The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-13
If Parties To Treaty
Are Sincere.
No Further News From Seat of
the Trouble.

Washington, April Il. The acute stun
ton In Samoa gave rise to grave appre-
nension among officials, during the early
day in Washington but the conclusion
was reached as the departments closed,
that the situation is one that will yield to
sensible and cool treatment If all the
parties to the Berlin treaty are sincere in
an effort to prevent further trouble. AS
put by a cabinet officer, the killing of the
sailors had not materially changed the
general problem though it had un-
dou btedly added to the difficulty of deal
ing with the spech oisituation. The only
official news received touching the last
incident was contained in Admiral
kautz's cablegram. The secretary said
that no additional instructions were to be
sent by him to tho admiral. The seore
tary of state however has been told that
he is at liberty to forward any instruo-
tions to the admiral that he may deem
necessary but that II he concludes t) do SO
he must act Immediately, as the mail
ste amer leaves the nearest cable point for
Apia tomorrow. The Philadelphia was
short-handed for officers before the loss of
Lieut. Lansdale and Ensign Monahsn
and the department today promptly sent
telegraphic orders to Mare Island to dis
patch some officers to recruit the force.
= Lieut. Scheutze goes out as executive
officer with Lient. W. 5. Hnghes, Lieut.
Schotield and Lieut.. hetherington.
Surgeon Steel Is ordered from the New
York Navy yard TO the Philadelphia All
of these officers are expected to take the
mail steamer of the 18th inst. for Apia.
The diplomatic negotiations of the day
were not directed particularly to the
encounter as the Official information is
too meagre thus far to warrant positive
official action. There were many inqiries
however. and the state department and
the British and German EN- mbassies ex
changed such advices as they had on the
subject. In the main the diplomatic
negotiations continued to center around
the high commission. On this subject a
breach is gradually opening bet Seen
Great Britain ana Germany because of
the refusal OF Great Britain to have the
commission leave San Francisco on the
18th. While the Germans are anxious and
our officials are willing that the start
should be made ON the 18th, Great Britain
insists on proceeding with elaboration,
allowing full time for instructions TO the
British commander by mail and not by
cable. This, OF course, would make 1t
impossible for the commission to leave in
u
stand by the British foreign office sug-
gestion has been made that the appoint
ment of cr umpire which Is one of the
points still In dispute, be settled after
the commissioners start. Ii this is
agreed to, the commission eau get away
though with some branches of It's instruc-
tions incomplete.
The British admiral has o number of
warships not far from Samoa in the
Australasian islands, a special design OF
small cruisers being used in that locality.
The chief naval station accessible to
Samoa Is on the China coast where the
Asiatic squadron embraces some of the
largest warships in the British Navy. In
numter, armament and tonnage. the
British ships on this station far exceed
those of Germany or any other power.
The Chief German naval station near
Samoa also is on the China coast at kia
Cnou, where Admiral Prince Henry is in 4
command. Admiral Dewey's fleet at
Manila Is the nearest assemblage of
American warships to Samoa.
The sail from Manila to Samoa is about
fourteen days.
Senator Davis, chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign relations, when
asked for his views on the situation, said:
"We must be careful and not lose our
head. We must not form an opinion Till
all the facts are known"
Representative Hull of Iowa, chairman
of the House military affairs committee,
said:
"Ihis government will not attempt to
discredit our men there unless it is shown
clearly that they are in the wrong. II
Germany persists in her present course,
there may be war. DO not oelieve this
administration will allow Germany TO
run this government as she seems to be
trying TO do now"
Senator Ihurston said it would be
pretty hard for three of the most eplight-
ened nations of the earth to have war
over a few little islands which are of no
consequence. He considered the situation
as something grave.
senator Stewart said:
docs Germany want to fight? If so
she may be accommodated. We are peace
full people, but we won't permit others TO
-. aunrnh with chins ON their shnuldnra -