The Portland daily press., 1899-01-19
REVOLUTION IN SAMOA.
Joint PrOteetOrate Failed To Pre-
serve Order.
GERMAN CONSUL SAID TO HAVE
VIOLATED TREATY.

Forces Under the Rival Kings En-
gage In BsttIc--Msny Killed and
Much Property Dostroyed-- Amert-
can War ships Much Needed.
San Francisco, January ls.-A cable
gram TO tho Call from Aukland, n. n,
under date OF January l5. says:
when the oceanic steamship Alameda
left Apia on January II, q revolution
had broken out on the Samoan Islands,
and was being waged with much blood
shed and great destruction to property.
The warships Fake and Porpoise, the
latter In command of Capt. Sturdee. wers
then at the islands, and were taking part
In suppressing the rising.
4 On.December 81. Chief Justice Chambers
determined in favor Of Malietoa Tanus.
treaty of Berlin. On January /, five
thousand of Mataafa's followers rose In
rebellion and defeated 2000 of Malietoa's
men, ambushing them and killing IL ma.
tives and wounding many. The rebels
have burned 400 houses and razed the
town of Upolu. The bread fruit trees
have been cut down in many places.
The crew of the Porpoise is guarding
the mission as a refuge for Malietoa.
The three consuls have signed procla-
nation recognizing the Mataafa party
provisional governmet pending instruc.
tions from the powers, which Preside mt
Rafael was executive head.
On the 9th inst Rafael proclaimed the
supreme court vacant and took possession,
declaring himself hiei..justioe. He asked
hataafa for 5000 men and was refused.
The British and American consuls united
In strong protest against the action of
the president of the municipal council.
On the seventh, Capt. StuTdee of the
Porpoise and the two consuls declared
the action Illegal The Porpoise cleared
for action and landed force of marines.
Her force was unopposed and took pos
session or the court. Chief Justice Cham
bers WAS reipstated and the British and
American flags hoisted over Chambers
house and the court house. The pro-
yisional governor wrote to Capt. Sturdee
on the 18th that he would seize Malietoa
and take Tamasese off the porpoise by
force II necessary, deprive them Of their
titles and Danish them. Cham bers is re-
siding ON the Porpoise. The British and
American oonsuls have protested against
any infringement Of the Berlin treaty.
British residents have taken refuge in
the consulate and the American residents
have taken refuge in the mission.
An American warship is urgently need
ed there.
THE SITUATION GRAVE. 4
Washington. January 1S.-Ihe situation
in the Samoan islands is realizedihere
to be full of gravity. FOR some time past
there has been an exchange of corrs
spondence between the three governments
party TO the treaty Of Berlin respecting
the choice of successor to tho late
King Malietoa and some of the friction
developed owing to strict adherence of
the United States government to the
terms of the treaty. If, as reported,
Rafael, the president of the municipal
council at Apia, and the German con-
sui HOSE have seized the supreme court
and pronounced themselves practically
i ctators, 1t Is said here that they have
violated the treaty absolutely
1t was known here that the British
and American consulate officers at Apia
involved political situation there. and
States may not be compared with those
of Germany. yet their rights under the
treaty are equal, and IL may be stated
they will be maintained.
The last advices OF the government
here were to the effect that the chief JUS
tice had this particular dispute under
consideration, it having been regularly
referred to him. His decision would prob
ably be regarded as binding by the gov
ernment of the United States.