The record-union., 1893-08-05
Situation.

Correspondence Of tine Associated Press.l
APIA Samoa, July 19.-The long g-pre-
dicted war in Samoa has been COM
menced and is finished, the intervention
Of the three Powers at a critical moment
putting decisive end to the trouble.
Practically the first outbreak of the
hostilities took place on July 7th, when
the royal forces started their march on
Malie, Mataaia's camp, and made a de-
cisive move by capturing an outpost and
disarming the men. The outpost in ques-
zion was situated at Sainser, some three
Or four miles from Apia, and as it only
consisted of four fighting men it offered
out little resistance. No violence was
offered to the soldiers of Mataafa. They
we're even set at liberty after their guns
and axes had been taken from them. But
It was next day the war actually begun
and the first blood was shed; it was on
saturday, July Sth, that the first savage
and sanguinary encounter took place, re-
sulting in heavy losses on both sides, the
killing of many and the wounding OF
more.
The preparations made by King Malie-
loa Laupepa were astonishingly complete,
IS it was thought that neither he nor his
General had taken any active measures,
but had simply contented themselves
with tina inerminable speechifying so
dear to every Samoan and apparently SO
Indispensable preliminary to every i'm
portant act. Before a single step was
taken in the direction of Malie the whole
plan of attack had been arranged, plan
which had accident not prevented its
being carried out, must have resulted in
the complete eXtirpation of Mataafa's
forces.
In the first place Malietoa and his
chiefs had become utterly impatient OF
what they considered the Indifference of
the three Powers, and had determined to
take the matter into their own hands.
The position of affairs was critical, the
welfare of the country demanded the set
tlement of existing difficulties and the
Powers would do nothing. Large sec
tions of the natives refused to pay their
taxes upon the ground that until the
trouble at Male was put down they could
not regard the existing Government as
A'NeNoAbf W Li4ANf VI SOAloes dIl Aldbddid ) IOl-
lowers were on the list of defaulters.
Thus the country was approaching tinan-
c.al ruin, and, therefore, for pecuniary as
well as for even graver reasons the war
was inevitable.
Everything was ready week or so be-
fore start was made, operations being
delayed at the request of the Consuls.
II f.nEa
their Governments by the mail steamer
Alameda on the 7th inst, and the Govern
ment obligiugly postponed proceeding
against the enemy until after the arrival
of the steamer.
On the morning of the 8th the Consuls
met the King and Faipule Government,
but had to admit that no instructions had
been received, and that they could not ad-
vance any reason for further delay. The
Faipule asked what the Powers would ex-
pect them to do if Mataafa took refuge in
white mans house.
The Consuls replied that if the white
man in question was one of their ma
tionals' the Samoans must not fire into
the house; if they surrounded it and COM
municated with the Consuls, Mataafa, if
there, would be speedily got out. They
added, however, that if the white man
was other than American, British or Ger
man, they would have no right to inter-
tere. This saving clause is supposed to
have been specially meant to apply to the
French missionaries, who are looked
upon as strong sympathisers with Ma
taafa.
The advances upon Malie had already
begun. One section of the army, the one
which took the outpost, had been thrown
out into the bush with orders to spread
round and connect with another section
below Malie. When time had been al
lowed to execute this strategic movement
4 third section was to march directly
along the beach and roads on to the Ma
taatites, an armed fleet of some fifteen
boats accompanying them and sailing
close in shore. Thus Mataafa was to have
been completely hemmed in, and the
eonverging circle of his assailants was
expected to easily accomplish his utter
defeat.
An accident spoiled the whole plan; the
unintentional discharge of a gun pre-
cipitated matters, and brought the two
lorces into conflict before it was intended
that the fighting should commence. AT
"a plantation named Vaitele, belonging to
the German firm, the followers of Malie-
toa and the adherents of Mataafa met.
Both lines extended from the ocean beach
some three or four miles into the bush.
When they saw each other they did not
open fire at once; they followed Samoan
custom-they rested; had kara and ex-
changed observations.
Close to the homestead on the station i;
a cattleyard surrounded by a stone wall,
and in that cattleyard a large detachment
Of Mataata's men were stationed. Some
of them sung out TO the enemy lmmedi-
ately facing them: Come on; we arr
waiting for you" The reply was: VERY
we'll; you will be dead this day"
But even then war did not begin. TIVE
or three men on Mataafa's side recog
nized friends in the opposing ranks anC
called to them in friendly greeting. Cor
dial handshakes were INDUCED in ant
kara exchanged, and, indeed, it seemed
As if the most friendly relations wer,
about 10 be re-esIabled. One ferociou
old warrior-Patu, lhe hero of many war
like stories-apparently became exasper
ated at this undue familiarity and un
seasonable amity. With big stick h
began whaling his men, with the objec
of driving them back into their ranks
and when a chief on the other side began
to diplomatically interrogate him as L
what the war was all about. his rud
and impolite answer was, shut you
mouth ~
While thus engaged bringing the me-