The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-01-19
THE TREATY VIOLATED
Action Of German Consul In
Samoa an Outrage.
BRITISH AND AMERICANS USiTf.
Former Landed Blue Jackets and Re.
seated tho American chief Justice.
Ousted by the Bloody Battle between
Native factions-Apia Burned.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-The situation
In the Samoan islands is realized here
to be full of gravity. For some past
there has been an exchange Of CORE.
spondence between the three govern.
ments, party to the treaty of Berlin, re.
specting the choice Of successor to the
late King Malietoa and some friction
developed owing TO the strict adherence
Of the United States government to the
terms of the treaty. The statements in
the dispatch from Apia are not regarded
here as conclusive, for the reason that
they are in conflict with the provisions
of the treaty.
If, as reported, Raffel, the president
Of the municipal council at Apia and
German Consul Rose, have seized the
supreme court and pronounced them.
selves practically dictators and it Is said
here that they have violated the treaty
absolutely. The functions of the oresl.
dent of the municipal council are
clearly defined by the treaty and the
last advices received here were to the
effect that President Raffel had been
granted leave of absence and intended
to visit New Zealand. 1t was also un.
derstood that his successor had been
selected and it was thought was on his
way to his post.
AUCKLAND, N. o., Jan. l9.-Samoan
advices received here said that Chief
Ju stice Chambers (American), on Dec
81, declared Malietoa Tanus to have
been elected king, i'll succession to the
late King Malietoa. The chief justice
also announced that Tamasese had been
elected vice king. Chief Mataafa was
disqualified.
The consuls OF the United States and
Great Britain and the captains of the
German warship Fake and the British
warship Porpoise met the German con.
sui, who refused to recognize Malietoa
Tanus and declined to cooperate in the
dispersal of the Samoans, who there.
upon assembled in large numbers at
Mulinu, armed themselves and sur
rounded the municipality. Malietoa
Tanus and Tamasese mustered about
2,000 men, well armed but supplied
with defective ammunition. The Brit.
ish and American consuls endenvored
to avert hostilities, but they commenced
on Jan. 1.
Malietoa Tanus and Tamasese fought
brayely, but 500 of their followers were
captured. Then, disheartened and out.
numbered, the two chief sought refuge
on the British warship and their fol
lowers sought protection under the guns
of the Porpoise.
Mataafa's loss was 6l men killed and
wounded, and Malietoa Tanus lost IL
men killed and wounded.
The foreign residents were placed
under the protection of detachment
of men belonging to the British ship,
and Chief Justice Chambers and his
family went on board of her.
The followers of Mataafa looted and
burned Apia, destroyed the plantations
and pillaged considerably in the coun-
try
The consuls later decided to recog
nize Mataafa and his chiefs as a provi-
sional government, pending the re.
ceipt of instructions from the powers
Afterward, DIR. Rafael ana the Ger.
man consul closed the supreme court,
declaring that the power was vested in
them. The British and American con.
suls then appealed to the captain of the
British warship Porpoise, who landed q
force of bluejackets, and Chief Justice
Chambers, under their guard, took his
seat.
Mataafa held aloof from these last
developments. The excitement con.