This was the first open breach between the commanders of the two war-ships. Leary based his action simply on the ground of humanity. One of his next conspicuous acts was to uphold the honor of the American flag. A body of Tamasese's men were encamped on Mulinuu Point, which the Germans claimed was under the jurisdiction of their government because Germans owned property there. Some of these natives saw an American flag floating at the top of a tree not far away. It was placed there by a half-breed who was an American citizen. It floated above his own property. The Tamasese men tore it down and into strips. Then they partly wrecked his house and threatened to kill him. Captain Leary soon heard of it, and he sent a letter to the Adler's Captain asking if the natives were under the protection of the German war-ship. He wanted to fix the responsibility for the insult to the American flag, because, as he said, he was "obliged to furnish necessary protection to Americans in jeopardy."
The German Captain made a non-committal reply, and the next day Leary repeated his request, saying that the question at issue was not one of diplomacy, but of military policy. He then showed his American spirit in these utterances:
"Under the shadow of the German fort at Mulinuu atrocities have been committed on American property, and the lives of the American owners have been threatened and jeopardized by armed natives, who appear to be sheltered by the naval force belonging to the vessel under your command. My official obligations do not permit me to negotiate with diplomatic or political representatives of foreign powers, but with military or naval commanders interested in official acts; and as the naval commander charged with the protection of American citizens, I again have the honor respectfully to request to be informed 'whether the armed natives at Mulinuu Point are under the protection of the Imperial Naval Guard belonging to the vessel under your command or are they not under that protection.'"
Leary received an evasive reply to this, and the relations between the two commanders became more strained. Leary did not stop with this. He sent a letter to Tamasese demanding restitution. The Germans, who had control of the local post-office, would not forward the letter, and later Leary sent another, in which he said:
"I have the honor to inform your Highness that the articles forcibly taken from the house of Mr. Scanlan by your people have not yet been returned, and that they must be restored to Mr. Scanlan without unnecessary delay, for which purpose I shall wait until sunset, Wednesday the 14th, and if it be not reported to me by that time that my demand has been complied with, I shall be at liberty to take such action as will in future enforce a wholesome respect for the American flag and the laws and property under its protection.
"A red flag hoisted at the foremast of an American war-vessel simultaneously with the discharge of a blank charge will be the signal for you to remove from your fort and vicinity to a place of safety all women, children, sick, and wounded, for which purpose a liberal time will be allowed before resorting to more serious measures."
No second notice was required from Leary. Tamasese restored the property to Mr. Scanlan, including the American flag, which floated secure from insult on his property afterward.