Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-04-14


Auckland, n. Il, April 12.-Dis-
patches received here from Apia, Samoa,
April 4, say that party of l05 Ameri-
can and British sailors were forced to
retreat to the beach, after having been
caught in an ambush on a German
plantation that day. The expedition
was led by Lieut.. A. II. Freeman of the
British third class cruiser Tauranga.
Lieut.. Freeman and Lieut.. p. L. Lans-
dale and Ensign j. r. Monahan of the
United States cruiser Philadelphia were
left dead on the field. Ensign Monahan
remained to assist Lieut.. Lansdale and
was shot in retiring. Two British and
two American sailors also were killed.
The natives engaged were some of
Mataafa's warriors. They severed the
heads of the British and American Off
GERS killed. Priests of the French mis-
sion afterwards brought the heads into
Apia.
The manager of the German planta-
tion has been arrested and detained on
board the Tauranga, on affidavits de-
claring he was seen urging the rebels to
fight.
In a previous engagement p of
Mataafa's warriors were killed and there
were no casualties among the European
force. 1t is estimated that about 300
warriors attacked the Anglo American
party from ambush.
On April l force of 105 British and
Americans and $50 friendlies was sur
prised in ambush at the German planta-
rfN hn
fire on the rear, left flank and front of
the Anglo American forces. The friend
lies bOlted, but the marines and blue
Jackets stood their ground splendldly,
Americans and British firing shoulder to
shoulder. The Colt automatic gun with
the landing party became ammed and
the Am orleans and British were practi-
cally at the mercy of the rebels. "Re-
treat" was sounded three times before
the marines and blue jackets retired
Lieut.. Angel H. Fireman, first lieutenant
of the Tauranga, who was in command
of the allied forces, was shot through
the heart
Lieut.. Philip Lansdale of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia had his leg
battered while endeavoring to fix the
iammed gun. Ensign Monahan tried to
aid him and both fell mortally wounded.
The party was compelled to retreat and
that same night the friendies found the
headless bodies of all the officers.
Lieuts. Freeman and Lansdale were
capable and popular officers. The form
er was single, while the latter had been
married in June last. All behaved splen-
ddly. Lieut.. Cave took command of the
retreat.
Capt. Sturdee of the POrpoise was
away on an expedition with his cruiser
and Gaunt's brigade was also absent on
duty.
The loss of the enemy is not known,
but probably 80 of the rebels were killed
and many wounded. The bodies of three
rebels were found near the spot where
Lieut.. Lansdale and Ensign Monahan of
the Philadelphia were killed. The priests
buried 3S other rebels and much blood
was seen on the road over which the
Mataafans had been dragging away their
p dead and wounded. There were also
pools of blood behind the cocoanut
trees, the bullets from the American
and British rifles going right through
the thick trees and killing men hiding
behind them. Some of the rebels fired
from the top of cocoanut palms.
The Samoans say Mataafa, on three
occasions, had resolved to surrender, but
the German consul, Herr Rose, advised
him not to do so, and he now says he will
never give in, but will fight to the death.
On the arrival of the British cruiser
Taurang at Apia the British and Ameri-
can cOnsuls issued proclamation to give
Mataafa last chance, and the French
priests also used their influence, but all
efforts failed and the rebels continued
their depredatlons. Property was de-
stroyed and bridges and roads were bar
ricaded On March 20 the enemy was
sighted at Maguiny and machine guns
and a seven-pOunder were used. The
friendles also attacked the enemy during
the latter's retreat and several rebels
were killed or wounded. The friendlies
carried one head through Apia. which
made Captain Stuart so furious that he
went to the king and threatened to shoot
any man found taking heads. The king
then issued proclamation forbidding
tne pIdctlce.
The German consul wrote to Admiral
Kautz asking If two great Christian ma
tions approved of this inhuman and bar
barous practice against the laws OF
Christianity and the decree of the su
preme court. The admiral replied
agreeing with the consul as to the inhu
manity of the practice and pointed out
that had the German consul upheld the
decree of the supreme court of January
there would have been no bloodshed, and
said the custom was an old Samoan one
first made known to the world ten year:
ago, when the heads of honest German
soldiers were cut of by the barbarou:
chief Matsafa, who is now the represent
ative of the great Christian nation Ger
many claims to be
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