The record-union., 1899-04-13
Desperate Battle on a Plan
tation Near Apia,
American and British Marines Firing
Shoulder to Shoulder.
Lieutenant LdnsdaIe, Ensign Monaghan
and Two Sailors Of the Philadelphia
KiIIed-AIso a Lieutenant and
Two British Sailors.

AUCKLAND IN. Z.) April 12-D.s-
patches received here from Apia, Sa-
moa, April 1st, say that party OF loo
Americans and British sailors were
forced to retreat to the beach after
having been caught in an ambush ON
German plantation of that date. The
expedition was led by Lieutenant A. H.
Freeman of the British third cruiser
Tauranga. Lieutenant Freeman and
Lieutenant p L. Lansdale of the Unit
ed States cruiser Philadelphia and En-
sign j. r. Monaghan of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia were left
dead on the field Ensign Monagha n
and was shot on retiring. Two British
and two American sailors We're also
killed.
The natives engaged We're some of
Mataafa's warriors. They severed the
heads of the British and American Off
GERS killed Priests of the French Mis-
sion afterward brought the heads into
Apia. The manager of the German
plantation has been arrested and de-
tanned on board the Tauranga on aft
davits declaring that he was seen urg-
ing the rebels to fight. In previous
engagement twenty seven Of Mataafa's
warriors were killed, and there We're no
casualties among the European forces.
riors attacked the Anglo-American par
ty from ambush.
Further advices from Apia say that
on the arrival of the British cruiser
American Consuls issued a proclama-
tion to give Mataafa a last chance and
that the French priests also used uheT
influence, but all efforts failed, and
the rebels continued their depredations
Property was destroyed, and bridges
and roads were barricaded. On March
Doth the enemy was sighted at Maguigi,
and machine guns and seven FOUNDER
were used. The friendlies also attacked
the enemy during the latter's retreat
and several rebels were killed or wound
ed The friendlies carried one head
through Apia, which made Captain
Stuart so furious that he went to th-
King and threatened to shoot any man
found taking heads. The King then
issued a proclamation forbidding the
practice.
The German Consul wrote to Admiral
Kautz asking if two great Christian ma
barbarous practice against the laws of
Christianity and the decree of the Su-
preme Court. The Admiral replied
agreeing with the Consul as to the in
humanity of the practice and pointed
out that had the GeTman Consul upheld
the decree of the Supreme Court of
January, there would have been nc
bloodshed; that the custom was an old
Samoan one, but first made known Il
the world ten years ago, when the
heads of honest German sailors were
cut off by the barbarous Chief Mataafa
whom the representative Of the great
Christian nation Germany is now sup
porting.
Expeditions in armed cutters belong
ing to the Tauranga and Porpoise are
doing considerable execution against
Mataafa's strongholds along the coast
The British forces are being assisted
by 100 Samoans. About forty-six oil
Mataafa's boats and several villages
have been destroyed. In the meantime
flying columns are being sent daily
along the roads and through the bust
near Apia.
On April 1st force of pa British ant
Americans and 100 friendlies were sur
prised in ambush at the German plan.
tation of Vaslao. The rebel fore.
opened fire on the rear, left flank an6
front of the Anglo-American force. Ths
frlendlies bolted, but the marines ant
bluejackets stood their ground splen.
didly, the Americans and British firms
shoulder to shoulder. The Colt auto
matte gun with the landing party be
came Jammed, and the Americans ant
British We're practically at the mercy
OF the rebels But retreat was sound
ed three times before the marines ant
bluejackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel H Freeman. Firs
Lieutenant of the Tauranga. who wa.
in command of the allied force, wa
shot through the heart. Lieutenan
Philip Lanshorn Lansdale, u. S. N.
had his leg shattered while endeavor
ing to fix the jammed gun. Seaman
Hunt of the British ship Porpoise hat
an extra cap. He remained with Lieu
tenant Lansdale until clubbed over tn.
head and knocked senseless The blue