Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1899-04-14
SAMOANS IN AMBUSH.
Made an Attack Upon the Forces Of
Americans and British.
Practically at the Mercy
Of the Rebels.
Story That Maiaaia Would Have Surrendered
but For Germanys Consul.

Apia. April 2, via Auckland N D..
April 1S.-A accommodating party made
up of American and British sailors was
ambushed yesterday by a large body OF
Mataafa's warriors, and, after making
most heroic stand. they were compelled
to retreat. leaving three officers and
four men dead on the field.
The allied forces were in charge OF
Lieutenant Freeman of the British
cruiser Tauranga, With him were
Lieutenant P. V. Lansdale and Ensign
]. r. Monaghan of the United States
cruiser Philadelphia. All three officers
were killed. Two American and two
British marines were also killed.
The allied forces numbered about 21l,
and with them were about $50 friend
lies" They had got into the outskirts
of Apia, and were passing through
German plantation, when suddenly they
were fired on from the rear, left and
front.
Several were wounded at the first vol
ley, and the firing was so heavy that a
less gallant band would inevitably have
been demoralized. The "friendlies'
were utterly panic-stricken, and they
bolted and fled.
I The same night the friendlies found
the bodies of all the officers headless.
The bodies were buried with all honors
at Mulinuu on Easter Sunday. Their
heads were subsequently brought in by
some French priests, and the graves
were reopened and the heads buried
with the bodies.
Lieutenants Freeman and Lansdale
were capable and popular officers. The
former was single, and the latter was
married in June. The officers who re-
turned are Lieutenant George e. Cave
of the Porpolse and Lieutenant C. NJ.
Perkins of the Philadelphia.
All behaved splendidly. Lieutenant
Cave took command of the retreat. Cap
tain Sturdee Of the Porpolse was away
on an expedition with his cruiser, and
Gaunts brigade was also absent on
duty
The loss Of the enemy is not known,
but probably so of the rebels were killed
and many were wounded. The bodies
| of three rebels were found near the
spot where Lieutenant Lansdale and
Ensign Monaghan of the Philadelphia
were killed The priests buried SO
| other rebels, and much blood was seen
| on the road over which the Mataafans
| had been dragging away their dead and
wounded. There were also pools of
blood behind the cocoanut trees, the
bullets from the American and British
rifles going right through the thick
trees and killing men hiding behind
them. Some of the rebels fired from
the tops of cocoanut palms. The -rabslss
opened FIRE near the town yesterday
evening.
1t is now proposed to summon another
warship, to distribute more arms among
the friendlies and to import additional
friendlies from Tutulea. It is also
suggested that troops might be obtained
from New Zealand or Sydney, New South
! Wales.
If a sufficient quantity of arms could
be obtained. about 1000 friendlies could
be used against the Mataafans. But
they are not brave, and have not shown
fighting qualities excepting those with
Gaunts brigade and that force may not
accomplish much.
Admiral Kautz, Captain White of the
Philadelphia and the American men and
officers generally have earned golden
opinions, as have Captains Stuart and
Sturdee of the British navy They are
doing everything possible, and every one
recognizes better men could not be han
ding the situation.
The Samoans say Mataafa, on three
occasions, had resolved to surrender, but
Consul Rose advised him not to do so,
and he now says he will never give in,
but will fight to the death.
Lieutenant Philip Lanhorn Lansdale
was born in the District of Columbia.
Feb. Is, 1855. and entered the naval acad-
envy June s, 1873. He graduated in 1873
and was promoted ensign in 1881, and
after duty at the Washington navy yard
was transferred to the Philadelphia in
June, $780, He was made lieutenant.
junior grade, in 1898. He was in charge
of the caravels at the Worlds fair in
Chicago, and after receiving his full lieu
tenancy, was a short time on the bat
tleship Massachusetts. In June, 1896,
he was ordered to the Philadelphia.
Ensign John r. Monahan was appoint
ed to the Naval academy as a cadet from
the state of Washington, entering An
napolis on Sept, z. 1891. He graduated
and was made an ensign in July. 1891,
being assigned to the Philadelphia, to
which vessel he was attached up to the