Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-11
THE SITUATION IN SAMOA
"All is Quiet at Apia," Says Admiral
Kautz in an OflCial Cablesram.
A TRUCE HAS BEEN AGREED UPON
Fighting Suspended Pending
Commission's Meeting.
MAY Be DEVELOPMENTS IN TWO WEEKS

Auckland. N. T., May 4. Advices
from Apia, Samoa, TO April 9th, state
that the rebels loss by the Smelling Of
the Mataafan stronghold ut Vailima by |
the warshps of Great Britain and the
United States was heavy. Many of the
rebels were wounded. The house in
which the late Robert Louis Stevenson
lived was riddled with shot.
On April 22d, there was sharp |
skirmish between rebels and Lieut.. X. |
a. Gaunt's brigade, near the town of
Vailima. In this engagement, ono
Wataafan was killed. The lines Of the
friendlies were attacked in the dark
moss at two points, but none of them
was killed.
On April 23d, there was some bush
| fighting. Lieut.. Gaunt's brigade, num-
bering 300 men, advanced under hot
| fire. The enemy lost several men, the
bodies of the dead being dragged away.
| Of tho friendlies, one was killed. and
three were wounded. The British lieu
! tenants Innes, Hickman, Shutter and
| Heathcote-u Lieut.. Gaunt, led
/ the loyalists.
The New Zealand government steamer
| Tutanekai has arrived at Apia, with
| dispatches announcing the request of
| the international peace commissioners
that the inhabitants peacefully await
their arrival from San Francisco. A
meeting of the three consuls, in view
of this message, was held, but without
result, the German consul dissenting
from the propositions of the other two
consuls.
Admiral Albert Kautz, U. S. N, and
CAPT. Stuart of the British cruiser
NJ, Il 4.l,l
through French priest, to Mataafa,
ordering him TO withdraw his forces
outside of line 10 miles long and six
miles broad. Mataafa replied defiantly,
refusing to Withdraw. unless the Ger
man consul and the captain of the Ger
man cruiser Fake agreed. Admiral
Kautz and Capt. Stuart then sent an
ultimatum to Mataafa, threatening to
compel the withdrawal of his forces.
In support of this ultimatum, a plan
of action was decided upon. Lieut..
: Gaunt's brigade was strengthened, and
heavy gun was landed at Mulinu, and
war rockets were gotten in readiness.
Being informed of these preparations,
Mataafa made prompt reply, agreeing
to Withdraw Immediately. On April
25th, an important meeting of the King
,, and his chiefs was held. They were
! informed Of the action that had been
taken by the British and American
naval commanders, and gave it genera
approval. Lieut.. Gaunt's brigade is
now patrolliDg the prescribed area.
King Tanu visited Admiral Kautz ano
: Capt Stuart. on board the American
= and English ships, respectively. ane
I was received with the customary
: salutes ON his arrival and departure
! Hugnagel, the manager of the plan
tation on which an attack was made oi
British and American sailors, resultin,
in tho death of Lieut.. Freeman of TIL,
British navy, Lieut.. Lansdaie and En-
: sign John R. Monaghan of the United
. States cruiser Philadelphia and tw,
others, is still detained on board tn
German cruiser Fake. The gun car
! riage from the Philadelphia, whicl
: was lost at the time of the engagement
n has been recovered, but the gun is still
! in the hands of tho rebels.
Officials and leading residents Q
Samoa, who have been interviewed, al
!, unite in saying that the charges of in
humanity on the part of the British
!, which were made by man name
!, Laroch, are untrue.
A majority of the inhabitants M
highly dissatisfied with the cessatio
of hostilities. They say that Mataaf
is beaten now, and that the troubl
would all be ended in week or 10 day
7 were tho advantage pursued. TIL
: rebels are delighted at the delay, whic
will give them time to refill cartridp
shells and build more forts. 1t is tt
4, general opinion that the islands will |
uninhabitahle, except for Germans an
: Frenchmen, unless Mataafa and I'll
rebel chiefs are severely punished.
!, Ii is doubtful if British or America
a. subjects viii give much evidence befo
= the International Commission, owir
Il, to fear that to express themselves cal
~ didly would interfere with trade rel
ho tions. For this reason, the eyiden,
Il ~ before the commission is likely to
H. one-sided.
~ ~ The statement by the German Mini
1n to Ter for Foreign Affairs, Baron w
~ n Buelow, that Mataafa was unanimous
4 elected King of the Samoan Islands,
~ ~ denied in Samoa.
~ The rebels admit that tho result
70 tho battle at Vailima was the create
NJ reverse they have ever experience
Nv ~ They were astonished by the manner
~ which Gaunt's brigade sustained
N position in the face of a continue
~. fire. They were also astonished at q
'ed final Smelling of Vailima, by whi
he many of the rebels were badly wounde