The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-05
AMERICAN SAMOA
AGAIN PEACEFUL,
Naval Investigating Board Settles
Bolshevik Difficulties.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. Amer
can Samoa, far out in the South Pa
cific, is settling down to equatorial
peacefulness. its bubble of commit
tee" government having burst after
several months of initiation, according
to mail advices received here from
Tutuila.
The U. S. S. Kansas, with Admiral
Charles F. Hughes, has left Tutuila
for Hilo. Hawaii, carrying two naval
officers who were adjudged response
BILE for instf1ling unrest among Sa-
means and encouraging formation of
an organization Of native chiefs to
supplant the rule Of the late Cover
nor Warrel ]. Terhune
Five months of turmoil ended on
November 30th, when Arthur A.
Greene. an American citizen, was de-
ported and left for Honolulu; Lieu
tenant Commander Greed H
Boucher courtmartialed and placed
under arrest on the battleship Kan
sas; Commander A. c. Kali, acting
governor. adjudged guilty of mis9i-
rected zeal and taken aboard the bat
tleship, and Captain Waldo Evans, a
new governor, installed and started
to restore the old-time harmony.
The tragedy of the affair was the
suicide of Commander Warren j.
Terhune. governor. against whom the
conspiracy was directed, and who
ended his life just before the start of
the inquiry which absolved him. Tri-
butte to his administration is paid
by the enlisted men of the naval sta
ton, who have presented a fund to
the widow to build memorial for
their unjustly accused commander.
Testimony of the court of inquiry
received here reveals the strange
course of affairs in the mid Pacific
group Of islands. Lieutenant Com
mander Boucher reached American
Samoa May 3rd After S5 days SER
vice, % of which were spent in sus-
pension for three offenses, he was de-
tached by Governor Terhune, on ap-
prevail from Washington and pro-
ceeded to Mare Island, California.
Boucher charges with the navy de-
partment against Governor Terhune
and officers, naval and civil, for the
islands administration. citing mala
administration, incompetence, mis-
appropriation of funds and abuse of
the natives.
Arthur A. Greene, arrived in Sa-
moa last April, Commander A C.
Kali arrived there in September. Both
were instrumental with Boucher in
pressing charges against Terhune.
Commander Kali, captain of the yard
under Terhune, sought to have the
medical officer OF the station declare
the governor insane. Kali attempted
10 send a wireless to the navy de-
partment that Governor Terhune was
insane, and a copy of this message
was found inthe room in which the
commander ended his life
Conditions in July revealed unrest
Of the natives, in frequent stone fights
with the sailors. This unrest, with
the charges by Boucher, and the coun-
ter charges by Terhune resulted In
the sending of the battleship Kansas
to Samoa with a board of inquiry I'M
der Admiral Hughes and Captain
Waldo Evans, the latter designated as
new governor
Two days before the arrival OF the
battleship, Nov Q, Governor Terhune
shot himself. Commander Kali,
assuming the position Of acting gov
ernor. started a sweeping change OF
administration, suspending the courts.
closing the medical institutions and
suspending medical officers.
Five days later the inquiry opened.
It proved all statements and charges
by Boucher and Kali without founda-
ton and indicated Boucher had sought
to become governor and name Greene