The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-04-05
I'M SPITE Of GERMAN RESISTANCE.
SAMOA B0MBARDED.
American and British ofieers Compel Matasfa
and His Provisional Government to Re-
sign-oermsny Upheld Him.

Mataafa and his chiefs until n few
days ago constituted the provisional
government of Samoa. But he ana
his followers continued to DEFY the
treaty laws. Admiral Kautz, of the
United states navy then summoned
the various consuls and the senior
naval officers to q conference on board
the Philadelphia, when the whole sit
uation was carefully canvassed. The
upshot was a resolution to dismiss the
provisional government, and Admiral
Kautz issued a proclamation calling
upon Mataafa and his chiefs to return
to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the
town he had made his headquarters,
and went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at
Apia issued proclamation supple
menting the one he had issued several
weeks before upholding the provis-
ional government. AS result of this
the Mataafaites assembled In large
force and hemmed in the town.
The British cruiser Royalist brought
the Malietoa prisoners from the is
lands to which they had been trans
ferred by the provisional government.
The Americans then fortified Null
inuu. where $4,000 Malietoans took re-
fuge. The rebels-the adherents OF
Mataafa--barricaded the roads within
the municipality and seized the Brit
ish houses.
An ultimatum was then sent to
them. ordering them to evacuate and
threatening them, in the event of re-
fusal, with bombardment, to com
mence at 1 o'clock on the afternoon OF
March 10. This was ignored and the
rebels commenced an attack in the
direction of the United states and
British consulates about half an hour
before the time fixed for the lombard
ment. The Philadelphia and the Bri-
tish cruisers Porpoise and Royalist
opened fire upon the distant villages.
There was great difficulty In locating
the enemy. owing to the dense forest;
but several shore villages were soon I'm
| flames.
During the night the rebels made n
| hot attack on the town killing three
British sailors. A British marine was
shot In the leg by sentry of his own
| party, another was shot In the foot
| and an American sentry was killed at
| his post.
The Porpoise has shelled the villages
| east and west of Apia and captured
| many boats.
The American and British are fight
| Ing splendidly together. but there Is a
| bitter feeling against the Germans.
The news from Samoa that the Unit
| ed States cruiser Philadelphia and the
British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist
had bombarded the towns held by Mat
| aafa, who has thus far had the of
| fetal support of the German govern
ment came with startling suddenness
| to officials at Washington. and dis
| placed for the time being the attention
| given to the fighting around Manila.
| The shelling of Mataafa was looked
upon as of secondary Importance. but
the deepest interest attached to the at
titude of the Germon government.
The real crisis from an International
| standpoint occurred last week, when
this apprehended outbreak was dis
| cussed. Although relations were
| greatly strained. 1t was possible to Sc
cure an understanding which is said
| to make sure that the outbreak now
| reported will not cause a rupture In
| the relations between the United
States and Germany. or between
Great Britain and Germany
| A modus vivendi for the settlement
of the Samoan troubles has been pro-
| posed and Is now under favorable
consideration by the three govern
ments concerned. 1t contemplates the
creation of a point high commission.
| consisting of one member from each
| country, to pass upon the recent clash
of authority and resulting disorder.
The proposition. II Is understood. was
put forward by Germany and is the
second one submitted for a settlement
| of the entire question.