Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-13
(By Telegraph to Virglnian-Pilot.)


Auckland. New Zealand. April r.
Dispatches received here from Apia,
Samoa, April /, say that party of l05
American and British sailors were
forced to retreat to the beach. after
having been caught in an ambush on a
German plantation that day. The eX-
Iedtion was led by Lieutenant "A. ii.
Freeman. Of the British third clnss
cruier Tauranga. Lieutenant Freeman
and Lieutenant T. l.. LnnsGale and En-
sign J. r. Monaghan, both Of the
United states cruiser Philadelphia,
were left dead on the field.
Ensign Monaghan remained to assist
Lieutenant Lansdalc, and was shot in
retiring.
Two British and two American sail
ors were also killed.
BEHEADED THE DEAD.
The natives engaged were some of
Mataafas warriors estimated at 500,
They severed the heads OF tho British
and American officers killed. Priests OF
the French mission afterward brought
the heads Into Apla.
The manager of the German planta-
ton has been arrested and detained on
board the Tauranga. on a!lldavts de-
rebels to fight.
In u previous engagement twenty
seven Of Mataafa's warriors were kill
cd. There were 10 casualties among
the European forces.
NATIVES ATTACK NATIVES.
Further advices from Apia say that
on the arrival of the British cruiser
TCuranga at Apia the British and
American consulS issued a proclana-
tipu n viNr y chance nd
that the French priests also used their
influence. but all efforts failed and the
rebels continued their Expectations.
Property was destroyed and bridges
and roads were barricadcd. On March
90 the enemy was sighted at Maguigi,
and machine Guns and II seven pound
CT were used. The fricnGlics also at
tackled tho enemy during the lattcrs
retreat and several rebels were killed
or Wounded The friendlics carried one
head through Apia. which made Cap
tain Stuart so furinns-thnt he-lycnt o
the king and threatened to shoot any
man found taking heads. The king
then Issued a proclamation fOrbiddng
the practices.
GERMAN CONSUL AROUSED.
The German Consul wrote to Admit
raj KautZ asking IL two great Chris
tian nations approved of this inhuman
and barharous practice against the
laws of Christianity. and the decree of
the Supreme Court.
a TART REPLY.
Tho Admiral renlied. 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 Christian
nation Germany. is now supporting."
1T Is WAR IN EARNEST.
Expeditions In armed cutters belong
Ing to the Tauranga and Porpoise arc
doing considerable execution against
Mataafa's strongholds along the coast.
The British forces are being assisted
by one hundred Samoans. About forty
six of Mataafa's boats ana several viii
lagos have been destroyed. In the
meantime. flying columns are being
sent daily along the roads and through
the bush near Apia.
On April n force of 21i British and
Americans and $50 friendlcs were sur
prised in ambush at the German plan
tation of Vaslelo. The rebel force
opened fire on the rear. left flank. and
front of the Anglo force. The
frendlies boiled but the marines and
blue Jackets stood their ground splend-
idly. Americans and British firing
shoulder to shoulder.
a STUBBORN RETREAT.
The Colt automatic gun with the
landing party became jammed and the
Americans and British were practically
ut the mercy of the rebels. But ere
treat was sounded three times before
the marines and blue Jackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel II. Freeman. FIRST
lieutenant of the Tauranga, who was In
command of the allied forces, was shot
through the heart.
Lieutenant Philip Won Horn Lans-
dale. Of the United States cruiser Phil
ndelphia. had his leg shattered while
endeavorinE to fix the damned gun.
AN EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.
Seaman Hunt of the British cruiser
Porpoise. had an extraordinary es-
cape. He remained with Lieutenant
Lansdale until dubbed over the head
and knocked senseless. The blue Jacket
revided as the natives were cutting or
his right ear. At this juncture a shell
from the British cruiser Royalist burst