Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
SAMOANS= GRATIFIED
PLEASED w1rH aREzrInes FROM
THE PRESIDENT.
Chiefs Manifested Their Loyalty to the
Governments in Their Adj
dresses.

/ A budget Of news from the distant. Island
of Tutuiia has come to the Navy Depart
ment from Lieutenant Commander Minett,
temporarily in chkfge fof the naval station,
and bringing, the history Of events down to
the end of January The officer gives full
ac.+f ~ Of he ceremonies connected with
. the presentation of the greetings and pres
t . I'm the President Of the United
States to the chiefs and people of Tutuila
and the sister Island Of Aunuu January 10.
There was great gathering Of natives at
the customs house and reading Of adj
dresses by the secretary Of native affairs.
The Presidents greeting was read by En-
sign Bloch of the Wheeling, which vessel
fired a salute Of twenty-one guns and land
ed battalion A pretty feature of the oc-
casfon was the presentation of set Of col
ors to the fitaftas or native constabulary.
Addresses Of the Chiefs.
Some of the native addresses were curious
and interesting, and all breathed the spirit
Of loyalty to the United States and the flag.
Alapa, on behalf Of the western district
of Tutula, said: 1t.-.
your excellency. the commandant, rep
resentfng the President Of the United States
of America; to you, the secretary of native
affairs, and to the officers of the govern
ment assembled here today, greeting.
we are all gratif1ed today. We had
doubts about the government at first; we
were wallowing in the mud, but now we are
on dry land.
Previously Samoans carried arms and
ammunition; they lost much money in pur-
chasing them, but now, thanks, the arms
have been surrendered to the government,
which has paid for them, and there is
no further need for guns, because a strong
government gives us peace"
Manga district governor of the eastern
district, said:
1.-The flag of the United States is now our
flag. 1t has been given to our f1tafltas (sol-
diers) today. and we will take care Of 1t
and respect it."
Relations With Gov. Solf.
Commander Minett reports that he took
aboard the Wheeling DR.. Solf, the imperial
governor of German Samoa, who came to
Page Page from New Zealand on a mer-
chant steamer. The American officers en-
tertained the German governor and his
staff handsomely, one of the features Of the
entertainment being native ''Taalolo,' a
beautiful and dignif1ed ceremony. On the
7th the Wheeling conveyed the German
governor and his staff to Apia where. DR..
Solf returned in kind the courtesies ex-
tended him by the Americans. The lieuten-
ant commander spoke especially of the cor
d1alfty and harmony existing between the
moa. 1t appears that he has reached an
agreement with Governor Solf to discour-
age, in the interest of good government,
the German Island Of Upolu, the same be-
Ing extended visiting parties between the
January IA fifteen of the crew of the
Wheeling were poisoned by eating fish
caught over the ships side. While no cases
have proved fatal, some half dozen at date
of report. January 20, were only slowly re.
covering from the effects in the enervating
climate, and one ease was making very
slow progress tt.