Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-12
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
Ambushed at Apia.

Apia, Samoa, April /, YIN Auckland,
n. IA mixed British and American
force OF marines, numbering l05, was
ambuacaded today by 500 followers OF
Matsafa on a German plantation and
forced to retreat to the beach. Lieut..
Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan, of the
cruiser Philadelphia, and Lieut.. Free
man, of the British cruiser Tauranga,
who was in command of the marines,
were killed. Their bodies were after
wards found headless and otherwise
mutilated. Two American and two
British snilors were also killed. The
natives loss about 40 killed and 20
wounded. The American and British
sailors fought desperately, repeatedly
beating back their assailants and in
ficting heavy losses on them. They
were finally compelled to retire in the
face of overwhelming odds but did SO
in good order. Ensign Monaghan per-
lshed in gallant attempt to rescue
Lieutenant Lansdale who had fallen in
the fghG dangerously wounded,
Fully forty of the natives sur.
rounded the brave ensign ano
his wounded superior, brutality
dispatching both in a few moments.
French priests some time later brought
in the headless bodies of the two Oil
GERS. The natives kept the heads as
trophies of war. The American and
British dead have been buried with
military honors at MuliDuu. The Ger
man manager of the plantation on
which the fight occurred is 8 prisoner
on board the British cruiser Tauranga.
The affidavits on which he was arrest
cd say that he was heard melting the
| natives to make war upon the allied
forces. The sailors on board the
American and British cruisers are crazy
10 revenge the loss of their officers and
comrades and it is with great difficulty
that their officers keep them under re-
straint. They are pleading for a
chance to attack the natives and re.
cover the heads of the officers killed in
the fight. The feeling against the Ger
mans is also intense and it would not
take much to start fight with them.
The fight on the plantation was the
second which occurred in the past few
DAYS. In the first engagement, fighting
in the open, the British and American
sailors had routed large force Of
Mataafans, killing 81 of their number.
None of the British or Americans were
lost in this fight.
Several battles have taken place be-
tween the followers of Tanus aud Ma
taafa. Many were killed and wound
I'd on both sides. La the battle OF
April the Phladelphia's Calling gun
gun was captured and disabled. Ma
taafa's men have been anxious to sur
render, but the German consul urged
MIN to hold out. Every one here
agrees that the Germans caused the
trouble. Mataafa now says he will
| fight to the death.
Wellington, New Zealand, April II
Local volunteer companies here have
renewed their offers to the British gov
ernment to go to Samoa end assist the
British marines at Apia. 1t is believed
that requirements will be sent TO
Apia and the natives summarily chas'
tized, in spite of whatever protests the
Germans may make.
London, April 12-The news from
Samoa created sensation here today.
The bitter feeling against the Germans,
, who are held responsible by the people,
generally, for the trouble in Samoa, is
| OF the increase.