太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > a footnote to history >

第30节

a footnote to history-第30节

小说: a footnote to history 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




by them and pardoned by others; but it so chanced that the bullets 

flew about the ears of Captain Hand; and that commander is said to 

have been insatiable of apologies。  The affair; besides; had a 

deplorable effect on the inhabitants。  A black band (they saw) 

might protect them from the Mataafas; not from undiscriminating 

shots。  Panic ensued。  The war…ships were open to receive the 

fugitives; and the gentlemen who had made merry over Fangalii were 

seen to thrust each other from the wharves in their eagerness to 

flee Apia。  I willingly drop the curtain on the shameful picture。



Meanwhile; on the German side of the bay; a more manly spirit was 

exhibited in circumstances of alarming weakness。  The plantation 

managers and overseers had all retreated to Matafele; only one (I 

understand) remaining at his post。  The whole German colony was 

thus collected in one spot; and could count and wonder at its 

scanty numbers。  Knappe declares (to my surprise) that the warships 

could not spare him more than fifty men a day。  The great extension 

of the German quarter; he goes on; did not 〃allow a full occupation 

of the outer line〃; hence they had shrunk into the western end by 

the firm buildings; and the inhabitants were warned to fall back on 

this position; in the case of an alert。  So that he who had set 

forth; a day or so before; to disarm the Mataafas in the open 

field; now found his resources scarce adequate to garrison the 

buildings of the firm。  But Knappe seemed unteachable by fate。  It 

is probable he thought he had





〃Already waded in so deep;

Returning were as tedious as go o'er〃;





it is certain that he continued; on the scene of his defeat and in 

the midst of his weakness; to bluster and menace like a conqueror。  

Active war; which he lacked the means of attempting; was 

continually threatened。  On the 22nd he sought the aid of his 

brother consuls to maintain the neutral territory against Mataafa; 

and at the same time; as though meditating instant deeds of 

prowess; refused to be bound by it himself。  This singular 

proposition was of course refused:  Blacklock remarking that he had 

no fear of the natives; if these were let alone; de Coetlogon 

refusing in the circumstances to recognise any neutral territory at 

all。  In vain Knappe amended and baited his proposal with the offer 

of forty…eight or ninety…six hours' notice; according as his 

objective should be near or within the boundary of the ELEELE SA。  

It was rejected; and he learned that he must accept war with all 

its consequences … and not that which he desired … war with the 

immunities of peace。



This monstrous exigence illustrates the man's frame of mind。  It 

has been still further illuminated in the German white…book by 

printing alongside of his despatches those of the unimpassioned 

Fritze。  On January 8th the consulate was destroyed by fire。  

Knappe says it was the work of incendiaries; 〃without doubt〃; 

