The times., 1899-05-16

sfairN hiiTleI With lil-
pTorriate ceremony on Mulinuu. the land belong
ing to the Samoan Government. Very respect
fully. ALBERT KAUTZ.
Rear admiral. L. 5. n.
Surgeon lungs Report
The largest aud by far the most inter
esting of the reports forwarded by Admiral
Kautz is that OF Passed Assistant Surgeon
G. A. Lung whose conspicuous courage in
the engagement is mentioned in the other
reports. Surgeon Lungs communication
follows:
About LEO p. IN. ] Joined the expedi-
tio1 as ii passed the American Consulate
On its way eastward along the beach 1t
comprised a number of bluejackets and
marines under the command of Lieut.. p. V.
Lansiale. Z. S. N. senior officer of the
American contingent; Ensign J. r. Mona
CHAN. U. S N: Lieut.. G. NJ. Perkins. U.
S. NJ c.: also number of British blue
Jackets aud marines under the command
Of Lieutenant Freeman, r. N; Lieutenant
Cave r. N, and Lieutenant Hickman, r.
n. Lieutenant Freeman was the senior
officer of the British officers of the British
contingent and of the expedition.
The expedition proceeded eastward for
about mile near 10 q village called Ne
tafagsteie, where we halted. II. Ii. S.
Royalist had preceded us about half an
hour and was then shelling the villages
in our advance. At a signal from Us she
ceased firing and We then advanced farther
along the beach. Reaching FagalIi we
stopped for fifteen or twenty minutes while
the friendlies reconnoitered up to the
higher ground in advance and On cur
right. We then forded the Fagaili River
and took the road leading up to the higher
ground and into the Yaillele plantation.
We followed this road for about a mile
when we came TO the village OF Lwtonga.
The forces did not go 10 this village. but
halted q short distance away at point
where the read suddenly drops into the
raviEe in which the village is located
The friendlies then went ahead and set
fire 10 the houses. while the fire was in
progress several reports were heard. They
proved to be the explosion OF cartridges
stored in the burning huts. | was told
that the friendIies had found in the house
freshly cooked food still warm. showing
that the villagers had suddenly and
shortly before left, having been scared
away by the firing Of the Royalist
Here at about , p Ii. # was decided to
return by the same road we had come. Ac-
eordingly, the return was begun with the
column in reverse order. Up to this time
not 4 single hostile bad been seen. As the
middle of the column was passing The first
cruss-oad, the fTiendiies on our left flank
discovered some or them up the road about
300 yards distant. l was near the cross
road at the time and looking up saw three
or four step out into the road and then
quickly hide in the trees. Our people i'm
mediately opened fire and about a dozen
hostiles scurried across the road toward
the left. apparently uninjured. The Colt
gun failed to do its work and valuable
opportunity was, in consequence. lost No
other hostiles appeared and the Colt gun
was taken apart, readjusted, and success
fully tested.
THE route Of return was then changed
Instead OF going back Immediately TO the
beach. it was decided TO return by a road
half mile or more back from the sea. and
more CT less parallel with the shore fine
This road was through extensive coeoanut
plantations and extended along the lower
| levels of the foothills. interrupted in three
places By deep ravines. through which
small streams run. II was the intention
to follow this road 10 a point where it
turned 10 the north sad then led for
mile. down into the town of Apia.
The tmbnsh.
Turning down the crossrosd mentioned
TO the left for half a mile We then went
TO the west by the road parallel with the
| sea and proceeded along this for another
| half mile until we came to the first ra-
vine and the Fagaili River little less
l
through which a road passed. Both sides
OF the road were lined with a barbed-wire
| fence of six or eight strands. about five
! feet high, and very securely fastened 10
trees and posts
..The situation was most unfayora-
bic one for us. Suddenly. as our
column reached the level road. and before
the rear guard OF the British marines and
! friendlies had emerged from the rayine
| fire was opened on US on our left The
| hostiles were behind the crest men
| toned, and we're so well entrenehed we
could not see them while they could fire
at us at will. They lay fat, resting their
rifies on the crest and fired at us, their
faces being concealed by the short grass.
We were first apprised OF their presence
! hf theif 7i'se ndtnC the entire length
of our left flank, distance OF 100 yards
or more. Il was scattering at first, but In
4 few moments became so brisk it APP
| ueared TO come in vOlleys. Our men al the
| irst ERE advanced along the road a little.
| then dropped in the ditch at the side OF
| the road and promptly returned several
yolieys To all appearances at that time,
the hostiles behind their natural entrench
ment remained unharmed as their FIRE
continued unabated. The Colt gun failed
US again and this fact helped TO bring on
| the disaster that followed.
Our men continued 20 fire. advancing
| down the read to the westward. In about
ten minutes it was noticed fnat the enemy
| was closing around the eastern end of our
4 line. few minutes later they began to
close around our western end also II was
| impossible TO make a sudden charge and
| demoralize them because OF the barbed
| wire fences along the road. and lister re-
treat proved almost as imposslbie They