The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-30
NO FEAR or A CLASH.
Our Omcinls DO Not Anticipate Trou-
bio WIN GermnnN.

bio with Germany.
Washington, March 30-The news
from Samoa that United States and
British cruisers had bombardcd the
towns held by Mataafa, who has thus
far had the official support N the Ger
man government. came with startling
suddenness To officials here The she'll
ing OF Mataafa was looked upon as or
secondary Importance. but the deepest
interest attached 10 the attitude Of the
German government At first appreheu-
sions were felt that grave international
complications might cusuc. But those
most intimately familiar with the latest
official exchanges between Washington,
London aud Berlin did not take such
gloomy view of the outlook While rec
ognizing that the hloodshcd at Samoa
created a very serious and delicate sit
uation, yet IL was said to he q situation
which had been clearly npprchcndod AMI
had been discussed iu advance hCtwccr
the representatives, Of three governments
The real crisis from an international
standpoint, occurred last week when
this apprehcndcd outbreak was discuss
ed. Although relations were greatly
strained. it was possible 10 secure AN
understanding which is said 10 mak'
sure that the outbreak now reported viii
not cause a rupture in the relations be-
tween the United States and Germany,
or between Great Britain and Germany.
That some overt act would take place
has been appreheuded for many days.
but there was little idea it would take
a broad sweep and lead TO such heavy
loss Of life. In this aspect Of the case
the actual results were regarded as far
more serious than those which had been
expected and provided for during the
recent diplomatic exchanges between the
three governments. Moreover, new ele
ments of international danger had uu
expectedly arisen. These included tn"
proclamation OF the German consul
Rose, which it is believed tended to in
cite the Mataafa party TO an oPcn re
volt; also the woundiug and killing of
British sailors and marines, the shoot
ing of an American sentry and the at
I tacks on the several consulates. These
| all invoke unknown possibilities OF seri-
Gus complication.
The diplomatic exchanges leading m
| to this crisis have been very sharp with
| in the last few days. Early last week
| the Berlin government received direc.
| information from Samoa tkat Admire
] hduIE uuu arrived lltlt anu NtN SUM
/ moncd a meeting of all the officials fol
/ March II. The German authorities fel'
| sure this meeting would result in seri
| Gus trouble. The Berlin foreign Office
! therefore instructed the German ambas-
sador here, DR.. Won Holleben, to pre-
sent a note embodying Germany's views
| 1t argued that a naval commander had
no right to act save in executing the vii
OF the three consuls, acting unanimously
and not through a majority. But aside
from this argument the German mote
intimated quite plainly that Germany
would hold the other governments re
sponsible If serious trouble resulted from
the action Of the naval authorities II
Samoa. The strained conditions caused
by this note were somewhat allayed by
the answer of the state department
which was friendly and reassuring, al
though it made plain that the American
naval commander would act in an emer
gency, even though the conSuls were moi
unanimous in requesting action. 1t Is
just such an emergency that has now
occurred in Samoa.
There is no apprehension here that ar
actual clash will occur with the German
civil or naval forces in Samoa. This
is due mainly to the official understand
ing that Germany has given positiv,
orders to the commander OF the German
warship Fake to refrain from any &C
tive move