Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-08
.L|VEL|NESS At AP|A,
Repeated She||ings BY United
States and British WaTships,
MAl|ETOA 7ANUS MADE KING
Kautz and The British Commanders
AnIiOusly Await AdVlceS.
GENERAL GERMAN OBSTRUCTION.
German Counter-ProcIamati to
Proclamation from Kautx Led 10
All the Trouble, OriginnIIy-In-
tense AntI-German Feeling.
GENERAL GERMAN OBSTRUCTION.


| FRANCISCO, April 7.-There have been
lively times in Samoa during the past few
days. The United States and British
warships have shelied Mataafa's forces
repeatedly, and sailors have been landed
In Apia to protect property. Numerous
| casualties have resulted on both sides
Malietoa has been crowned King, Ad-
| British ships are anxiousy awaiting ad-
vices from their governments. and in the
mean time the shelling proceeds daily.
| When Admiral Kautz arrived, on the
Philadelphia. he spent two days I'm max
| ing inquiries. and then called a meeting
Of all the consuls. and the senior officers
Of all the warships in the harbOr As a
result OF the meeting a proclamation was
| issued by the American admiral, declar-
| ing that the so-called provisional govern
ment, under Mataafa. could have no legal
status under the Berlin treaty, and there
| fore could not be recognized by the
| consular and naval representatives, and
ordering Mataafa and his supporters TO
quietly go to their homes and respect the
laws of the Berlin treaty. 1t was further
ordered that the people elected from their
homes be returned, and the power Of the
naval force. it was stated, would be used
against all who dlsregarded the rights Of
peaceably- disposed people.
The authority Of the Chief Justice was
upheld by the proclamation, and the Ad-
miral closed by saying he hoped there
would be no occasion TO use military
power. The proclamation was signed by
Admiral Kautz.
This proclamation was taken TO Mataafa
and read to him by Lieutenant
Miller II was received in silence
and no answer was made. Mataafa and
his chiefs quietly left and went to the
western portion Of the municipality, and
it seemed as If they were about TO obey
the command and return to their homes.
GE..MAN PROCLAMATION.
The German Consul, however, issued a
counter-proclamation in the Samoan lam
guage, which was distributed among the
Mataafans, the proclamation reading as
follows:
Notice 10 all SamOars:
'By proclam9 ton of the Admiral OF the
United States, dated March 1lth. it was
made known that the three consuls of the
signatOry Powers Of the Berlin treaty
as well as the three commanders. OF men
of war, had been unanimous 10 no more
recognize the provisional; government,
composed of Mataafa and the thirteen
chiefs.
Il, therefore, make known TO you that
this proclamation is quite false. /, the
German Consul-General continue to re-
Samoa, and shall do so until | have re- |
ceived contrary instructions from my
government. |
(SigneO "ROSE.
German COnsul-General.
"Apia. March 49, 1897
MATAAFANS START HOSTILITIES.
The immediate result of this act was
that the rebels turned back and prepared |
for war, declaring that they would not
obey the Admiral's order, and would pre-
vent any food supplies being brought into |
Samoa for the MalietOa natives. The next
day Apia was surrounded by Mataafa's
warriors. Forces from the Philadelphia
and Porpose, under Lieutenants Brown
and Cave, were landed. TO protect the
loyal natives. On Tuesday. Mataafa hav
ing failed to appear, Lieutenant Miller
was sent to deliver an ultimatum He |
livered his message and retired. Every
thing looked ugly, and British and Amer
lean blue-jackets were landed in Apia TO |
protect the cOnsuates. Quick-iring ma
and small field-pieces were
also landed.
Hostiities commenced on Tuesday af-
ternoon, when half Il dozen MalietOa men
were captured by the Mataafans, taken |
to headquarters, and bound on Wednes- |
tbat |
answer was received from Mataafa by ]
o'clock the Philadelphia would fire one Of
her large guns. followed by three one
minute guns. Mataafa sent no answer |
lie and his chiefs were buoyed up by the
German Consul's proclamation and vague
talk that Germany would support them
hat it was the greatest nation on earth,
nvincibe in war, and that Great Britain
and America would never dare TO engage
Germany in conflict.
THE SMELLING BEGINS.
The signal guns were fired. and the for
signers of British and American nation
ihty were taken on board their respec-
i've warships. Other nationalities went
)n board sailing vessels in the harbor. |
)ne hundred and seventy-five men and !
officers were landed, and at Admiral
kautz's request Captain Sturdy, Of the
assumed command of the com
,ined forces on shore. Flag-Lieutenant |
Miller, of the Philadelphia, assisting. Sur
icons were landed from both ships, and
Miss Mccoy and Miss Forth. mission !
ries, volunteered as nurses. The whole
latve population sought protection be-
lind the American lines.
AS soon as the land forces were sta
ioned the Philadelphia opened fire Ly
hrowing a shell into the outskirts OF
Apia. The Royalist followed. but with s.
nch shells, and the Porpose went down |
he coast couple of miles and bombarded
he village of Vaiusu, where large parties !
# rebels were supposed TO be. The ,
hurch was smashed by a shell. and the
Iouse OF the manager of German plan y.
alton damaged. The whole of the out
kirts of Apia were sheled from the
Iarbor. about seventy shells having been
red at dark. when the firing ceased \ :
hell from the Philadelphia, which Wasi :
lighted for $500 yards, unfortunately ex-
loded after it had gone only LOO yards. v
I knocked over an outbuilding Of the
american consulate and damaged the ve-
anda of the main building. one of the
ailors was wounded in the leg. I
REBELS ATTACK BRITISH
About dusk the rebels made an attack +
n the British at the Tvoli Hotel. Their T
re was returned. but IL is not known how h
iany were killed About 2:3) A. NJ. the /
atives made rush on the guard at the
ivoli. Three British sailors were killed
nd one was wounded. The native loss is
nknown. At the request of the British
Maxim gun was sent from the PhfIadel- I
hia 10 the British consulate, and men !,
work II. !,
The next day a body of 800 Maliotoansl !
ad their rifles returned to them from thaI Z