The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-28
|Germany's Fears of Serious Results Of the
British and American Action.
ENGLAND AND AMERICA UNITED
In UNFOLDING Their Representatives. Views-Germanys Position Re.
earding Responsibility for Probable Results of the Meeting
Called by Our Naval Commander at Apia--Alger Restricts
Miles authority -McKinley's Reply to Admiral
SIMPSONS Letter-Another Spanish Gun.
boat Raised:

Washington, March 23.-The German
ambassador, DR.. Won Holleben, called
at the state department today to fur
Tier confer with the officials concerning
the Samoan situation. The Berlin au-
thorities AVE communicated very free
ly on the subject within the last few
days, and as a result of extended dis
patches from the foreign office, the am
bassador has presented a long note,
covering the latest phases Of the case.
It is understood hat the German ad-
vices confirm the arrival Of Admiral
Kautz, the convoking by him OF a
meeting of all the officials on the 18th
insta2 but they do not show what re-
suited from the meeting. All their re-
porrsAare silent thus far On this point,
but German view is evidently one OF
apprehension lest serious results may
grow out Of the meeting, in which event
the German view is that the response
bilities should be borne by those bring
ing about the meeting. Further than
this, questions are arising as to the
extent Of authority of the British and
American consuls acting together to
do anything without the concurrence Of
Consul Rose of Germany.
The German view evidently holds that
the Berlin treaty requires the three
consuls to act unanimously and not
through a majority. Another question
is as to the right of a naval commander
to take any political action. The Ber-
lin treaty, in their view, would limit
the lights of naval within
very narrow limits, leaving them SIM
ply to execute what the three consuls,
by unanimous agreement, determine
upon. These are the main points en-
gaging attention, and in view of the
questions involved news of Admiral
Kautz's action following the meeting on
the 18th instant is awaited with much
interest and not a little concern.
Admiral Kautz has sustained fully
the actions Of the chief justice of Sa-
moa, so far as his Investigations have
gone. Ever since the first news of the
emute at Apia last January, the de-
partment of state, and the German and
the British governments have peen
separately pursuing Investigations into
the matter, and, it was in pursuance
of our branch of the inquiry that Ad-
miral Kautz was sent to Apia. 1t is
not understood that the investigation
is complete so far as he is concerned;
but, at the point where he stands, he
has felt obliged to sustain the conclu-
Z sions-Already reached by the United
StatA consul, Luther Osborn, and the
chief, justice himself. 1t also appears
tha3k these conclusions are in exact &C
cora wit those reached by the BRITISH
naval commander, Captain STURDY, OIL
the Porpoise, who was present at Apla
during the outbreak, and of Mr.. MaXse,
the British consul at Apia who was
also a participant. Thus there is an ar
ray of four witnesses combined in their
testimony, while opposed to them is the
German consul, DR.. Rose.
The German government as IS gain
cred from the Berlin adViceS, is disposed
to stand firmly in support of its repre-
sentative, although it has been init
mated to it that by his retirement, Rose
would facilitate a satisfactory ana
speedy adjustment of the complications
in Samoa. 1t is manifestly Impossible
for the United States to diScredlt Its
representative, the chief justice, or Ior
the British government to repudlate
Mr.. MaXse, in view of the weight OF
the testimony in their favor, so that
a practical deadlock has been cached,
so far as this matter of changing the
representation of the three powers con-
cerned at Apia is concerned.
These conditions lead to the belief
that there is some danger OF the repu-
diation of the treaty of Berlin, and IN
the present temper of the parties, 1t
would not be surprising If this nap
pened without an attempt on their part
to replace it, although 1t is, OF course,
believed that even in that event some
manner Oh I1OuuS l. w PAo
vided to prevent another such CLASH
between the conflicting interests as
happened ten years ago, resulting in
the treaty of Berlin.
MILES AUTHORITY CURTAILED.
The following order has been issued
at the wal department.:
Circular No. =
Headquarters of the Army,
"Adjutant Generals Office,
washington, 1899.
"THe following decision has been
made and is published for the lnforma-
ton and guidance of all concerned:
"War Department,
washington, March p, 1899.
Ordered. that hereafter no chief or
acting chief of staff corps shall be de-
tailed or ordered to any duty by any
authority without the approval or the
secretary of war.
"R. A. ALGER, Sec'y Of War.
BY command OF N R Genefa
Miles: H. :. COfSblN;
"Adjutant General"
This order of Secretary Alger mas
been issued to set at rest all questions
as to who is the supreme authority III
the war department. 1t is an old on
troversy dating back to the time When
Jefferson Davis was secretary OF war,
and General Scott commanding general
of the army. The last time the matter
was brought prominently to the atten-
ton of the country was during the Az
ministration of President Arthur when
Secretary Lincoln wrote a very caus-
tic letter to Lieutenant General Sherl-
dan stating that the staff corps OF the
war department, with the exception OF
the adiutant generals and the inspec-
tor generals corps, were under the dl-
rection and control and subject only to
orders by the secretary of war. The
order of Secretary A1ger will hereafter
Include the chiefs of corps under the
sole control of the secretary. General
Miles has held to the construction based
upon the letter of Secretary Lincoln.
The cause for the issuance of the order
was a recent order of General Miles to
Lieutenant Colonel Darlington, acting
chief of the inspector generals corps,
.du kir.g the absence OF General Brecken-
ridsk9! directing Darlington to visit GER
tain points in the west on an inspse-
tioG tour. The order of the secretary
doaD not refer to General Brecken-
rl1ge's present duty in Cuba as he is
4 acting under orders issued by Secre-