The times., 1899-04-17
GREATER TROUBLE FEARED.
An Old Resident of Apia Describes
the Samoan situation.

-AA> cessnCan ShtoatAOns
New York, April ia letter Just re-
ceived by a gentleman in New York from
an American friend at Apia. Samoa. which
was written on March %. and Is therefore
among the last mail advices received from
the Samoan capital. gives interesting in
formation concerning the situation follow
ing the killing Of three and wounding of
two British men-of-war's men and the
killing Of one and wounding of another
American sailor from the Philadelphia.
Part OF the news contained in the letter
appeared in the press dispatches a few
days ago. having been telegraphed from
San Francisco on the arrival of the steamer
from Apia. The letter says in part:
"On March l3 the British and American
troops were landed and took charge of the
town. The first attack was made on them
during the night of the 18th. A great deal
of shelling has been done by the British
and American warships, but with what ef-
feet it is SO far impossible to learn. A few
brushes have taken place in the bush be-
tween white and native skirmishing par
ties, but on account of the dense under
brush it is impossible for the whites to do
much.
AT present Mataafa's troops are all
around Apia and back about four or five
miles in the bush, but it is almost impos-
sible to locate them exactly for the pur-
pose of shelling, and they will not come
into the open to give the whites battle
H. j. Moors. an American, who, Admiral
Kautz suspects, is too friendly to Mataafa
and who is strong friend OF the Germans.
has been confined to his house by order of
the admiral. Any suspicious person found
communicating with him is placed under
arrest.
Nearly every business establishment in
Apia is closed up and the greater part of
the white residents are on board the war
ships in the harbor. Many residents have
gone to Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand
THE American and English sentries are
very rough to the Germans. who insult and
sneer at them on every possible occasion.
In return the sentries, especially the Amer
leans, make 1t as interesting for the Ger
mans as possible. 1t is no uncommon thing
to see the sentries keep the Germans stand
ing in the sun for several hours before they
are allowed to pass one way or the other.
The German Consul always insists on try
ing to pass through the sentry lines, but
he is always turned back. The captain of
the German warship Fake tried it once,
and that was enough for him.
We have had all the thick jungle back
OF Apia cleared away for a quarter of a
mile and intend continuing at this work
In a day or two we shall have few hun
dred of Malietoa's men take up position
on small hill on the cemetery road and
fortify 1t. then gradually move our posi-
tion inland.
1t is not improbable that Mataafa's s
men will soon resort to the fire stick and
1t is thus possible that the whole of Apia
may soon go up in smoke. as on dark
night one or two determined men could
easily crawl in and set the town on fire in
different places.
Several days ago all persons living
between the British Consulate at Vaala
and point beyond the TivoIi Hotel in
Apia proper were ordered to yacate by the
American and English naval authorities. A
mine has been placed under the Tivoli
Hotel. which you, of course, well remem-
ber. so that if Mataafa's men attempt to
rush in and occupy it they will be blown
higher than they ever were before. 1t
was from the Tivoli on the night of March
IA that signal was made just previous to
the attack by Mataafa's men In which the
three English sailors were killed. A spy
gave the signal.
Poor Samoa has never seen such times
before. | fear that American and English
blood will be split before many more days
have passed. but this will not end the
trouble. You may be sure that If Ameri-
cans and Englishmen are killed German
blood will flow also.
II have lived in Samoa many years, and
believe that l am competent to Judge of
the present situation. | am, therefore,
convinced that many months will elapse
before this trouble is ended"