Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-21
IMPORTANT IF TRUE
A Startling Report from the
Samoan Islands
GERMAN OFFICER ARRESTED,
rsnnaIdcr Of The Fake Made Prisoner
by British.
urITEXTD TO BE 4 MISTAKE.
Arrest Of Prominent German Planter
for Aiding Rebels Thought to Have
Above stated.
RELIEVED TO BE a MISTAKE.
Above stated.

SEATTLE. WASH. April 2o.-A Times
special from Victoria, r. c.. says that the
steamer Aorangi. from Australia, brings
advices that the commander Of the GER
man man-of-war Fake. at Samoa mas
been arrested by the British, and is no"
held q prlsoncr on the war-vessel Por-
poise
He was surprised by squad OF iri'sh
sailors handing arms and ammunition 10
Matnafa's men. -,,- -.
rho ronort was brought 10 Australia by
,bo Messengers on the steamer tpoia.
THREAT TO THE Fake.
,C,or the arrest Of the Fakes com
,,,,rser "A conference was held between
Captain sturdee and Admiral Kautz, and
thc Porpoise and Philadelphia steamed
into position ON either side of the Fake.
orders were then sent aboard the Fake
that If she made a move Of any kind she
would Doe blown out OF the water.
No one is allowed TO 80 aboard or leave
the German ship Of war without per-
INIT written and signed by either Captain
sturdee. Of the Porpoise, or Admiral
Kautz.
NATIVE FIGHTING CONTINUES.
Fighting continues between the forces
On Nataafa and Malieto Tanus Bush
fights. with slight loss. are daily occur
r.nc,s and business is practically at a
s,arGstul
There is considerable sickness among
the seamen Of the Porpoise and Philadel-
rhia. Three of the Porpoisc's crew died
.rom fever. Lieutenant Garnet, of the
Porrai,e s among the sick.
MATAAFA LOSING GROUND.
varafa's cause is waning.
Arru i,h is the date on which the re-
ported arros, was made.
psoBABLY \ MISTAKE.
SAN francisco, April 2).-The mail
alil0s received here by the Associated
pft-s on April 18th. from Apia. Samoa.
and dated March Path. told Of little
incident which occurred just before the
Commandment by the American ana BIZ
usl warships commenced.
The German man-Of-war was about 10
leave the harbor on some mysterious mis-
sion when Admiral Kautz signalled her
tl return and take care of the German
residents as the bombardment of the city
br The American and British was about
t1 commence. The German returned TO
ler position, and during the Smelling oil
the vicinity took ON board many German
residents.
ARREST OF GERMAN PLANTER.
This incident combined with the arrest
of n prominent German planter for aiding
the rebels. Is. perhaps, the one referred
to I'm the Victoria advices of to-day and
frfrgr rnferpnef fTIIDl lN the UAS-
soueers on the Aorangi, who were lea
to believe that the commander of the
Fake had been made "a prisoner, and that
MS vessel was in danger OF being blown
out of the water by the British and Amer
lean war-yessels if she made any suspi-
cious move.
VICTORIA STORY SECUTED.
WASHINGTON. April 2O-The state
mcnt that the commander of the German
cruiser Fake had been arrested at Apia
by the British naval commander was at
once secuted by the officials 10 whom ii
wa. referred here. Both secretary Hay
auU Secretary Long expressed their dis
belief in the accuracy of the report.
Attention was directed TO the fact that
Oh. Navy Department had heard from
Admiral Kautz by cable from Auckland
at later date than that upon which the
steamer lust arrived at Victoria must
have sailed from Apia on her long east
ward voyage.
Admiral Kautz's dispatch was dated
April 4th. and it was forwarded from
Auckland. the nearest cable station. April
18th. il is regarded as extremely un-
likely that steamer could have made
the trip from Apia 10 Victoria since April
3th.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION.
II is suggested as an explanation Of the
story. that the steamers crew had heard
of the arrest Of the German manager of
tlc plantation where the American and
British sailors We're ambushed, and OF
DIS being taken aboard the British war
saip and had jumped TO the conclusion
that the person arrested was the German
commander.
10 is pointed out I'm official German quar-
tcls that the arrest OF the commander |
of one Warship by the commander of an |
other ship is an absurdity and, more |
oyer. cable advices have reached the |
Embassy much later than those which |
Steamer could have brought 10 British |
Columbia. and no such action was dis |
closed.
Ile British Embassy is also without any |
Information OF such an occurrence.