The record-union., 1899-04-13
The NEWS OF The
CONFLICT AT APIA.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

has caused great annoyance and dis
appointment at the Foreign Office here,
where it is regarded as making the ai-
ready serious complications still grayer
While they have difficulty in expressing
a definite opinion upon the fresh devei-
opment, it is acknowledged that the
foreign officials think that 1T has been
manifest that there has been hasty
and aggressive action on the part OF
Herr Rose, the German Consul, for al
though he may have technical reasons
for the part he played in behalf or the
German interests, it is asserted that the
probable cause of the fresh outbreak, 1t
is added, will necessarily greatly en-
barrass their endeavors.
The dispat tcheS of the Associated
Press from Apia, via Auckland, N H.,
were the only news received here of the
treacherous attack made by the Mataa-
fans upon American and British naval
forces. They created considerable SEN
sation in official circles and among the
general public. The newspapers sent
out large placards printed with such
startling statements as British and
American Forces Routed, German
Treachery," etc.
The heroic conduct of Ensign Mona
CHAN of the Philadelphia particularly
appeals to- the public. The British Ad-
miralty has received a dispatch from
Captain Stuart the senior British naval
officer in Samoan waters, giving the
news of the death of Lieutenant Free
man of the British cruiser Tauranga
in an engagement with the rebels. Be-
yond this no further details have been
received. =
The German Embassador here, Count
Won Hatsfeldt- Wildenburg, first re-
ceived the news from representative
of the Associated Press. He quickly
recognized it's Importance, and asked
permission to make a copy of the dis
patch. He said: This news is indeed
grave, and it is unfortunate, too, at this
moment, that anything should occur to
endanger the negotiations for the set
tlement that we were glad to feel would
soon have arrived. Of course, I cannot
discuss the particulars given in the dis
patch, but the occurrence is certainly
very unfortunate.
The Pail Mall Gazette says: The
locality of the engagement, or rather
ambush, is stated to have been Ger
man plantation, and there is the un-
pleasant suggestion that there was
treachery on the part of German sub
ject. The incident, apart from the loss
of life, is deeply deplorable The situa-
ton was already full of anxiety to the
Government at home, while on the spot
racial feeling runs higher. Though it
will be kept well under control, the Cab
inets of London, Washington and Ber-
lin could we'll have been spared this
latest development. We may be as
sured that order will be maintained
ashore by the united efforts of the Eng
lish and American commanders, but
even their efforts will not clear the air
of the electricity which is fast accumu-
lating at Apia-
The United States Embassador, Jo
seph H. Choate, having read the Samo-
an dispatch, said to a. representative of
the Associated Press: And is German
treachey hfnted at? / see nothing in
this news to warrant for a moment the
suggestion that the German Govern
ment is in any way implicated. Until
we know more about theslocal circum-
stances surrounding the case, it is i'm
possible to express an accurate opinion.
There is one thing, however, it will tend
to force matters, and now, doubtless,
the three Governments will take up the
question vigorously, and instead of the
occurrence causing delay, it may accel-
crate definite understanding.