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interfere himself； 〃if he went to the bottom for it … UND WENN SEIN
SCHIFF DABEI ZU GRUNDE GINGE。〃 Here is the style of opposition
which has the merit of being frank； not that of being agreeable。
Becker was annoying； Leary infuriating； there is no doubt that the
tempers in the German consulate were highly ulcerated； and if war
between the two countries did not follow； we must set down the
praise to the forbearance of the German navy。 This is not the last
time that I shall have to salute the merits of that service。
The defeat and death of Saifaleupolu and the burning of Manono had
thus passed off without the least advantage to Tamasese。 But he
still held the significant position of Mulinuu； and Brandeis was
strenuous to make it good。 The whole peninsula was surrounded with
a breastwork； across the isthmus it was six feet high and
strengthened with a ditch； and the beach was staked against
landing。 Weber's land claim … the same that now broods over the
village in the form of a signboard … then appeared in a more
military guise； the German flag was hoisted； and German sailors
manned the breastwork at the isthmus … 〃to protect German property〃
and its trifling parenthesis； the king of Samoa。 Much vigilance
reigned and； in the island fashion； much wild firing。 And in spite
of all； desertion was for a long time daily。 The detained high
chiefs would go to the beach on the pretext of a natural occasion；
plunge in the sea； and swimming across a broad； shallow bay of the
lagoon； join the rebels on the Faleula side。 Whole bodies of
warriors； sometimes hundreds strong； departed with their arms and
ammunition。 On the 7th of September； for instance； the day after
Leary's letter； Too and Mataia left with their contingents； and the
whole Aana people returned home in a body to hold a parliament。
Ten days later； it is true； a part of them returned to their duty；
but another part branched off by the way and carried their
services； and Tamasese's dear…bought guns； to Faleula。
On the 8th； there was a defection of a different kind； but yet
sensible。 The High Chief Seumanu had been still detained in
Mulinuu under anxious observation。 His people murmured at his
absence； threatened to 〃take away his name；〃 and had already
attempted a rescue。 The adventure was now taken in hand by his
wife Faatulia； a woman of much sense and spirit and a strong
partisan； and by her contrivance； Seumanu gave his guardians the
slip and rejoined his clan at Faleula。 This process of winnowing
was of course counterbalanced by another of recruitment。 But the
harshness of European and military rule had made Brandeis detested
and Tamasese unpopular with many； and the force on Mulinuu is
thought to have done little more than hold its own。 Mataafa
sympathisers set it down at about two or three thousand。 I have no
estimate from the other side； but Becker admits they were not
strong enough to keep the field in the open。
The political significance of Mulinuu was great； but in a military
sense the position had defects。 If it was difficult to carry； it
was easy to blockade： and to be hemmed in on that narrow finger of
land were an inglorious posture for the monarch of Samoa。 The
peninsula； besides； was scant of food and destitute of water。
Pressed by these considerations； Brandeis extended his lines till
he had occupied the whole foreshore of Apia bay and the opposite
point； Matautu。 His men were thus drawn out along some three
nautical miles of irregular beach； everywhere with their backs to
the sea； and without means of communication or mutual support
except by water。 The extension led to fresh sorrows。 The Tamasese
men quartered themselves in the houses of the absent men of the
Vaimaunga。 Disputes arose with English and Americans。 Leary
interposed in a loud voice of menace。 It was said the firm
profited by the confusion to buttress up imperfect land claims； I
am sure the other whites would not be far behind the firm。
Properties were fenced in； fences and houses were torn down；
scuffles ensued。 The German example at Mulinuu was followed with
laughable unanimity； wherever an Englishman or an American
conceived himself to have a claim； he set up the emblem of his
country； and the beach twinkled with the flags of nations。
All this； it will be observed； was going forward in that neutral
territory； sanctified by treaty against the presence of armed
Samoans。 The insurgents themselves looked on in wonder： on the
4th； trembling to transgress against the great Powers； they had
written for a delimitation of the ELEELE SA； and Becker； in
conversation with the British consul； replied that he recognised
none。 So long as Tamasese held the ground； this was expedient。
But suppose Tamasese worsted； it might prove awkward for the
stores； mills； and offices of a great German firm； thus bared of
shelter by the act of their own consul。
On the morning of the 9th September； just ten days after the death
of Saifaleupolu； Mataafa； under the name of Malietoa To'oa Mataafa；
was crowned king at Faleula。 On the 11th he wrote to the British
and American consuls： 〃Gentlemen； I write this letter to you two
very humbly and entreatingly； on account of this difficulty that
has come before me。 I desire to know from you two gentlemen the
truth where the boundaries of the neutral territory are。 You will
observe that I am now at Vaimoso ＇a step nearer the enemy＇； and I
have stopped here until I knew what you say regarding the neutral
territory。 I wish to know where I can go； and where the forbidden
ground is； for I do not wish to go on any neutral territory； or on
any foreigner's property。 I do not want to offend any of the great
Powers。 Another thing I would like。 Would it be possible for you
three consuls to make Tamasese remove from German property？ for I
am in awe of going on German land。〃 He must have received a reply
embodying Becker's renunciation of the principle； at once； for he
broke camp the same day； and marched eastward through the bush
behind Apia。
Brandeis； expecting attack； sought to improve his indefensible
position。 He reformed his centre by the simple expedient of
suppressing it。 Apia was evacuated。 The two flanks； Mulinuu and
Matautu； were still held and fortified； Mulinuu （as I have said） to
the isthmus； Matautu on a line from the bayside to the little river
Fuisa。 The centre was represented by the trajectory of a boat
across the bay from one flank to another； and was held （we may say）
by the German war…ship。 Mataafa decided （I am assured） to make a
feint on Matautu； induce Brandeis to deplete Mulinuu in support；
and then fall upon and carry that。 And there is no doubt in my
mind that such a plan was bruited abroad； for nothing but a belief
in it could explain the behaviour of Brandeis on the 12th。 That it
was seri