The San Francisco call., 1899-04-08

positions the whole of the native popu-
lation Of Apia-men, women and child
ren-were streaming by order to Mu-
linuu for safety and protection behind
the gallant bluejackets under Lieuten-
ant Brown. General operations were,
of course, under the command Of Ad-
miral Kautz.
AS soon as the land forces were sta
toned the Philadelphia opened fire by
throwing a Shell into the outskirts of
Apia. The Royalist followed with some
6-iQch shells. The Porpoise went outside
the harbor, and proceeding a couple OF
miles down the coast bOmbarded the vii
lage Of Naimoso, where large numbers OF
rebels were supposed TO be-: Some boats
were destroyed here. but all natives fed
10 the dense bush al the back. The accu-
racy OF the PorpoiseS firing was the
theme OF general admiration, both of
American and British officers. She IS the
only ship of the attacking force which
uses smokeless powder, and her guns
make far less report than those OF the
others.
The church at Vaimoso was smashed by
shell and another tore away portion
OF the veranda and house of the manager
of the German plantation at Vaitels. The
whole of the outskirts of Apia were
shelled from the harbOr, about seventy
shells being fired before dusk, when nrlng
ceased for a time. Every village around
Apia was shelled. During the firing
shell from the Philadelphia, which was
sighted for 2500 yards, was fired at the
village of Moata TO the east of the Ameri--
can consulate. Unfortunately il exploded
when il had only gone 100 yards and
knocked over an outbuilding OF the con-
sulaJe and damaged the veranda of the
main building. One of the American
guard was injured in the leg.
United States Consul General Osborn
and Mrs Osborn are at the consulate, and
have been all through the trouble. The
consulate is protected by earthworks and
trenches. as is the British consulate.
which is about 200 yards further TO the
west.
During the bombardment no natives
We're seen belonging to the Mataafa party.
Prior 10 the firing OF the first gun by the
flagship a body Of rebels very nearly sue
ceeded IN capturing the British Consul
and consulate. About a half hour before
the hrst gun was nred a party Of them
rushed uI TO within thirty yards of the
stood nrm and the rebels retired preciFj-
lately. They evidently thought they
would have surprised the bluejackets. The
nauVes nred no shots, neither did the
sailors, as orders had been issued by the
aQmlral, No nring except fired on until
after the first shell from the Philadel-
As soon as night fell the electric
searchlight began an incessant watch
along the fore shore. An attack under
cover Of darkness was expected. as ii was
then easy Tor an attacking force TO come
within a few score yards of the white
IorceS without being discovered. The
Wnoie OF Apia. with the exception of the
lhllneulate spots around houses. is COW
ered with banana patches and other
dense vegetation. through which il is i'm
possible 10 detect any one a a great dis
lance At dusk the Britishers had
Sklrmish with the enemy close 10 the
IlHoll Hotel. Whether any rebels were
klIleQ cannot be said. as il is the Gus
Iom OF the Sanoans 70 carry of their
dead and wounded from the field of bat
te 10 save them from mutilation. Among
me Samoans any one captured by the
enemy. no matter how slightly he be
Mounded. Is Immediately decapitated.
Inc captured head is taken in triumph
70 the leader Of the successful band.
SentrleS were posted all along the main
street. and no one was allowed to go
about without a pass. Cp 10 2 O'Clock
on the morning of March il all was dark
sl,c, sa1 qulet as lar as any attack was con-.
cerned. From different points yollevs
were nred al spots where the rebels were
lho%nl 10 be lying. and the field guns
5Is Sno Noraenteldts poured forth their
CedulN CnaTSe, frlng was heard at Ma
tantu IN the direction of the cOnsulatps
and little later. about 2:30 a. m rush
was made by some rebels on the Guard
py the Ilvoh. Sharp firing ensued and
four British were shot: two dead and
two were wounded. One OF the latter
mas since died. From this time until
daylight an attack was hourly expected
6ut none came. At the request OF the
British a Maxim gun was sent from the
Phlladelphla 10 the British consulate
and with il some men TO work II ThAre
may now be seen combined forces of
British and Americans guarding the
British Consul.
On March l5 Mulinuu was strengthened
by earthworks and trenches. and a large
space was cleared of the dense man
grove bush. which was growing I'D TO
within a score OF yards Of the American
position: A body of 300 Malietoans had
their rifles returned to them from the
Porpoise, and rendered good service nv
clearing brush and scrub at various por-
tons OF the township. After the Matsafa
success of January l the rebels burned
all the native houses in the central nor
ton OF Apia which belonged to Manetsa
people II was now decided necessary
70 burn the rebel village of Vaiala. be-
hind the two consulates. as the shelter
or the houses there enabled the rebels IA
approach TO within 100 yards of the con-
sulate.
The German warship Fake was anxious
10 leave Samoa, no doubt with dispatches
TO serve German interests. She had ac-
tually taken a large quantity of -four on
board and several head of cattle when
Admiral kautz became aware of her in
tended departure.
Where are you going?" inquired the
TO the harbor of saluafata," was the
saluafata is twelve miles to the east of
Apia. and one of Mataafa's strongest
towns is there. 1t is here German VA
ships are accustomed to stay during their
absence from Apia
stay where you are and be ready TO
anord refuge TO your own countrvmen
in the time Of danger" was the adj
mirals rejoinder.
So. on the day following the first fight
ing the Fake was crowded with German
families. 1t was noticeable that the Ger
mans had. al the signal. congregated
at Soki. where the premises Of the Ger
man nrm are, but had not sought shell
ter on the vessels. No doubt this was
owing 20 the idea that the admiral was
only playing game of bluff. and also
TO the idea that. the Germans being
friendly TO Mataafa, their property wouId
be respected by the rebels
During Thursday. March Is. matters
were quiet, and the sailors. many of
whom had had no sleep for forty-eight
hours. tried 70 snatch a rest About dtIsk
the Americans at Matafele fred on A bo6v
Of Mataafans, but no one was killed. In
the early morning there was sharD firing
around the Tivoli. and the British ships
chipped in with few shells. which had
the erect OF driving back the foe. About
the same hour an attack was made nv
ABOUT ~ rebels on the two consuIates
They got within thirty yards Of the
trenches. The sailors behaved spIendidix
and the Calling (from the f1agshin1 dfd
good work. The rebels retreated. An fba
guards are suffering from want Of s1een
ana exhaustion. AT the consulate CPrit
ISM Lieutenant Gaunt and the Consul are
aided by Major General Cunliffe of The
British army, who acts as officer of the
station. During the attack one seaman
from the Philadelphia was killed and one
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