The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1899-01-28
BATTLESH|PS FOR SAMOA.
THREE BRITISH AND ONE AMERI.
CAN WILL BE SENT.
TROUBLE APPEARS TO BE SERIOUS.
Further Particulars OF Arbitrary Action
of the German Consul who Pre-
cipitated HostiIities.

The navy department has prepared
orders for the cruiser Philadelphia ia
proceed to Samoa at once to represent
the United States interests there. II
any vessel more quickly available can
be found, one of Dewey's feet, for in
stance, it will be ordered at once to
Samoa to answer the urgent appeal of
the United States consul there. The
commander Of the Philadelphia will act
in conformity with the Instructions of
the United States consul SO far as
those instructions are in line with the
treaty of Berlin, which the United
States contends must be literally en-
forced until amended.
1t would take the Philadelphia
about sixteen days to make the run
from San Diego to Apia, touching at
Honolulu for coal.
One resource open to the navy de-
partment is to send the Oregon to Sa-
moa. She left Callao on the 18th in
slant and should reach Honolulu about
Che 9Th of February, where she can be
intercepted with orders sent by the
dispatch boat Iroquois, now at San
Francisco. The battleship Iowa is
due at San Francisco just about the
same date that the Oregon is due at
Honolulu, so that. the Pacific coast
will not be left entirely without naval
force.
The immediate effect of the publica-
ton OF news from Samoa was to bring
to the state department Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador,
and Baron Speck Won 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 representative named
would say anything whatever as to
the nature OF the conversation that
took place between them. Deepest
concern is felt by all three parties to
the agreement at the outlook.
The authorities feel sure that the
greatest element of danger is in the
possibility of trouble before Raffiel
aud Rose can be restrained by advice.
1t was stated at the department of
state Thursday that dispatches had
been received from United States Con.
sui Osborn at Apia, but as to their
nature the officials had nothing to say
beyond that they went to confirm the
news dispatches printed Wednesday.
German Consul Elected.
A special dispatch received in Lon
don from Auckland, N. a., says the
British and American consuls were
compelled to force the doors of the
supreme court at Apia, Samoa, in
which the German consul had estab-
lished himself. and to put him into the
street.
All parties at Apia, the special dis
patch continues, unite in condemning
the Germsn consul for the fighting
which has taken place between the
rival kings.
1t is pointed out that in violation to
all agreements, the consul accompa-
MED Mataafe's forces when the claim
ant invaded the town and encouraged
the opposition to Malietoa Tanus.
When the British and American
consuls were informed as to the situa-
ton they adjourned the court and
locked the building. The German
consul then demanded the keys, which
were refused him. He then broke
open the doors, removed the locks and
replaced them with others. He after.
wards brought the German municipal
president into the chamber and the
latter went upon the balcony and
shouted to the British and American
marines assembled on the "quare;
II am the supreme cou:t. L am the
chief justice"
The crowd replied with jeers and
the British consul demanded the keys
OF the building, which were refused
A Scotchman named Mackie there
upon climbed upon the top OF the
building and hoisted the Samoan hog'
while the British and American con,
suls and Q number of marines invaded
the building, forced the doors open
and pushed the German consul ih'o
the street.
Then the two consuls formally ana
legally, according to the special as
patch, opened the court and issued
warning against any further interier-
ence with its jurisdiction, threatening
TO arrest and imprison anyone attempt
Ing to do so.