The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-28
which was leaving Apia without report

ing.
The rebels who were In possession of
the late Robert L. Stevenson's house and
some forts, were attacked In the rear by
some Tamasese, friendliss, who killed
three OF them and wounded others. One
friendly native was killed In the fight.
Frightful weather has prevailed at
Apia. the sailors being compelled to sleep
four nights in thu wet trenches.
The friendly natives under the COM
mand Of Lieut.. X. A. Gaunt, OF the
British cruiser Porpoise, were attacked
on april 10 from the French Mission sta
tion at Falita. One Of hts men was
wounded The rebels were eventually
routed with the loss OF four men killed.
The Tamasese lines were extended on
April 10 to the vilole battlefield. Mataafa
attacked the friendlies and Gaunt's bril-
gade joined In the engagement and fought
we'll Four bodies Of the slain rebels
were recovered. The others wereidragged
away. One friendly was killed and be-
headed and one was wounded. The rebels
had German flag flying from their forts.
About 1000 women and children have
sought refuge at the Ma!uit station of the
London missionary society.
The rebels are receiving traders rifles,
cartridges and stores and the traders
are fleeing to Apia. Business is at a
standstill and strong land force is ur-
gently needed.
Won Buelow. formerly lieutenant In
the German army ana the man who or
ganized the forces of the Mataafa here
armed with u sword. gun and cartridges,
proceeded to Ssvan (SavaiiO with thir-
teen boats and 400 rebels and the q German
warship Fake sailed on u secret mission
with Herr Rose, the German consul on
hoard. Captain Leslie Z. Stuart, COM
mander of the British third class cruiser
Tuaranga, in the absence of Admiral
Kautz who was ooaling the Philsdelphia
at Pango Pango, wrote to the German
consul, urging him to secure Won Bue-
low and the next day the Fake return
ed with Won Buelow on board. The offer
of New Zealand to send troops to Samoa
caused enthusiasm at Apia. The inhabi-
tants are almost unanimous In stheir be-
lief that the treaty is a failure and there
Is a strong feeling in favor of annexation.
Prominent American citizens and Brit
ish subjects say German annexation is
preferable to the triple control and that
unless Mataafa Is subdued mother war is
inevitable within year.
The British third class cruiser Porpoise
is still engaged in punitive cruises.
On April 5. a battle was fought at
Manga, is miles eastward OF Apia.
About two THOUSAND rebels attacked a
Gaunt landing party, consisting OF about
IA hundred men. The latter were subjected
to a hot fire and retreated to the shelving
beach, where they defended themselves
brIvely for time and afterwards swan
Off to their boats under u heavy fire.
At Muliangi twelve friendly natives re-
fused TO retire and charged into burning
village, driving number of rebels be-
fore them with splendid, reckless bravery.
Gaunt's party then returned to the assist
ance of the friendlies and the whole par.
ty retired with four men wounded and
after several of the party had miraculous
escapes.
This cutter belonging to the party fired
all its NordenfeldG ammunition during
the fight and the Porpoise frequently
shelled the bush. The rebels had eight
men killed and many wounded. One of
the blue jackets in the cutter was wound
ed.
A trader fled towards the warship and
he succeeded in escaping, although six
rebels took deliberate aim at him as he
was running off.
On April IL second battle was fought
at Vailema (VaileleY). The fighting was
desperate, the rebels holding strong forth
tioations which We're inetfectively shelled
by the ships. The fIiendlies advanced TO
the attack with Balioalels and Dana on
the left Gaunt in the center with lsO men
and TuaInasanga on the right. :Gaunt's
party delivered such heavy fire that
the rebels retTeated to a second and
fort aoout $50 yards back. The
friendl les bolted but Gaunt crawled out
TO the firing line and drove them back at
the point of his revolver. They then ad
yanced to attack the second fort, but
found the position too strong and lost ssy-
eral men killed and wounded.
Shells from the ships burst close behind
the rebels lines and the rebels sang a
war song after the explosion of each she'll.
Gaunt again returned to the attack and
heavy and continuous firing on both sides
during which the attackers
suffered further loss Gaunt succeeded in
to within fifty yards of the fort,
but found IL too strong to capture as the
friendlies support were unreliable. The
party then retired in good older with four
men killed and eighteen wounded, of
which number three were mortally
wounded The rebel loss was not ascer
tanned, but was probably small
The Tauranga and Porpoise shelled the
position at sundown but the result of the
firing is not known.
Gaunt's brigade and portion OF the
friendly supports stood the tire splendidly,
Dp-'ng the engagement Gaun5 succeed
ed Il y apturing German flag which was
flying over the first fort.
The British consul, MIR. K. b. s. Makes
and DIR. Adell the surgeon of the Phila-
delphia, we're under fire all day long.
A further attack was to have been made
the next day.
On the return of the landing party
Captain Stuart, of the Tauranga signallsd
'Well done Gaunt's brigade. The
Americans and British cheering the re-
turning party. whose suffers We're proud
ly carrying the captured German colors.
QUIET SAYS KAUTZ.
Washington, April s7.-The following
cablegram has been received. at the navy
department. from Admiral Kautz:
Auckland, April q, via Apia. April 49,
10 Secretary of Navy, Washington: