Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-05
FIGHTING WAS SEVERE.
Samoans Los. Heavily in the Smelling by
American and English Fleets.

Auckland. y. n. May 4.-Advices re-
ceivod here from Apia. Samoa. u April
=. state that the rebel loss ~ the
Smelling Of the Mataafan stronghold a;
Vaiima 10y the warships Of Great
Britain and the United states We're
quite heavy. Many ~ the rebels were
wounded. The house IN which the late
Robert Louis Stevenson lived was r.d-
dlei with shot.
ON April -. there WAS a sharp Skin
mish between rebels and Lieut.. r. \.
Gaunts brigade near the town Of NaiN-
ma. In this engagement one MataAfaa
Wa Killed. Thp lines ~ the friendlies
were attacked III thc darkness at two
points. but none of them were killed
on April %. there was some bush
fighting. Lieut.. Glunt's pri gade. num-
bering 800 men. advanced under a hot
fire. The enemy lost several men, the
bodies of the dead being dragged away.
of the frieudlirs one was killed ana
three were wounded. The British
Lirutcuants lines. Hickman. shutter
and Hcajhcote under Lieut.. Gaunt.
led the Loyllsts.
Tho New Zealand government steam
cr Tutauekai HAD arrived at Apia WITH
dispatches announcing the request oc
the international peace commissioners
that the inhabitants peacefully await
their arrival from san Francisco. \
meeting Of the three consuls in view of
this message was held but without re-
suit, the German consul dissenting
from the propositions W the other two
c0nsuls.
Admiral Albert KautZ. L. :. n. ami
Captain Stuart of the British cruiser
Tauranga wrote and dispatched
message through 4 French priest u
Mataufa, ordering him I'd withdra N
his forces outside VI d line 10 miles
long and 6 broad Mataafa replied de-
family. refusing To withdraw unless
the German cruiser Fake agreed. Ad-
miral Kautz and Captain Stuart there
upon sent AN ultimatum to Mataafa.
threatening to compel the withdrawal
of his forces. In support of this uti-
matum plan Of action was decided
upon. Lieut.. Glunts brigade was
strengthened, Il heavy gun was landed
at Mulinu, and war rockets were got
in readiness. Being informed Of these
preparations. Mataafa made prompt
reply. agreeing to withdraw immedi-
ately.
on April %, a meeting Of the King AMI
his chiefs was held. They were informed
Of The action that had been taken by the
British ana American naval commanders.
ana gave il general approval.
Lieut.. Gaunt's brigade is now patroling
the prescribed area. King Tanu visited
Admiral Kautz and capt Stuart on board
the American and English ships. respec-
lively and was received with the custom
airy salutes on mis- arrival ana departure.
HufnaEel, the manager uf the nlanta-
tion upon which an attack was made Oh
British and American sailors. resulting
in the death of Lieut.. Freeman of the
British navy. Lieut.. Lansdale and Ensign
John X. Monaghan of the United States
cruiser Philadelphia, and two others, is
still detained on board the German crui-
ser Rake. The gun carriage from TIM
Philadelphia that was lost ut the time 81
the engagement has been recovered. hu,
the gun is still in the hands Of the rebels
Officials and leading residents of Samoa
who have been interviewed all unite in
saving that the charges of inhumanity on
the part of the Brit sh which were made
by a man named l.aroch are untrue. a
majority Of the inhabitants are highly
dissatisfied with the continuation Of nos
tilities. They say that Mataafa is beaten
now and that the trouble would all BE-
ended in a week or 10 days were the ad-
vantage pushed. The rebels are delighted
at the delay. which W Il give them time
TO rehll cartridge shells and build more
forts. It is The general opinion that the
islands will BE- unnhabitable excent for
Germans and Frenchmeu unless Mataafa
iShed.
1t is doubtful if British or American
subjects VII give much evidence before
the international commission owing to
fear that To express themselves candidly
would Interfere with trade relations. For