Evening star., 1899-04-14
WILL SAIL ON THE BADGER
The Samoan Joint Commission Has Been
Completed.
Appointment of Baron Won Sternberr
Announced - VIII Leave San
Francisco April 25.

The Samoan commission will sail on the
United States cruiser Badger, leaving San
Francisco on the 25th instant The ar
rangement was made last evening after
Baron Speck Won Sternberg, first secretary
of the German embassy, had called on Sec
retary Hay and advised him Of his appoint
ment as the German member of the high
commission. This completed the body. AS
the plan to have the members get away
on the Mariposa, sailing on the 10th, was
not feasible, the Badger was placed at the
disposal of the commission. She Is now at
Callao Peru, on her way around to San
Francisco from New York. She is a large,
serviceable ship, with 1frst-class accommo-
dations. On her trip out she will take sup
plies for the Philadelphia.
The formal announcement of Baron Won
Sternberg's appointment was received from
the German foreign Office and gave gen.
eral satisfaction among officials and diplo-
mats, as he has throughout the recent trou-
bles eXerted his influences in such manner
as to win the keartfest approval of the
State Department, as well as the British
ambassador HIS choice, therefore, was
accepted as an evidence that the commits
SiOnerS would be able to cooperate and
to reach the unanimous decision called for
by the agreement. The early sailing of the
commission is regarded as evidence that
the recent collision at Apia will be settled
diplomaticall
The German Commissioner.
Baron Sternberg comes of distinguished
German family, his grandfather, Baron
Speck Sternberg of Lutyshena, being promt-
nent in the scientific development Of farm
ing. He introduced the merino sheep in
Australia, laying the foundation of the
vast wool product of that island continent,
and he was called by the late Gar Alexan-
der to Russia to introduce scientific farm
ing. The present Baron SternDerg devoted
his early life to the study of military and
naval science. He fought through the
Franco-German war In the I'd Saxon Dra-
goons, was promoted lieutenant at the age
of seventeen and was decorated for per
sonal bravery. After the war he entered
the general staff and was appointed mill
tary attache in Washington in 1884 and re-
appointed in 1888. In 1891 he entered the
diplomatic service, and was appointed sec
retary of the German legation at Pekin,
serving as charge d'affaires during the i'm
portant period of the Chino-Japanese war.
He followed the war and the political de-
velopments in Manchuria. Later he was
appointed charge d 'affaires at Belgrade Ser
via In 1897 he was appointed councillor
and first secretary of the embassy in Wash
ington, and has served here since then.
The Cruiser Badger.
The Badger is armed with six 5-inch
rapid-fre rifles and as many 3-pounders.
She was formerly the Ward line steamer
Yumuri, but was purchased April 10.
Among other services rendered in the war
she captured three Spanish vessels near
Nuevitas She Is commanded by Com
mander ]. NJ Miller, who gave up the Mer-
rimac to Lieutenant Hobson at Santiago.
She left Norfolk for San Francisco January
81 and is expected at her destination next
Monday when she will be hurried to the
Mare island navy yard and prepared for
her new duty.