The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-19
is WAR IN SAMOA
American and British Officers
Killed
LIEUT. LANSDALE A VICTIM
Rebellious Natives Ambush the
Combine Forces-Officiai
Report Made.

AUCKLAND, n. T., April 12.-Dis-
patches received here from Apia, Sa-
moa, dated April 1, say that a party
of 105 American and British sailors
were forced to retreat to the beach
after having been caught in an am
bush on a German plantation On that
date. The expedition was led by Lieu
tenant Freeman of the British third
class cruiser Tauranga. Lieutenant
Freeman and Lieutenant p L. Lans-
dale of the United States cruiser Phila-
delphia, with Ensign ]. R. Monaghan,
also of the United States cruiser Phila-
delphia, We're left dead ON the field.
Ensign Monaghan remained to assist
Lieutenant Lansdale and was shot
while retiring
Two British and two American sail
ors were also killed
The natives engaged were some of
Mataafa's warriors. They severed the
heads of the British and American
officers killed from the bodies. Priests
of the French mission afterwards
brought the heads into Apia.
The manager of the German planba-
tion has been arrested and detair ed
ON board the Tauranga ON affidayits
declaring that he was seen urglng the
rebels to fight
In a previous engagement twenty
seven of Mataafa's warriors were kill
ed and there were no casualties among
the European forces
1t is estimated that about 500 war
riors attacked the Anglo-American
party from ambush.
AUCKLAND, April 12.-Dispatches
from Samoa give further particulars
of the late tragical collision in Sa-
moa AIS follows:
On April 1 a force of 214 British and
Americans and 80 friendlies were sur
prised in ambush at the German PLAN
tation of Vaslao. The rebel force
opened fire ON the rear left flank and
front of the Anglo-American force.
The friendlies bolted, but the marines
and bluejackets stood their ground
splendidly, Americans and British fir
ing shoulder to shoulder. The Colt
automatic gun with the landing party
became jammed and the Americans
and British were practically at the
mercy of the rebels But retreat" was
sounded three times before the marines
and bluejackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel H. Freeman, first
lieutenant of the Tauranga, who was
N III Of tho a1linI
shot through the heart. Lieutenant
Philip Van Horn, u. S. N, had his leg
shattered while endeavoring to fix the
iammed gun. Seaman Hunt of the
British ship Porpoise remained with
Lieutenant Lansdale until clubbed over
the head and knocked senseless. The
revived as the natives were
cutting off his right ear, and were
turning him over in order to cut off
his left ear. At this juncture a shell
from the British cruiser Royaiist burst
on the battlefield, soaring the rebels,
and Hunt succeeded in escaping to the
beach, although severely stabbed in
one foot. The same night the friend
hes fouL the bodies of all the officers,
headless. The bodies were buried with
all honors at Mulinuu ON Easter Sun
day Their heads were Subsequently
brought in by some French priests and
the graves were reopened and the
heads buried with the bodies.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-The fol-
lowing dispatch from Admiral Kautz
has been received:
auckland, \. H., April f2.-Secre-
tary of War, Washington: On April
1st. while the combined forces OF the
United States and Brit sh. under Lieu |
tenant Freeman of the British navy, |
were entering Apia they were ambush |
ed. l deeply regret to announce the |
death OF Lieutenant Philip B. Lansdale, |
Ensign John r. Monaghan, Coxswain |
James Butler and Ordinary Seaman !
Edsal. and also that five men were |
wounded who belong to the Philadel- |
ohia. The British loss in killed was
,wo men and Lieutenant Freeman.
AUCKLAND, n. T.. April.12, 9 A. NJ.
Further advices from Apia. Samoa.
;ay that on the arrival of the British
cruiser Taurarga at Apia the British |
md American Consuls issued a procla-
nation to give Mataafa last chance.
md that the French priests also used
heir influence, but all efforts failed
md the rebels continued their depre-
lationS. Property was destroyed and