Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-04-06
TROUBLE IN SAMOA
American and British War.
ships Bombard Villages.
GERMANS CAUSED THE FIG KTING
Admiral Kautz Ordered the Mataafans
to Disperse-Consul Rose Up
held the Rebels.


N. a., March 3l.-The troubles grow.
ing out Of the election of king OF
Samoa have taken more serious turn
ana resulted in the Ombardment Of
native villages along the shore by the
United States cruiser Philadelphia,
Admiral kautz commanding, and the
British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist.
The bonn bardment has continued in.
termittently for eight days. Several
villages have been burned. and there
have been number of casualties
among the American and British sailors
and marines. AS yet it is impossible
to estimate the number of natives
killed or injured.
AS Mataafa and his chiefs, constitute
ing the provisional government. con.
tinued to defy the treaty after the ar.
rival Of the Philadelphia. Admiral
kautz summoned the various cOnsuls
and the senior naval officers to con-
ference on board the Philadelphia,
when the whole situation was care
fully canvassed. The upshot was a
resolution to dismiss the provisional
government, and Admiral Kautz issued
a proclamation calling ON Mataafa and
his chiefs to return to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the town
he had made his headquarters, and
went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at
Apia, issued proclamation supple
menting the one he had issued several
weeks before, upholdng the provision.
al government. As result of this.
the Mataafans assembled in large force
and hemmed in the town.
Ire British cruiser Royalist brought
the Malietoa prisoners from the islands
to which they had been transferred by
the provisional government. The
Americans then fortified Mulinuu,
where $4,000 Malietoans took refuge.
The rebels-the adherents of Mataafa
-barricaded the roads within the
municipality and seized the British
houses. An ultimatum was sent to
them, ordering them to evac-
uate, and threatening them, in
the event OF refusal, with a
bonn bardment, to commence at
O'Clock on the afternoon OF March Is.
This was ignored, and the rebels com.
menced an attack in the direction Of
the United States and British consul.
ates about half an hour before the time
fixed for the bonn bardment.
The Philadelphia, Porpoise and Roy.
alist opened fire upon the distant viii
lagos. There was great difficulty in
locating the enemy, owing to the dense
forest, but several shore villages were
soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Phladel-
phia exploded near the American con-
sulate, and the marines outside mar.
rowly escaped. A fragment struck
the leg Of Private Ridge. shattering it
so badly as to necessitate an amputa-
ton. Another fragment traversed the
German consulate. smashing the
crockery. The Germans then went on
board the German cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made a
hot attack on the town. killing three
British sailors. A British marine was
shot in the ,eg by sentry Of his own
party, another was shot in the foot,
and an American sentry was killed at
his post.
The bombardment continuing. the
inhabitants Of the town took refuge on
board the Royalist, greatly crowding
the vessel. Many people are leaving
Samoa, the captain Of the Royalist urg-
ing them to go so as not to interfere
with the military operations.
The Porpose has shelled the villages
east and west Of Apia, and captured
many boats.
The Americans and British are fight.
ing splendidly together, but there is
bitter feeling against the Germans.
Two men, British and German
subject, have been arrested as spies.
The bombardment Of the jungle was
for time very hot.
The British cruiser Tauranea, which,
it is understood, was intending to an
mex the Tonga islands Ga section of the
Friendly islands, in the Pacltic), was
intercepted at Suva, capital of the Fiji
islands, by order Of the home govern.
ment