The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-30
Copyright 1899 by Associated Press

Copyright 1899 by Associated Press.
Apia. Samoan Islands. March 23. via
Auckland, n T., March 29.-The trou-
bles growing out of the election of a
king of Samoa have taken a more SER
ious turn and resulted in the lombard
ment of native villages along the shore
by the United States cruiser Philadel-
phia. Admiral Kautz commanding, and
the British cruisers Porpoise and Roy
alist, The bombardment had continued
intermittently for eight days. Several
villages have haen burned and there
have been a number of casualties
among the American and British sailors
and marines. As yet it is impossible to
estimate the number of natives killed
or injured.
As Mataafa and his chiefs, constitut-
ing the provisional government, contin-
ued to defy the treaty after the arrival
of the Philadelphia. Admiral Kautz
summoned the various consuls and the
senior naval officers to a conference on
board the Philadelphia. when the who,e
situation was carefully canvassed The
upshot was a resolution to dismiss the
provisional government, and Admiral
kautz issued a proclamation calling on
Mataafa and his chiefs to return to
their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Muinuu, the
town he had made his headquarters,
and went into the interior. Herr Rose,
the German consul at Apia, issued
proclamation supplementing the one
he had issued several weeks before, up
holding the provisional government. AS a
result of this the Mataafans assembled
in large force and hemmed in the town.
The British cruiser Royalist brought the
Maletoa prisoners from the islands to
which they had been transferred by the
provisional government.
The Americans then fortified Mulinuu.
where $4,000 Malietoans took refuge.
The rebels--the adherents of Mataafa-
barricaded the roads within the muni-
cipality and seized the British houses.
An ultimatum was sent to them order
ing them to eracuate. and threatening
them. in the event of refusal. with a
bombardment to commence at l o'clock
on the afternoon of March Is. This was
ignored, and the rebels began an attack
in the direction of the United States
and British consulates about half an
hour before the time fixed for the bonn
bardment. The Philadelphia. POrpoise
and Royalst opened fire upon the dis
tant villages. There was great diff
Guilty in locating the enemy, owing to
the dense forest, but several shore viii
lagos We're soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadel-
phia exploded near the American con-
sulate and the marines outside narrowly
escaped. A fragment struck the leg
of Private Rudge, shattering it so badly
as to neceSsitate an amputatlon. An
other fragment traversed to the German
consulate, smashing the crockery. The
Germans then went on board the Ger
man cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made
hot attack on the town. killing three
British sailors. A British marine was
shot in the leg by a sentry of his own
party: another was shot in the foot and
an American sentry was killed at his
post.
The bombardment continuing, the in
habitants of the town took refuge en-
board the Royalist, greatly croWding
the vessel Many people are leaving
Samoa the captain of the Royalist urS
ing them to go 50 as not to interfere
with the military operations.
The Porpoise has shelled the villages
east and west of Apia and captured
many boats The Americans and Brit
ish are fighting splendidly together, but
there is a bitter feeling against the Ger
mans. Two men, ii British and Ger
man subject. have been arrested as
spies,
The bomhardment of the jungle was
for a time very hot.
The British cruiser Turanga, which it
is understood was intending to annex
the Tonga islands "a section of the
Friendly islands in the Pacific was
intercepted a Suva capital of the Fiji
isla nds, by order of the home govern
mGnt,