page 141

A Storm Centre at Apia.

In 1886, briefed by Mr Percy Macarthur. Mr. Rees went to Samoa. He won his case in which immensely valuable interests were at stake. But during the only ten days he ever spent in Apia he became the storm-centre of events of world-wide interest. Samoa was at that time under the joint protection of England, the United States and Germany. The last, however, asserted its dominance. The German flag had been flying for eighteen months instead of King Malietoa's, and when Mr. Rees reached Samoa the one topic of conversation was the presence of the German fleet, rumored to have papers of annexation.

A party of rebel natives were being feted and visited by Admiral and officers, the flagship's band playing ashore while Admiral Knorr dined with Tamasese the rebel leader. On the following Monday morning, said rumor, the rebels would come into Apia harbor, receive last instructions from the German ships, land, loot, sack and burn, and then the Admiral, in the name of law and order, would annex the group.