Fritze admits that 〃everything seems to show〃 it was an accident。  

〃Tamasese's people fit to bear arms;〃 writes Knappe; 〃are certainly 

for the moment equal to Mataafa's;〃 though restrained from battle 

by the lack of ammunition。  〃As for Tamasese;〃 says Fritze of the 

same date; 〃he is now but a phantom … DIENT ER NUR ALS GESPENST。  

His party; for practical purposes; is no longer large。  They 

pretend ammunition to be lacking; but what they lack most is good…

will。  Captain Brandeis; whose influence is now small; declares 

they can no longer sustain a serious engagement; and is himself in 

the intention of leaving Samoa by the LUBECK of the 5th February。〃  

And Knappe; in the same despatch; confutes himself and confirms the 

testimony of his naval colleague; by the admission that 〃the re…

establishment of Tamasese's government is; under present 

circumstances; not to be thought of。〃  Plainly; then; he was not so 

much seeking to deceive others; as he was himself possessed; and we 

must regard the whole series of his acts and despatches as the 

agitations of a fever。



The British steamer RICHMOND returned to Apia; January 15th。  On 

the last voyage she had brought the ammunition already so 

frequently referred to; as a matter of fact; she was again bringing 

contraband of war。  It is necessary to be explicit upon this; which 

served as spark to so great a flame of scandal。  Knappe was 

justified in interfering; he would have been worthy of all 

condemnation if he had neglected; in his posture of semi…

investment; a precaution so elementary; and the manner in which he 

set about attempting it was conciliatory and almost timid。  He 

applied to Captain Hand; and begged him to accept himself the duty 

of 〃controlling〃 the discharge of the RICHMOND'S cargo。  Hand was 

unable to move without his consul; and at night an armed boat from 

the Germans boarded; searched; and kept possession of; the 

suspected ship。  The next day; as by an after…thought; war and 

martial law were proclaimed for the Samoan Islands; the 

introduction of contraband of war forbidden; and ships and boats 

declared liable to search。  〃All support of the rebels will be 

punished by martial law;〃 continued the proclamation; 〃no matter to 

what nationality the person 'THATER' may belong。〃



Hand; it has been seen; declined to act in the matter of the 

RICHMOND without the concurrence of his consul; but I have found no 

evidence that either Hand or Knappe communicated with de Coetlogon; 

with whom they were both at daggers drawn。  First the seizure and 

next the proclamation seem to have burst on the English consul from 

a clear sky; and he wrote on the same day; throwing doubt on 

Knappe's authority to declare war。  Knappe replied on the 20th that 

the Imperial German Government had been at war as a matter of fact 

since December 19th; and that it was only for the convenience of 

the subjects of other states that he had been empowered to make a 

formal declaration。  〃From that moment;〃 he added; 〃martial law 

prevails in Samoa。〃  De Coetlogon instantly retorted; declining 

martial law for British subjects; and announcing a proclamation in 

that sense。  Instantly; again; came that astonishing document; 

Knappe's rejoinder; without pause; without reflection … the pens 

screeching on the paper; the messengers (you would think) running 

from consulate to consulate: 〃I have had the honour to receive your 

Excellency's 'HOCHWOHLGEBOREN' 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。〃  De 

Coetlogon of course issued his proclamation at once; Knappe 

retorted with another; and night closed on the first stage of this 

insane collision。  I hear the German consul was on this day 

prostrated with fever; charity at least must suppose him hardly 

answerable for his language。



Early on the 21st; Mr。 Mansfield Gallien; a passing traveller; was 

seized in his berth on board the RICHMOND; and carried; half…

dressed; on board a German war…ship。  His offence was; in the 

circumstances and after the proclamation; substantial。  He had gone 

the day before; in the spirit of a tourist to Mataafa's camp; had 

spoken with the king; and had even recommended him an appeal to Sir 

George Grey。  Fritze; I gather; had been long uneasy; this arrest 

on board a British ship fitted the measure。  Doubtless; as he had 

written long before; the consul alone was responsible 〃on the legal 

side〃; but the captain began to ask himself; 〃What next?〃 … 

telegraphed direct home for instructions; 〃Is arrest of foreigners 

on foreign vessels legal?〃 … and was ready; at a word from Captain 

Hand; to discharge his dangerous prisoner。  The word in question 

(so the story goes) was not without a kind of wit。  〃I wish you 

would set that man ashore;〃 Hand is reported to have said; 

indicating Gallien; 〃I wish you would set that man ashore; to save 

me the trouble。〃  The same day de Coetlogon published a 

proclamation requesting captains to submit to search for contraband 

of war。



On the 22nd the SAMOA TIMES AND SOUTH SEA ADVERTISER was suppressed 

by order of Fritze。  I have hitherto refrained from mentioning the 

single paper of our islands; that I might deal with it once for 

all。  It is of course a tiny sheet; but I have often had occasion 

to wonder at the ability of its articles; and almost always at the 

decency of its tone。  Officials may at times be a little roughly; 

and at times a little captiously; criticised; private persons are 

habitually respected; and there are many papers in England; and 

still more in the States

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的