(German Consulate, Apia, 23rd August, 1887.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1887, Page 2

(German Consulate, Apia, 23rd August, 1887.

To His Majk-'ta Mu.iltoa, thk Kixcj at AI'EEJA. Your Majesty, — I am commanded by the Government of Geunany to mfoim you as follows : — First : That your people attacked German people on the evening of the day celebiating the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, the 22nd day of March ot the present 3e.11. Thies action lias caused cjreat oflence and much distress. of mind to the Empctor and all the Gcimin ]>eople. I now inform \ou to beuonic on friendly term- with the C!o\ eminent of G-ei-many in this v>i^e. You will be quick to punish the above ofleudeis, and do to at once. You will also pay the sum of $1000 sto those v> ho weie wounded and youaretomf.ke the most abject apology (to Germany). 2nd. From one year to anotlier year in the past, your people have stolen animaJtand pioduce from plantation^ belonging to Germans and have injuied their lands. For four years they have continued this abuse of their lands to the extent of moie than §3,000 each year. I now info tin you that you are to pay quickly for all thie abuse by your people. (3) For many years past your judges have been unable by themselves to protect German? (among you). and this is the reason your people have been abusing the Germans. I now tell yo*a that it> is highly necessary that the Government should be more severe in their trials and judgments, in order that they may be able to protect (-lei mans iv the future. It is my opinion that there is nothing just or correct in Samoa in all the xiays that you may ha\e the rule, or while you are at. the hea lot the Government, I send you this let tar the morning of the present day. I shall be at Afega on the morning of to-moirow (Wednesday), the 24th August, at II o'clock- I want to hear from you your reply. May you live, (Signed) Bp:ckkk, German Consul. Malietoa's reply to this demand was that the time allowed was not sufficient, and he asked that he be granted until the 27th so that he could consult; his chiefs in reference to the matter. The Geiman reply to this was a declaration of war at 8 o'clock this morning the 24th, when the German Commodore landed a force of 250 men from -the Bismarck, 150 each from the Olga, Carola and Sophie — in all 700 men. and took possession of the Samoan Government House. They broke into the mission house of the London Missionary Society and several other houses. In one of these houses the proprietor was lying dangerously ill. They made him get up and turned him and his wife and family into the road. Ifc was. only when the local doctor informed them that they were endangering ithe man's life that they allowed him to rctturn. It, is eaid some of the Germans entered the house of an American citizen, .©ad, after ransacking everything in the ■JiQuse demanded the key of the store. There was only a lady present. On h<er informing them that she knew nothing about the&ey, she won roughly threatened with viole&ice if she did not give it up. Of oourse all business was entirely suspendcxjl and no persons were allowed to pase either way. Both the English and German Consuls were grossly insulted %f the guards and officers in charge. I my.«elt having some business to transact with the British Consul asked permission to pass which was refused by the officer in charge. On my attempting to go through the lines, the guards loaded their rifles and told me in good English jbJlAfc they would fire if 1 persisted in trying to get through. Having gained my object, viz., to be stopped by force, I retired. The next move was to pull down the flag and hoist the German flag in its place. In reply to the protest of the American and Briti&h Consuls the Commodore assured them that annexation was not intended — simply the occupation of the Government House until the trouble was ended. Afterwards a force of about 400 men with fixed bayonets headed by the band marched through town and returned to Government House when the majority of them were sent

back to their ships leaving guard and patrol j parties on shore. As 1 write these are j parading "P and down the streets jostling | and insulting all Snmoans and Englishmen or Americans who happen to be about.

The English Influence lor Peace. A rumour having reached town to the effect that the Malietoa party were preparing to attack the Tamasese.(or rebel) party, several of the leading English resi dents proceeded to Afegu to prevent fighting, if pobsiblo. Fortunately, their advice prevailed, and Malietoa and his men retreated to the mountains, but only jufct in time, us one of the German gunboats went down in the afternoon to arrest Malietoa.

