Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-08-10
SHORT BUT BLOODY WAR.
Samoa the Scene of Revolution That Is
Oueed by the Powers.

Vu0ltou W UIiV VWot %
Ap1A, Samoa. July 10, via San Fran
cisco, CAL, Aug. 5.-War broke out on
July 7, between Malietoa's and Mataa-
fa's forces but the war ships of the three
powers interviewed and stopped the
fighting. Mataafa and his chiefs have
surrendered. Mataafa's loss was thirty
killed and twenty wounded.
When the long-predicted war com
menced it was quickly finished, the IN
tervention of the three powers putting
decisive end to the trouble. The first
outbreak of hostilities occurred
when the royal forces started their
march on Malie, Mataafa's camp. They
captured an outpost and disarmed four
men in it who were afterward set at lib
erty. Next day war actually began and
first blood was shed. Mataafa's forces
were scattered. Malietoa had carefully
planned his attack and but for the &C
cidental discharge of gun, which pre-
cipated the conflict Mataafa's forces
would have been exterminated.
MalietQa and his chief 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 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 Malio a third section,
accompanied by an armed fleet of fiji
teen boats sailing close in shore,
went along the beach. According to
the plan, Mataafa was to be hemmed in
on all sides. The accidental discharge
of gun brought the two forces into
conflict before the circle around Mataafa
was complete.
At "a plantation belonging to a Ger
man firm the followers Of Malietoa and
the adherents of Mataafa met. Both
lines extended from the ocean beach
through three,or four miles into the in
terror. A large detachment of Mataafa's
men were stationed in cat
tie yard. AS the Kings men
advanced, the men on Mataafa's side
recognized friends and called out cor
dial greetings. Hand shakes were in
dulged in and Kava exchanged. 1t
seemed as if friendly relations were to
be re-established. One ferocious old
warrior named Patu urged the Kings
men back into the ranks, when some
body fired shot and the fight COM
menced. Firing became general and
deadly.
On the sea beach opposite the cattle
yard were posted number Of the
Kings men. Mataafa's meh advanced
to the wall and were exposed to rak
lietoa's troops took advantage of an
opening in the side of the WEI. te
pour in repeated and deadly vol
leys. The Mataafaites were forced
to abandon the stock yards, and
as they got ever the wall at the
rear they were greeted with another
attack fsnd were forced to retreat to the
shelter of another stone wall, q little
distance into the bush. Here they
made a stand and Malietoa's men re-
tired. When they attacked the place
the next morning, Mataafa and his men
had fed to Malice.
1t is the custom Of the Samoans to de-
capitate killed Or even wounded enc
mics. Among the heads brought to
the king were those of two women,
by mistake, though they took an active
part in the fight. The royal party
marched on Nabie and there met the
section which ought to have prevented
Mataafa's escape. But Mataafa and
his followers had got away in
boats. On July IL King Malietoa
sent an ultimatum to Mataata demand
ing the surrender of himself and chiefs,
the sole condition being that their lives
would be spared. No reply was made
to this.
On the 10th the British man-of-war,
katoQmba arrived at Apia bringing
Joint instructions from the powers that
the rebellion must be subdued The
commanders of the British and German
warships and the c9ns4!s, Of the three
powers held a CONSULTATION. 1t was
decided to demand Mataafa s surrender
and that British and German warships
mo American vessel being there) sailed
for Manovo. They arrived there early
on the morning of July Is and sent word
to Mataafa that if he did not surrender
before l P. NJ. his camp would be
shelled by the ships and Maliet?a's
warriors landed. AS the Mataafaites
have been slaughtered had this pro-
Up NJ Mataain and {'0 lis CHI chiefs sub boa rds
ed the Katoomba and surrendered.
The Katoomba and Buzzard had cleared
for action and the men stood at the
guns. Forces had gone to the other side
of the island to prevent escape IN that
direction. The German vessels re-
turned to Apia while the Katoomba re-
NAMED to disarm the followers of Ma
taafa.
The following is a copy of letter
Bent by the consuls to Mataafa, demand
ing his surrender:
We, the three consuls of the treaty pow
ers hereby give you notice that if you and
youschiets and wounded come on board
the English man of-wa within three hours
from the time the boat that brings
this reaches Manoa, your lives Will
be safe If you do not come,
the three men ofwar will open fire
on you and you will be attacked by the
king forces. Your followers must bring
all their arms to the British man-of-war for
safety. fyou do not surrender, you must
still send your women and children along
side the British man-ot-war.