, 1893-05-17
OUTBREAK OF WAR IN LIBERIA.
Times, l4th april.

The trouble which has been brewing in the
Republic of Liberia since President Cheesman
was placed at the head of affairs in Monrovia
has come to a head at last, and from an &C.
count just to hand from Cavally, on the Kroo
Coast, it seems that the malcontents on the
south coast of the Republic have got decided
ly the best of the fighting. Ths Liberian
Government not long ago had a gunboat
specially built in England for service on the
south coast, and she was apparently sent into
action at once after her arrival in Liberia,
with results most unsatisfactory to the Mon
rowan Government. The following extracts
are from a letter just received from Cavally
by Mr.. j. W. de We're Stevens, who only
returned from the Gold Coast the other day,
and who was at Cape Palmas in February
last -
II give you a few particulars of the first
Libsrian engagement. The gunboat arrived
at Cape Palmas, and the President Of Liberia
wrote the Rock Town natives to call and see
him as be was very anxious to have q friendly
understanding. They replied that they were
very glad to hear that the President wished
to be friendly; they having no palaver with
the American Liberians, also wished to be
friendly, but could not visit Cape Palmas, as
they were at war with the natives of that
settlement. The President again wrote, ad-
dressing the Rock Town chiefs as "dear
friends" and appointed February % for a
general meeting at Cape Palmas, saying that
II the chiefs did not come he should regard
their action or refusal as a declaration of war
against the Government. The chiefs replied
that they were very sorry, but they could
not visit Cape Palmas; the declaration of war
came from the Government and not from
them"
"On February 80 the gunboat anchored
close to Rock Town and commenced firing, but
without doing much damage. Then the Libe-
rian army attacked by land and the Cape
Palmas natives attacked from the bush, so
poor Rock Town was besiegsd. However,
they lay low until the Liberians got close to
the town wall, and then firing a volley and
rushing out with machetos they were upon
the Liberians before the latter were aware of
1T. The Liberians simply threw away their
arms and fed for their lives, leaving two brass
cannons and ammunition, so rifles and muskets.
the Liberian standard, and a quantity of militia
ry stores. As soon as the Rock Town people
had driven OF or killed the last men. thew
felt the gunboat was beginning to be trouble
some, so they turned the two captured can.
mons on her and fred, and the vessel at once
left for the Cape. The President left for
Monrovia in the gunboat on February 25th.
aud up to da:e, March 1. has not returned,
though 1t is supposed he intends to try and
do something. lie has entirely lost whatever
little prestige he ever had among the interior
tribes, and he will probably find il a difficult
matter to com pei the Grebo tribes to submit
othe .Liberian rule, l do nor know the OK.
act Liberian loss. but ] hear that eight we're
killed, three taken prisoners, and several
wounded. The Rock Town loss was only
seven. The British gunboat Blonde is still
here and is to be relieved by the Phoebe due
D II March To-"