF Malietoa Tanus.
was bound to have stupefying effect,
inasmuch as In Il written statement,
dater October 5, 1895, Mr.. Chambers de-
clared there was no ground for contest
ing Mataafa's assumption of the sover-
eighty IL he was legally elected king.
During the course OF the dis scussion
prior to the outbreak respecting the
measures to be adopted to assure public
security, Mr.. Maxse, the British consul
and Captain Strudee. OF the British
cruiser Porpoise, are represented as in
timating their intention Of forcibly pre-
venting any advance Of the Mataafans
and to actively protect the Tanustes.
While the Germans only announced
such military measures as were
prompted by the necessity to protect
the lives and property of the whites, the
British guards stationed at Mr.. Cham
bers residence would, owing to the To-
cality, have been drawn directly into
conflict with the natives.
Herr Rose then relates how he rode
on the afternoon Of January l to the
Tivoli hotel in order like manner.
and how on his way there he had
traversed n body of Mataafans to
whom. however. he did not speak.
Shortly after four, the German consul
contlnues,he rod with Lieutenant Friel-
inghaus, OF the German warship Fake,
to Songi and home again. Thus. the
consul concludes Mr.. Chambers accu-
sation that he rode at the head of u
troop Of N1ataafans at 1880. when they
attacked the Tlvon hotel is pure inven-
tlon." as proved by the written test!-
mony of Lieutenant Frlelinghaus. The
consul ndds that the first two shots
we're fired by the Malietoans.
The Provincial Government.
Recounting the establishment Of the
provincial government, Herr Rose says
DR.. Raffel Ghe German president of the
municipal government at Apia), by his
activity soon won universal approval
and quotes the thanks received from the
British consul and the captain Of the
Porpoise.
Thus, the consul continues, the prov
incial government was already an ac-
complished fact on January 3.
Relating to the attitude OF the war;
ships the consul says DR.. Raffel took
measures for the protection of the Brit
ish mission and he concludes with de-
claring Mataafa did not take part in the
fighting. Moreover, he points out he
was recognized on the English side by
a letter published in the Apia news
papers.
According to Consul Rose. Mataafa
was not responsible for the war, but up
to the last endeavored to prevent 1t.
In another report Herr Rose describes
the events between January and jan
'uary Q. He says DR.. Raffel closed the
supreme court on January because he
thought Mr.. Chambers was precluded
by law from exercising the functions Of
chief Justice.as long asthe government
was installed contrary to his decision
and he remained in office.
DIR. RaGcl's Action.
Later opposing Mr.. Maxse's view that
DR.. Raffel's action was an insult to the
British flag, Herr Rose describes the
forcible opening of the supreme court on
January Z by Mr.. Chambers and Mr..
MaSse, while the latter threatened tho
bombardment OF Apla and the Porpolse
trained her guns on the supreme court.
Continuing, Herr Rose says that at the
time Of the compulsory re-opening of
the supreme court he refrained from
applying to the captain Of the Fake to
protect DR.. Raffel because he did not
wish that EARNED detachments of two
friendly states should confront one an
other for so slight cause"
Herr Rose next discusses Mr.. Cham
bers proclamation on January Z, de-
clarlng the supreme court to be indc-
pendent OF the existence Of any provis-
fvNf Ar