Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-26
TROUBLE IN SAMOA.
A Warship Ordered to the Islands tc
Look After Our Interests.
GERMANS CONCERNED over NEWS.
The Berlin Newspapers Think the Situation
Grave and May Take n Serious Turn
The German Consul Pushed
Out-A Proclamation.

Out-A Proclamation.
Washington, Jan. 60 The navy de-
partment has prepared orders for the
cruiser Philadelphia to proceed to
Samoa at once to represent the United
States interests there. The Phila.
delphia arrived at San Diego yester.
day from Acapulco. Meanwhile, 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 instruc-
tions of the United States consul SO
far as these instructions are in line
with the treaty Of Berlin, which the
United States contends must be
literally enforced until amended. II
would take the Philadelphia about IS
days TO make the run from San Diego
TO Apia, touching at Honolulu for coal.
While the attention OF the public
has been OF late drawn from the Sa-
moan islands to other more important
subjects it appears that interesting
events have been succeeding one an
other with rapidity in the islands 1t
has been realized for long time past
that there was need for modification
Of the terms of the tripartite treaty,
by which we assumed joint guardian
ship with England and Germany, but
up to this point it has not been posi-
BILE to get all three Of the powers to
agree upon any one project. Nego-
tations have been on foot for some
time in relation to the succession
to the Samoan throne and it is calcu.
lated to lead to i'll feeling at least,
that the German officials should resort |
to coup d'etat at this stage OF the |
negotiations 1t is believed that much
OF the responsibility for this arbitrary |
action must rest upon Raffe, the Ger
man president of the municipal coun.
ell at Apia, whose troublesome attitude
OF late has led to remonstrance on the
part of the other powers, There has
been an understanding that he was to
be removed to another scene OF activity
and the supposition is that, getting
wind Of this intention, no has precipi.
tated crisis before his government
could reach him with orders.
GERMANS CONCERNED OVER NEWS
Berlin, Jan. 20.--The news from
Samoa has been received here with
t0reboding. The Lokal Anzeigor says:
All this doubtless, signifies an apprecable
quarrel, and, with the unceremonlous ways
which the Americans have affected lately to-
ward US, 1t may easily take serious turn
The Samoa condo minimum hos always involved
Alurkng danger
The Vossische Zetung says:
The situation will become even graver when
Inc American warship arrives at Apia 1t is
said that the Washington department Of state
has instructed the United States consul gen.
eral there, L. W. Osborn, not to trust the Ger
man consul. Evidently the United States,
who are least Interested In Samoa among the
three powers, do not mean to respect Ger
manys paramount interests Germany will
bave to show flrmness nil the more so as our
position Is made the worse by the evident de-
sire Of England to help the United States so as
10 retain the latter's friend ship
THE GERMAN CONSUL PUSHED OUT.
London, Jan. 2O.-A dispatch from
Wellington, N T., said that owing to
the trouble at Samoa, growing out OF
the election Of a successor to the lato
King Malietoa, three British warshps
will proceed there and one Amer.
lean warship will start for the islands
from Honolulu. A special from Auck-
land, N. T., says the British and Amer
lean consuls were compelled to force
the doors OF the supreme court at Apia,
Samoa, In which the German consul
had established himself, and push him
into the street.
All parties at Apa, the special dis
patch continues, unite in condemning
the German consul for the fighting
which has taken place between the
rival kings 1t is pointed out that in
vain OF all agreements the consul &C.
Mataafa's forces when the {
claimants invaded the town and en-
couraged the opposition to Malietoa '
ranus. When the British and Ameri- G
san consuls were informed as to the !
they adjourned the court and
locked the building @
A PROCLAMATION ISSUED I
Auckland, N. T., Jan. 90 Further
PARTICULARS regarding the disturbances
1t Samoa show Mataafa's followers
about 5000 men and that I
he adherents of Malietoa Tanus were G
'nly about 1000 in number. There I
vas two hours fighting between the q
ival forces, during which several of |
he warriors were decapitated. The G
american consul issued proclamation t
laiming that the Berlin treaty had G
he same force as law OF congress u
md that an insult to the supreme |
curt OF Samoa is, therefore, equiva-
ent to an insult to the government at t
Washington,
Wl.nA,.t.