Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-04-01

w
The STANDARD says: The rcbe!lious
chiefs .aust be cuerced and punished,
and something more than nominal
penalty viii be required for the blood OF
British and American :ai.ors. The
German authorities at Ap!a have in
CURED Il heavy responsibility. We can
not believe that Berlin will uphold the ir
action, as it is not worth Germany 5
Will. to quarrel with England and
america over Samoa.
The Daily Chronicle says: There is
only one alternative. Germany must
remove her consul (icrr Euse) or go ont
of the protectorate.
The Post, commenting upcn tie "nys-
terry surroungins the affair and
the 'inlposs!hli.y of reco.cil,ng tn"
events in Samoa with diplomatic as
surances Lately given by Berlin and
Washington." says Admiral Eau;z
and his coadjutors We're not coi:petent
t. dismiss the provisional government.
TIL single bright spot in this dark busi-
ness is that the americans ard British
fought spleididly together.
The Daily Mail says: 1t is Il consola-
tion to tnink that, az in Crete, the spill
ing of British and American blood viii
bring Il solution Of tie crisis All three
powers should recall their coasuls. and
as the Friendship of Germany Is the
PIVOT ~ our foreign policy. her wishes
should he rpsDuctcd in the final settle
nent.
Washington, March 30.-The news that
the United States cruiser Philadelphia
and the British cruisers Porroise ard
Ruyalist had bombarded the towns held
by Mataufu. who has thus far had the
official support of the German ;ovel IL
ment. came with startling suddenness
to officials kere and displaced for the
time being tha attention given to the
fighting around Mania. The shelling of
Mataafa was look, d upon as of second
iry importance. but the deerest int rest
attached to the attitude of tEe German
government.
The real crisis, from an international
standpoint, occurred last week, when ;hIs
apprehended uutb, eak was dis 'titS d.
Although relations were gre ATTY strained
il MAS possible to secure an undcis: s:aEd-
ing viii n j. said to make SUR that the
outbreak now reported viii not cause Il
rupture in the relations between the
United states ard Germany, or httW, Ell
Great Britain and Germany.
The details of the bomharGment. as
conveyed in the Associated Press d s.
patches, We're read with eager interest
by leading government and diplomatic
officers who have baen mos directly CON
Ccrned in handling the Samoan question.
There was nothing of an official charac-
ter. however, either at the state or navy
DEPARTMENTS or at the British or German
embassy to Augment the press reports.
l'pon this officials based their views. In
al quart ers there Wer" expressions If
concern and surprise at the seriousness
und extent Of the lumbai d,nent and the
resulting loss of HE. That some overt
act would take place has Icen arIre-
heutled for many days, but there was
little idea it would take broad sweep
and lead to such heavy loss of life. In
this aspect of the case the Ct,tal results
We're regarded as far more SCI ious than
those which had been expected and pro-
v.ded for during the recent diplomatic
exchanges between the three govern
ments.
NJ, recover, new elements Of interEa-
iiCnai danger had Unexpectedly arisen.
These include the prOclamaticn of Ger
man Consul Rose, which it is believed
tended to incite the Mataara party to
an open revolt. also the Wounding and
killing: of British sailors and marines,
the shooting Of an American sentry and
the attacks on the several consulates.
These all involve unhnOWn possi0i!i-
ties of serious complication. While they
had been guarded against as far as pcs
siblc by the recent anticipatory eX
, hanges. yet ii was felt that the Geima
press and national sentiment might be
wrought to IA high pitch by the events
which had occurred and that this out
burst of popular feeling might overcome
the strong efforts of officials to keep the
subject within bounds.
In an authoritative quarter the atti-
tude of the British and American Of
iCials was stated as follows:
1t was mutually understood between
the two governments that the first es-
sential in Samoa was to ma intain pc ac.
and order. For that reason it was de-
termined that any iawiessness on the
Fart Of Mataafa or any other Samoan
element which threatened the lives o,
property of residents would be sup.
pressed. even though force was required
This was entirely without reference tc
the rights of the three governments
Great Britain. the Unit d States and
Germany-and was merely rule of self
preservation and police security 1t was
not proposed to give Samoa over to
reign of anarchy simply because the
German consular oilio ial at Samoa diff.
fered with the British and American
officials. Outside of these differences i
Was proposed to protect life and prop
erty ut all hazards.
The diplomatic exchanges leading uu
TO this ciisis have been very sharp with
in the last few days. Early last week
the Berlin government received direct
information fiom Samoa that Admiral
kautz had arrived there and had sum
moned Il me ting of ali tie officials 10,
March IL. Tire German authorities felt
sure this meeting would suit in serious
trouble. The Berlin foreign office there
fore in> tructcd the German amhas ssador
here, Or. Won llcllvhca, To press MT a note
embodying Germanys Views. 1t argued
that naval rumllu uIpr I'M a ~, ri bt IN
act save in executing the will of the
three cunsuls. acting unanimously and
rot through Il majority. The German
note intma,cd quite plainly that Ger
many would hold the other guvrrnm, MS
responsible IT sci inus trouble Resulted
from the action of the naval authorities
in Samoa. The strained conditions
caused by this note were somewhat al
layed by the answer Of tt" state depart
ment. which was friendly and reassur-