Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-03-11

press, and the necessity for protecting
cables in shallow water, he said he
thought that If Spain had showed real
comprehension of strategy the United
states would not have been so successful.
The sure way for the United States would
have been for her to send a sufficient
force to the coast of Spain to balance
the forces known to have been in Span
ish ports, and to send a squadron to
Cape Verde islands the moment it was
known Spanish hotilla was assembling
there. And, he added, If the island of
Minorca had been seized as a base, moth
ing offensive on the other side of the At
iantic would have been attempted by
Spain.
The lesson to be deduced was, accord
ing to the lecturer, that the American
departed from the stereotyped rules of
naval war. Admiral Cervera's ships
We're lost sight of, causing anxiety on the
American coasts, and the Americans
kept considerable squadron wholly in
a defensive attitude. instead of main
tanning command of the sea. 1t was
clear, he added, that if there had been
coal supplies at Santiago, and If Admiral
CeIvera's squadron had been reasonably
efficient instead of IA miserable abor-
tion," all it could have proposed to effect
by entering Santiago might have been
effected without any interference upon
the part of the United States navy.
ba laf hn S,o nj II
forts and the American ships he de-
duced the idea that very inefficient bat
teries were able to keep ships at dis
tance.
re egardirg the purely tactical questions
involved. the admiral said 1t was plain
that Admiral Dewey took full advantage
of the superiority of his guns and gun
ners and placed himself in so distant "a
position that neither the Spanish ships
nor the Spanish batteries were able to
reply to his fire. The whole
thing, continued the lecturer. was ter
with pathetic parade of "Quixotic gal
lantry on the other"
In conclusion, Admiral Colombo COM
m"nted upon the fact that all orders to
the American ships were sent from
Washington. which he considered a
change in naval warfare.
Apia, Samoa. Feb. %. via San Fran
cisco, March 9.-Four weeks have
elapsed since the mail dispatches left
here for San Francisco concerning the
outbreak of civil war between the ad-
herents of Malietoa Tanus and those of
Mataafa. During this time Samoa has
been free from any active warfare.
The provincial government under Mat.
aafa has not been a success. 1t has
estranged the feelings of many of it's
own supporters by deportation of the
Malietoa chiefs, and the banishment
from Apia of all male Samoan adults
who We're on Malietoa's side.
All MalietOa's followers who were not
depOrted have been fined, and inoffen-
sive natives, the servants Of whites, who
had been in no way connected with the
fighting. have been arrested. a sharp
remonstrance from British Consul
supporting him, has prevented a re-
cnrrence Of this annoyance. The ma
tives of tutuila have declared in favor
Of Tanus, and the deportcd chiefs are
having pleasant picnic among friends.
Malietoa seems to be gaining strength
every day, and several of Mataafas $
chief adherents have gone over to his
side. There are not more than one
half of the people on Mataafa's side, and
1t is doubtful If more than One-third
of the population are his active sup
porters.
Among the British and Americans
here it cannot be seen how the powers
can act In any other way than to stand
by Tanus as king. 1t is urged that If
they do not they will deliberately break
the Berlin treaty, and cast slight upon
their nominee, the chief justice, and, in
the case Of Great Britain and the United
States. they will go back on their con-
sular representatives here. who have ac-
knowledged Tanus as king.
Mataafa and the chiefs know all
their followers from doing anything at
present whereby Mataafa's chances of
being king may be endangered. Mat
aafa himself is perplexed and uneasy.
The German consul has received
cable from Germany directing him to
recognize the authority Of Chief Jus
tice Chambers. and to withdraw from
the stand he and DR.. Raffel had taken
in regard to the supreme court. This
news has discouraged Mataafa, and, in
addition, the United States consul has
written to the effect that notwithsand-
ing rumors around Apia, the United
States has not recognized Mataafa as
king, and that the consul has nothing on
the matter from his government, and is
awaiting dispatches.
The chief Justice, although now recog-
nlzed by the German consul under in
from Germany. is still being
thwarted in every possible way by the
Germans DR.. Raffel was cited by the
chief Justice for contempt, but declined
to come to court and placed himself un-
der the protection O. the German consul.
lie was arrested by the marshal of the
court. but on his refusal to go, no at
tempt was made to force him The chief
justice rested content with having
brought the matter to this issue. Herr
Won Bulow was also cited for contempt
and disputed the jurisdiction of the
court on the same ground as DR.. RaffeI.
The German consul interposed his pro-
test, but Bulow nevertheless has been
summoned to appear in two weeks.
II. Moors. an American, apologzed to
the court for writing threatening let
ter and was purged of contempt. Herr
Grosscuhl still remains in the German
and will not venture out for
fear of arrest by the court officers.
Everybody is anxiously awaiting the
decision of the powers and in the mean
time it is not thought there will be any
further disturbance.
The Associated Press correspondent.
shortly after the seizure Of the Samoan
by Mataafa. had an inter-