The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-04-06
TROUBLE IN SAMOA
American and British War.
ships Bombard Villages.
GERMANS CAUSED THE FIGHTING
- Dispsrse-Consul Rose Up.
held the Rebels.

Apia, Samoan Islands, via Auckland,
N. T., March 31.-The troubles grow.
ing out Of the election of q king OF
Samoa have taken more serious turn
and resulted in the bombardment Of
native villages along the shore by the
United States cruiser Philadelphia,
Admiral Kauts commanding, and the
British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist.
The bonn bardment has continued in.
termittently for eight days. Several
villages have been burned. and there
have been q 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. con-
tinued to defy the treaty after the ar
rival Of the Philadelphia. Admiral
Kautz summoned the various oonsuls
and the senior naval officers to con.
ference on board the Philadelphia,
when the whole situation was care
fully canvassed. The upshot was q
resolution to dismiss the provisional
government, and Admiral Kautz issued
q proclamation calling on Mataafa and
his chiefs to return to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the town
he had made his headquarters, and
went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at
Apia, issued proclamation supple.
menting the one he had issued several
weeks before, unfolding the provision
al government. As q result of this.
the Mataafans assem- bled in large force
and hemmed in the town.
Ire British cruiser Royalist brought
the Malietoa 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
municipality and seized the British
houses. An ultimatum was sent to
them, ordering them to evac-
uate, and threatening them, in
the event Of refusal, with q
bombardment, to commence at l
O'Clock on the afternoon of March Is.
This was ignored, and the rebels COM
menced an attack in the direction Of
the United States and British consul
ates about half an hour before the time
fixed for the ombardment.
The Philadelphia, Porpoise and Roy.
alist opened fire upon the distant viii
lagos. There was great difficulty in
locating the enemy, owing to the dense
forest, but several shore villages were
soon in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadel.
phia exploded near the American con-
sulate, and the marines outside mar
rowly escaped. A fragment struck
the leg Of Private Rudge. shattering it
no badly as to necessitate an amputa-
tion. Another fragment traversed the
German consulate. smashing the
crockery. The Germans then went on
board the German cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made q
hot attack on the town. killing three
British sailors. A British marine was
shot in the !eg by sentry Of his own
party, another was shot in the foot.
and an American sentry was killed at
his post.
The bombardment continuing. the
inhabitants OF the town took refuge on
board the Royalist, greatly crowdins
the vessel. Many people are leaving
Samoa, the captain Of the Royalist urg-
ing them to 60 so az 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 British are fight
ing splendidly together, but there IL .
bitter feeling against the dermana
Two men. q British and German
subject, have been arrested a. spies.
The bombardment Of the jungle was
for . time very hot.
The British cruiser Tauranea. which.
it is understood, was intending to an
mex the Tonga islands q section Of the
Friendly islands, In the Pacific), waa
intercepted at Suva, capital OF the Fiji
islands, by order Of the home govern.