The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-01-25
War Clouds Gathering.

ticularS from O6iuOa eGO" Ih"o tA>
American consul issued proclama-
tion claiming that the Betlsin treaty
had the same force as law OF cen
gress and that the insult to the su-
preme court of Samoa was equivalent
to an insult to the government q
Washington.
Washington, Jan. l9-Tbe navy
department has prepared orders fcr
the cruiser Philadelphia to proceed to
Samoa at once to represent the
United States interest there.
If any vessel more quickly avsila-
BILE can be found, one of Dewey !
feet, for instan .e, it will be ordered
at once to Samoa to answer the ur-
gent appeal Of the United States con-
sui there. The commander of the
Philadelphia will act in conformity
with the instructions of the United
States consul SO far as those instroc-
tions are in line with the treaty OF
Berlin, which the United States con-
tends must be literally enforced un-
Til amended.
It would take the Philadelphia
about 16 days to make the run from
San Diego toApia, touching at Homo
lulu for coal.
One recourse open to the navy de-
partment is to send tho Oregon to
Samoa. She left Csllso on the llth
inst, and should reach Honolulu
about the 9Th of February, where
she can be intercepted with orders,
sent by the dispatch boat 1rcquis,
at San Francisco. The big battle
ship Iowa is due at San Francisco
iast about the same date that the
Oregon is due at Honolulu, 80 that
the Pacific coast will not be left en-
tirely without naval force.
The immediate effect of the publ
cation Of the morning papers Of the
news from Samoa was to bring to
the state department Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador
and Boron Speck von Sternberg, the
secretary of the German embassy.
Under the strict rules laid down for
the government of diplomatic inter
course, neither Secretary Hay nor
the two diplomatic representatives
named would say anything whatever
as TO the nature of the conversation
that took place between them.
The deepest concern is felt by all
three parties to the agreement at the
outlook. The common belief is that
the German representativesin Samos,
in acting in the arbitrary manner
they did, completely exceeded their
instructions from their own govern
ment. 1t is quite certain that they
exceeded the authority, with which
they were clothed by the treaty OF
Berlin, and it is expected that the
German government will unhesitat
inely condemn their actions as soon
as it has become officially advised as
to what actually happened.
The authorizes feel that the great
lest element of danger lies in the pos
sibility Of trouble before Rafael ard
Rose can be restrained by advices.
1t was stated at the department OF
state today that dispatches had been
received from United States Consul
Osborne, at Apia, but as to their
nature the officials had nothing to
say, beyond that they went to con-
firm the news dispatches printed this
morning.
Admiral Kautz, the commander OF
the Pacific station, is now on board
his flagship, the Philadelphia, and it
was stated at the navy department
that he would accompany that ship
to Samoa.
HOW RECEIVED IN GERMANY.
Berlin, Jan. 19-The news from
Samoa has been received with fore
boding. The Lokal Arzeiger says:
"An this, doubtless, signifies an ap-
preciable quarrel, and, with the un-
ceremoniousness which the Amerl-
cans have affected lately toward US,
it may easily take serious turn.
The Samoan condominum has always
involved lurking danger"
The Vossiche Zeitung rays: ''The
situation will become even graVer
when the American warship arrives
at Apia. 1t is said that the Wash
ington department of state has IN
structed the United States consul
general there, L. W. O.berne, not to
trust the German consul. Evidently
the United States, who are least in
terested in Samoa among the three