The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-08
SHELLING MATAAFA'S FORCES.
Going on Daily by British and
American Ships Under
Direction OF KautZ.
AMERICAN ADMIRAL INSULTED
By the Counter Proclamation
That was Issued by German
Consul Rose.

APIA, March "a. via San Francisco,
April There have been lively times
in Samoa during the past few days.
The United States and British warships
have shelled Mataafa's forces repeated
Is and sailors have been landed In Apla
TO protect property. Numerous casual
ties have resulted on both sides. Adj
miral Kautz and the commanders of the
British ships are anxiously awaiting
advice5 from their government and in
.the meantime the shellins proceeds
daily. When Admiral Kautz arrived
on the Philadelphia, he spent two days
IN making inquiries and then called n
meeting OF all the consuls and the SEN
ior officers of oil the warshlps in the
harbor. AS result Of the meeting n
proclamation was Issued by the Amcri-
can admiral declaring that the so-calied
provisional government under Mataafa
can have no legal status under the Ber-
lin treaty, and therefore cannot be rec
ognized by the consular and naval rep
resentatives, and ordering Mataufa and
his supporters to quietly go. to their
homes and respect the laws of the Ber-
lin treaty. It was further ordered that
the people elected from their homes be
returned and the power Of the naval
force. 1t was stated would be used
against all who dlsregarded the right Of
peaceably disposed people. The author
ity 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 power.
raj kautz. This proclamation was taken
to Mataafa and read to him by Flag
Lieutenant Miller. 1t was received in
silence. and no answer was made. Ma
taafa and hts chiefs quietly left and
went to the western portion OF the
municipality and 1t seemed us If they
were about to obey the commands to re-
turn to their homes.
Consul Roses Proclamation.
The German consul, however, issued a
counter proclamation In the Samoan
language, which Yves distributed among
the Mataafans. The proclamation reads
as follows:
NOTICE TO ALL SAS1OANS.
By the proclamation Of the admiral Of
the United States dated March Hit was
made known that the three consuls Of
the sgnatory powers Of the Berlin
treaty as well as the three commanders
OF men Of war. had been unanimous to
no more recognize the provisional gov
ernmcnt composed of Mataafa and the
thirteen chiefs.
therefore make known to you that
this proclacation Is quite false. I am
the German consul general,I continue
10 recognize the provisional government
OF Samoa until have received contrary
instructions from my government.
Apia. March 70, 1899.
(Signed ROSE,
German Consul General"
The immediate result Of this act was
That the rebels turned back and pre-
pared for war; declaring that they
would not obey the admirals order, and
prevented any food supplies from being
brought In to Samoa for the Maleton
natives. The next day Apia was sur
rounded by Mataafas warriors. Forces
from the Philadelphia and Porpoise un-
der Licuts. Brown and Cave were land
ed TO protect the loyal natives. On
Tuesday Mataafa having failed to np-
pear In answer to the admir-
ais proclamation, Flag Lieu
tenant Miller was sent to deliver
an ultimatum. He was not allowed to
See the chief, but delivered his message
and retired. Every thing looked ugly
and British and American blue jackets
were landed In Apla to protect the con-
sula,es. Quick firing machines and
small field pieces were also landed.
beginning Of IIostilitics.
HostIlities commenced on Tuesday af-
ternoon when half n dozen Malietoa
men were taken by the Mataafans. They
were taken to headquarters and bound.
On Wednesday morning notice was
spread that II no answer was received
from Mataafa by l o'clock the Phlladel-
phla would fire one OF her large guns,
followed by three one minute guns. Ma
taafd sent no answer.
lie and his chiefs were buoycd up by
me German consuis proclamation and
vague Talk that Germany would support
mem and was the greatest nation on
ehr'h,invlnciblc In war. and that Great
britain and America would never dare
10 engage Germany In conflict. Signal
guns we're fired and the foreign popula-
'ion Of British and Americans were
taken on board their respective war
"hIps Other nntIonnlIiies went on
paard sailing vessels In the harbor. One
inbred and aeventy-nve men and OH
!" landed. md at Admiral Kau,z's re-
c"%3t Captain Sturdcc.of the Porpolsc,
""Suined command OF the combined
'ofceS on shore, Flag Lieutenant NIL
pf. OF the Philadelphia. nsslstIng.
surgeons were landed from both ships