The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-25
A Startling REPORT
of German Naval
Commander at Apia.
OF THB RUMOR
kumor Places the Commander of the
Fake on a British Warship Under
Arrest and the h Cruiser. Ready
TO Fire on the Falke-TheC Commander
Caught Distributing Arms Among
n Mataafans-Origin of the Me-
port.

caught Distrtbuttng Arms Among
the Mataafans-Origin of the Me-
port.
ST. Paul. MINI, April 20.-A Winnie
peg, Manitoba, special to The Dispatch
says: A special dispatch 10 The Free
Press from Victoria B. c., says: The
steamer Morangi. from Australia,
brings news OF the arrest Of the COM
mander of the German warship Fake
at Apia for supplying arms to Mataafa.
The arrest was made by the British
commander. 1t is believed here that
the dispatch from Apia refers TO the ar
rest Of the German planter upon whose
plantation the British and American
forces were ambushed, but the dispatch
as received at Victoria reads: Com
mander of the German warship Fake"
Seattle, Wash, April 20.-A Times
special from Victoria, B. c., says that
the steamer Morangi, from Australia,
brings advices that the commander of
the German man of war Fake al Sa-
moa has been arrested by the British
| and is now held a prisoner on the YES
sci. Porpoise. He was surprised by a
{ squad of British sailors, handing arms
and ammunition to Mataafa's men
| The report was brought to Australia by
| the passengers on the steamer Upola.
After the arrest of the Fakes com-
~z- -,a- l41l u-Ao,.
| Captain Sturdee and Admiral Kautz,
and the Porpoise and the Philadelphia
| steamed into a position on either side
of the Fauke. Orders We're then sent
| aboard that if she made asmove of any
| kind she would be blown out of the
| water.
No one is allowed to go aboard or
leave the German ship of war without
/ permission, written and signed by
| either Captain Sturdee of the Porpoise,
Or Admiral Kautz.
Fighting continues between the
forces of Mataafa and Malietoa Tanus.
Bush fights with slight loss are daily
occurrences and business is practically
at a ~standstill. There is considerable
sickness among the seamen of the Por-
poise and the Philadelphia. Three Of
4 luS 1pOlSC - JIG" u1Co A"NSA'
Lieutenant Garnet, of the Porpoise, is
among the sick. Mataafa's cause is
waning.
April 4th is the date on which the re-
ported arrest was made.
San Francisco April 20-The Mail adj
vices received here by the Associated
Press on April 18th from Apia, Samoa,
and dated March oath told of a little
incident, which occurred just before
the b~ombardment by the American and
British warships commenced. The
German man Of war was about to leave
the harbor on some mysterious mission
when Admiral Kautz signaled her to
return and take care Of the German
residents, as the bombardment of the
city by the American and British was
about to commence. The German re-
turned to her position, and during the
Smelling Of the vicinity took on board
many German residents.
This incident, combined with the ar
rest OF a prominent German planter for
aiding the rebels, is, perhaps, the one
referred to in the Victoria advices of
today and in some manner misconstru-
ed by the passengers on the Morangi,
who were evidently led TO believe that
the commander of the Fake has been
made a prisoner and hat his vessel
was in danger of being blown out of
the water by the British and American
war vessels if he made any suspicious
move.
ABSURDITY OF THE RUMOR POM
TED OUT.
Washington, April 20.-The state