The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-24
THREATENED TO SHELL APIA.
CHEF JUSTICE CHAMBERS BACK
ED BY THE P0RPoIsE.

Cant. Sturdee Said He Must Be Al
lowed TO Hold Court-Cheers Given
for the United States-COnsuls Car
rying on War of PrOcIamatiOns.
German Consul Issued Notice OF
hc Expected BOmbardment-ViO
iations of Treaty Charged.
vancouver, B. c., Feb. 28.-'rhe steamer
nIfowera arrived to-day,from Sydney. Wei
ungton. suvaa, Fizi and Honolulu.
Mail advices from Samoa, via Sydney,
show that after the scene in the Apia
court house, when the British and Ameri-
can consuls showed they were stronger
than Germany, three cheers were given
for the United States consul for standing
bv British Consul Maxse.
In response, Consul Osborne said that
II was his duty to stand by the chief JUS
rice and his decision in the King case, and
he would do so. 1t was true that he had
no man-of-war In Apia harbor. 10 call to
his assistance. but there were plenty of
United States men-of-war in the back
ground. and Don't you forget it," he ad-
ded
Al AHA. the interval of waiting for in
structions from Europe is being filled up
bv a war of proclamations issued by the
German counsel and DR.. Raffel on one side
and bv the British consul, the American
consul end Capt. Sturdee OF her majesty 8
steamship Porpoise on the other. Capt
Sturdee issued a proclamation stating that
If Chief Justice Chambers was not allow
ed TO hold court the Porpoise would fire
on the town. and in view of the posslbili-
ties British and American subjects We're,
therefore. requested TO take shelter on
board the Porpose, if they so desired.
Tho German consul then issued the fol-
lowing:
from H B. M Consul Maxse 1t may lie
expected that Apia will be shelled by H.
NJ s. Porpoise at 1850 O'Clock to-day
(Signed) Rose. Imperial German Consul
General
An Appeal to Americans.
The next proclamation was from the
United States consul general:
ITO American citizens in Samoa: Living
many thousand miles away from our ma
tive land the opportunity rarely comes
when we can serve our country and pre-
serve It's honor. The Berlin treaty Is just
as much a law of the United States as
If it had been passed by Congress. We
helped TO make it. Our President signed
if our Senate ratified it. One of the
most important features of that treaty
is the Supreme Court of Samoa, establish
ed by our government, together with other
treaty powers, for our protection. Every
piece of property you own and every right
that you enjoy in Samoa is protected
by that court The title to the home in
which you live is signed by the chief jus
tice of that court. Except for his sigma
n.I np nj Of ffat
court stamped upon it, you would have
no more right to your land than strangers.
Look at your deed and you will see that 1t
is not only signed by tne chief justice but
by one of your own country men. An insult
to that court and to the chief justice
should be The same to every American as
if the insult was given to our Supreme
Court at Washington and to the chief JUS
tice of the United States There is no ma
ton on earth that would dare insult the
Supreme Court Of the United States. Every
man n America, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, from the Gulf to the Lakes, woutl
fly 10 arms if such thing was done. Think
calmly and act like patriots Stand by
your flag.
L. w. Osborne, U. S. Consul General.
COnsuIs stand by Chambers.
German Consul Rose then issued proc
lamation declining to recognize Chief JUS
tee Chambers, and saying that the pro-
vincial government was entitled to fulfil
all functions of the government. He
would, therefore, decline TO recognize any
acts of Chambers as legal or valid.
British Consul Maxse and United States
Consul Osborne issued joint reply, saying
that Chambers was the chief justice, and
any one else assuming to act did so in
violation of the Berlin treaty.
They claimed that the provisional gov
eminent was intended to be only tempo
rary. Any acts pertaining to the chief
justiceship performed by anybody other
than Chambers would be revolutionary
and void.