FROM A GERMAN POINT OF VIEW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 25

FROM A GERMAN POINT OF VIEW.

We give the following extracts from a letter received by a German resident from a German planter in Samoa: — The troubles in Samoa have at last reached a stage which is beyond the pale of humanity and oivilisation. y J?or the kist sjx days the American flagship Philadelphia and the British cruisers have been bombarding the Mataafa people and the neighbourhood of Apia; wherever the Mataafa people were supposed to be, there bombs were sent. Sailors have been landed, and the American and English consulates and the Beach road of the town of Apia were occupied. Small encounters have taken place, and a few brave sailors have lost their lives. It is quite certain that several of them were killed by mistake by their own comrades, as officers and men were decidedly overworked. The German residents were treated with great harshness; no notice was "sent to them 'of the bombardment. The German consul never got any official notice at all, and the captain of' the German man-of-war Falke only received the notice through an officer of the Philadelphia a quarter of an hour after firing had begun. The German inhabitants only knew of the bombardment when the bombs were bursting about them. In Vailele, one of the D.H.P.G. plantations, six bombs burst about Hie house ; one went Tight through the roof of the verandah, where Mr Tiedmann, the manager, had just been standing. The same afternoon three bombs were sent very near the French mission. Fortunately, providence protected the houses, which were full of native women and children. On the 16th a bomb fired by the Philadelphia burst too soon, and a piece weighing 121b crashed into the German consulate, between the verandah and the dining room, fortunately only making havoc amongst the china and glassware of the consul. A part of the town the white inhabitants were requested to leave, and on the 18th this part was occupied by English and American 6ailors, with about 100 Samoans — T&nu people. They occupied the house of a French resident, and robbed his store, but did not find any Mataafa people there. Many people are not allowed to go to their houses, and are at night on board the men-of-war and in boats. A sensible man would think that, considering all this bluster, there would be the most important matters at stake. What is it all about? The Samoans elected by a five-sixths majority Malaafa. — the wise, intelligent, Rnd highly-experienced chief, as King; a small minority decided to take the eighteen-year- • old son of Malietoa Laupepa, a boy who is still at school, as their King, and Mr Chief Justice Chambers, under the influence of the London Mission and Mr Maxse, confirmed the same. Mataafa protested by force. These people have not got so far as to send diplomatic notes to each other, and the small Tanu party had to fly. The consuls recognised the fact that Mataafa had the power over the Samoan people, and they issued, on January 4, a proclamation in which they recognised that the Provisional Government should consist of Mataafa and 13 of his most important chiefs. Dr Roffel, the President of the Municipality, was to be executive officer of this Government. This Provisional Government was to exist only till an understanding between the Treaty Powers could be got. If Mr Maxse, the British consul, would have waited quietly, matters would have been settled, as the Provisional Government was found to be quite satisfactory. Peace and order reigned, and all reports to the contrary are •without foundation. Trade was beginning to revive, and only Mr Maxse and Captain Slurdee Eeemed to consider matters dangerous. On March 6 the United States corvette Philadelphia, Admiral Knutz, arrived, and with his arrival the fate of the Provisional Government was sealed. The admiral, in spite of being a gentleman of mature years, did not consider it worth his while to seek information from all parties with regard to matters in Samoa. He only got his information from one side — that is, the British consul and his friends. No German was asked, in spite of their having the largest interest in Samoa. Many of these German gentlemen have resided the greater part of their lives in Samoa, and understand the native character much better than gentlemen wko have come there to represent foreign Powers for a few years only. The German consul-general was quite ignored, although he has been for several years in the country. The admiral •considered himself evidently as a kind of . executor, and issued a proclamation on the 12th, in which he threatened Mataafa and the 13 chiefs with his guns unless they left Mulinuu In the Samoan text of the proclamation issued it was stated that the three consuls were united, and the German consul" was obliged to issue a counter proclamation, in which he "put this position right. The attempt to try and arrange things pacifically was from the beginning considered unnecessary. The Tanu -people were armed to fight their brotheri. It is difficult to say what the result will be, and it is a great pity that a kindly, good-natured people like the Samoans should be thus driven •to death.

As showing how the militarj spirit pervades our citizen soldiers we (Taieri Advocate) may mention that a considerable number of the East Taieri Rifles have made a request to Captain Carncross that their services may be offered for service at Samoa. In the face of recent news it is not likely that the services of any New Zealand Volunteers will be accepted.