The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-12
AGREES TO a TRUCE.
Mataafa to Await Action Of the
Samoan Commission.
The German Consul, In Spite OF In.
structions, Again Displays His
IN Hostility-Details Of Re.
cent Engagements.

Washington, May 5.-The following
cablegram has just been received at the
navy department from Admiral Kautz:
Auckland. May -sub-date. Apia.
April N.-secretary Navy. Washington:
All quiet at Apia. Mataafa and his chief
agreed to keep outside lines pre-
scribed by British senior officer present.
and and to - until commits
(signed) "KAUTZ."
The cablegram was mutilated in
transmission over the cables and in the
process of resolving the cipher. Its
meaning is plain to the naval officials as
confirming the press report that truce
has been agreed upon in Samoa and
there will be no more hostilities pend
ing the reaching of a conclusion by the
commissionenow- on the way to the is
lands and due there in about two weeks.
Recent Fighting.
Auckland, N. T., May 5.-Advices re-
ceived here from Apia, Samoa, to April
q, state that the rebel loss by the she'll
ing of the Mataafan stronghold at
Vailima by the warships of Great
Britain and the United States was quite
heavy. Many of the rebels were wound
ed. The house in which the late Robert
Louis Stevenson lived was riddled with
shot.
On April % there was a sharp slxir-
'mish between rebels and Lieut.. r. A..
Gaunt's brigade near the town of
Vailima. In this engagement one Ma
taafan was killed. The lines of the
fr1endlies were attacked in the dark
ness at two points, but none of them
were killed.
On April % there was some BUSH
fighting. Lieut.. Gaunt's brigade, num-
bering 900 men, advanced under a hot
fire. The enemy lost several men, the
bodies of the dead being dragged away.
OF the friendlies, one was killed and
three were wounded. The British lieu
tenants, lines, Hickman, Shuler and
Heathcote, under Lieut.. Gaunt, led the
loyalists.
German Consuls Opposition.
The New Zealand government steam.
er Tutanekai had 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 re-
suit, the German coNsul dissenting
from the propositions of the other two
consuls.
Mataafa Forced to Yield.
Admiral Albert Kautz, U. S. n, and
i Capt. Stuart, of the British cruiser
Tauranga, wrote and dispatched
through a French priest to Mataafa
ordering him to withdraw his forces
outside of a line ten miles long and six
miles broad. Mataafa replied defantly
refusing to withdraw unless the Ger.
man consul and the captain of the Ger
man cruiser Fake agreed. Admiral
Kautz and Capt. Stuart thereupon 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.
Not UNDERWOOD.
Washington, May 5. - An official
statement is made at the German en-
bassy that strict instructions were
given to the German consul at Apia,
Samoa, to join with his colleagues
American and British, in a proclama-
ton for the suspension of hostilities IN
til the arrival of the Samoan commits
sion. Under these circumstances, the
officials are at loss to account for the
press reports coming via Auckland that
the Germans refuse to join in the
proclamation, and are inclined to at
tribute it to anti-German influences.
The proclamation was to be addressed
to the natives, and as the American,
British and German representatives
were to issue the proclamation, all par
ties in interest, native and foreign,
would be reached by the proclamation.
Did Great Damage.
Sioux City, Ia, May 4.-Defnite re-
ports regarding losses caused by prai-
RE fires in South Dakota which are
coming in show that hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars If DAMAGE was done