The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-14

Auckland, n. T., April 12.-Dispatches
received here from Apia, Samoa, April
1st say that a party of 105 Americans
and British sailors were forced TO re-
treat to the beach, after having been
caught in an ambush on a German
plantation that day. The expedition
was led by Lieutenant A. H. Freeman,
of the British third class cruiser Tau
ranga. He and Lieutenant p. V. Lands
dale and Ensign j. r. Monaghan, both
of the United States cruiser Philadel-
phia were left dead on the field.
Ensign Monaghan remained to assist
Lieutenant Landsdale, and was shot in
retiring. Two British and two Ameri-
can sailors were also killed.
The natives engaged were some OF Ma
taafa's warriors, estimated at 800. They
severed the heads Of the British and
American officers killed. Priests Or
the French mission afterward brought
the heads into Apia.
The manager of the German planta-
ton has been arrested and detained on
board the Tauranga, on affldavits de-
claring that he was seen urging the
rebels to fight.
In a previous engagement twenty
seven of Mataafa's warriors were kill
ed; there were no casualties among the
European forces.
Further advices from Apia say that
on the arrival of the British cruiser
Tauranga at Apia the British and
American consuls issued a proclama-
ton to give Mataafa a last chance and
that the French priests also used their
influence, but all efforts failed, and the
rebels continued their depredations.
Property was destroyed and bridges
and roads were barricaded. On March
29th the enemy was sighted at Magulg1
and machine guns and 7-pounder
were used. The friendlies also attacked
the enemy during the latter's retreat
and several rebels were killed or
wounded. The friendlies carried one
head through Apia, which made Cap
tai Stuart so furious that he went to
the king and threatened to shoot any
man found taking heads. The king
then issued a proclamation forbidding
the practice.
SHARP RETORT TO THE GERMAN
CONSUL.
The German consul wrote to Admiral
Kautz, asking if two great Christian
nations approved of this inhuman and
barbarous practice against the laws OF
Christianity and the decree of the su-
preme court.
The admiral replied, agreeing with
the practice, and pointed out that had
the German consul upheld the decree
of the supreme court of January, there
would have been no bloodshed; that
the custom was an old Samoan one,
but first made known to the world ten
years ago, when the "heads of honest
German soldiers were cut off by the
barbarous Chief Mataafa, whom the
representative Of the great, Christian
nation, Germany, is now supporting
Expeditions in armed cutters be-
longing to the Tauranga and Porpoise
are doing considerable execution
against Mataafa's strongholds along
the coast. The British forces are be-
ing assisted by 100 Samoans. About
forty-six of Mataafa's boats and sew
eral villages have been destroyed. In
the meantime, flying columns are be-
ing sent daily along the roads and
through the bush near Apia.
ANGLO-SAXON GRIT.
On April 1st a force of 214 British and
Americans and $50 friendlies were sur
prised in ambush at the German plan
tation of Vaslelo. The rebel force open
ed fire on the rear, left flank, and front
of the Anglo-American force. The
friendlies bolted, but the marines and
bluejackets stood their ground splen-
didly, Americans and British firing
shoulder to shoulder. The Colt auto
matte gun with the landing party be-
came jammed and the Americans and
British were practically at the mercy
of the rebels. But retreat" was sound
ed three times before the marines and
the bluejackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel II. Freeman, first
lieutenant of the Tauranga, who was
in command of the allied forces, was
shot through the heart
Lieutenant Philip Van Horn Lans-
dale of the United States cruiser Phil
adelphia, had his leg shattered while
endeayoring to fix the jammed gun.
Seaman Hunt, of the British cruiser
Porpoise, had an extraordinary escape
He remained with Lieutenant Lans-
dale until dubbed over the head and
knocked senseless. The bluejacket re-
vived as the natives were cutting of
his right ear and were turning him
over in order to cut off his left ear
At this juncture a shell from the Brit.
ish cruiser Royalist burst on the bat.
tlefeld, soaring the rebels and Hum
succeeded in escaping to the beach, al
though severely stabbed in one foot.
The same night the friendlies foun6
the bodies of all the officers, headless
The bodies were buried with all honor:
at Mulinuu on Easter Sunday. Theil
heads were subsequently brought in by
some French priests. The graves were
re-opened and the heads buried witt
the bodies.
Lleutenants Freeman and Lansdalt
were capable and popular officers. The
former was single and the latter was
married in June. The officers who re-
turned are Lieutenant George E. Cave
of the Porpoise, and Lieutenant G. NJ
Perkins, Of the Philadelphia All be-
haved splendidly. Lieutenant Cave
took command of the retreat.
Captain Sturdee, of the Porpoise, wa.