The San Francisco call., 1899-04-21
POWERS CANNOT CHECK
THE TRIBAL WARFARE
Fighting Between the Forces of Ma
Hetoa Tanu and Mataafa
Continues.

Continues.
VICTORIA, B. c., April 20,-Samoan
advices to April s. via SIva. per
Aorangi. are to the effect that fighting
between the men of the newly crowned
King Malietoa Tanu and Mataafa's
men continues and scarcely any bust
ness is being done 1t is said that the
Mataafa faction has been weakening
considerably of late, and large num-
ber Of former adherents are ready to
take sides with Malietoa. Some Of the
Mataafa chiefs, in order to intimidate
those who were turning, made threats
to them that their villages would be
burned and their chiefs killed. They
replied that they would do likewise
with the Mataafa men. The Mataafa
party then resorted to intimidation
with the Malietoa prisoners at Macana
and Aana. Finding that the people
with whom these prisoners We're bill
leted were among those TO change their
political views, and that the prisoners
We're making too many friends. they
sent men down to remove the chiefs of
the MaietOa people in those places.
The prisoners were brought from the
island TO the mainland, and while on
the way the Mataafa men amused
themselves by firing volleys over the
heads of the MalietOa chiefs. who We're
forced to pull the boats. In spite of
all the threats, the Malietoa men re-
main firm and still trust that the de-
cision Of the Chief Justice will be up
held and their King will get his throne.
The continued inaction of the pow
tives. The followers of Maletoa are
living in fear of their lives and prop
erty. The prisoners on Tutuila have
petitioned to be taken back TO Apia. be-
cause when the recently crowned
Malietoa Tanu is secure on his throne
they fear the rebel force will send a
strong party down to the islands where
they are in captivity and kill them.
The MalietOa men are also being
hunted for taxes, at the instigation OF
the President and the provisional gov
eminent. The provisional government
had the coolness to attempt TO levy toll
on the servants of the British Consul
ate. The blue jackets guard got wind
of it, but before they could capture the
Mataafa Embassy it had taken 10 its
heels in the brush. Mataafa's follow
ers despite the fact that number of
the weaker ones are deserting their
cause, are daily getting more and more
daring and arrogant, and more mas
saCres are feared.
The provisional government, too, con-
tinues 10 force itself on the natives. 1t
has sent down four chiefs to Tutuila
TO collect taxes, but the British and
American COnsuls have written sadVis-
ing the people not to pay any taxes to
the government. When the UpOlu left
Apia for Suva there was considerable
sickness among the British and Ameri-
can Seamen. a number were suffering
from dysentery and tropical fevers,
brought on by the excessive heat and
malaria-producing weather.
Three days prior to the sailing of the
UpOlu one of the gunneTs of the British
ship PorpOise succumbed to dysentery
despite the unremitting attention Of the
ships doctor. His remains were taken
ashore and buried in the foreign ceme-
terry just outside Apia with all military
honOrs. a landing party from the Phil
adelphia accompanied the British
funeral party, and the firing squad was
composed half Of Americans and half
of Britishers. This goes to show the
friendly relations between these pow
ers. This is the second death on the
Porpoise since she arrived at Apia.
Both officers and men have suffered
greatly from fever as we'll as dysentery,
and a great number are down with
abscesses under the arm pits and on
the feet and legs.
The Porpoise has the greatest num-
Der of sick. There are comparatively
few sick on the Philadelphia. Leuten-
ant Shutter of the Porpoise was in the
hospital when the Upolu left, and Lieu
tenant Gaunt was also down with fever.
He was the officer in charge of the
landing party which defended the con-
sulates at the first attack.
The Porpoise's men are quite run
down with their long spell in the trop-
les. They were engaged in cruising the
South Seas for some considerable time
before they were ordered to Apia.
When the Upolu left Apia there was a
terrible panic among the followers of
the new King. 1t was reported to
Mataafa, and the German Consul has
the credit Of propagating the news, that
the British were going to storm Null
nuu and call together all the Malietoa
people, arm them, and place Malietoa
and Tamasese on the seat of govern
ment. Immediately there was an ex-
odus of chiefs from Mulinuu, with Ma
taafa, who retired several miles up the
coast to Vaiusu, and all day goods
were being carried away from the
point.
The Malietoa people. scattered all
over the country among their conquer
ors, are greatly troubled on account of
threats made by the Mataafa people
that as soon as the British should start
fighting against the Mataafans there