Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-16
THE M0A DISASTER
KAUTZ's REPORT on KILLING OF
AMERICANS AND BRITISH.
HIGH CONTEMPLATION OF LONG.
No Doubt About the Fact That
Monaghan Acted In Manner Most
Heroic-The Obstinate Gun Cause
OF Defeat.

WASHINGTON. d. c., May 15.-Secre-
taTy Long to-day made public 50 much
Of recent report from Admiral KautZ
upon Samoan affairs as touches the kill
Ing Of a number Of American sailors by
the Mataafa adherents near Apia on the
LIST Of April.
The report H. an elaboration Of the de-
vcr!ption of the affair which was cabled
at the time by the Associated Press from
Auckland. No mention is made at any
point Of the reported participation in the
ARRAY Of the German, Hufnagle, the man
ager of the plantation where the fight
occurred. 1t is shown that the failure
Of the Colt gun to work properly was. in
large measure. the cause of the American
and British defeat
Admiral Kautz says the expedition was
projected by Captain Sturdee Of the Por-
poise. For several nights preceding the
sentries had been fired upon by the ma
lives. and IL became necessary to drive
the asgressors away. Admiral Kautz says
that IL was the opinion of all the
officers who had the matter in charge that
the force was ample TO do the work
out along the beach and return the same
way under the protection Of the guns of
H. Nj. ,. ROyalist 1t is safe TO say, says
the Admiral, that after Leutenants Free
man and Lansdale had conferred together.
they did what they deemed best under the
circumstances and The disaster that fol-
lowed could not be foreseen
CONTAMINATION OF LONG.
Admiral Kautz appends the reports of
the surviving officers Of the expedition.
which were transmitted by Captain White.
OF the Philadelphia. IN his letter of trans
initial the Captain commends in the
strongest terms tho work Of Passed AS
sistant Surgeon G. 4 Long. He says:
AT mes. when the fire from the con-
cealed tives was thickest and at all
Times lS MS example, he encouraged the
young a1d inexperienced men 10 the pro-
per performance of duty. on the COM
pletion of the work of his profession he
assumed command of our blue-iackets
and marched them 10 the United States
consulate"
Captain White describes at some length
the happenings of April 1st as gathered
from close examination of the petty
onicers and men engaged IN the fight
lie says that several excursions had been
made into the beach back OF Apia during
The last ten days of March. Very few
natives had been observed, and when seen
they always fled when fired upon by the
Colt automatic gun. Lieutenant Lans-
dale set great store by the gun. and
frequently operated IL himself Says Cap
tain White:
DEPENDENCE on THE GUN.
"He appears 20 have depended greatly
upon the gun when the party was am
bdShed on April LIST. Twice 1t failed to
work. and time was lost in overhaulng
II. and great delay was consumed I'm try
ing TO get 1t through the wire fences. Lieu
tenant Lansdale was loath TO abandon it.
but the fire was 50 calling that be-
fore be was wounded he was compelled
20 scatter the important parts and leave
II behind. Prudence led him to deplov
his men N open order. The thicket was
so dense that after the order for retreat
was sounded IL was not possible for the
groups 20 render each other mutual SUI
port.
'Iansdale was wounded below the knee
sooa after the Colt was abandoned. and
rendered incapable Of marching He was
assisted by his men. One of them. n. +.
Edsan, ordinary seaman, was mortally
wounded while aiding him. Ii is not clear
when Mr. Lansdale received the wound
in his chest.
MONAGHANS HERIOSM
1T Is in evidence most clear that when
Ensign Monaghan discovered that Lieu
tenant I.ansdale was wounded. he used
his best endeavors TO convey him to the
rear, and. Selling a rife from a disabled
man. made a brave defence, but undoubt-
edly ne Ien very shortly after Joining
him, and the hostiles, flushed with sue
cess, bore down on our men in their
Vicinity The men were not IN sufficient
numbers to hold out any longer. and they
were forced along by a file which it was
impossible to withstand Ensign Monag-
han did stand. He stood steadfast by his
wounded superior and friend; one rife
against many--one brave man against 4
score Of sayagss. He knew he was DOOM
ed. lie could not yield. He died In the
heroic performance Of duty.
THE number OF cartridges fired by each
OF the biue-jackets averaged thirty From
what appears 10 be reliable authority.
forty % the assailants were Killed and
fifty wounded. This Information was OBJ
tanned several days after the engagement.
Whenever our men could get cover they
furncd and fred
The British story of the AFFAIR is told
briefly ~ Lieutenant q. L. Cave, in an