The age-herald., 1899-05-26
COMMISSION WILL
 UPHOLD KAUTZ. Approve of the AdmiFalS Action in
 s mOa. MATAAFA SENT WELCOME Had Expressed Hope That They Would
 End thes Trouble. L0YALISTS ARE BUYING WARSHlPS Armistice Has Not Been Disturbed and and Letters Have Been Exchanged z With View of Dispensing the
 Rival Forces.
-OYALISTs ARE. BUYING WARSHIPs

Apia, Samoa, May r, via Auckland, N. Z., May 25.-The Samoan commission Consist ing of Bartlett Tripp, former United States minister to Austria Hungary; Baron speck Won sternberg. representing Ger many and c. H. Elliott, c. B., of the British embassy at Washington, represent ing Great Britaim arrived here on May 13
 The first sitting took place May 16 The commissioners were engaged all that morning in conferring with the chief jus- tice, William l.. Chambers.
 Nothing was disclosed regarding the de- Alterations, but it is reported that they will uphold the action of Admiral Kautz, the American naval commander.
 Mataara Sent W eIcome
 Mataafa sent the commissioners a letter of welcome and expressed hope that they would satisfactorily end the troubles in Samoa.
 It is understood that Mataafa will obey the unanimous order of the commission, though it is doubtful whether he will order his followers to disband unless the Male- itoas are first disarmed. The Mataafans will probably disperse to their homes if ordered to do so, but they will never recognize Malietoa as king, and doubtless there will be trouble in the future If the kingship is maintained.
 Only one or two cases are known of the wounding of natives by the shell fires of the warships, and as they have not realized the strength of the Europeans they may go to greater extremes if war arises again.
 The rebels remain outside the lines in- dicated by the admiral and have strongly fortified a new position, while the loyalists are being drilled and have fortified Muli- nuu.
 Warships Bringing Loyalists
 A considerable number of loyalists have been brought by the warships from other islands
 Half the male adults of Samoa are await Ing action upon the part of the commission Tn order to support Maleitoa.
 The Germans are preparing compensa- uon claims. It Is understood one German nrm claims $60, GOO. and that other German subjects claim $20.000. The British consul, E. B. $. Maxse, invited them to put in their claims and 1t Is understood that the commission will adjudicate them.
 IeSpiylp6 to QueSllOnS submitted to him by a correspondent of the Associated Press. Mataafa said 1t was the head chiefs and not himself who began the war, add ing that they did so because they were an- gered at power being taken from them by violence and also because they were made angry by the chief justices unjust decis- ion."
 Mataafa claimed that he had upheld the treaty and said his orders throughout were not to fire upon the Europeans and that but for that order the whole part of blue jackets would several times have been shot down by target soldiers of natives concealed in the bush.
 Armistice Not Disturbed
 Berlin, May 25.-A dispatch received here from Apia, Samoa, says:
 "The armistice was not disturbed on the arrival here of the Samoan commission and letters were exchanged with the view of disbanding the rival forces"
 Philadelphia Coming Home
 Washington. May 25-The following ca- blegram has been received at the navy de- partment dated Apia, May Is. 1899, via Auckand:
 Secretary of Navy, Washington-The Badger arrived -on May 13. The Philadel- phia will leave so to reach San Fran cisco about June 25. Commission may de-
 
 The American member of the Samoan commission, MT. Bartlett Tripp, did not make any report by cable to the state de. partment today. The officials were grati- fled to learn that there had been no fresh outbreak preceding the arrival of the com mission.
 It is realized that it will be no easy task to provide permanently for the administra- ton of the affairs of the island however, and 1t is possible that this portion of the work will be passed over for the time and remain for an adjustment when the com missioners return to the United States Respecting the reported approval by the commission of Admiral Kautzs actions. it can be stated that little doubt was enter taned here that such would be the result when the acts were examined dispassion- ately by fair-minded men of large calibre just as they received the approval of the president and Secretary Hay after careful scrutiny. Admiral Kautz's position as senior naval officer at Apia will be taken by Captain Goodrich, the commander of the cruiser Newark, upon the arrival of that vessel at Apia, but of course, with the commission the supreme authority for the time in Sa- moa. will not exercise functions as large as those discharged by his predecessor Captain Goodrich is highly regarded at the navy department, not only as an officer of the highest profess onal accomplishments as evidened by his successful management of the Naval War College for several years but for his discretion and prudence in emer- gencies.