New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-17
GERMAN VIEW FROM APIA
PARTISAN ESTIMATE OF THE coNsULg
ACTION.
DEFENCE OF MArAAFA-cRTrIcIsM OF EMO.
LIsH AND AMERICAN OFFICERS
ATTACH CALLED BRUTAL
ATTACK CALLED BRur.


LIsH AND AMERICAN OFFICERS
ATTACK CALLED BRUTAL
Washington April ia correspondent In this city
for a leading German newspaper has received an
interesting letter from Apia concerning there
I'm March, as viewed entirely from the German side
OF the question. The letter written by promi.
nent German and Is OF interest In that II gives ths
German view of the state OF things now existing In
the Samoan Islands. The letter begins with a COM
plant that no regard whatever IL shown by the
British and American forces toward the Germans
The lombard had been announced TO begin
on Wednesday. March IA. at .. m. but no notice.
says the letter. was given to the Germans ard the
German Consul-General is still waiting for the on
clal communication of the beginning OF the bonn
bardment. The commander OF the German warship
Fake informed by officer OF the Phsdei-
phia only a quarter Of an hour after the Are had
been opened The numerous whites living In the
vicinity OF the town had no opportunity TO take any
measures for their safety. and were not aware Of
what going until shrapnel exploded In their
neghborhood It is due. continues the letter only
to a merclful Providence that white killed
or wounded.
In Vaiteie a cocoa plantation belonging to the
German Trade and Plantation Company. on tho
afternoon OF March Is. six shells fell near the
house One struck through the roof OF the veranda
and rent the floor the spot where scarcely a
minute before the manager OF the plantation Herr
Tiedemann. had stood with an overseer
The same afternoon three bombs were thrown
upon the Voca Mountain, south Of Apia where the
French mission has school for native children.
one shell falling down close 10 the house Of the
Fathers and another exploding near the house OF
the Sisters.
on March IS a she'll fred from the Philadelphia
exploded too soon and nneteen-pound piece Of II
was thrown into the building OF the German Con-
suate. wreckins a part Of It. This. It is stated.
| taught the firing parties to use more caution.
SEARCHING PARTY LANDED.
On March is part OF the town and the grounds
In the rear. the letter says. searched by an
Anglo-American landing party. strengthened by
about a hundred friendly natives under the
mand of Captain sturdee. OF the Porpoise. The
expedition landed in the Mataute quarter OF the
town, before the house OF wealthy French mer-
chant and after few aimless volleys the Tanu
men occupied the house OF the Frenchman and
battered down. under the eyes OF the English
officers doors and windows and. the letter asserts
helped themselves freely 10 whatever from the
stores they could In the hurry lay hands upon.
Then the grounds searched though In vain.
for Mataafa warriors. The letter follows up this
statement with a bitter ana sarcastic personal
attack on Captain Sturdee
II then proceeds TO enumerate the reasons that
led TO the establishment Of the provisional gov
eminent. which. IL Is said. was TO remain in Ell.
istence until agreement Of the sgnatory Powers
regarding the future form Of the political condi-
continues:
In the mean while the provisional government.
under the able leadership Of Mstaafa, had main
tanned such order and security under no former
Property the copra production in the country COM
menced again and there were signs OF prosperous
times coming back the white traders. Nobody
who represented material interests wanted a change
his order Se S sxs vsn o e and 70
strong guard in the British Consulate and dd
not give shore leave 10 me crews OF tne "arshp''
ARRIVAL OF ADMIRAL KAUTz
On March the Philadelphia under Admiral
Kautz arrived here when the fate of the pro-
visional government sealed. Admiral kautz
did not think ut try to get just picture OF ths
Samoan situation by extending his Inquiries as
far as possible Chief Justice Chamber at,ns,,, VINO
sponsibe for the present troubles; the Enense
crown witnesses. Many Germans well informed
the conditions Of The county, and more a
the beginning not considered. The American con-
suCenera. did not deem Il worth while 70 give
acauiesced in the proposals Of Maxse and sturdee
on March Ma Aamr ,oo esce OF on Board the P
delpha when the German Consul protested WIN
due e @Hd gsom aSaes the
eminent and use to this end the whole force OF
live tive Explained 10 him that the country was in
condition OF perfect tranquility, and that there
or no deson OF the treaty. Powers On March
10 Admiral Kautz issued his proclamation and
did not hesitate % state in the Samoan text thst
| all Consuls were agreed as to the proceeding
| against the provisional government.
The German representative, firmly resolved NOT 10
| have the German warship Fake participate IN the
ton The Mataafa were not allowed the least
time for consideration They evacuated Munnnu
the seat OF the provisional government on Monday.
March 49, but were already shot upon when thsy on
Wednesday. had not yet left the territory or tns
municipality. In order to frghten the Mataaa
men still more. all Tanu men. though very htue
armed by the English with rifles and plenty OF
ammunition.
DEATH OF MARINES.
Among the victims of the present fighting are also
1--WE brave marines and 1t is a pity 20 say that X
not all vet most of them, have lost their lives
through the bullets of their own comrades. That
such things may happen. is only too easily ex-
planned. Officers and crews In consequence or the
Continued guard and patrol service. overexercised
and nervous lost the rest necessary for the hand
ling Of firearms. II leaf rustes In the night II an
animal moves. mmediatelythe guns and arms are
fired: In short there is incredible waste OF am
munition. .,-
or course. az to be expected the ant-Ger-
man elements In Samoa are already now at work
thing on the ground that he by refusing TO partc,
ipate I'm the proceedings OF the Americans ana
English encouraged the Mataafa men 10 resistance
This charge is easily refuted. procedure OF sucn
brutality as that at present being enacted agans,
Mataafa Is contrary to all laws OF humanity and
civilization and ought TO have been rejected at the
start by the unanimous vote OF All the Consuiss;
How the tragedy OF Mataafa and his followers will
end Is difficult 10 predict. III the governments
of England and America do not put In time stop
to the action of their representatives here they
hearted people driven to death ana destruction In
maintaining it's ancient laws and Customs