The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-04-14
FORCED GERMAN WARsHR AT
SAMOA TO STAND ASIDE.
KAISER'S CONSUL CAUSED TROUBLE
= 80 Issued Countsr Proclamation In
citing the Followers OF Mntaafa TO
ignore Kautz's orders,

-" N"Jos Aho AAAutANbh anu DAANAoA
warships have shelled Mataafa's forces
repeatedly and sailors have been
landed in Apia to protect property.
Numerous casualties have resulted on
both sides.
Admiral Kautz and the commanders
Of the British ships are anxiously
awaiting advices from their govern
ments and in the meantime the she'll
ing proceeds daily.
When Admiral Kautz arrived on the
Philadelphia he spent two days in
making inquiries and then called a
meeting of all the consuls aud the
senior officers of all the warships in
the harbor.
As a result of the meeting a procla-
nation was issued by the American
admiral declaring that the so-called
provisional government under Mataafa
can have no legal status under the
Berlin treaty, and therefore cannot 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.
II was further ordered that the peo-
pie elected from their homes be re-
turned and the power of the naval
force, it was stated, would be used
against'all who disregarded the rights
of peaceably disposed people.
The authority of the chief justice
was upheld by the proclamation, and
the admiral closed by saying that he
trusts that there may be no occasion
to use military powers. The procla-
nation was signed by Admiral Kautz.
This proclamation was taken to Ma
taafa and read to him by Flag Lieu
tenant Miller. 1t was received in
silence and no answer was made. Ma
taafa 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 commands to
return to their homes.
The German consul, however, issued
a counter proclamation in the Samoan
language, which was distributed
among the Mataafans. The procla-
nation read as follows:
Notice to All samOans.
By the proclamation of the admiral
of the United States dated March 21st,
it was made known that the consuls
for the signatory powers of the Berlin
treaty as we'll as the three command
ers of men of war had been unanimous
to no more recognize the provisional
government composed of Mataafa and
thirteen chiefs.
I, therefore, make known to you
that this proclamation is quite false.
I am the German consul general,
continue to recognize the provisional
government of Somoa until / have re-
ceived contrary instructions from my
government. (Signed) Rose,
German Consul General.
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 prevent any food supplies
from being brought in Samoa for the
Malietoa natives.
Hostilities commenced on Tuesday
afternoon when half dozen Malietoa
men were taken by the Mataafans
They were taken to headquarters and
bound. On Wednesday morning no.
tice was spread that if no answer was
received from Mataafa by l o'clock
the Philadelphia would fire one of hel
large guns, followed by three one
minute guns. Mataafa sent no answer.
Buoyed Up by Germans.
He and his chiefs were buoyed UP
by the German consu,'s proclamation
and vague talk that Germany would
support them and was the greatest
power on earth, invincible in war, and
that Great Britain and America would
never dare to engage GermaAy in con
fict. Signal guns were fred and the
foreign population of British and
Americans were taken on board then
respective warships.
The whole native population sough
the protection behind the American
lines. AS soon as the land forces
were stationed, the Philadelphia open
ed fire by throwing shell into the
outskirts of Apia.
The German warship Fake attempt
ed to leave port on secret mission
when Admiral Kautz ordered hel
captain TO stay where he was ant
be ready to afford help to his country
men. The Fake remained.
For several days the German war
ship persistently kept in the way Sc
as to incommode the fire of the British