Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-09-01
OUR SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Commander RILEY says IN. Natives Are
Well Satisfied.

Washington, Aug. 3l.-The navy de-
partment has received an interesting .
letter from Commander 3. +. nlley, 7
commanding the United States naval .
station at Tutuila. describing the prom
ising conditions IN the American section /
of the Samoan Islands and recountering
the impressive ceremonies attending the
unveiling u a monument 20 the Amer
lean and English dead who fell In tho
shore engagement there In July, 1899.
OF the conditions. Commander Tilley
says
IL am glad 10 report that evorthing
connected with the new government Is
progressing in most satisfactory man.
ner In all the islands The natives
show much interest in the new methods
Of government and they are striving TO
learn and 20 comply with my wishes.
The general condition Of the people
could not be more satisfactory. They
Are quiet everywhere and are improving
their roads, cleaning up their villages
and their surroundings and planting
their gardens and plantations Pros.
perity for the islands seems fully as.
sured
"The enrolment Of force Of samoans
for service In the islands has done away
with the necessity Of having an armed
force Of our own on shore. and will win
the natives 10 LOYALTY and allegiance TO
the government Of the United States.
"Dunngt the past month | have visited
! all parts Of the islands and have found
everything in very satisfactory state.
! Regarding the monument IN question,
Commander Tilley says the unveiling
took place at Mulinuu in Apia. on July
] 20. The officers and men Of the Phila.
dolphin. contributed literally for the
expense Of purchasing the memorial
stone and officers and men q several
British ships likewise contributed The
stone. which Is large and imposing
weighing 22 tons. was obtained at sgd
ney II was brought % Apia by II NJ
5. Pylades. commander of the Tupper.
and put IN place by the officers and men
, Of that ship The monument Is situated
!, In lot not far from the ocean, COM
= manding boaunful view The land
has been given In free totho British and
b United States governments. A hand
r some iron fence with stone foundation
}. surrounds the plot A part Of tho con.
r ditiou Is that the German government
z shall cause the prospect 20 be kept open
a 20 the sea. No building shall be erected
b between the lot and the ocean. The
r land Is given in lieu Of ground where
!. the bodies were originally inferred
Commander Tlley has sanctioned the
disinterment Of the bodies Of our men
Is and similar action was taken by Com
o mander Tupper The lot is not fal
y from the dwelling house ofthe govern
n OF. Commanders Tlley and Tupper both
IS requested Governor Solf. representing
the German government, 30 uuveil th'
n monument The governor made shor
address. then drew aside the American
J. and English flags disclosing the memo
o. rial stone to view. The governor an,
others brought numerous wreaihs o
10 flowers aud placed them ON the monu
a. ment Amongst these wreaths was on
from Mataafa with short note
Commander Tiley says;
II feel confident that IL will be graft
= flying 10 the department and % all tn
y friends ot the officers aud men 10 WHOM
this memorial is erected, TO know tina
" - every thing possible has been done {
y y show respect 20 their memory. The cere
= mouy was attended by all the Germal
" " officers in uniform aud by nearly ever
y resident Of ApiA. In his address befor,
:. the unveiling Governor Solf gave assur
~ ~ ances for his government that the m'
!, mortal would be guarded aud cared 10
w. perpetuAlly. The names Of Landsdal
and Monaghan head the list Of Amer
as can dead those OF Freeman and Long th
n. British, aud the simple inscriptio
n. ''iSilled in action, April, 1890" tells th
-, story Of their patriotic devotion 90 dutl