The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-01-17
THE SAMOAN WAR.

[ Account of a Battle from n Hawaiian
Eyewftness-PIan to Capture AIata-
Afa-Record OF the sIaughter-List OF
Insurgent Victories - Tutuila to be
Attacked.
Below appears translation OF letter
published in the Pae Alma Hawaii on the
recent fight between the Germans and
the Samoans. The writer is Hiram Ka-
umialii, an intelligent and trustworthy
Hawaiian who was attached 10 Mr.. J. E.
Bush's Embassy and who has recently
returned to Samoa.
AP1A, January l, 1889.
To the Hawaii Pae Alma Il send you
an account OF the battle at Samoa, as
follows:
On the 18th OF December, 1855, it was
heard that plot had been formed by the
Germans, as the King MalietOa (Mata-
ala was resting quietly IN ease, 10 seize
and carry him of, as they did the former
Malietoa who was seized and carried Oft
a prisoner. When this plot was heard
OF, the warriors of Malietoa were very
watchful while they stood guard. Early
in the morning the boats OF the German
ships of war were seen moving along the
shore, the soldiers of MalietOa being on
the main land mauka. As the boats
came close TO shore at Mataefagateie the
people called out - Who is there ?"
There was no answer, the only audible
reply was the cracking OF shots from re-
volvers, and a certain chief from SalOloga
of Savaii named Sua was hit, and imme
diate!y the battle began at six in the
morning. and continued until nine
o'clock, when it ceased. And then the
bodies of the dead and wounded were
seen scattered about on the shore.
Following are the losses on both sides:
On Malietoa's side seven were killed and
thirty-one wounded during the principal
battle After this fight the German spy
glasses were directed on shore and eight
Samoans were seen roasting chickens.
A shell was Immediately fired among
these people as they were sitting about,
and when it burst it killed seven and one
escaped. Total killed on MalietOa's side,
fourteen.
On the German side twenty-one were
killed. Among these, six had their
heads cut off and their bodies buried
separately. 1 saw two heads floating
about in the surf of Fagalii and some feet
were being eaten by fishes. The num-
Der of those wounded was forty-eght.
and it is said all will die, except perhaps
three or four.
Tamasese did not come out, the path
on which he was expected was INSTRUCTED
and they all became afraid.
The Germans fired the Samoan houses.
It is said that Tamasese and the soldiers
from the German war vessels are about
to make an attack. For this reason Ma
lietoa has moved his camp to a place
mauka of the town Of Apia, about a mile
from it.
The German foreigners are very much
frightened these days and are rushing
about hither and thither. 1t is now be-
ing said that the German war ships are
going to Tutuila to shell the houses, and
when that is done they are going over to
Savaii to burn it. The American war
power is very strong, and if the British
was like it, this war in Samoa would
soon cease.
Malietoa has sent 100 soldiers to keep
the peace on the lands owned by Ger
mans, to prevent mischief by the natives
in taking breadfruits, cocoanuts, etc. All
the laborers of the labor gangs of the
Germans have run off into the bush, and
some OF them are in Malietoa's forts.
These are the victorious battles OF Ma
lietoa-the battles OF Matautu, Laulii,
Talofata, Lotuanunu, Fagalii and Fele-
ula. The principal occupation of the
Tutuila people now is building forts.