The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-05
WAR IN SAMOA.

APIA, Samoa, July 19-War broke out
between Maietoa's and Mataafa's 5 forces,
but the warships of the three powers IN
tervened and stopped the fighting. Ma
taafa and his chiefs surrendered. Ma
taafa's loss was thirty killed and twenty
wounded. When the long predicted war
commenced it WAS quickly checked, the
intervention of the three powers putting Il
decisive end to the trouble. The first out
break of hostilities occurred On July Z,
when the royal forces made an attack on
Mataafa's camp They captured an out
post and disarmed four men in it, who
were afterwards set at liberty. The next
day war actually began and the first blood
was shed. Mataafa's forces were scattered.
MsieIoa had carefully planned his attack,
and but for the accidental discharge OF a
gun, which precipitated the conflict, Ma
taafa's forces would have been eXtermi-
mated
MalIetoa and his chiefs had become i'm
patient at what they considered the lndlf-
ference of the three powers, and deter
mined TO take matters iHto their own
hands, aud the advance was begun. One
section of the kings army was seht
through the bush, with orders to spread
out and connect with another section be-
lew Malio. A third section, accompanied
by an armed fleet of fifteen boats sailing
close in shore, went along the beach. Ac-
cortling to the plan Mataaia was to be
hemmed in on all sides. The accidental
discharge of a gun brought the two forces
into conflict before the circle around Ma
taafa was completed.
At plantation belonging to a German
drm the followers of Malietoa and the adj
herents to Mataafa met. Both lines ex-
tended from the ocean beach three or four
miles into the interior. A large detach-
nent of Mstaafs' S men were stationed in a
cattle yard. As the kings men advanced
the men on MaJaafa's side recognized
friends and called out greetings. Hand
shakes We're INDUCED in and kava eX-
changed. 1t seemed as if friendly rela-
tions were to be re established, but one
ferocious old warrior named Palu urged
the kings men back into the ranks; then
somebody fired shot and the fight COM
menced The firing became general and
deadly. On the sea beach opposite the
cattle yard were posted number of the
kings men. Mataafa's men advanced to
the wall, aud were exposed to a raking fire,
another detachment of Malietoa's troops
taking advantage of an opening in the side
of the wall to pour in repeated and deadly
volleys The Mataafaites were forced to
abandon the stock yards. 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 brush. Here they
made stand and Malietoa's men retired.
When they attacked the place next morn
!ng Mataafa aud his warriors had fled TO
Malioa.
It is the custom of the Samoans to de-
eapitate killed, or even wounded, enemies.
Among the heads brought to the king
were those of two women. who had taken
IN active part in the battles.
The royal party marched on Nabie, and
there met the section which ought to have
prevented Mataafs's escape, but Nataafa
aud his followers had got away in boats &c
the adjoining island OF Macho On july
IS King Malietoa sent an ultimatum 70
Mataala demanding that he and his chiefs
surrender, the sole condition being that
their lives would be spared. No reply was
made to this.
On July l6 the British warship Kat.
compa arrived at Apia, bringing instruc-
tIous from the powers that the rebellion
must be subdued. The commanders Of til,
British and German warships and the con.