The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-13
GERMAN REGRETS EXPRESSED
All Blame in the Matter, However, is
DiSavowed.

Berlin, April 12-The correspondent
here of the Associated Press has had
an interview with Foreign Office Off
cial authorized to speak for the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Baron Won Buelow.
He said:
I'VE have received several official dis
patches saying that the Tanu people
for a fortnight past have been raiding
and pillaging around Apia, destroying
mainly German property, They are
armed with weapons furnished by the
British.
I'VE also received to-day a dispatch
from the commander of the Fake, con-
firming the ambuscade and the loss of
the Americans and English, substantially
tallying with the dispatches of the As
sociattd Press. The ambuscade may
possibly have been ON Il German planta-
ton, as nearly all the property around
Apia is German The Government re-
grets extremely the occurrence, for
which, however. it is in no way to
blame. Such hostile encounters must
naturally be expected when the Anglo
Amt rcan action in crowning Tanu has
made nine-tenths of the Samoans their
enemies. 1t shows strongly how neces-
sary is the prompt departure of the COM
mission with adequately fun Instructions.
Although the German commissioner has
net yet been formally appointed he is
ready to start for Samoa within half
an hour of the three Governments
clearly defining the mode Of operation
and the powers of the commission. Why
does England needlessly delay agreeing?
1t is the only way. to prevent ceaseless
bloodshed in Samoa. Unless the commits
sion starts soon such encounters may
re-occur any day.
"Of course. now that fresh blood has
been spilled, the excitement of the
Americans and British may increase. But
Germany is blameless. The same thing
happened to our men in 1888. The Sa-
means also cut off the heads of the
German victims then. This IS one of the
Samoans' pleasant habits. II Admiral
kautz had the power to re-establlSh
peace all might b. well. But, he needs
a much stronger force than is now avail
able under his and the British command
at Apa to subdue Mataafa and his
war-like hosts
An official dispatch from Apia, dated.
April 9TH, says:
THE British have been bombarding
Samoan village daily and the adher-
tnts of both Tanu and Mataafa are
plundering foreign property.
.'On April 1st an Anglo-American land
ing party of seventy men fell into an
ambuscade near Nailele 0he dispatches
of the Associated Press from Apia had
it Vaslelel. Three officers were killed
and two light guns were captured. The
warships afterwapd renewed the bonn
bardment"
The officials here point out that the
engagement appears to have occurred at
the same place that Il landing party
from the German warships Olga. Eber
and Adler had an encounter with the
natives in 1888.
AS VIEWED IN LONDON.
London. April 12.-The outbreak in
Samoa. just wher the powers had agreed
upon the appointment of a commission
to settle the difficulties there has caused
great annoyance and disappointment at
the Foreign Office here, where it is re-
garded as making the alreaiy Serious
complications still grayef. While they
have difficulty in expressing dennte
opinion of the fresh developments, 1T IS
acknowledged that the Foreign Office
officials think il has been manifested
that there has been haSty and aggressive
action upon the part of Herr Rose, the
German Consul. Although !le may nave
many technical reasons for the part he
has played in behalf of German infer
esits, il is asserted ihat he has been
the prime cause Of the out9reaS. which,
it rs added, wall necessarily greatly en-
lbarrass the endeayors which the three
powers are making to restore q salts
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