The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-30
A NEW WAR.
Fighting Begins in Samoa
Promptly After
The Arrival of the u. s. Cruiser
Philadelphia.
THE BRITISH JOIN in
And the Two Shell the Island
For Eight Days.
Many Natives Killed and VII
lagos Destroyed.

Apia, Samoan Islands, March %, via
Auckland, N. T., March 30.-The trou-
bles growing out of the election OF
king of Samoa have taken a more SER
ious turn and resulted in the lombard
ment of native villages along the shore
by the United States cruiser Philadel-
phia, Admiral Kautz commanding, and
the British cruisers Porpoise and Roy
alist. The bombardment has continued
internationally for eight days. Several
villages have been burned and there
have been a number of casualties among
the American and British sailors and
marines. AS yet it is impossible to estl-
mate the number Of natives killed or in
jured.
As Mataafa and his chiefs, constitut-
ing the provisional government, contin-
used to defy the treaty after the arrival
of the Philadelphia, Admiral kautz
summoned the various consuls and the
senior naval officers to a conference on
board the Philadelphia, when the WnoIe
situation was carefully canVaSsed. Inc
uDshot was a resolution to dismiss the
provisional government and Adn 11i
Kautz issued a proclamation Gaining
upon Mataafa and his cnleIS 10 TeluIA
to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the town
he made his headquarters and went into
the interior.
Apia, issued a proclamation, supplement
ing the one he had issued several weeks
before, upholding the provisional gov
eminent. AS a result of this the Ma
taafans assembled in large force and
hemmed in the town. The British cruiser
Royalist brought the Ma1ietoa prisoners
from the island to which they had been
transferred by the provisional govern
ment-
The Americans then fortified Mulinuu
where $4,000 Malietoans took refuge.
The rebels-the adherents of Mataafa-
barTicaded the roads within the mu-
nicipality and seized the British houses.
An ultimatum was then sent to them,
ordering them to eVacuate, and threat
ening them, in the event of refusal, with
a bOmbardment to commence at one
o'clock on the afternoon of March 10
This was ignored and the rebels COM
menced an attack in the direction OF the
United States and the British consulates
about half an hour before the time fixed
for the bombardment. The Philadelphia,
Porpoise and ROya1ist opened fire upon
the distant villages. There was great
to the dense forest, but several shore
villages were soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadelphia
exploded near the American consulate,
and the marines outside narrowly es-
capped. A fragment struck the leg of
Private Ridge, shattering it so badly
as to necess1tate amputatIon- Another
fragment traversed the German con-
sulate, smashing the crockery. The Ger
mans then went on board the German
cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made
hot attack on the town, killing three
British sailors. A British marine was
shot in the leg by a sentry of his own
party, another was shot in the foot and
an American sentry was killed at his
post.
The bombardment continuing, the in
habitants of the town took refuge on
board the Roya1ist, greatly crowding
the vessel.
Many people are leaving Samoa, the
captain of the Royalist urging them to
go, so as not to interfere with the mill
itary operations. The PorpOise has
shelled the villages east and west of
Apia and captured many boats. The
Americans and British are fighting
splendidly together but there is a bitter
feeling against the Germans. Two men,
a British and a German subject, have
been arrested as spies. The lombard
ment of the jungle was for time very
hot.