The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-30
NATIVE CASUALTIES UNKNOWN
BRITISH AND AMERICAN sAILORs
FOUGHT WELL TOGETHER.
Several Killed and Wounded-German
Consulate struck by Part of
Shell from the PhiIadeIphfa.
Copyright. 1899. by the Associated Pr,s,.l

Copyright 1899. by the Associated Pressl
APIA. Samoa islands March %. via Auck-
land, New Zealand, March 29.-The troubles
growing out OF the election Of a King OF
Samoa have taken more serious turn and
resulted in the bombardment of native VIII
lagos along the shore by the United States
cruiser Philadelphia. Admiral Kautz COM
manding, and the British cruisers Porpoise
and Royalist. The bombardment has con-
tinued intermlttently for eight days. Sew
eraI villages have been burned and there
have been a number OF casualties among the
American and British sailors and marines
AS yet ii is impossible to estimate the num-
ber of natives killed or injured.
As Mataafa and his chiefs. constituting
the provisional government. continued 10
defy the treaty after the arrival OF the
Philadelphia Admiral Kautz summoned the
various consuls and the senior naval Off
GERS TO a conference on board the Philadel-
phia, when the whole situation was carefully
canyassed. The upshot was a resolution I'd
dismiss the provisional government. and
Admiral Kautz issued a proclamation call
ing on Mataafa and his chiefs TO return to
their homes. Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu.
the town he had made his headquarters. and
went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at Apia.
issued a proclamation supplementing the one
he had issued several weeks before, uphold
ing the provisional government AS result
of this the AIataafans assembled in large
force and hemmed in the town. The British
cruiser Royalist brought the Malietoa pris-
oners from the islands to which they had
been transferred by the provisional governs
ment.
The Americans then fortified Mulinuu.
where 22cO0 Malietoans took refuge. Ths
rebels-the adherents of Mataafa-barri-
caded the roads within the municipality and
seized the British houses. An ultimatum
was then sent to them ordering them 10
evacuete and threatening them, in the event
of refusal, with a bombardment TO COM
mence at l o'clock on the afternoon OF
March Is. This was ignored and the rebels
commenced an attack in the direction OF
the United states and British consulates
about half an hour before the time fixed
for the bombardment The Philadelphia.
Porpoise and Royalist opened fire on the
distant villages. There was great difficulty
in locating the enemy owing TO the dense
forests. but several shore Villages were soon
IN flames.
A defective shell from the Philadelphia ex-
ploded near the American consulate and the
marines outside narrowly escaped A frsg-
ment struck the leg OF Private Rudge, shat
tering it so badly as to necessitate amputa-
ton. Another fragment trayersed the
German consulate. smashing the crockery-
The Germans then went on board the Ger
man cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made a hot
attack on the town. killing three British
sailors. A British marine was shot In the
leg by a sentry OF his own party. another
was shot In the foot and an American
sentry was killed at his post
The bcmbardment continuing. the inhabi-
tants OF the town took refuge on board the
Royalst, greatly crowding the vessel.
Many people leaving Samoa. the cap
tain of the Royalist urging them 70 90 50
as not TO interfere with the military opera
tions.
The PorpOise has shelled the villages east
and west of Apia and captured many boats
The Americans and British are lighting
splendidiy together. but there Is bitter
feeling against the Germans
Two men. a British and a German subject.
have been arrested spies.
The bombardment OF the jungle was for
a time very hot.
The British cruiser Tauranga. which. II Il
understood. was intending 10 annex the
Tonga islands "a section OF the Friendly
islands In the Paeiic). was intercepted s/
-