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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； even of leading organs in chief cities；
that might envy； and would do well to imitate； the courtesy and
discretion of the SAMOA TIMES。 Yet the editor； Cusack； is only an
amateur in journalism； and a carpenter by trade。 His chief fault
is one perhaps inevitable in so small a place … that he seems a
little in the leading of a clique； but his interest in the public
weal is genuine and generous。 One man's meat is another man's
poison： Anglo…Saxons and Germans have been differently brought up。
To our galled experience the paper appears moderate； to their
untried sensations it seems violent。 We think a public man fair
game； we think it a part of his duty； and I am told he finds it a
part of his reward； to be continually canvassed by the press。 For
the Germans； on the other hand； an official wears a certain
sacredness； when he is called over the coals； they are shocked； and
（if the official be a German） feel that Germany itself has been
insulted。 The SAMOA TIMES had been long a mountain of offence。
Brandeis had imported from the colonies another printer of the name
of Jones； to deprive Cusack of the government printing。 German
sailors had come ashore one day； wild with offended patriotism； to
punish the editor with stripes； and the result was delightfully
amusing。 The champions asked for the English printer。 They were
shown the wrong man； and the blows intended for Cusack had hailed
on the shoulders of his rival Jones。 On the 12th； Cusack had
reprinted an article from a San Francisco paper； the Germans had
complained； and de Coetlogon； in a moment of weakness； had fined
the editor twenty pounds。 The judgment was afterwards reversed in
Fiji； but even at the time it had not satisfied the Germans。 And
so now； on the third day of martial law； the paper was suppressed。
Here we have another of these international obscurities。 To Fritze
the step seemed natural and obvious； for Anglo…Saxons it was a hand
laid upon the altar； and the month was scarce out before the voice
of Senator Frye announced to his colleagues that free speech had
been suppressed in Samoa。
Perhaps we must seek some similar explanation for Fritze's short…
lived code； published and withdrawn the next day； the 23rd。 Fritze
himself was in no humour for extremities。 He was much in the
position of a lieutenant who should perceive his captain urging the
ship upon the rocks。 It is plain he had lost all confidence in his
commanding officer 〃upon the legal side〃； and we find him writing
home with anxious candour。 He had understood that martial law
implied military possession； he was in military possession of
nothing but his ship； and shrewdly suspected that his martial
jurisdiction should be confined within the same limits。 〃As a
matter of fact；〃 he writes； 〃we do not occupy the territory； and
cannot give foreigners the necessary protection； because Mataafa
and his people