People's voice., 1899-04-20

lldUlOD IO give MdUddld d ldSU CuduCe,
aud that the French priests also used
their influence, but all efforts failed
and the rebels continued their depre-
datiOnS. Property was destroyed and
bridges and roads were barricaded.
On March 20 the enemy was sighted at
Maguigi, and machine guns and
seven FOUNDER were used. The friend
lies attacked the enemy during the
retreat aud several rebels were killed
or wounded. The friendlieS carried
one head through Apia, which made
Captain Stuart so furious that he
threatened to shoot any man
found taking heads. The king then
issued proclamation fOrhidding the
practice. The German consul wrote
to Admiral Kautz asking if two great
christian nations approved of this
inhuman and barbarous practice
against the laws of Christianity aud
the decree of the supreme court. The
admiral replied, agreeing with the
consul as to the inhumanity of the
practice, 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 to the
world ten years ago, when the heads
of honest German soldiers were cut
off by the barbarous chief, Mataafa,
whom the representative of the great
C1ristian nation, Germany, is now
supporting.
Expeditions in armed cutters be.
longing to the Tauranga and PorpOise
are doing considerable execution
against Mataafas stronghOlds along
the coast. The British forces are
being assisted by one hundred Samo-
ans. About forty.six of Mataafa's S
boats and several villages have been
destroyed. In the meantime, flying
columns are being sent daily along
the roads and through the bush near
Apfa.
On April force Of PA British and
Americans and Is friendlies were
surprised in ambush at the German
plantation of Vaslelo. The rebel
force opened fire on the rear, left
flank and front Of the Anglo-American
force. The friendlies bolted but the
marines and bluejaCkets stood theiT
ground splendidly, Americas and
British firing shoulder to shoulder.
The Colt automatic gun with the
landing party became jammed and the
Americans and British were practic
ally at the mercy Of the rebels. But
"retreat" was sounded three times
before the marines and bluejackets
retired. Lieutenant Angel Fl. Free
man, first lieuteRant of the Tauranga,
vino was in command OF the allied
force, was shot through the heart.
Lieuntenant Phillip Van Horn Lans-
dale of the United States gunboat
Philadelphia, had bis leg shattered
while endeavorlng to fix the jammed
gun. Seaman Hunt of the British
cruiser POrpOise, had an extraordinary
escape. He remained with LieHten-
ant LanSdale until dubbed over the
head and knocked senseless. The
bluejacket revived as the natives
were cutting off his right ear and
were turning him over in order to cut
of his left ear. At this juncture a
shell from the British cruiser Royalist
burst on the battlefield, scattering
the rebels, and Hunt succeeded in
escaping to the beach, although
severely stabbed in one foot.
The same night the friendlies found
the bodies OF all the officers, headless.
The bodies were buried with all hon.
ors at Mulinuu on Easter Sunday,
Their heads we're subsequently,
brought in by some French priests
and the graves were reOpened and the
heads buried with the bodies. Lieu
tenants Freeman and Lansdale we're
capable and popular officers. The
former was single and the latter was
married in June.