There were two ways of escaping this dilemma: one was to withdraw the warriors; the other, by some hocus-pocus, to abrogate the neutrality.

And the second had subsidiary advantages: it would restore the taxes of the richest district in the islands to the Samoan king; and it would enable them to substitute over the royal seat the flag of Germany for the new flag of Tamasese.

It is true (and it was the subject of much remark) that these two could hardly be distinguished by the naked eye; but their effects were different.

To seat the puppet king on German land and under German colours, so that any rebellion was constructive war on Germany, was a trick apparently invented by Becker, and which we shall find was repeated and persevered in till the end.
Otto Martin was at this time magistrate in the municipality.

The post was held in turn by the three nationalities; Martin had served far beyond his term, and should have been succeeded months before by an American.