In August, 1888, Mataafa suddenly became aggressive and made an attack, though unsuccessful, upon Tamasese at Mulinuu, and then retired to marshal his strength for another assault. Instantly all the suppressed antipathies of the two parties in the islands rekindled, the Tamaseses rallied about the king at Mulinuu; Brandeis dug trenches in active preparation to meet the coming assaults. From neighboring islands the sympathizers of Mataafa came in their canoes to share in the threatened conflict. In Apia the price of arms and ammunition reached a fabulous figure, and could only then be bought by the natives upon a declaration showing on which side they were to be used.

To strike terror into the hearts of the "rebels," the German warship Adler proceeded to bombard native villages along the coast that were known to favor Mataafa. It was then that Commander Leary of the U. S. S. Adams addressed a letter to the German captain which was calculated to remove all doubt as to which side in the coming contest he and the American citizens in Apia had given their sympathies. He said: "The revolutionists had an armed force in the field, within a few miles of this harbor, when the vessels under your command transported the Tamasese troops to a neighboring island with the avowed intention of making war on the isolated homes of the women and children of the enemy. Being the only other representative of a naval power now present in this harbor, for the sake of humanity, I hereby respectfully and solemnly protest in the name of the United States of America, and of the civilized world in general, against the use of a national war vessel for services as were yesterday rendered by the German corvette Adler." This well-directed protest was followed by a series of thrusts on the part of Commander Leary that stung the German Captain's temper. The best of jokes may be pushed too far, and in this respect Commander Leary probably transgressed. His final offence, by inviting through inference or implication, the commander of the Adler to meet him in combat, in no way relieved the tension. Upon this particular occasion the German man-of-war had taken position to bombard a native village, and Leary

steamed in between him and the shore, announcing that if the German commander intended to carry out his purpose he would be obliged to fire through the Adams.

In September, 1888, Mataafa, having been crowned king by his own supporters, led another attack upon the government forces under Tamasese and Brandeis which were intrenched upon either side of Apia. The battle of Matautu (September 12) raged all day and well into the night, and was perhaps the greatest battle ever fought upon the islands. The amount of ammunition expended is said to have been something quite extraordinary, and "the noise deafening"; when the smoke cleared away the government forces were found to have been driven back into their stronghold of Mulinuu. Only about forty dead were left upon the field, no doubt a humiliating disappointment to both sides.

cans.

With American and English sympathy avowedly in favor of Mataafa and hostile to the Germans, social relations in Apia were rapidly reaching an uncomfortable stage. Those ordinary amenities that render endurable the association of men of opposing interests were cast aside. Opportunities came daily for the commission of unfriendly acts which served to inflame further the growing enmity of Germans and AmeriFor example; one Scanlon, an American half-cast, owned a house near Mulinuu which was raided by Tamasese men, more for the purpose of adding Scanlon's pigs to their rations than on account of any especial ill-feeling toward Scanlon himself. The matter came before Commander Leary, who welcomed an incident that furnished another excuse for an adventure. With military pomp and a show of force he occupied the Scanlon house and declared his intention of shelling Tamasese across the way. The Germans were greatly outraged by this "meddling" in Samoan affairs, but they nevertheless advised the king to shift his quarters. It was thus by American threats that Tamasese and his warriors were obliged to abandon their fortified position at Mulinuu and take to the bush. Then it may be said the point of war was almost reached between the supporters of

the two native factions, the Germans and Americans in Apia. So critical indeed had the situation become, that the various consulates were converted into veritable fortresses for the refuge of their citizens.

After a series of inconclusive skirmishes between the forces of Mataafa and Tamasese, Dr. Knappe, the German Consul (Becker had been recalled), decided upon a final stroke, to disarm and probably capture Mataafa. In the small hours of the morning of December 18, 1888, a force of 150 marines was silently landed from the German war vessel and was proceeding inland when suddenly the woods became alive with Mataafa warriors. The squad of bluejackets only retired after a desperate struggle, leaving 50 dead and wounded in the jungle. The following telegram reached Washington soon after : —

Three war ships undertaken to disarm Mataafa. Landed at night force to prevent retreat. Mataafa's men fired on and forced to fight. Germans routed. Twenty killed, thirty wounded. Germans swear vengeance. Shelling and burning indiscriminately regardless of American property. Protest unheeded. Natives exasperated. Foreigners' lives and property in greatest danger. Germans respect no neutral territory. Americans in boats flying. American flag seized in Apia harbor by armed. German boats, but released. Admiral with squadron necessary immediately.

