The morning news., 1899-04-13
GUT OFF THEIR HEADS.
BarbarOuS Action of Ma
taafa'S Followers.
BODIES WERE MUTILATED.
American Officers Killed and Then
Beheaded.
MANY MATAAFANS DEAD.
Responsibility Put on hlrd-H Headed
German Consul.

American and British Forces Sur
priSed in ADMINISTRATIVE Allies
BOIted-Lieut. LansdnIe and En-
sign Monaghan the Dead Ameri-
cans-Lieut. Freeman of the Brit
ish Navy Treated Likewise-Hunt's
Escape While the Natives Were
Cutting on His Ears.
Auckland, New Zealand, April 12-Dls-
patches received, here from Apia, Samoa,
April l. say that a party of 1O5 Americans
and British sailors were forced TO retreat
to the beach, after having been caught
In an ambush on a German plantation that
day.
The expedition was led by Lieut.. A. il.
Freeman of the British third class cruiser
Tauranga. Lieut.. Freeman and Lieut.. P.
L. Lansdale, and Ensign J. R. Monahan,
both of the United States cruiser Phna-
depbia, were left dead on the field.
Ensign Monahan remained to assist
Lieut.. Lansdale, and was shot In retir-
ing.
Two British and two American 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 of the French mission afterwlrd
brought the heads into Apia.
The manager of tAe German plantation
has been arrested and detained on board
the Tauranga on affidavits declaring that
he was seen urging the rebels to fight.
Mataafa Given "A Chance.
In previous engagement twenty-seven
of Mataafa's warriors were killed; there
We're no casualties among the European
forces.
Further advices from Apia say that on
the arrival of the British cruiser Tauran-
ga at Apia, the British and American con-
suls issued a proclamation to give Mataafa
a last chance, and that the French priests
also used their influence, but all efforts
failed, and the rebels continued their dep
relations. Property was destroyed and
bridges and roads were barricaded.
On March 20 the enemy was sighted at
wa . AiSi anu IidCililG guns uilu a SSf SiA-
pounder were used. The friendlies also
attacked the enemy during the latter's re-
treat, and several rebels were killed or
wounded.
The friendies carried one head through
Apia, which made Capt. Stuart so furious
that he went to the King and threatened
TO shoot any man found taking heads.
The King then issued proclamation
forbidding the practice
German Consul Responsible.
The German consul wrote to Admiral
kautz, asking If two great Christian ma
tons approved of this inhuman and bar
barous practice against the laws of Chris
uanity and the decree of the Supreme
Court
Inc admiral replied agreeing with the
consul as to the inhumanity of the prac-
tee, 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 10 the
world ten years ago, when the heads of
honest German soldiers were cut off by the
oarbarous chief Mataafa whom the repre-
eentauves Of the great Christian nation,
Germany, is now supporting.
Expeditions in armed cutters belonging
10 The Tauranga and Porpoise are doing
considerable execution against Mataafa's
s'rongholds along the coast The British
forces are being assisted by 100 SamOans.
About forty-six of Mataafa's boats and
several villages have been destroyed. In
me meantime. flying columns are being
sent daily along the roads and through
the bush near Apia.
Killed ana Then Beheaded.
on April !, force Of PA British and
Americans. and $50 friendlies, were sur
pfsed in ambush at the German planta-
Non Of Naslelo. The rebel force opened
ire on the rear left flank and front Of the
Anglo-American force The frlendlies
ooIted' but the marines and blue jackets
stood their ground splendidy, Americans
"na brlish firing shoulder TO shoulder.
me Colt automatic gun with the landing
PARTY became jammed and the Americans
ana British were practically al the mercy
"l the rebels But retreat was sounded
,Lree times before the marines ana blue
Jackets retired
Lieut.. Angel II. Freeman. first lieuten-
81