The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-16
KAUTZ'S REPORT TO LONG
HIS STORY OF THE KILLING OF
AMERICANS AND BRITISH IN SAMOA
Failure of Colt Gun tn Work Largely
Forces-Prafse for the Fighters.

WASHINGTON. May 16-Secretary Long
to-day made public so much of a recent re-
port from Admiral Kautz on Samoan affairs
as touches the killing of a number of Amer
lean sailors by Mataafa sdherents near
Apia on the 1st of April. The report is an
elaboration of the description of the affair
which was cabled at the time by the Asso-
ciated Press from Auckland. No mention is
made at any point of the reported participa-
ton I'm the ARRAY of HufnageI, manager of
the plantation where the fight took place.
IL Is shown that the failure of the Colt
gun to work properly was i'm "A large meas
ure he cause OF the American-Britis de-
feat. Admiral Kautz says the expedition
was projected by Captain Sturdee. Of the
Porpoise. For several nights preceding the
sentries had been fired on by the natives
and IL became necessary to drive the
aggressors away, and Admiral Kautz says
that 1t was the opinion of all the officers
who had the matter I'm charge that the
force was ample to do the work without
risk, especially as 1t was TO move out along
the beach and return the same way under
the protection of the guns of her Majesty's
steamer Royalist. 1t Is safe TO say, says
the admiral. that after Lieutenants Free
man and LAnsdale had conferred together
they did what they deemed best under the
circumstances, and the disaster that fol-
lowed could not be foreseen.
Admiral Kautz appends the reports of the
surviving officers of the expedition, which
were transmitted by Captain White, of the
Philadelphia In his letter of transmittal
the captain commends in the strongest
terms the work Of Passed Assistant Surgeon
q. A Long. He says: AT times when the
IRE from the concealed natives was thickest
81
aged the young and inexperienced men to
the proper performance Of their duty. On
the completion of the work of his profession
he assumed command of our blue jackets
and marched them to the United States con-
suLte."
COLT GUN FAILED TO WORK.
Captain White describes at some length
the happenings Of April l as gathered from
a close examination of the petty officers and
men engaged I'm the fight. He says that sew
eral excursions had been made into the
beach back of Apia during the last ten days
OF March. Very few natives had been OBJ
served. and when seen they always fed
when fired on by the Colt gun. Lieutenant
Lansdale stood by the gun and frequently
operated Ii himself. Says Captain White:
He appears to have depended greatly On
the gun when the party was ambushed on
April 1. Twice 1t did not work. and time
was - III ONClu hQlAnk !, III great ueldy
was consumed in trying to get IT through
the wire fence. Lieutenant Lansdale was
loath to abandon 1t, but the fire was so
portaEt parts and leave IL behind. Pru-
dence led him to deploy his men in open
order. The thicket was SO dense that after
the order for retreat was sounded 1t was
not possible for the groups TO render each
other mutual support. Lieutenant Lansdale
was wounded below the knee soon after the
Colt gun was abandoned and rendered in
capable Of marching. He was assisted by
his men. One Of them, ". T.. Edsall, ordi-
nary seaman. was mortally wounded while
so doing. 1t Is not clear when Lansdale re-
ceiyed the wound in the chest. When En-
sign Monaghan discovered that Lieutenant
Lansdale was wounded he used his best en-
deavors to convey him to the rear, and.
seizing a rifle from a disabled man. made a
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 in suffi-
cient numbers to hold out any longer and
they were forced along by a fire which it
M MsS ihmnOs stood st 60 wnth by bis wa G Z
superior and friend-one rifle against many,
one brave man against a score Of savages.
He knew he was doomed. He could not
yield. He died in heroic performance of
duty.
informs me that he saw both Lieutenant
Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan after they
were killed; that he had been near a few
minutes before, and that he had assisted in
covering their retreat. He is mentioned by
Lieutenant Perkins for bravery and good
Conduct. o.
James Butler. coxswain, was killed in
stantly while standing and firing against
me enemy. | have TO f. ID.
Fisher. in charge of the Colt automatic
gun. for GOODNESS and steadiness in twice
dismounting and overhauling the gun under
fire. j. $. Ranlet. ordinary seaman. assisted
Ensign Monaghan i'm binding up Lieutenant
Lansdale's leg with a neekerchief belong
ing 10 Il Il. Callahan. blacksmith, and as
sisted In carrying him when first wounded.
FORTY NATIVES KILLED.
1.-THE number OF cartridges fired by each
OF the blue jackets averaged fifty. From
what appeared TO be reliable authority.
forty OF the assailants were killed and fifty
wounded. This Information was obtained
several days after the engagement. When