The Mataafans were jubilant. They had made a great and valuable discovery, as had the Caribs of Porto Rico when they held a Spaniard under water to discover whether or not white men bore a charmed life.

If the relations between the Anglo-Saxons and Teutons in Apia had been bad before, they now became worse. Herr Knappe accused the American and English consuls of complicity in the massacre of German soldiers, and a volume of native testimony was adduced to prove the charge. Whatever might be the value of a native oath, it is certain that the English Consul, Mr. de Coetlogon, did not give a signal to the natives at the time of the landing of marines from the Adler,

and it is equally certain that the American Vice-Consul, Mr. Blacklock, did not set a trap for the luckless German blue-jackets. The infuriated Knappe, goaded to desperation by the miscarriage of his plans, determined upon immediate revenge, and he prepared for an active campaign against Mataafa. He began by proclaiming martial law over Apia, including Americans and English under its operation. They declined to heed the proclamation. Such were the social conditions in Apia at this trying period, that when the British Consul protested against German martial law over his subjects, Dr. Knappe replied: "I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency's agreeable communication of to-day. Since, on the ground of received instructions, martial law has been declared in Samoa, British subjects, as well as others, fall under its application. I warn you, therefore, to abstain from such a proclamation as you announce in your letter. It will be such a piece of business as shall make yourself answerable under martial law. Besides, your proclamation will be disregarded."

Accounts of the desperate condition of affairs in Apia needed none of the usual colorings of sensational journalism to excite the people of the United States. In its plain, unvarnished recital it was sufficient to create alarm; Germany had broken her pledge; the American flag had practically been fired upon. War with Germany was seriously discussed. The truth of the war rumors which spread over the country was apparently corroborated, both by the firm attitude of the government at Washington, and by the immediate reënforcement of the American fleet in Samoa.

In answer to Vice-Consul Blacklock's stirring cable, Admiral Kimberly was hurriedly sent to Apia. He arrived on the U. S. S. Trenton, in March (1889), and found a formidable array of warships anchored in the harbor, all cleared for action and awaiting developments. Upon this bellicose scene, a bolt, as from heaven, fell. The imagination could supply no more dramatic sequel to this gathering of warships. A hurricane (March 16) destroyed all the vessels in the harbor save one, the Calliope (English),

R

which, after a memorable battle against the elements, succeeded in safely steaming out to sea. In the common disaster, all belligerents forgot their quarrels and animosities; Mataafans hastened to the relief of German sailors, and Tamaseses heroically rescued Americans. The power of Germany and of the United States in Samoa was thus suddenly and utterly broken. The great storm cleansed and sweetened the torrid air of Apia. Seemingly, providence, according to its own methods, had undertaken to cure the Samoan distemper. Before this terrible catastrophe had arrived, however, the Samoan imbroglio had again fallen into the hands of the three powers for adjustment.

VII

It is pleasing to note a prevailing calmness of tone in the official correspondence between Washington and Berlin during this period (1887-89), relative to Samoa. It contrasts strongly with the feverish and hysterical temper of the communications between the consuls in Apia, and in letters to their home governments. Mr. Bayard and Mr. Blaine on the one hand, and Prince Bismarck on the other, were continually prodded by communications from Apia sounding many alarms and craving sanction for many deeds of doubtful propriety. The communications passing between these premiers indicate, almost without exception, a desire for moderation. Each hopes that the impetuosity of his excited officials in Samoa 'may be pardoned, in order that the questions at issue may amicably be settled. Between the lines of these formal despatches a trace of weariness may often be detected, which might render a fairly correct reading, despite the actual words used, to be, "They are at it again; will they never stop? Your men have done wrong; control them better, and I shall try to control mine;" and finally, "It is of no use; we must ourselves settle their difficulties, and over their heads, let us meet for the purpose."

In October, 1887, Mr. Bayard cabled to Berlin that the state of affairs in Samoa "is very distressing, and can only