The Anaconda standard., 1899-05-16
MORE NEWS FROM KAUTz
Additional Details of the Recent
Samoan Skirmish.
THE COLT AUTOMATIC GUN
It Didn't Work at a Time When Its
Services We're Most Required.
Lieutenant Monaghan Died
Like a Genuine Hero.

Washington, May 15,-secretary Long
to-day made public so much of re-
cent letter from Admiral Kautz on the
Samoan affair as touched the killing
of number of American sailors by
Mataafa adherents near Apia on the
first of April. The report is an cab
Grafton of the description of the affair
which was cabled at the time by ,the
associated press from Auckland. No
mention is made at any point of the
reported participation in the affray of
the German Hufnagel, the manager OF
the plantation, where the fight occur
red It is shown that the failure of the
Colt gun to work properly was in
large measure the cause of the Amer
lean and British defeat.
Admiral Kautz says the expedition
was projected by Captain Sturdee OF
the Porpoise. For several nights pre-
ceding the sentries had been fired upon
by the natives and it became necessary
to drive the aggressors away. 'Admiral
KautZ says that if the opinion of all
the officers who had the matter in
charge that the force was ample to
do the work without risk, especially
as it was to move out along the beach
and return the same way under the
protection of the guns of H. M. S..
Royalist. 1t is safe to say, says the
admiral, that after Lieutenants Free
man and Lansdale had conferred they
did what they deemed best under the
circumstances, and the disaster that
followed could not have been foreseen.
Admiral Kautz appends the reports of
ytr,tv ~4s1 re-
ton, which are transmitted by Captain
White of the Philadelphia. In his let
ter of transmttal the captain com
mends in strongest terms the work of
Passed Assistant Surgeon G. A. Lung.
Captain White described at some
length the happenings of April l, as
gathered from a close examination of
the petty officers and men engaged in
the fight He says that several ex-
cursions 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
fed when fired upon by the Colt au-
tomato gun. Lieutenant I4ansdale set
great store by the gun and frequently
operated it himself.
Says Captain White: "He appeared
to depend greatly upon the gun when
the party was ambushed on April l.
Twice it did not perform its function,
and time was lost in overhauling it,
and great delay was consumed in try
ing to get it through the wire fence.
Lieutenant Lansdale was loath to
abandon it, but the fire was so calling
that before he was wounded he was
compelled to scutter the important
parts and leave it behind. Prudence
led him to deploy his men in open or
der. The thicket was so dense that
after the orders for retreat were sound
ed it was not possible for the groups
to render each other mutual support.
Lieutenant Lansda1e was wounded
below the knee soon after the Colt was
abandoned and rendered inca pable of
marching. He was assisted by his men,
one of them, N. E. Edsall Ordinary
seaman), was mortally wounded. 1t is
in evidence most clear that when En-
sign Monaghan discovered that Lieu
tenant Lansdale was wounded, he used
his best endeavors to convey him to
the rear, and seiZing rifle from a dis
abled man, made a brave defense, but
undoubtedly he fell very shortly after
ward. The men were not in sufficient
numbers to hold out any longer, and
they were forced along by fire which
it was impossible to withstand. En-
sign Monaghan stood steadfast by his
wounded superior and friend, one rifle
against many-one brave man against
score of savages. He knew he was
doomed. He could not yield. He died
in the heroic performance of his duty.
Private Henry c. Hunt 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 he had assisted in
covering their retreat. He is mention
ed by Lieutenant Perkins for bravery
and good conduct. James Butler
(coxswain) was killed instantly while
standing and firing against the en-
emy."