Samoan Affairs,

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 11356, 22 January 1889, Page 2

Samoan Affairs,

(By Electric Tolegroph— Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) ' San Francisco, January 19. News has reached this city that Germau. aailors at Samoa burned several American, flags; and* imprisoned a number of American subjects. It is also stated that a boat's crew belonging to a German warship fired on a Captain Grant, of a British man-of-war. J ■• (Received January 18, 10.30 p.m.) Washington, January 21, Secretary Bayard has been informed that the Amerioan prisoners at Samoa have been realeaßed. He thinks the situation has been exaggerated, and that it will turn out that there has been no infringement of international rights. (Per United Press Asßoci»tioi.) Auckland, January 21. The gunboat Eber reports a destructive fire at Apia on January 9th, Nine large houaos, residences and stores of Europeans, and fifteen smaller ones were destroyed. The men-of-war sent parties ashore, but they could do but little. The damage is unestimated. The cause was the upsetting [•.of a lamp; ■\£ The statements made in a cablegram illrom Washington, allegiug that the Ger'man warships had burned Amsrioin flagß, [/ifnprißOned American subjects, and fired at captain and lieutenant of a British fman-of-war, were real to an officer of the Eber to-day, and wore characterised as absolute untruths. The offioor pointed out that the Eber left .Samoa on the 12th, and that it was impossible that later news could ba received at San Francisco. He said that the offioera of tho various warships were the best of friende. The only boat they fired on was a Kanaka boat carrying ammunition, and she had no flag.