Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.


grievcd as any man la Washington
when the news was received that a
party Of American and British ma
rines had been am bushed by the ma
tives on the island ofSamOa, and an
American lieutenant and British
Lieutenant and five marines killed.
but he did not share In the excite
Dent which prevailed for a time he
accepted as sincere the prompt dis
avowal OF responsibility made by the
German Ambassador on behalf of his
government, and declined to be car
ried of bis feet by the newspaper
talk OF German treachery" in con-
nection with the ambuscade, although
he will take the necessary steps to
see that the matter is thoroughly in-
vestigated. There is no denying that
this ambuscade came a: an unfor-
tunatc time. Although 1t will not
necessarily prevent an anlicable
settlement of the whole Samoa dis
pute, it may greatly delay 1t. 1t had
been expected that the commission
ers, representing the United States,
England and Germany, would start
for Samoa this week, but there is
now hitch in the programme, and
matters have not been improved by a
statement issued from the German
Embassy in Washington rejecting
upon the motives OF the British gov
ernment AS Senator Thurston re-
marked, it is Uncomfortable that this
Insignificant group OF islands should
cause war between any two Of the
three governments which are par
ties to the treaty for their control.
or course, II investigation shall show
that Germans had any part in plan
ming that murderous ambuscade,
Germany will be held to strict &C
countability by this government, and
doubtless also by Great Britain.
The United States is not giving
Spain any room to say that we are
slow In resuming diplomatic rela-
tions that were dissolved by the war.
As soon as copies of the treaty of
peace we're exchanged and the Pres
ident had officially proclaimed peace,
Spaih was notified that the $40, 000,-
called for by the treaty was subject
to its orders, and the announcement
semi officially made that Hon. Bel
iany Storer, now Uniaed States Min
lister to Belgium, had been selected
as our Minister to Spain, and
would proceed to Madrid as soon a.
Spain appointed a Minister to the
u. S. There are several reasons Why
the selection Of Mr.. Storer as Min
lister should be pleasing to Spain, the
principal of which is that he is 9
Catholic. The new minister to Spair
will have important duties to per
form, as all Of the commercial trea
ties between the two countries, which
were abrogated by the war, will have
to be replaced by new treaties.
1t is thought that this week will
complete the taking of evidence by
the Military Court OF Inquiry. The
most prominent witnesses OF the
week were Generals Sha;ter and
Chaffee, and their tesi imOny was
strikingly alike SO far as 1t related tt
the meat issued to the army In Cuba
Neither heard any official complaint:
or any sensational stories about the
meat until after their return to the
United States, and both thought thai
the army was as well supplied as ex
listing circumstances would permit
President Mckinley gave a dinner il
General Skaters honor this week.
The news from the Philippines
this week, has been somewhat dis
appointing. Not from any lack o.
success on the part of our gallan,
soldiers, but because it has been ne
cessary to continue the fighting, ant
that AguinaldO should still be able
to get a sufficient force together u
be attacked again and again, although
driven away from everywhere they
have attempted to make u stand
There has also been disQuieting new:
OF the trcachery OF professe1ly friend
ly FilipinOs within our lines, which
does not promise very well for tn,
future.
When your commercial rivals com
mend your methods you have tn,
strongest proof obtainable that you
are ON the right road. A report Of ;
German Imperial Commissioners OF
the emigration from Germany in '9S
just published, and cabled to Wash
ington. contains this strong com
mendation of the republican tariff
policy: @The strong tendency toward
the U. S., In spite Of immigration
having been rendered more difficult