The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-20
WARsHIPs FOR SAMOA.
Philadelphia, Oregon or One of Adj
miraI Dewey's Fleet to Be Sent

miraI Dewey's Fleet to Be Sent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19-The navy
department has prepared orders for the
cruiser Philadelphia to proceed to Sa-
noa at once to represent the United
States interests there. The Philadel-
phia is due at San Diego next Sunday,
from Acapulco. Meanwhile. if any yes
sci more quickly available can be
found, one OF Dewey's feet, for in
stance, it will be ordered at once to
Samoa to answer the urgent appeal of
the United States consul there The
commander of the Philadelphia will act
in conformity with the instructions Of
the United States consul SO far as
these instructions are in line with the
treaty Of Berlin, which the United
states contends must be literally en-
forced until amended 1t would take
the Philadelphia about sixteen DAYS to
make the run from San Diego to Apia
touching at Honolulu for coal One
resource open to the navy department
is to send the Oregon to Samoa. She
left Callao on the 18th inst, and should
reach Honolulu about the Sth day of
February, where she can be intercept
ed with orders sent by the dispatch
boat Iroquois, now at San Francisco
The big battleship Iowa is due at San
francisco Just about the same date
that the Oregon is due at Honolulu, so
that the Pacific coast will not be left
entirely without a naval force.
While the attention of the public has
been of late drawn from the Samoan
Islands to other more important sub
jects, IL appears that Interesting events
have been succeeding one another with
rapld1ty in the islands. It has been
realized for long time past that there
was need for modification Of the terms
of the tripartite treaty, by which we
assumed joint guardianship with Eng
land and Germany, but up to this point
IL mas not been possible to get all three
OF the powers to agree upon any one
project.
Plans have been on foot for some
time in relation TO the succession to the
Samoan throne, and it is calculated Ia
lead to in-feeling at least. that the
German officers should resort to a coup
d'etat at this stage Of negotiations. It
IS believed that much of the respon-
sihility for this arbitrary action must
rest upon Rafael, the German presi-
dent Of the municipal council at Apia.
whose troublesome attitude of late has
led TO remonstrance on the part OF the
other powers. There has been an m
Outstanding that he was to be remox-
eG TO another scene Of activity. and the
supposition is that, getting wind of this
intention. he has preciDitated a crisis
before his government could reach him
with orders. Auckland is 1900 miles
distant, and this lack of communica-
ton makes the situation more perilous
than 1t would be otherwise The Unit
ed States, Great Britain and GERMANY
1t is believed, could easily reach a sat
isfactory solution of the crisis in Sa-
Il1oa, II they could deal with the sub
Ject themselves in the usual course
but there is some fear of ill-consider-
ed action on the part Of some of the
agents of these governments In Samoa,
before they can receive Instructions
from their governments.
The interests of the United States
are IN the hands of Mr.. Lloyd ". o.
born, in whose discretion the state de-
partment reposes great confidence.