The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-16

Washington. May 16.--Secretary Long
has made public SO much of a recent re-
port from Admiral Kautz upon Samoan
affairs as touches the killing OF num-
ber Of American sailors by Mataafa ad-
herents near Apia on the first OF April.
The report is an elaboration of the de-
ecription of the affair cabled at the time
from Auckland. No mention is made OF
the reported participation in the ARRAY
of the German. Hufnagel. the manager
OF the plantation where the fight oc-
CURED. Ii is shown that the failure OF
the Colt sun TO work properly was in
large measure the cause of the Ameri-
can and British defeat.
Admiral hautz says the expedition was
projected by Captain Sturdee OF the
Porpoise. For several nights preceding
the sentrles had been fired upon by the
natives. and IL became necessary to drive
the aggressors away. Admiral Kautz
says that IL was the opinion Of all the
officers who had the matter in charge
that the force was ample TO do the work
without risk. 1t Is safe to say. says the
admiral, that after Lieutenants Free
t-iotf anu isaatAAlC it.A 'NIAr-Itu IT,
gether they did what they deemed best
unGer ths circumstances, and the disas-
ter that followed could not be foreseen
Admiral Kautz arpsnds the reports OF
the surviving officers Of the expedition.
which were transmitted by Captain
White OF The Philadelphia. In his letter
Of transmittsl the captain commends in
the strongest terms the work OF Passed
Assistant Surgeon Lung. lie says: AT
times when the fire from the concealed
natives was thicllcst and at all times, by
his example. be encouraged the young
and inexperienced men To the proper per-
formance OF duty. on the completion OF
che work CT his profession he assumed
command OF our bluejackets and
marched them to the United States con-
sulate."
Captain White describes at some length
the happenings of April as gathered
from examination OF the petty officers
and men engaged In the fight. He says
that several excursions had been made
into the beach back OF Apia during the
last 10 days OF March. Very few natives
had been observed. and when seen they
always fled when fired upon by the Colt
automatic gun. Lieutenant Lansdale
eet great store by the gun and frequently
operated 1t himself. Says Captain
White:
He appears to have depended greatly
upon the gun when the party was am
bushed on April /. TWO. e did not func-
ton. and time was lost In overhauling
II and great delay consumed In trying to
get ii through the wire fence
Lieutenant Lansdale was loath to
abandon 1t. but the fire was so CALLING
that before he was wounded he was COM
PEELED TO scatter the important parts and
Leave II behind. Prudence led him to de-
ploy his men in open order. The thicket
was so dense that after the order for re-
treat was sounded 1t was not possible
for the groups to render each other mu-
tual support.
Lieutenant Lansdale was wounded
below the knee soon after the Colt was
abandoned. and was rendered incapable
Of marching. He was assisted by his
men. One of them. N. f. Edsall, was
mortally wounded In so doing. 1t Is
In evidence most clear that when Ensign
Monaghan discovered that Lieutenant
Lansdale was wounded he used his best
endeavors TO convey him to the rear, and
selling rife from a disabled man made
= brave defense. but undoubtedly he
fell very shortly after joining him, and
the hostiles. flushed with success, bore
down on our men in this vicinity. The
men were not I'm sufficient numbers TO
hold out any longer, and they were
forced along by fire which IL was inn
possible TO withstand Ensign Mona
CHAN did stand. He stood steadfast by
his wounded superior and friend; one
rifle against many--onc brave man
against score OF savages. He knew he
he was doomed. He could not yield.