The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-09
MATAAFA NOT A SUCCESS
He Has Estranged Many of His
Supporters.
TANUS GAINING STRENGTH
Mataafa Is Having All Kinds of Trouble.
Germans Are Trying to Thwart the
Chief Justice Waiting the
Decision ofthe Powers.

Apia, Samoa, Feb. %. (via San Fran
cisco, March s.)-Four weeks have
elapsed since the last mail dispatches
left here for San Francisco concerning
the outbreak of civil war between the
adherents of Tanus Malietoa and those
of Mataafa. During this time Samoa
mas been free from any active warfare.
The provisional government under Ma
taafa has not been a success. 1t has
estranged the feelings of many of its
own supporters by the deportation of
the Malietoa chiefs and the banshing
from Apia of all male Samoan adults
who We're on Maletoa's side All Ma
lietoa's adherents who were not deport-
ed have been fined, and inoffensive ma
tives. the servants of the whites, who
have been in no way connected with
the fighting. have been arrested. A
sharp remonstrance from British Con-
sui MaXse, who now has two men-of-
war supporting him. has prevented
recurrence of this annoyance. The ma
tives of Tutufla have declared in favor
of Tanus, and the deported chiefs are
having pleasant picnic among friends.
Malietoa seems to be gaining strength
every day, and several of Mataafas
chief adherents have gone over to his
side. There is not more than one-half
the people on Mataafas side, and it is
doubtful if more than one-third of The
population are his active supporters.
Among the British and Americans here
1t Is not seen how the powers can act
in any other way than stand by Tanus
as king. it is argued, if they do
not deliberately break the Berlin treaty
and cast slight upon their nominee.
the chief justice, and in the case of
Great Britain and the United States
they go back on their consular repre-
sentatives here who have acknowledged
ha Iata 70 fl,.,
chiefs know all this and are most anx-
ious to keep their followers conciiated
and prevent them from doing anything
at present, whereby Mataafas chances
of being king may be endangered.
Mataafa himself is perplexed and un-
easy. The German consul has received
cable from Germany directing him to
recognize the authority of Chief Jus
tice Chambers, and to withdraw from
the stand he and DR.. Raffel have taken
in regard to the supreme court. This
news has discouraged Mataafa. and in
addition the United States consul has !
written him to the effect that notwith- |
standing runners around Apia the Unit
ed States has not recognized Mataafa !
is king, and that the consul has no.
thing to do on the matter from his gov
eminent, and is awaiting dispatches. |
In addition to these, disquetng facts
Mataafa has had Ia little trouble with
poise, after matters had settled down
in Apia, went for cruise aound the
group. When she returned Captain
Sturdee found that no natives came
near his ship, and that a taboo had
been declared against the vessel He at
once sent a note to the provisional gov
eminent demanding an apology and a
Withdrawal Of the boycott To this DR.. |
Raffel. as executive head. replied that
the boycott was not against the man |
of-war, but against the chief justice. !
who was guest on board. A still |
sharper note was sent by Captain
Sturdee, to the effect that he would !!
take decisive ACTION at once. and the |
boycott was removed Her majesty's |
ship, Royalst, is now here also.
The chief justice, although now rec
ognized by the German consul under
instructions from Germany, is still be- |
ing thwarted in every possible way by |
the Germans. DR.. Raffel was cited by |
the chief Justice for contempt, but de- |
cllned to come to court, and placed him |
sell under the protection of the German |
consul. He was arrested by the mar |
shall of the court, but on his refusal to |
go no attempt was made to force him. |
The chief justice rested content with |
having brought the matter to this issue.
Herr Won '3ul w was also cited for con-
tempt, and disputed the jurisdiction of |
the court on the same ground as DR..
Raffel The German consul opposed
his protest, but Rulow has nevertheless
been summoned to appear in two weeks. /
II. MoorS, an American, apologized to |
the court for writing a threa tening let
ter and was purged of contempt. Herr
Grossmuhl still remains at the German
consulate, and will not venture out for
fear of arrest by the court officials.
Everybody is anNiously awaiting the
decision of the powers, and in the |