, 1899-01-20
TO co TO SAMOA
THE CRUISER PHILADELPHIA TO
BE ORDERED TO PROCEED
TO THE ISLAND.
The German President of a Municipal
Council Believed to Be Responsible
for Much Of the Trouble There
United States and England May Be
Compelled to Use Force.

"dSlliSCou, jar. 10 ut navy uc-
partment has prepared orders for the
cruiser Philadelphia to proceed to Sa-
moa at once, to represent the United
States interests there. The Philadel-
phia is due at San Diego next Sunday,
from Acapulco. Meanwhile, if any YES
sci more quickly available can be found
one of Dewey's fleet, for instance, it
will be ordered at one to Samoa to an
swer the urgent appeal Of the United
States consul there.
The commander of the Philadelphia
will act in conformity with the in
structions 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 liter
ally enforced until amended. 1t would
take the Philadelphia about sixteen
days to make the run from San Diego
TO Apia, touching Honolulu for coal.
One resource open to the navy de
partment is to send the Oregon to Sa-
moa She left Callao OF the 18th inst,
and should reach Honolulu about Feb
ruary s, where she can be intercepted
with orders sent by the dispatch boat
Iroquois, now at San Francisco. The
big battleship Iowa is due at San Fran
cisco 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.
While the attention Of he public has
been of late drawn from the Samoan
islands to other more important sub
jects, 1t appears hat interesting events
have been succeeding one another with
rapidity in the islands.
1t has been realized for a long time
past that there was need for modifica-
ton Of the terms OF the tripartite treaty
by which we assumed joint guardian
ship with England and Germany, but to
this point it has not been possible to
get all three OF the powers to agree -up-
on any one project. Negotiations have
been on foot for some time in relation
to the succession OF the Samoan throne
and 1t is calculated to lead to Ill feel
ing at least tina the German officials
should resort to a coup d'etat at this
stage of the negotiations.
1t is believed that much OF the re-
sponsibility for this arbitrary action
must rest upon Rafael, the German
president of the municipal council at
Apia, whose troublesome attitude OF
late has led % remonstrance on the
part Of the other powers. There has
been an understanding that he was to
be removed to another scene Of activi-
ty and the supposition is that, getting
wind Of this intention. he has precipi-
tated a crisis before his government
could reach him with orders.
Auckland is 1900 miles distant, and
this lack of communication makes the
situation more periious than 1t would
be otherwise. The United States, Great
Britain and Germany. lit is believed,
could easily reach a satisfactory solu-
ton Of the crisis in Samoa II they could
deal with the subjects themselves in
the usual course, but there is some fear
of ill-considered action on the part OF
some of the agents OF these goernments
in Samoa before they can receive in
structions from their governments. The
interests OF the UnitedpStates are in the
hands Of Mr.. Lloyd w. Osborne, in
whose discretion the state department
pos great confidence.