Morning journal and courier., 1893-08-05
PLOTTING I'm SAMOA.
but for the Accidental Discharge OF a
Gun Mataafa,s Forces Would Have
Been EXtermfnated.

But for the Accidental Discharge of a
Gun Mataafa,s Forces would Have
Been DIFFERENTIATED.
APIA, SAMOA, July 10, via San Fran
CISCO, Aug. War broke out between
Mslietoa's and Mataafa's forces, but con-
suls of the three powers, England, Ger
many and the United States, interviewed
and stopped the fighting. Mataafs and his
| chiefs have surrendered. Mstaafa's loss
was thirty killed and twenty wounded.
The first outbreak Of hostilities occurred
July 2, when the royal forces started their
march on Male, Matssfa's camp. They
captured an outpost and disarmed four
men in 1t who were afterward set at liberty.
Next day war actually began and first
blood was shed. Fifteen heads were
brought In triumph to the king. Aataafa's
forces were scattered. Malietoa had care
fully planned his attack, and but for the
accidental discharge of a gun, which pre-
cipitsted the conflict, Mataafa's forces
would have been exterminated.
Halietoa and his chiefs had become i'm
patient at what they considered the in
difference of the three powers and de-
termined to take the matter into their own
hands, and the advance upon Male was
begun. One section of the kings army
was sent through the bush with ORDERS to
spread out and connect with another sec
ton. Below Male, third section accom-
panied by an armed feet of fifteen boats
sailing close In shore went along the beach.
According to the plan Mstaafs was to be
hemmed in on all sides. The accidental
discharge of gun brought the two forces
into conflict before the curve around
Mataafa was complete.
adherents of Mataafa met both lines ex-
tended from the ocean beach three or four |
miles into the interior. A large detach- |
ment of Mataafa's men were stationed in |
cattle yard. As the kings men advanced |
the men on Nataafa's side recognized |
friends and called out cordial greetings,
and it seemed rs If friendly relations were |
about to be re- established. Somebody
fired shot and the fight commenced, be- |
coming general and the firing deadly. On
the sea beach opposite the cattle yard were
posted number of the kings men. Ma
taafa's men advanced to the wall and were
exposed to a raking fire. Another detach-
ment of Mslietoa's troops took advantage
of an opening inside the wall to pour in
repeated and deadly volleys. The Mataaf-
ties were forced to abandon the stock yards
and as they got over the wall at the rear
they were greeted with another attack and
were forced to retreat to the shelter of
another stone wall, a little distance into
the bushes. Here they made a stand.
When they attacked the place the next
Mstaafs and his warriors had fed
to Malie.
The royal party marched on Male and
there met the section which ought to have
prevented Mataafa's escape. But Mataafa
and bis followers had got away in boats to
the Island of Manono. On July IS King
Malietoa sent an ultimatum to Mataafa de-
the surrender of himself and
lives would be spared. No reply was made
10 this.
On July 10 the British man-of- war Kat
mocha arrived bringing joint instructions
rom the powers that the rebellion must be
,ubdusd.
The commanders of the British and
German warships and the consuls of the
ihree powers held consultation. 1t was
iecided to demand Mataafa's sur
:ender and the British and German
Tarships (no American vessel was
here) sailed for Manouo. They arrived
here early on the morning of July is and
'ent word to Mataafa that if he did not
before p. m. his camp would
oe shelled by the ships and Malietoa's war
'iors landed. AS the Mataafites were weak
n numbers and short in ammunition they
would have been slaughtered had this
program been carried out. But quarter
If an hour before the time WAS up Mstssfa
md his chiefs boarded the Kstoomba and
The Kstoomba and Buzzard had cleared
or action and men stood at the guns.
Forces had gone to the other side of the
sland to prevent escape in that direction.
The German vessels returned to Apis, while
The Katoomba remained to disarm the fol-
overs of Mataafa.