Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-06
THE ADMIRAL At SAMOA.
The American Commander Pre-
scribes a Dead Line"
ISSUES AN ULTIMATUM.
A Strong Patrol Maintained to See
that General Order is
Preserved.

Apia, Samoa, May 19.-(Via San Fran
cisco, June 3.)-When Admiral Kautz
| issued his proclamation Of April %, di-
| recting Mataafa and his following to
keep beyond certain defined limits around
Apia, the prescribed precinct covering an
area twelve miles long and six miles
broad, followed by notification to Ma
taafa that unless the rebels were outside
the prescribed limits in twenty-four hours
fire would be opened upon them wherever
they could be reached, this ultimatum
brought about an immediate and uncon-
! ditional compliance with the admirals
| directions.
| From that time up to date there has
| been no conflict with the rebels. Capt.
| Sturdee of II. NJ. S. Porpoise, accom-
| panied by Rev. William Huckett of the
London Mission society as interpreter,
paid the rebel camp at Falenfa, visit
the day following and in order to avoid
mistakes in the future, went over the
boundary line with several Mataafa
| chiefs who promised to keep the peace
until the commission had time to act.
| The district which the rebels have
| evacuated is quite large enough to sup
ply food to the Malietoans in Ap!a, and
| thus one of the great difficulties Of the
naval authorities has been overcome.
A Strong Patrol to Keep Order.
| Since the rebels went to Falenla
strong patrol of 700 or 800 men daily
make the rounds, seeing that all is quiet
and that no loOting or damage IS beng
done by the Malietoa followers. Several
cases of looting have been reported and
where it has been possible to ind out
the offenders they have been severely
punished. The damage caused by the
Frendlies has, however, been very small
in comparison with that caused by the
Mataafans, not one-twentleth> part. The
large fort at Lotopia has been destroyed
by the Malietoans and it Is reported that
Mataafa is highly enraged at this, claim
ing that IN the event OF MS Wishing. 70
return to the same after the commission
has made known its decision, he ought
to have been allowed to do so. In the
meantime he is building forts inland Of
the town of Falenla and his followers
stoutly declare that even if the commits
sion is unanimous against him, he will
never acknowledge Tanu as king and Will
fight it out to the bitter end.
These assertions may be only talk, but
as far as we can judge here the question
OF the kingship does not seem to lie with
in the scope Of the commission. Ianu has
been publicly crowned by the American
and British authorities here and has been
saluted with royal honors by both the
Philadelphia and Tau:anga, on the occa--
sion Of his coronation and of his formal
visit at the warshiDs since the armistice
has been in force. His chiefs and Ia
masese, the vice-king, are carrying on
the government in way that performs
all the functions of a good and stable
government and they are IN possession.
Ianu is king de factO as we'll as de Jure-
and. in addition. there are now in ADia
$500 male adults carrying POO rifles in
Apia supporting him. This means that
absolutely half of Apia is at present sup
porting the King of Apia. Mataafa is
likely to be disappointed man and al
though a personal friend of his who had
an interview with him a few days ago
says that Mataafa is preparing to accept
the inevitable at the hands of unani-
nous commission. he will never submit
to a minority, even though that-minority
be the two greatest nations on the earth
-farcical no doubt 10 most people, but
serious indeed to the few white residents
Of these islands.
Strengthen Their Positions.
In the meantime the rebels are
strengthening their positions, sending ont
messengers for their sympathiZeSs to
come and join them, and are busily en-
gagged manufacturing cartridges. Desert
ers from the Mataafa camp say that on
the occasion of the Fake last visiting
Saluafata, that some Of the rebel chiefs
went off to the ship and asked for 4 sup
ply of ammunition, but that the same
was refused them to their great disgust.
The loyalists, ON the other hand, are for
tifying their intrenchmentS around Apia
and are being daily drilled and instruct
ed by officers from the different war
ships. A finch gun has been taken from
II. NJ. S. Torch and is now mounted at
Mulium in such position as to command
the whole of the western portion of tho
municipality. The great question is,
"Wil the commission order the disarma-
ment Of the natives? If they do not it is
the opinion of almost every white resi-
dent that these islands will no longer be
safe to live in and many declare that if
the natives are to return their rifles
never mind what other solution of the
Samoan question is made. they cannot
and will not live here with their wives.
family and property at the mercy of the
next lot of rebels.
Thanks to magnificent weather
splendid supply of water and fresh meat
daily, the troops are in the best of health
and officers and men alike, now that they
are accustomed to the islands and to
their work, are all looking splendid
1t is the intention of Admiral kautZ
to leave here three days after this writ
ing. He sees that the commission will
be long time over its labors and that
during that time nothing will be done by
the war vessels. The Badger and the
Brutus are both here in American inter-
ests and the Newark is expected in three
weeks at least, and that therefore there
is no need for him TO wait here g.
heightened period doing nothing.
WALL STREET LANDMARK.