New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
THE ARMED TRUCE IN SAMOA i.
CONFLICTING FORCES AWAITING THE
RESULT OF THE COMMITS
SION'S LARORS

Apa Samoa. May 49, via San Francisco June g.
Since Admiral Kautzs proclamation OF April g. d.
rectlng Mataafa and his following to keep beyond
certain defined limits around Apia. the prescribed
district covering an area twelve miles long and
six miles broad and which was followed by a notil-
cation to MataGfa that unless the rebels were out
side the prescribed limits in twentyfour hours fire
would be opened upon them wherever they could
be reached, there has been no conflict with the
rebels. Captain Sturdee. OF H. NJ. s. Porpoise. ac-
companied by the Rev William Huckett. OF the
London Mission Society. as interpreter paid the
rebel camp at Falenta visit the day following.
and in order to avoid mistakes In the future, went
the boundary line with several Mataafan
chiefs. who promised TO keep the peace until the
Commission had time to act.
The district which the rebels have evacuated Is
quite large enough supply food to the Malietoans
In Apia. and thus OF the great difficulties OF the
naval authorities has been obvated.
Since the rebels went to Falenta strong patrol
OF seven hundred eight hundred men daily make
the round seeing that all Is quiet and that no loot
ing damage Is being done by Malietoas fohow-
ers Several OF lootinR have been reported
and where It has been possible to find out the
offenders they have been severely punished Inc
damage caused by the frlendes has hitherto Deeh
very small compared with that caused by the
Mataafans. The large fort at Lotopia has been de-
stroyed by the Malieoans. and 1t is reported mat
Mataafa IL highly enraged at this. claiming tha'
in the event Of his wishing to return TO the same
after the Commission had made known their de-
csiop ne ought to have been allowed to do So In
the mean time he is building forts inland OF the
town OF Faenta and his followers stoutly declare
that even II the Commission is unanimous against
him he will never acknowledge Tanu as King ana
will fight IL out TO the bitter end.
These assertions may be only talk, but the ques-
tion of the kingship does not seem to lie wthh the
scope OF the Commission. Tanu was puDlicIy
crowned by the American and British authoriues
and was saluted with royal honors by the Phila-
delphia and the Tauranga on the occasion OF MS
coronation and Of his formal visit to the warships
since the armistice has been in force. His chiefs
and Tamasese. the ViceK King. carrying on the
government in way that performs all the func-
tons OF a good and stable government, and they
are in possession Tanu is King de facto as wei
de jure. In addition. there are now IN Apa
thirty-fve hundred male adults carrying twenty
seven hundred rifles. supporting him ! ms means mean,
that absolutely half of Apia Is at present support
Ing Tanu as King of Apia
In the mean time the rebels strengthening
their positions. sending out messengers lot ,ne,r
sympathizers to come and join them, and are busy
engaged manufacturing cartridges. Deserters from rom
the Maaafa camp say that on the occasion OF the
chiefs went off to the ship and asked for supply
of ammunition. The request was refused, 10 tneIr
great disgqSt Tne loyas 0h s are being daily
drilled and instructed by officers from the different
warshps finch gun has been Ia s M IrG in in
such a position to command the whole OF me
western portion OF the Municipality Ihe grea.
ment of the natives? If they do not 1t Is tn, t9e
opinion Of almost every white resident that THESE
Thanks TO magnificent weather. splendid supply
OF water and fresh meat daily. the troops are IN
the best OF health and officers and men alike, now
that they are accustomed to the Islands and 10
their work are all looking well -. ,.o,.o ,or,
three days after this wrlt,ng. He sees that the
Commiss on will be long time over It's abors ana ma
that during that time nothing will be done by the
vessels.