Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-26
WILL UPHOLD ADA|RALkAUIl|
Commission Trying to Restore Peace
Among People
M!aTAAFA WILL SUBMIT - THE
REBEL CHIEF SENT. A LETTER
OF WELCOME TO THE COMMIS-
SION AND IT IS. BELIEVED HE
WILL OBEY IT'S UNANIMOUS
ORDER-HE MAY REFUSE TO
RECOGNIZE MALIETOA AS KING.

WILL OBEY IFS UNANIMOUS
ORDER-HEs MAY REFUSE TO
RECOGNIZE MALIETOA AS KING.
Apia, Samoa May IL, via Auckland,
N. q, May 25.-The Samoan commits
sion, consisting of Bartlett Trip, for
mer United States minister to Austria
Hungary; Baron Speck Won Sternberg,
representing Germany, and G. N. Eliot,
G. B., of the British embassy at Wash
ington, representing Great Britain, ar
rived here on May 13. Its first sitting
took place May Is. The commission
ers were engaged all that morning. in
comforting with Chief Justice William
L. Chambers.
Nothing. was disclosed regarding the
deliberations, but it is reported that
they will uphold the opinion Of Admiral
kautz, the American naval commander.
Mataafa sent the commissioners a
letter of welcome and expressed hope
that they would satisfactorily end the
troubles in Samoa. 1t is understood
Mataafa will obey the unanimous order
of the commission, though it is doubt
full whether he will order his followers
to disarm, unless the, Malietoans are
first disarmed. The Mataafans will
probably disperse to their homes if or
dered to do SO, but they, will, never REG
ognize Malietoa as king, and, doubtless.
there will be further trouble in the fu-
ture if the kingship is maintained.
Only one OIL. two cases are known OF
the wounding Of natives by the shell
fire of the warships, and as they have
not realized the strength of the Euro
peans, they may so to greater extremes
II war breaks out again.
The rebels remain outside the lines
indicated by the admiral and have
strongly fortified new position, while
loyalists are being drilled and have
fortified Mulinuu. A considerable num-.
Der of loyalists have been brought by
the warships from other islands Half
the male adults of Samoa are awaiting
action upon the part OF the commission
In order to support Malietoa.
The Germans are preparing compen-,
sation claims. 1t is understood one
German firm claims 100000, and that
other German, subjects claim $4,000.
The British consul, E. B. S. Maxse, in
vited them to put in their claims, and
1t is understood the commission will
adjudicate them.
Replying to question submitted to
him by a correspondent of the Associ-
ated Press, Mataafa said it was the
head chiefs and not himself who began
the war, adding that they did so be-
cause they were angered at power be-
Ing taken from them by violence and
also because they were made angry by
the chief Justices unjust decision
Mataafa claimed he had upheld the
treaty and said his orders throughout
were not to fire upon the Europeans,
and that but for this order the whole
party of blue jackets could several
times have been shot down by large
bodies Of natives concealed in the bush.
Berlin, May PA dispatch from
Apia says the armistice was net dis
turbed on the arrival there of the Sa-
moan commission, and that letters
were being exchanged with the view
OF disbanding the rival forces.
Washington, May 25.-Ine Following
cablegram has been received at the
navy department dated Apia, May 16,
1899, via Auckland:
Secretary Navy, Washington:
Badges arrived on May Is. The Phil
adelphia will leave so as to reach San
Francisco about June %. The commits
sion may desire to return on the Bad
ger. KAUTZ.
Admiral Kautz will return to the
United States with the Philadelphia.
The flagship will be replaced at Apia
by the cruiser Newark, which is for
midable in every respect as the Phila-
uclpAld, Having Ueeu ISceully over
hauled is in shape for long service. She
was started for Apia about six weeks
ago from New York, making her way
around South America. She sails on
the 18th inst. from Montevideo for
Valparaiso, and at the latter port will
receive her instructions to put straight
across the Pacific for Apia. The New
ark is due at Valparaiso about the end
OF this week and taking a few days to
coal should make the passage across
the Pacific by the middle of June.
When the commission sailed from
San Francisco it was not settled wheth-
er or not the Badger was to remain
at Apia awaiting the convenience of
the. commission. 1t was supposed that
the commission would decide that mat
ter for themselves; if their mission
could be soon executed then, the Badger
would wait. The intimation contained
In Admiral Kautzs cablegram that the