Item of Interest April 6, 1899 Issue

Items of Interest

with contributions from Otis

It is reported that the troubles growing out of the election of a king of Samoa have taken a more serious turn, and resulted in the bombardment of native villages along the shore by the United States cruiser Philadelphia, Admiral Albert Kautz commanding, and the British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist.

As the provisional government continued to defy the treaty after the arrival of the Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz, after consulting with the various consuls and senior naval officers, issued a proclamation calling upon Mataafa and his chiefs to return to their homes.

The German consul issued a proclamation upholding the provisional government, and as a result of this the Mataafans assembled in large force and hemmed in the town. An ultimatum was sent ordering them to evacuate and threatening to bombard the town in case of a refusal. This was ignored and the rebels commenced an attack in the direction of the United States and British consulates half an hour before the time fixed for the bombardment. Much anxiety is felt in Washington as to the part the Germans took in the affair, if any.

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