The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-02
Account Given by william Hall,
d ADla.
STRATEGY CT THE NATIVES
Fatal Conflict of April First
Death Met IN Retreat-TraveIer
a Man OF Much interest

has gold mine in the klondike and
fishing, copra and cocoa interests In
Samoa. was a passenger by the Mo-
ana- The man OF varied and widely
separated businesses only left Apla TO
take advantage OF the season for travel
into the Klondike. Mr.. Hall was an
active participant In all OF the recent
stirring events in the disordercd ter
Titory OF the South. This Is the tes-
timonial Hall has from Capt. White, Of
the u. $. S Philadelphia:
u. s. Consulate General, Apia Samoa,
April 18th, 1899.
take pleasure in testifying TO the
service performed by Mr.. William Hail
who has acted as Interpreter for this
Consulate for the past month, durns
the progress OF the war in Samoa
axains the rebel King Mataafa.
In addition TO his official duty as in
terpreter, which he has performed
faithfully and satisfactorily. he has
rendered most important and valuable
service in voluntarily accompanying
nearly every scouting and reconnoit.
ering expedition sent up against the
hostiles. and otherwise making him
self useful. His services on II. VI. s
"Royalist." April 1st. in plotting her
and directing her where to shell ahead
of the Britlsh-American expedition
which was sent up that day. I regard
as OF particular value and cheerfully
commend him for his pluck and gem
eral usefulness.
e. ". PERKINS.
First Lieutenant H. s. NJ, Command
ing Consular Guard.
Endorsement:
Mr. Hall was employed By me- as Of
fcial Interpreter to the officer in
charge OF troops at the United States
Consulate and merits the within let
ter from that officer.
EDWIN WHITE.
Captain u. s. Navy.
Commanding L. S. s. Philadelphia
Apla, Samoa.
2lst April, 1899.
Mr.. Hall speaks in glowing terms OF
the strength and good fellowship OF
the British-American union in Samoa.
He tells proudly OF the bravery OF all
in the actions OF March 81 and April !.
On many days OF the fighting Mr.. Hall
was in the field as a scout he having
perfect familiarity with the island. Al
the time OF the disaster to the small
combined forces, Mr. Hall was aboard
the British ship Royallst as pilot 70:
the proposed water operations. lie had
been called to this duty from an as
signment as guide for one of the re-
cOnnoitering parties of the early morn
ing.
II Is shown by Halls statements and
an official map In his possession that
the Britishers, Americans and friendly
Samoans on April We're caught in the
brush by strategy OF decent order on
the part OF the Mataafa warriors. The
latter number 5000 armed men. The
leader is a skilled fighter. He Is, ac-
cOrding to Mr.. Hall, following pre-
cisely the campaigning OF the Fillpin-
Us. The battling Samoans build en-
trenchmcnlS and place themselves on
the defensive entirely. II they can
draw the British and Americans into
the interior short distance the dis
advantage to the invaders Is great
Fighting was still in progress when
Mr.. Hall left and he thought il likely
" IbT Bpllt llIlt. Uf bT'l-
ish and Americans are organizing
friendly natives for use In the field.
The little army which suffered the
soss OF two American and one British
officers and a number OF men made
good progress and was doing heavy
damage till the double mistake was
made of going into the jungle and und
ercstimating the opposing lorce. Up
on the FIRST notice OF what appeared 20
be considerable party OF the enemy,
the men from the ships established
line OF battle. The story of the Jam.
ming OF the small field gun Is well
known. The hostlles had concentrated
In front OF the advancing party. rhe
fire became so hot that Lansdale and
Freeman and their men were compelled
to fall back II was in the retreat that
loss OF life occurred. The Britishers
and Americans fell back slowly against
fire, but We're soon nanked on both
sides. In addition. the natives had
sharpshooters in the tall cocoanut
trees and these men did not a little OF
the shooting.
II appears that there was some de-
feet In the arrangement for action on
the part OF the British ship ROyalist.
At any rate she was not sgnalled for
assistance til after the night When
men who were sent to communicate %
with the Royalist reached shore they
found themselves. without the neces-
sary flags. One OF the men had two
large native fans that he had found in
a hut, The ship was wigwaggcd with
theve The flags We're photographed
later and IN the picture appears this
statement:
These fans, taken from the hostile
village LetOnga by the Brltish-Amerl
can expedition, Saturday, April lst
1888, were used q short dime afterwlrd
when the column, after being am,
bnshed and defeated, reached the shore
naar faglil, 10 signal 10 H. N, s, Roy,
alist TO send armed boats 20 our relief
and shell the enemy
The prompt firing Of the Royalst IL
answer % this signal saved the col
nmn probably from pursuit. and mas
sacne The Loss In KILLED aud wounde,
IN this hsht numbered fifteen, iuclud