The evening times., 1899-05-15
THE GERMANS IN SAMOA.
Interpreter Hall Snys They Are Re
spOnsfbIc for the Trouble.

ApOhstDIe afouGfc
Tacoma. Wash. May l5.-"The truce de-
clared by the allied British and American
forces in Samoa pending the arriva! of the
International Commission was a mistake.
Two more months OF fighting would have
thoroughly crushed Mataafa's followers
and shown them the folly OF attacking the
combined American and English forces.
The rebels were getting short Of ammuni-
tion. and could not have held out much
longer. Now they have chance TO get
more ammunition. The effect on the troops
vas disastrous.
So says William Hall. interpreter for the
allied American and English forces in Sa
moa. For twelve years he was personally
acquainted with the rival chieftains. In
behalf Of the allied forces he went out to
Matagfa's headquarters before the recent
battling to advise him not to attack. Eight
years ago he carried a message from the
allied American and English forces warn
ing Ma,aafa of the Germans intention to
combine with Tamasese in an attack on
Mataafa's village
Mr. Hail has just arrived in Tacoma on
his way to Alaska to look after mining
properties. He was in Alaska last year
but returned to Samoa for the winter. and
left the South just as hostilities were sus
pended to await the arrival of the Commis-
soners.
There will be trouble in Samoa as long
as the Germans are allowed TO have
voice in the management of affairs there"
Mr.. Hall declares. The only way to Sc
cure lasting peace is to ignore the Ger
mans and allow either American or Eng
land to govern the country. We were sur
prised to hear that England and America
had listened to Germany at all in this
trouble: had allowed her to send Com
missioner to Apia.
Germany is violating the Berlin treaty
which provides that Mataafa can never be
King OF Samoa. That provision was in
serted in the treaty at the request of Ger
many after Mataafas warriors had be-
headed some German soldiers.
when Mataafa had been driven into the
country | was sent out to advise him not
to attack the Americans and English. l
met the chiefs at Legotos. Many of them
l had known long and we'll. l told him of
the clause in the treaty and explained why
Mataafa could not be king. l told them
how powerful America and England were
and how futile an uprising would be.
Il reminded them of Germany's treach-
cry to Tamasese and predicted such treat
ment for Mataafa. Then l reminded them
of speeches at the graves after the death
of the German marines eight years earlier.
when German officers declared that only
the blood of Mataafa and his followers
could atone for it.
''They promised me not to go to war
In the evening l saw some OF the chiefs
again. They were going toward maya
zine out of town, where Germany some
times kept arms. l talked again with
them. but they told me Germany had prom
ised them aid and arms.
They went to the magazine. which was
full of ammunition and rifles. In the
morning it was found empty. The Ger
mans claimed that Mataafas followers had
looted it. but the guns were used in Ma
taafa's fights.
many. When we went out to attack fort
had located checkered flag would be
run up at the German consulate, and when
we arrived the fort would be empty. Arms
would be taken into the country ostensi-
bly, for the use of German planters. but
they would find their way into the hands
of the rebels.
1--WE were getting along well under the
guidance OF Admiral Kautz. who was in
complete command, and we all understood
that the rebellion was to be put down. The
interference and sending of a commission
is certainly one of the. worst things that
could have happened at that time.
II do not believe Germany will agree to
anything German control of the islands
means ruin. The Germans would admin
lister them as they have governed the Mar
shall Islands, which have not progressed
since the Germans took possession.
THE Germans are not nation of COLO
nizers"