The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-02-06
Religious and Military.

On the 18th of December a religious
and military celebration took place in
Mulinuu, in memoriam of the German
naval officers and men who died IL
years ago in fight against Samoans at
Fagalii and Vailele.
At about 10: 30 a. m. a detachment OF
about 80 armed sailors of S. NJ. S. Cor
moran" with their officers, headed by
the ships band and followed by their
commander, the German Consul, and
number of officers and petty officers,
and deputation of the ships crew
without arms, but carrying palms and
wreaths of flowers, were marching
through the town to Mulinuu. The
landing corps went into position In
front of the monument, their backs be-
ing turned to the harbor; all the Off
cefs not belonging to the landing corps
all officials and petty officers stood
close to the band facing Apia, the depu-
tation with palms and flowers at the
left wing of the landing corps with
their front to Mulinuu.
After the first verse of the chora
song: Elm tester Burg list unser Gott
had been sung, Captain Emsmann
1
spoke in the most elevating and inspir.
ing manner as follows (translated)
Blessed are the dead for they will be
in the presence of God" Eleven years
have passed since our comrades rest
ing here in God have lost their lives in
| the service to our Emperor and Sover-
eign. Now, eleven years later, reaches
us the news that the ground, where
German blood has been sacrificed, will
be German ground in the future
Therefore it is most becoming to us to-
day to remember the dead heroes. At
the time when Germans of Apia were
carrying the collins of the dead to their
last resting place, here ! was standing
at the very same spot as at present to
say the prayer in lieu of an evangeliC
parson and to solicit the benedictlon OF
the Almighty God for the dead braves
Now, when the joyful news about Sa-
moa has reached us, fate favors me
again to stand at these graves and to
pray to the Lord that He may lead
kindly and benevolently the fate of our
dear Fatherland. ] was hard fight
in which our brothers were sacrificing
their lifes blood In landing behind
Matautau the crew of the "Olga" were
fired at by the enemy at dark of night
Bravely advanced our men to carry
out their order to join the landed crews
of the adler" and the "Eber." Amidst
continuous fighting all round the dead
and wounded had to be carried the long
way to the Vailele plantation, not to
leave them in the hands OF the enemy.
At this plantation | landed with my
crews as First officer of S. NJ. 5.
"Eber." The officers OF the "Olga'
were dead or wounded. A German en-
ployee of the German firm, Mr.. Haid-
len, who is present amongst us also to-
day, had taken the command of the
firing tiraillbeurs, the rifle of a shot
sailor in his hand. Pride filled my
heart to see how our men were fighting.
There was discipline, there was war
skill and shrewdness. but no giving in,
no getting weak nobody thought of his
own person, everybody Offering joyfully
his life and blood. AS soon as the
landed crew of the adler" appeared
on the battle field, the enemy retired
decidedly in the bush. The fight had
cost us sixteen dead and thirty-eight
wounded, but we had shown the enemy
how Germans are used to fight and
even today the Samoans talk with ter
ror of the German way OF fighting and
of German bravery. Here lie resting
forever our brave comrades, men
whose hearts We're filled with love for
the Fatherland and confidence in God.
When the deadly wounded sailor Zit-
IKE of s. NJ. S. "Eber" saw his end APP
preaching, he folded the hands and
prayed: God Almighty in Thy hands
| commit my soul" These were his
last words. The German Navy will
always remember the dead comrades
and the Fatherland will never forget
their deeds. Let us follow them in the
fear of God and in the faithfulness to
the Emperor. In humble solicitation
let MS pray to God, our Lord, that He
may give MS strength and to let us die,
when the Fatherland calls, like as our
brave brothers died: Faithful to our
Emperor, faithful to God,
Then, after all the wreaths, palms
and flowers were laid down at the
monument and on the graves around,
the sailors presenting arms and the
choral "Jesu, meme Zuverslcht" being
sung, and benedlction having been pro-
nounced, Captain Emsmann took the