Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-16
Letter from Chief Justice VIM. L.
Chambers on the Subject.
GERMANS WERE DEFIANT.
Head Of "a Hand Of Five Hun.
drcd Rebels.


bers. chief Justice Of Samoa under the
Berlin treaty. dated Apla. January %.
Justice Chambers speaks Of the trial Of
the contest for the kingshIp between
the two rival factions and says
After eleven days of patient invcsti-
cation, two sessions each day and a
hard study every night " Samoan gem
cnlogics. customs. titles and practices,
1 came 10 the conclusion from legal
and conscientious point Of view. be-
sides upon the treaty and the laws and
customs of Samoa, not In conflict
Herewith with Tanu, the son Of the
late king Maiietoa, and who, by the
gift Of the people. had been endowed
with the name OF Malietoa, was duly
elected king.
THE natives during the delivery Of
my decision exercised "a discretion
which was the better part OF vnlor.
Things wer exceedingly quiet and re.
apcctful on the surface and the crowd
Dispersed peacefully.
''Thc United states consul general.
Judge Osborne Of Nebraska. man OF
fine character and legal ability. and the
British consul. Mr.. Maxnc, a nephew OF
Lord saiisbury'a wife, man OF nftccn
years experience In diplomatic service
IN luElnUuN tuftttu NffNltts bNAu llh-
mcdiatcly accepted the decision for
their respective governments.
"Thc German consul general. Rore.
who had also attended the trial, to-
fused to accept tho decision for his
government. although his government
had already agreed with America aud
England that II would accept aud abide
by the decision. whatever II might be.
"a meeting 81 the cOnHuln ana the
captains OF the English and German
men-of-wnr was held within an hour.
The American and English conHuis and
Captain Sturdcc reported that the king
tin whose favor had dccidcdD be I'M
mcdiately recognized by the conHuln
calling upon him ana tie warrhlpa CIV
Ing him a royal salute. This the Ger
man consul and the captain OF the Ger.
man wnrrhp refused TO do. II u had
been done there II no doubt that he
would have bcon nrmly upon his throne
that very day.
within two hours the German con-
sui. for the defeated side. and the 9TH
or German Hympnthlxcrn were leading
the armed troops Of the Mntanfa fac
lions into the street Of the municipality,
The president. who II a German. thrvw
all his influence on that side and the
Mntnafn people realizing that they had
the support % the German consul. OF
German warrhip and OF the entire Ger
man population. got ready With anAz-
ing auickncrn for IN. violent attack
which followed.
'''rhc Mnlictoa people. when II became
known that the MntaafaH were going
Co make war got together all the men
they could IN Apia and the surrounding
country. They had no time 10 gather
their supporters from the different
parts OF The Islands. They succeeded
In mastering about 5000 men indiffer-
emily armed and provided with niiser.
ulfs ammuulflau The fslsla WIN had
been preparing for the situation for
several weeks. perhaps mustered about
1900 men and - nftcrward shown. had
much better guns and were well sup
piled with ammunition.
In fact, there seems 10 be no doubt
that the German traders and one
American Hympnthixing with tho Ma.
tanfa side. had provided many now
guns and great quantities Of fresh ann
munition for them"
Justice Chambers described the Tight
Ing. the details OF which have already
been siven by the Associated Pr.ss. ic
declares that Germans led the Matanfa
troops. the German consul general rid.
Ing at the head ~ about 800 rebels. jus
tioe Chambers continues
THE English man -of-war could not
interfere beyond thu protection OF
American ana british interests because
of the German nympnihlua on the other
inierfercnce from the English ship In
the native question would be taken BY
thcm an an insulting act to Germany
'Onc of the first things the victorn
did WAS 10 forvibly close W tho Hu-
prone court, station around II an
armed force and publish n proclamation
saying that tho court should not DO
fcopened except upon their order. A
provisional government was orgnnizcd,
consented 10 by the cOnaula upon the
expressed condition that u was simply
Go preserve peace and order ana In no
way 20 Interfere with the treaty or the
rights OF any OF the treaty officials.
"pr, Rancl, German, was placed at
the head NJ the provisional government.
aud we though he would have renfe
enough at least to try 10 execute peace
ful purposes. Hut the opportunity
war too great for the satisfaction Of
his ambition TO be resisted. had re-
Gently decided u very important case
adversely 10 him. lie grash'i the
opportunity TO proclaim himself chief
Justice.
II promptly called upon the consuis
OF the three govcrnments-antleh gtins
thai tho German consul would refuse
which he did-for protection IN reopen
Ing the court.
rhr United states and British com
nalH laid the matter before the captain
ot the British ship, who prlinptly ten
dCTcd me all the force required. ! ~
Hucd "a notice that the court would b'
opened a. " o'clock the ns.t day Tn'
lirit,Hh consul gave notice 10 all Ameri
eau AMI british subjects u coF.H ~
board the man-of-war before II o'clock
and the captain gave notice u Tia
captain OF the German ship M 'isni
German subjects TO 10 to places %
Hafety as he was detHrmlpei to Upcl
fltc at amy time af'er half past !
o'clock II my purpose ~ .eopnains Ill
count should be resisted,
"By II o'clock the ship was well hlle,
with women and children, only a fcy
men coming ON board, be II said 10 M
credit OF their courage. for when
landed NJ " o'clock, practically all TN
Americans and BriliHhers In Apia wcr
ready ON the spot In cooperate viii
our governments.
AZ ten minutes before IL o'clocl
two consular boats started, the one u
front Tying the stars and stripes, VIII
Consul General Osborne ON board am
the other dying the English Jack wit
Consul MaNse nt the tiller. A e.,
yards 10 their rear I embarked In u
armed cutter under command OF Lieu
Parker with twenty-elght blue jncketi
each with his lee-mCtford rife nn
forty rounds Of ammunition. Htoo
on the poop OF the little cutter and d
the bow was quick firing gun.
before landing We observed that tn
street Hidca Of the court house wer
surrounded by German officials an
subjects. The marines were left on IA
pies while the two cOnsuls and myse
advanced about "A hundred yards TO IN
court house. The Britishcrs an