Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-04-05
SHELLS FOR SAM0ANS|
Villages Bombarded by British
and American Ships.
MATAAFANs START THE TROUBLE.

They Disreear an Ultimatum and Begin
an Attack on the Maiietoans - German
Consul Rose Uphoids the Matasfans-
Rebels Make an Attack on the Town and
XIII Three British Sailors and an Amer
ican-German Consulate Hit by Shell.
Berlin, March 31.-A brief official dis
patch from Apia, Samoa. dated March
20, says The bombardment con-
tinues. In pursuance to military or
ders the whites have evacuated many
houses. The chiefs of the Tanus party
who were exiled to other islands have
been brought back from Upolu. The
firearms and ammunition taken from
Tanus on Jan. have been returned"
Auckland, N. H., March 31.-Advices
from Apia, Samoa, are as follows The
chiefs supporting King Mataafa hav-
ing refused to abide by the terms Of the
tripartite treaty, and continuing to
defy them despite the representations
Of the agents of the United States and
Great Britain, Admiral KautZ, the
American naval commander, convened
a meeting of the consuls and the senior
naval officers on board his flagship, the
cruiser Philadelphia. After discussing
the question in all it's bearings it was
resolved to dismiss the provisional gov
eminent. Admiral Kautz therefore is
sued a proclamation ordering the adj
herents of Mataafa to return to their
homes. When the proclamation was
published Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu
and went inland.
German Consul Upholds Mataafans.
Herr Rose, the German consul, then
issued a proclamation upholding the
provisional government, whereupon the
Ma.aafans assembled and surrounded
the town. The British cruiser Royalist
had meanwhile brought a number OF
Malietoan prisoners from the other ISL
ands, where they had been confined by
the Mataafans. The Americans forth
fled Mulinuu, and 2,400 of the Malie-
toans took refuge there. The Mataafans
barricaded the roads within the mu-
nicipality and seized a number Of
houses belonging to British subjects.
An ultimatum was sent to their lead
ers. warning them If they did not evac-
uate the municipality by l o'clock.
March 10, the place would be bonn
barded by the American and British
warships. To this ultimatum the
Mataafans paid not the slightest atten-
ton, but, on the contrary, began an
attack on the Malietoans.
English and Americans lombard.
American Consul Osborn and British
Consul Maxse consulted, and at their
instance, half hour before the ulti-
matum expired, the Philadelphia and
the British warships Royalist and Por-
poise opened fire on some distant viii
lagos. The Yankee and British gum
ners had great difficulty in locating the
enemy, owing to the dense forests In
which they were concealed. The fire
from the warships, however, soon Sc.
fire to some of the shore villages and
caused much damage. A defective shell
from the Philadelphia exploded near
the American consulate, and the ma
r!nes who were standing guard outside
had very narrow escape. AS 1t was.
Private Ridges leg was shattered by
a piece of the shell. and it was found
necessary to amputate it.
German Consulate Hit.
A piece of the shell went through the
German consulate, causing great de-
struction of crockery and doing other
damage. The Germans became alarmed
and boarded the German warship Fake.
The rebels made an attack on the town
a. night and killed three British sail
ors. A British marine was shot through
the legs accidentally by a British SEN
try. Another was shot in the feet. An
American sentry was killed at his post
by the natives The bombardment has
continued slowly for eight days. Many
of the inhabitants have sought refuge
on the Royalist. which is now greatly
crowded. Many others are leaving Sa-
moa, acting under the urgent advice of
the captain Of the Royalist, who feared
that their presence would impede the
military operations.
Hot Fire into the Jungle.
A hot fire into the jungle is MAIN
tanned. 1t is impossible to learn the
casualties. The Porpoise has shelled
the villages to the east and west Of
Apia, and landing parties from her
have captured many boats. The Brit
ish and Americans are fighting splen-
didly together. The feeling against
the Germans is most bitter. An Eng
lishman and a German have been ar
rested as spies. The British. cruiser
Tauranga. which was understood to be
on her way to annex the Tonga islands,
has been intercepted at Fiji and or
dered to Apia.