An Amusing Incident. Needless to say, the Germans are very bumptious. From their manner and the quantity of lager bet 1; they are consuming- any one who did' not know would think they had fought and won another Sedan. There have been several rather laughable iiK'iclcnlb to-day. One bellicose Amoiican who was going into his own house, w Inch the German "Araiy' 1 had previously fceaiehcd during In% absence in the hope of iinding some or Malietoa's people, _ was stopped by the guard. He however insisted on going into hib ov/n house, and the officer in charge still resisting, ke gave him (the olHeei ) a real John L. Sullivan blow which rather upset his pompous* dignity. A big (Jorman lushed out of the tanks and struck the American, and as the others came at him A\ith fixed bayonets, he, thinking disci ctkm the better pait <<t \alour, letreatcd with the honoms oi war. The next to be stopped was a white lady, the wife of one of the school teachers huie. Although the guard tiled to pi event her by pie scnting bayonets, she insisted, and matched boldly" through and back again, and was very pioud other achievement. The labt thing- the Gcimans weic "-cum taking after looting the houses of tie S'anioant. weio two baskets of empty beer bottle which they found in the tear ot (Ua eminent Hou&o. i ha\o obtained copie> oi all the proclamu tions which 1 enclose.

Later. August 25th. The Carola has just returned with the rebel chief Tama.se.-e on boaid. Immediately on anival he was saluted by the Commodore's .ship as King of Samoa. He wab afterwards received on boatd the Flagship, am * at noon accompanied by the Commodoie, captains and officers of the othci voxels proceeded to Mulinuu Point (the former seat of Malietoa's Government, and which was illegally taken by the German Governmeno on a former occasion), when he was there installed a^ King, and he, BiMuuiclc, again Hied a loyal s-alutc. Tainasese's flag is a. large v. hits Hag with a black no-s, the upper coiner red with a white star in the centre. At a pjioit distance it would leadily be mistaken for the Imperial flag ot Germany. Thifa flag ha.- 1 been hoisted on Muhnun roint,and o\er Malietoa'b Go\emmentHojhC. It is> to be hoped the Biiti^i Go\ eminent will at once take action as neither the books nor piopeity ot British subjects ;>ie safe. Armed parties are scouring the countiy in all direction?. There mo about 700 of the rebel paity in town, and as they aie becoming supplied, with arms, ammunition and liquor by the Germans

A Massacre is Feared. unler<s steps are taken to prevent it. The English and Amercian residents here aie so impressed with the giavity of the situation, that they have chaiteied Messrs McAithur and Co. "t> schooner Lily at a cost of ljOOOdol.- 1 . to carry infoimation to Fiji ; uheie it is hoped a man-o'-var Mill be found. The English and Ameiican consuls have just i.^sued a pioclamation which I enclose. Tliey also have refused to allow Tamasese or his credentials in their offices. It i.s fully expected that the LiJy will be followed to sea by one of the German men-.of-war, for the puipo?e of searching 1 her, as some ol the German officers admitted that they thought some of his friends would try to get Malietoa out of Samoa ; fbut we believe Mr Banbury, who is down here on important busmen for the linn oi McAithur and Co., has consented to accompany the dispatches to Fiji, to try if a peisonal interview with the Governor or Commodoie will be of any use. He has arranged to have some dummy dispatches at hand, in case .letters or correspondence aie demanded iroiu him. I omitted to mention that the Germans .were terribly *o!d the night before the de.claration of war. As soon as Kiug Malietoa leceived the letter of demand for 13,000 dollais he rode into town and consulted his .chiefs, and they again sought advice from some of their European friends. The letter .asking for delay was composed for them .and interpreted while the King remained in ,the house of one of his ehiols. At about II o'clock al night they became aware of ithc fact that he was

Watched by Four Half-Caste Spies. By a little strategy some of them were induced to go for a " nobbier," and while away his majesty with one or two friends walked down the town, right thiough a party .of German officers to his boat, and a»;ay Ko his settlement, about 12 miles distant. C4reat was the chagrin of the Geraaans as they came ashore in the morning aad found the bird had flown. They fcearehad the European houses very diligently taut uselessly. The following enclosures accompany o\w eorrespandents letter :—: — [translation.]