The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-31
FLAG RAISING At APIA
SAMOA Is NOW WNDER GERMAN
RULE.
An Imposing Ceremony in Which Ma
tiyes and Foreigners of all Nationdli-
ties Take Part-Mataafa's Speech

APIA, Samoa. March 1O.-The imper- |
al German flag was raised ana undls.
puted German rule over the ISLANDS Oh
ITpalu, Manono, Apolima and LaVii be-
gan on March /. The ceremony TOOK
place at Mulnuu, in front of the Gov
ernors House, between the Ala ROAD
and the sea. Fully 1000 native Saho-
ans, besides nearly all the foreign resi-
dents were present.
At 8 o'clock in the morning all the
vessels in the harbor run up their bunt-
ing, and almost every building Ill town
dish we'd their national colOrs. At 9
o'cI. y a detachment of blue Jackets
Ian, from the German man of war
Cor. oran and formed in front of the
German school. There the procession
formed The band from the Cormoran
led. followed by the blue Jackets, then
the members of the Concordia Club, the
children from the London Mission So
cietys school, the Marist Sisters school
and the Wesleyan schools. The school
children were all dressed in their best
and carried banners. They were head
ed by the Apia Brass Band in Khaki
uniforms. Then followed the SamOans
from all parts of the Islands, who had
come to witness the ceremony. The
procession then moved to Mulinuu.
The Flagstaff was in the open space in
front OIL lie NONeIIOI > IlOuSts llt
governor, DIR. Solf, Captain Emsmann
of S. NJ. S. Cormoron, with the German
Consul Grunow. His Lordship Bishop
BrOyer with Vice Consul Knipping,
Captain Tilley of the United States
transport Aberanda, Father Meyer,
Rev. J. w. Hills, Consul General Os-
born, United States H. B. NJ, Consul
Hamilton Hunter, with several officers,
took up their positions near the flag
staff.
In front of the Governors House the
schools and missions and the officials
of the municipality took up their posi-
tons. Between the flagstaff and the
sea were the band and the guard of
honor. Between the Ala Road and the
Flagstaff were the German and foreign
residents of Samoa, and on the other
side of the square were the Samoans.
The ceremony was begun by Cover
nor Solf, who, addressing the citizens
of Apia who were present and all the
inhabitants of Samoa, announced that
his Majesty the Emperor in the name
and on behalf of the German Empire
had been pleased to declare the islands
of UpOlu, Savii Manono and Apolima
German colony. The proclamation
itself was then read
Consul Grunow then presented the
flag to Governor Solf and Captain Ems
"The protection and rule of the Ger
man Empire having been now formally
proclaimed, l hand over the Imperial
flag, which hitherto, has waved above
the Imperial Consulate to the Imperial
Governor and to the commander of H. I.
NJ. S. Cormoran, designated by his I'm
peTial Majesty the Emperor, to hoist
the flag"
Replying, Governor Solf said:
"By order of his Majesty the Emper-
or, 1 now declare these islands to be
German territory, and the German flag,
which 1 now receive from the hands
of the Imperial German Acting Consul,
and which henceforth shall wave over
the Islands as token of German Sow
ereignty, l, assisted by the commander
of S. NJ. S. COrmoran, now solemnly
hoist
AS the band played Hell Kaiser
Die" the flag was hoisted, a royal sa-
lutte being fired as the flag broke from
! the peak.
His Lordship Bishop Broyer address
ed in Samoan the large number Of ma
tiVes, after which, assisted by Father
Meyer, he blessed the flag and gave
the benediction. The Rev. w. ). Hills
| chaplain and chairman of the London
Missionary Society in Samoa, then ad.
! dressed the natives and read prayers
| The children of the London Missionary
Society and Papauta School, with the
children from the German School, sing.
| ing to the band accompaniment led by
| Mr.. Damn.
! The addresses were made by Captain
! Emsmann of the Cormoran, and by
/ the High Chief Mataafa, after which
| the detachment of blue Jackets formed
and marched past, salutng the flag
| The governor then held a reception a.
his house, and later paid visit to the
| COrmoran and the Aberanda, a salute
being given in his honor
Tn the afternoon a picnic was giveI
! to the school children at Lindman, and
| in the evening the members of the Con,
cOrdia Club gave a concert.
The next dy, Friday, March 2, there
was a procession of the mission socie
ties and schools to Mulinuu to pay res
pect to the governor. The school chill
/ dren carried banners, and each wor,
the German colOrs pinned on the breast
Addresses were presented by the gov
ernor by the London Missionary Societ!
ord the Australasian Wesleyan Metho
st Missionary Society. In these ad
G sses assurances were given that tn
ss'onaries and native workers woul,
be found loyal to the German govern
ment. Good wishes and congratulation
were extended to the governor person
ally, and he was presented with boun,
volumes of the societies publications
showing their work in Samoa.
In the afternoon a Samoan feast wa
given to the natives, at which speeche
We're made by the chiefs, and an ad
dress presented to the governor.
In the evening there was a ball give
in Apia Public Hall by the citizens 4
honor Of the raising of the flag.
MATAAFA'S SPEECH.
Mataafa's speech at the flag raisin
was characteristic. 1t was in Samoan
of which the following is a transla
ton:
/ wish to declare my gladness an
great thankfulness on this very day
Thanks be to the God of heaven 70
his continual love to our Samoan Is
lands.
Great thanks to his Majesty the Ger
man Emperor in that he has declare
the taking care of Samoa under hi
rule.