The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-13
After a Desperate Battle the
Sailors Reiterated.
THE AFFAIR MAY END IN WAR
The Farmer Arrested Charged
With Abetting the Ambush.
GERMANS ACCUSED OF TREACHERY
English Newspapers Indulge in Bitter
Comment on the Matter.
HAsTY CONFERENCES HELD
n Washington, and Congressman Hull
Summarizes the Situation as War
or Disavowal by Germany of
Her Consul's Actions
English Newspapers Indulge in Bitter
Comment on the Matter.
HAsTY CONFERENCES HELD

Auckland, N T., April 12.-Dispatches ar
rived here today from Apia, Samoa, dated
April 1, saying that a party of 105 Ameri-
can and British sailors were forced to ie-
treat to the beach after having been
caught in ambush on a German plantation
on that date.
The expedition was led by Lieutenant A.
H. Freeman, of the British third-class
cruiser Tauranga-
Lieutenant Freeman and Lieutenant
Lansdale, of the United States cruiser
Philadelphia, and Ensign ]. R. Monahan,
of the United States cruiser Philadelphia,
were left dead on the field Ensign
Monahan remained to assist Lieutenant
Lansdale and was shot in retiring.
Two British and two American sailors
were also killed.
The natives engaged were some CT
Mataafa's warriors, about 800 in number.
They severed the heads of the British and
American officers who were killed.
Heads Brought to- >Apia
Priests of the French mission afterwards
brought the heads into Apia-
The manager of the German planta-
tion has been arrested and detained on
board the Tauranga, on affidavits de-
claring that he was seen urging the
rebels to fight.
Mataafa's loss was forty killed and a
number wounded, these being carried off
the field by the rebels when they re-
tired. In previous engagement Mataafa
lost twenty-seven killed, while the Euro
peans escaped without injury.
The bodies of Lansdale. Monahan and
Freeman as we'll as those of the unfortu-
nate marines, were buried with military
honors In Mulinu.
There is constant fighting with the ma
tives around Apia and the life of no one
on the island is SAFE
Continued Their Depredations
Further advices from Apia say that on
the arrival of the British cruiser Tauranga
at Apia, the British and American consuls
issued proclamation to give Mataafa
last chance, and the French priests also
used their influence, but all efforts failed
and the rebels continued their depredations.
Property was destroyed and bridges and
roads were barricaded. On March 20 the
enemy was sighted at Maguigf and machine
guns and a seven-pounder were used The
Friendlies attacked the enemy during
the latter's retreat. and several rebels were
killed and wounded.
The Friendliee carried one head through
Gus that he went to the king and threaten
ed to shoot any man found taking heads.
The king then issued proclamation forbid
ding the practice.
The German consul wrote to Admiral
Kautz asking IL two great Christian ma
tions approved of these barbarous prac-
tices against the laws Of Christianity and
the decree of the supreme court.
Kautz Rebukes Herr Rose
I'D al Sxx-ftb ha
consul as to the inhumanity of the practice.
and pointed out that had the German con-
sui upheld the decree of the supreme court
of January there would have been no
bloodshed: that that 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 con-
sui of the great Christian Germany is now
supporting.
Expeditions in armed cutters belonging
to the Tauranga and Porpoise are doing
considerable execution against Mataafan
strongholds along the coast. The British
forces are being assisted by 100 Samoans.
About forty-six of Mataafa's boats and
several villages have been destroyed. In
the meantime flying columns are being sent
daily along the roads.
In the ambush of April the rebel force
opened fire on the rear. left flank and front
of the Anglo-American force. The Friend
lies accompanying the party, bolted, but
the marines and blue Jackets stood their
ground spendidly, Americans and British
firing shoulder to shoulder.
At the Mercy of the Rebels
The Colt automatic gun with the landing
party became jammed and the Americans
and British were repeatedly at the mercy
OF the rebels But retreat" was sounded
three times before the marines and blue
jackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel r, Freeman, of the
Tarranga, who was in command of the
allied forces, was shot through the heart
Lieutenant Philip Lansdale, of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia, had his leg
shattered while endeavoring to fix the jam
med gun.
Seaman Hunt, of the British cruiser Por-
poise, had an extraordinary escape. He re-
manned with Lieutenant Lansdale until
clubbed over the head and knocked sense
less.
The blue Jackets revived as the natives