The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-13

washington, April 12.-The acute sit
uation in Samoa gave rise to grave ap-
prehenslon among officials during the
early part of the day in Washington.
but the conclusion was reached as the
department closed that the situation is
one that will yield to sensible and cool
treatment if all the parties to the Rer-
lin treaty are sincere in an effort TO
prevent further trouble. AS put by a
cabinet officer. the killing of the sailors
mas not materially changed the general
problem, though it has undoubtedlv
added to this difficulty of dealing with
the specific situation. The only official
news received touching the last incident
was contained in Admiral Kautz's ca
blegram. The secretary said that no
additional instructions We're to be sent
by him to the admiral. The secretary
OF state, however has been told that
ne is at liberty to forward any instruc-
ton to the admiral that he may deem
necessary, but that if he concludes to
DO so he must act Immediately, as the
mail steamer leaves the nearest cable
point for Apia tomorrow.
The Philadelphia was short-handed
Tor officers before the loss of Lieutenant
Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan, and
the department to-day promptly sent
Geographic orders to Mare Island to
despatch some officers to recruit the
force. Lieutenant Scheutz goes out as
executive officer, with Lieutenant w. S.
Hughes, Lieutenant Schofield and Lieu
tenant Hetherington. Surgeon Steel is
ordered from the New York navy yard
to the Philadelphia. All of these Off
GERS are expected to take the mail
steamer Of the 10Th inst for Apia.
The diplomatic negotiations of the
day were not directed particularly to
the encounter, as the official informa-
ton Is too meager thus far to warrant
positive official action. There were
many inquiries, however. and the state
department and the British and Ger
man embassies exchanged such advices
as they had on the subject. In the
main the diplomatic negotiations con-
tinue to center around the high COM
mission. On this subject a breach is
gradually opening between Great Brit
ain and Germany because of the refusal
of Great Britain to have the commits
sion leave San Francisco on the 10Th.
While the Germans are anxious and
our officials are willing that the start
should be made on the 18th. Great Brit
ain insists on proceeding with delibsra-
tion, allowing full time for instructions
to the British commissioner by mail and
not by cable. This. of course would
make it impossible for the commission
to leave in body this month. To over
come this stand by the British foreign
office, suggestion has been made that
the appointment of an umpire which
is one of the points still in dispute. be
settled after the commissioners start
If this is agreed to the commission can
be away, though with some branches of
its instructions incomplete. In the
meantime they could be making their
preliminary examinations, the final di-
rections being reserved until complete
instructions We're in hand. This Ger
man proposal does not meet with favor
among the British officials. who have
determined that the British commits
sioner, Mr.. Elliott. shall not leave until
his functions can be exactly defined.
Lieutenant Freeman, killed In Samoa,
is given in the British naval list as
Lieutenant Angel H. Freeman. the SEN
ior lieutenant of the cruiser Tauranga,
the next to Captain Stuart. in command
of the vessel.
The British admiral has a number
of warships not far from Samoa in the
Australasian islands. a special design
of small cruisers being used in that To-
cality. The chief naval sta ton acces-
sihle to Samoa is on the China coast
where the Asiatic squadron embraces
some oe the largest warships in the
British navy. In number armament
and tonnage, the British ships on this
station far exceed those Of Germany
or any other power. The chief German
station near Samoa is also on the China
coast, at Kiao Chou, where Admiral
Prince Henry IS in command.
Admiral Dewey's fleet at Manila is
the nearest assemblage of American
warships in Samoa. The sail from Ma
Mia to Samoa is about ID days.