Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-26
UPHOLD ACTION OF KAUTZ
First Reports of the Doings of the Tripartit
Samoan Commission.
CONFER WITH CHIEF JUSTICE CHAMBER!
Nothing Given Out Omcially as to the
Results of the Deliberations, but
Reports Indicate Knutz
is to Be Sustained.

APIA, Samoa, May 17.-(Via Auckland
N. q, May 25.)--The Samoan commission
consisting of Bartlett Trip, former United
States minister to Austria-Hungary; Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, representing Germany,
and c. H. Eliot, c. B., OF the British. embassy
at Washington, representing Great Brittany
arrived here on May 13. It's first sit
ting took place May 16. Tie commits
sioners were engaged all that morning in
conferring with the chief justice, William
l.. Chamberss Nothing was disclosed re-
garding the deliberations, but 1t is re-
ported that. they will uphold the action Of
Admiral. Kautz,. the American naval COM
mander. E,
Mataaf0 sent the commissioners letter of
welcome and expressed hope that they would
satisfactorily end the troubles in Samoa.
,.. 1t Us understood Mataafa will obey the
unanimous order of the commission, though
it is doubtful whether he will order his fol-
lowers to disarm, unless the Malietoans are
first disarmed. The Mataafans will probably
disperse to their homes II ordered to do 80,
but they will never recognize Malietoa as
king, and doubtless there will be further
trouble in the future II the kingship Is
maintained. .s,lt, yas.s 80. ..... ......
81, Only, one or itwoEeases are, known of the
,woundings of natfvesfby 'the, she'll FIRE of the
war ships, and,1 as they have not realized
the Strengthen the 4Suropeahs, ,fthey may go
to greater extremes If war arises again.
The rebels remain outside the lines in
dicated by the admiral and have strongly
fortified alnews position, yhles the loyalists
are hsfng drilled and have fortified Mulinuu.
A considerable number of loyalists has been
brought by the war ships. from other
islands, - .. ,,.- ,,.s str.-..t
lalf tl,n Ia I,,It, Cav, =
ing action upon the part OF thescommission
in order to support :Maliefoa,
. Germans Present 7Clnims.
! The Germans are preparing compensation
claims. 1t is understood one German firm
claims 5000 and that other German sub
jects claim $4,000. The British CONSUL e
B. S. Maxse. invited thenr to put in their
claims and 1t is understood the commission
will adjudicate them. ''.5t W - go
Replying to questions submitted to him
by correspondent of the Associated Press
Mataafa said 1t was the head chiefs and not
himself who began the war, adding that they
did so because they were angered at power
being taken from them by violence and also
because they were made angry by the CHIEF
Justices unjust decision.
Mataafa claimed he had upheld the treaty
and said his orders throughout were not to
fire upon the Europeans and that but for this
order the Whole party of bfuejackets would
several times have been shot down by large
bodies OF natives concealed in the bush.
~. BERLIN, May PA dispatch received
here from Apia, Samoa, says the armistice
was not disturbed by the arrival there OF
the Samoan commission and that letters
were being exchanged with the view of dis
banding the rival forces. g.
w ma fo,I o,yi,
cablegram has been received at the Navy
department. dated Apia, May 16. 1899. via
Auckland:
Secretary Navy, Washington: Badger ar
rived OH May 13. The Philadelphia will
leave SO as to reach San Francisco about
June 25 Commission may desire to return
on the Badger, . KAUTZ.
Admiral Kautz will return to the United
States with the Philadelphia. The flagship
will be replaced at ,Apia by the cruiser New
ark. which is as formidable in every respect
as the Philadelphia, and having recently
been renovated Is in shape for long service
1t was started for Apia about six weeks age
from New York, making its way arounc
South America. 1t sailed on the 18th inst
from Montevideo, Uruguay, for Valparaiso
Chill, and at the latter port will receive
Instructions to put straight across the Pacific
fer Apia. The Newark is due at Valparaiso
about the end of this week, and taking few
days to coal should make the passage acros!
the Pacific by the middle OF June.
When the commission sailed from Sar
Francisco 1t was not settled whether or no
the Badger was to remain at Apia awaiting
the convenience of the commission. 1t wal
supposed that the commission would decide
that matter for itself; II it's mission coult
be soon, executed, then the Badger woult
wait. The intimation contained in Admira
Kautz's cab1egram that the commission ma,
desire to return on the Badger is therefor,
construed at the State department into ar
indication that It expects to make shor
work OF the adjustment OF the Samoan i'm
brogio. or course the desire OF the com
mission will be respected by the Navy de
partment, and instructions will at once b,
forwarded to Captain Miller Of the Badger t
remain at Apa
Crisis is Probably Passed.
The American member OF the Samoan com
mission, Bartlett Trip. did not make any
report by cable to the State department. to-
day and all the departments information