The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-04-13
LATEST FROM SAMOA
Particulars Of the Ambushing
Of American and British
Marines


Auckland ~ T.. April 12-Dispatches
received here from Apia. Samoa, April
1, says that a party Of Jos Americ5ns and
British sailors were forced to retreat to
tho beach aft-z having been caught in
ambush ON a German plantation that
date. The expedition was lead by Lieut.
enamt A. II. Freeman of s6e British
third class cruiser TauranEa Lieu
tenant Freeman and Lieutenant Z. L.
Lansdale OF the United States cruiser
Philadelphia and Ensign j. r. Mon
ogilan of the United States cruiser Phil
adelphia were left dead on the FIELD. En-
sign Monaghan REMAINED to assist Lieu
tenant Lonsdale an1 was shot In returning
Two British and American sailors were
also killed
The natives engaged We're some Of Ma
taafa's warriors. They severed tho heads
of the British and American officers kill
ed Priests Of the French mission after
wards brought the heads into Apia The
managers Of the eGrman plantation has
been arrested and detained ON board tho
Tauranga, on aftidavits declaring that he
was seen urging the rebels 20 fight
In a previous engagement twentyseven
Of Mataafa's warriors were killed and
there wers no casualties among the
European forces.
1t Is estimated that about 500 warriors
attacked the Anglo-American party from
ambush.
Washington. April 12-Tho following dis
patch from admiral Rautz has been re-
cedved:
Auckland, N. u. April 70.
Secretary of Navy Washington
on April I, whhe the combined forces
Of the British and United States under
Lieutenant Freeman. British navy. were
accommodating near Apia. they were am
bushed
Deeply regret to announce tho death OF
Lieutenant Phillip b. Lansdale, Ensign
John r. Monaghan, Cookswain James
Butler. Ordinary Seaman Norman Edsal
and five men wounded belonging to the
Philadelphia. The British loss en- killed.
two men and Lieutenant Freeman.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.
Auckland. n. 4. April 12.-Further ad-
vices from Apia, Somoa, say that on the
arrival Of the British cruiser Tauanga at
Apia the British and American cousuls
issued proclamation 20 give Mataafa a
last chance and that the French priests
also used their influence. but all efforts
| failed and the rebels continued their
ldepredations Property was stroyed and
bridges and roads were barrcaded on
March % the enemy was sighted m Magui-
gi and machine guns and seven pounder
were used. The frendlies also attacked
the enemy during the retreat and several
rbels wr killed or wounded. The friendies
carried one head through Apia, which
mnde Captain Stuart 80 furious that he
went to the king and threatened 10 shoot
any man found taking heads. The king
then issued a proclamation forbidding the
practice.
The German consul wrote TO Admiral
Kautz asking II the two great Christ
ian nations approved OF this inhuman and
barbarous practice against the laws of
! Christianity, and tho decree OF the sup
rene court.
The admiral replied agreeing with the
consul as to the inhumanity OF the prae-
tice, and pointed out that had the German
consul upheld the decree Of the supreme
court Of January there would have beer
no bloodshed; that the custom was an old
Samoan one. but first made known to Tho
world ten years ago, when the heads oI
honest German soldiers were cut off bl
the barbarous chief, Mataafa, whom th'
representative Of the great Christian ma
tion, Germany, is now supporting.
Expeditions i'm armed cutters belonging
60 the Tauragana and Porpoisc are doini
considerable execution against Mataafa
strongholds along the coast The British
forces are being assisted by 100 Samoans
About forty-fve OF Mataafa's boats ana
several villages have been destroyed. In
the meantime, flying columns are being
a. L. 4 q "a
brush near Apia.
on April I, a force of PA British and
American and no frendlies was surprise,
ln ambush at tine German plantation o
Vaslelo. The rebel force opened fire OF
the rear. left flank and front OF the Anglo
American force The friendHes bolted, bu
tho marines and bluejaokets stood thei
ground splendidly, Americans and Brtisl
firing shoulder to shoulder.
The Colt automatic gun with the land
ing party, become jammed and the Anne
rican and British were practically at tn
mercy Of the rebels. But retreat wa
sounded three times before the mariner
and bluejackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel II. Freshman, first lieu
tenant OF the 1auranga, who was "a com
mand OF the allied force, was shot throug
the heart.
Lieutenant Phillip Van Horn Lansdal
OF the United states Philadelphia, had hi
leg shattered while endeavorlnG 70 n
the jammed gun.
Seaman Hunt Of the British cruiser pro
I poige had an extraordinary escape IL
D remained with Lieutenant LonHdale unit
!, clubed over the head and knocked sens
3 less The bluejacket revived as the native
e weqe cutting on hls right ear ana wer
' turning MIN over 70 cut on his left eal
q Al this junction a shell from the Britis
= cruiser RoyaHst burst on the basteiel'
= scattering the rebels and Hunt succeede
y I'm escaping 10 the beach, although severe
, ly stabbed IN one foot
The SANE night the frlendlies foun
the bodies OF an the officers headles
! The bodies were buried with an honors
M,llnuu on Easter SunLay. Their hcac
we're subsequently brought IN by SON
French priests and the graves were =
opened and the heads buried with q
bodies
c Iaeuteuanta Freeman and Lansdale We
f. capable and popular officers. The form
s. was single and the latter was married
d June
.e The officers who returned arc Lteute
"A ant George e. Cave. Of ne Porpoiss ~
/, Lieutenant G. NJ Perkins Of the Philid'
- nhfa All behaved spleadldly Ldeutena
cav. took command II the reirea-.
Captain sturdee OF the Porp3ise' W
AWAY on an expedition with his cruis
ana Gaunts brigade was also absent
duty -.