The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-14
British American Reconnoiuering Party Am
bushed by Samoans.
THREE NAVAL OFFICERS KILLED
Plantation Overwhelming
Force of
of the Ame and the British
d.-The German Farmer Under Arres on
British warship- mculte o Samoan
Increa

away on an expedition with his cruiser
and Gaunt's brigade was also absent
on duty.
HEAVY LOSS OF THE ENEMY.
The loss of the enemy is not known,
but probably fifty of the rebels were
killed and many were wounded.
The bodies of three rebels were found
/ near the spot where Lieutenant Lans-
; dale and Ensign Monaghan of the Phil
! adelphia were killed. The priests bu-
ried thirty-eight 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
(! thick tarees and killing men hiding be-
( hind them. Some of the rebels fired
! from the tops of cocoanut palms.
The rebels opened fire near the town
! last evening.
| II is now proposed to sum-
| mon another warship to distribute
| more arms among the friendlies and to
| import additional friendlies from Tutu-
| lea.
| It is suggested that troops might be
obtained from New Zealand or Sydney
! New South Wales. If sufficient guam
| tity 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 Gaunt's brigade
and that force may not accomplish
! much.
! Admiral KautZ, Captain z. w. White,
| of the Philadelphia, and the American
| men and officers generally have earned
!; golden opinions, as have Captains Stu
, art and Sturdee, of the British navy.
/! They are doing everything possible and
every one recognizes that better men
could not be handling the situation.
The Samoans say Mataafa on three
| occasions, had resolved to surrender,
| but the German consul, Herr Rose, ad-
| vised him not to do so, and he now
| says he will never give in, but will
| fight to the death.
LIEUTENANT LANSDALE.
| Lieutenant Philip Van Horn Lans-
| dale was born in the district of Co.
| lumbia, February 18th, 1885, and enter
| ed the naval academy June g. 1873 He
| graduated in 1878 and was promoted
ensign in 1881, and after duty at the
| Washington navy yard was transferred
| to Philadelphia in June 1890. He was
| made lieutenant, junior grade, in 1893.
| He was in charge of the caravals at the
| worlds fair in Chicago, and after re-
| ceiving his full lieutenancy was a short
time on the battleship Massachusetts,.
In June 1895 he was ordered to the
Philadelphia.
ENSIGN MONAGHAN.
Ensign John r. Monaghan was ap-
pointed to the naval academy as a
| cadet from the state of Washington,
| entering Annapolis on September Z,
1891. He graduated and was made an
ensign in July, 1897, being assigned to
the Philadelphia, to which vessel he
| was attached up to the time of his
| death.
Sydney, N. S. W., April 13.-The Brit
ish cruiser Wallaroo and the British
gunboat Goldfinch have been ordered
to proceed to Samoa.
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, April 12.-The acute sit
prehension among the officials during
the early day in Washington. but the
conclusion was reached as the de-
partments closed that the situation is
one that will yield to sensible and cool
| treatment, if all the parties to the Ber-
lin treaty are sincere in an effort to
prevent further trouble AS put by a
cabinet officer, the killing Of the sailors
has not materially changed the general
problem, though it has undoubtedly
added to the difficulty of dealing with
the specific situation.
| The only official news received touch.
ing the last incident was obtained il
the following cablegram from Admiral
Kautz:
Auckland, N. T., April II.
| Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
ION April 1st while the combined
forces of the British and the United
States. under Lieutenant Freeman, OF
the British navy, were accommodating
near Apia, they were ambushed. Deep
ly regret to announce the death OF
Lieutenant Philip V. Landslide, En-.
sign John r. Monaghan, Cockswair
| James Butler, Ordinary Seaman Nor
man Edsal, and five men wounded be.
longing to the Philadelphia. The Brit.
ish loss in killed was two men and
Lieutenant Freeman. KAUTZ."
| Secretary Long said that no addi.
tional instructions were to be sent by
him to the admiral. The secretary OF
state, however, has been told that he i:
at liberty to forward any instruction
to the admiral that he may deem
necessary, but that il he concludes tC
do SO, he must act Immediately, as the
mail steamer leaves the nearest cable
point for Apia tomorrow.
The Philadelphia was short-handet
Tor officers before the loss OF I4ieuten
ant Landsdale and Ensign Monaghan
! and the department today promptly
; sent telegraphic orders to Mare Islan(
to dispatch some officers to recruit tn,
. force. Lieutenant Scheutze goes ou
as executive officer, with Lieutenan
w. s. Huges, Lieutenant Schofeld anl
Lieutenant Hetherington. Surgeon
Steel is ordered from the New Yorl
navy yard to the Philadelphia. All o.
these officers are expected to take th,
mail steamer on the 18th instant fol
Apia.
BREACH BETWEEN ENGLAND
AND GERMANY WIDENING.
/, The diDlomatie negotiaf fiops of RI,