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acceptance of this ultimatum would have been still in the nature of
a disgrace。 Brandeis's letter； written by a German； was hard to
swallow。 It would have been hard to accept that solution which
Knappe had so recently and so peremptorily refused to his brother
consuls。 And he was tempted； on the other hand； by recent changes。
There was no Pelly to support de Coetlogon； who might now be
disregarded。 Mullan； Leary's successor； even if he were not
precisely a Hand； was at least no Leary； and even if Mullan should
show fight； Knappe had now three ships and could defy or sink him
without danger。 Many small circumstances moved him in the same
direction。 The looting of German plantations continued； the whole
force of Mataafa was to a large extent subsisted from the crops of
Vailele； and armed men were to be seen openly plundering bananas；
bread…fruit； and cocoa…nuts under the walls of the plantation
building。 On the night of the 13th the consulate stable had been
broken into and a horse removed。 On the 16th there was a riot in
Apia between half…castes and sailors from the new ship OLGA； each
side claiming that the other was the worse of drink； both （for a
wager） justly。 The multiplication of flags and little neutral
territories had； besides； begun to irritate the Samoans。 The
protests of German settlers had been received uncivilly。 On the
16th the Mataafas had again sought to land in Saluafata bay； with
the manifest intention to attack the Tamaseses； or （in other words）
〃to trespass on German lands； covered； as your Excellency knows；
with flags。〃 I quote from his requisition to Fritze； December
17th。 Upon all these considerations； he goes on； it is necessary
to bring the fighting to an end。 Both parties are to be disarmed
and returned to their villages … Mataafa first。 And in case of any
attempt upon Apia； the roads thither are to be held by a strong
landing…party。 Mataafa was to be disarmed first； perhaps rightly
enough in his character of the last insurgent。 Then was to have
come the turn of Tamasese； but it does not appear the disarming
would have had the same import or have been gone about in the same
way。 Germany was bound to Tamasese。 No honest man would dream of
blaming Knappe because he sought to redeem his country's word。 The
path he chose was doubtless that of honour； so far as honour was
still left。 But it proved to be the road to ruin。
Fritze； ranking German officer； is understood to have opposed the
measure。 His attitude earned him at the time unpopularity among
his country…people on the spot； and should now redound to his
credit。 It is to be hoped he extended his opposition to some of
the details。 If it were possible to disarm Mataafa at all； it must
be done rather by prestige than force。 A party of blue…jackets
landed in Samoan bush； and expected to hold against Samoans a
multiplicity of forest paths； had their work cut out for them。 And
it was plain they should be landed in the light of day； with a
discouraging openness； and even with parade。 To sneak ashore by
night was to increase the danger of resistance and to minimise the
authority of the attack。 The thing was a bluff； and it is
impossible to bluff with stealth。 Yet this was what was tried。 A
landing…party was to leave the OLGA in Apia bay at two in the
morning； the landing was to be at four on two parts of the
foreshore of Vailele。 At eight they were to be joined by a second
landing…party from the EBER。 By nine the Olgas were to be on the
crest of Letongo Mountain； and the Ebers to be moving round the
promontory by the seaward paths； 〃with measures of precaution；〃
disarming all whom they encountered。 There was to be no firing
unless fired upon。 At the appointed hour （or perhaps later） on the
morning of the 19th； this unpromising business was put in hand； and
there moved off from the OLGA two boats with some fifty blue…
jackets between them； and a PRAAM or punt containing ninety； … the
boats and the whole expedition under the command of Captain…
Lieutenant Jaeckel； the praam under Lieutenant Spengler。 The men
had each forty rounds； one day's provisions； and their flasks
filled。
In the meanwhile； Mataafa sympathisers about Apia were on the
alert。 Knappe had informed the consuls that the ships were to put
to sea next day for the protection of German property； but the
Tamaseses had been less discreet。 〃To…morrow at the hour of
seven；〃 they had cried to their adversaries； 〃you will know of a
difficulty； and our guns shall be made good in broken bones。〃 An
accident had pointed expectation towards Apia。 The wife of Le
Mamea washed for the German ships … a perquisite； I suppose； for
her husband's unwilling fidelity。 She sent a man with linen on
board the ADLER； where he was surprised to see Le Mamea in person；
and to be himself ordered instantly on shore。 The news spread。 If
Mamea were brought down from Lotoanuu； others might have come at
the same time。 Tamasese himself and half his army might perhaps
lie concealed on board the German ships。 And a watch was
accordingly set and warriors collected along the line of the shore。
One detachment lay in some rifle…pits by the mouth of the Fuisa。
They were commanded by Seumanu； and with his party； probably as the
most contiguous to Apia； was the war…correspondent； John Klein。 Of
English birth； but naturalised American； this gentleman had been
for some time representing the NEW YORK WORLD in a very effective
manner； always in the front； living in the field with the Samoans；
and in all vicissitudes of weather； toiling to and fro with his
despatches。 His wisdom was perhaps not equal to his energy。 He
made himself conspicuous； going about armed to the teeth in a boat
under the stars and stripes； and on one occasion； when he supposed
himself fired upon by the Tamaseses； had the petulance to empty his
revolver in the direction of their camp。 By the light of the moon；
which was then nearly down； this party observed the OLGA'S two
boats and the praam； which they described as 〃almost sinking with
men；〃 the boats keeping well out towards the reef； the praam at the
moment apparently heading for the shore。 An extreme agitation
seems to have reigned in the rifle…pits。 What were the newcomers？
What was their errand？ Were they Germans or Tamaseses？ Had they a
mind to attack？ The praam was hailed in Samoan and did not answer。
It was proposed to fire upon her ere she drew near。 And at last；
whether on his own suggestion or that of Seumanu； Klein hailed her
in English； and in terms of unnecessary melodrama。 〃Do not try to
land here；〃 he cried。 〃If you do； your blood will be upon your
head。〃 Spengler； who had never the least intention to touch at the
Fuisa； put up the head of the praam to her true course and
continued to move up the lagoon with an offing of some seventy or