WAR IN SAMOA.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 384, 19 January 1899, Page 2

WAR IN SAMOA.

ABITRARY ACTION OF GERMANY. ENGLAND AND AMERICA TAKE UNITED ACTION. (BY TKLEGBAPII—PRESS ASSOCIATION). Auckland, Last Night. The Chief Justice of Samoa gave a decision on December 31st, in favour of Malietoa Tanu, son of the late King, and Tamasese as Vice-King. The German Consul-Uctieral, who had all through, shown sympathy with Mataafa, refused to recognise Malietoa, notwithstanding the Berlin Act, which says the Powers shall abide by the decision (f the Chief Justice, and he resolutely refused to co-operate with the British and American Consuls, and order the natives to disperse. It is believed had he done this, and had the Falke (German man-o'-war) assisted, there would have been uo fighting. Within an hour of his refusal a large number of Mataafa*s supporters arrived and surrounded Mulinui. Malietoa hastily mustered 2000 men, well armed, but badly supplied with ammunition, and despite all the efforts of the British and American Consuls, hostilities began. Five hundred of Malietoa's followers were induced to surrender and opened the main beach road to Mataafa's advance. The Kiog's men fought bravely, and Tamasese led one desperate charge against heavy odds, which drove back the enemy. Heavy rain fell at night, and Malictea's people became disheartened. They considered that they were greatly outnumbered and broke. Some of the chiefs fled, though Malietoa and Tamasese took refuge aboard the Porpoise. They were followed by numbers of their men, Borne of whom were wounded. They were treated on board the ship, and negotiations were entered into with Mataafa for their humane treatment, and all were sent ashore except Malietoa and Tamasese, who decided to remain aboard. Malietoa's casualties were 61 killed and wounded, Mataafa's 12. A number of foreign residents took refuge aboard the Porpoise, and owing to threats the Chief Justice and his family followed their example. Mataafa's followers proceeded to loot the native part of Apia. Nearly every Samoan residence was razed to the ground and cultivations uprooted. Malietoa's chiefs and a large number of his followers were exiled. The destruction was carried on in the adjacent villages and much hardship inflicted. But for the exertions of the English and American officials the slaughter would have beeu much greater and probably included some of the foreign residents. Subsequently all the Coinuls agreed to recognise Mataafa and his chiefs as a dc facto provisional Government, Dr. Raffel, the German Consul-General, agreeing to this. The Government have closed the Supreme Court and fastened the building up and declared the powers vested iu them. The other Consuls appealed to the captain of the Porpoise, and he landed a party of sailors who, despite Dr. Raffel's rcmoustrance, enabled the Judge to take his seat. Mataafa declines to take any part in this dispute, declaring that the quarrel was one for the foreign residents to settle among themselves, and theu withdrew all Samoan? from Apia. Dr. Raffel protested in the name of his Sovereign against the reopening of the Court.

Dissensions have already arisen among the provisional Government. The Samoans are complaining of Dr. Raffel's dictatorial conduct, and many influential men threaten to thwart Mataafa, and set up auother Government.

Chief Justice Chambers, who is an American, has written thanking the captain of the Porpoise, and says the Eng-lish-American alliance, is but another expression for human freedom.