The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-13

doing considerable execution against
Mataafas strongholds along the coast.
The British forces are being assisted by
100 Samoans About 46 of Mataafa's
boats and several villages have been
destroyed In the meantime flying col
umns are being sent daily along the
roads and through the bush near Apia.
On April l a force of PA British and
Americans and $50 friendlies were sur
prised in ambush at the German plan
tation of Vaslao. The rebel force
opened fire on the rear, left flank and
front of the Anglo american force. The
friendlies bolted, but the marines and
blue jackets stood their ground, the
Americans and British firing shoulder
to shoulder. Colt automatic gun
with the landing party became jammed,
and the Americans and British were
practically at the mercy of the rebels.
But retreat" was sounded three times
before the marines and blue Jackets re-
tired.
Lieutenant Angel H. Freeman, first
lieutenant of the Taranga who was in
command of the allied forces, was shot
through the heart. Lieutenant Philip
Van Horne Lansdale. L. S. NJ, had his
leg shattered while endeavoring to fix
the jammed gun.
Seamen Hunt of the British ship Por-
with Lieutenant Lansdale until dubbed
over the head and knocked senseless
The blue Jacket revived as the natives
were cutting off his right tar ard We're
turning him over in order to cut off
his left ear. At this juncture a shell
from the British cruiser Royalist burst
on the battlefield. soaring the rebels
and Hunt escaped to the beach, al
though severely stabbed in one foot.
tiki
bodies of all the officers. headless The
bodies were buried with all honors at
Mulinuu on Easter Sunday. Their
heads were subsequently brought in by
some French priests and the graves
were reopened and the heads buried
with the bodies. Lieutenants Freeman
and Lansdale were capable and popular
officers.
The officers Who returned are Lieu
tenant George e. Cave of the Porpoise
and Lieutenant Perkins of the Phila-
delphia. All behaved splendidiy Lieu
tenant Cave took command of the re-
treat. Captain 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 so rebels We're killed and
many wounded The bodies of three
rebels were found near where Lieuten-
ant Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan of
the Philadelphia Were killed Priests
buried 3S and much blood was seen
on the road over which the Mataafans
had been dragging away their dead
and wounded. There were also pools of
blood behind cocoanut trees, the bullets
from American and British rifles going
right through thick trees and killing
men hiding behind them. Some of the
rebels fired from the tops of cocoanut
palms. The rebels opened fire near
town last evening. 1t is proposed to
summon another warship to distribute
more arms among the friendlies and to
import additional friendlies from Tut
lieu.
1t is also suggested that troops might
be obtained from New Zealand or sgd
ney, N. S. w. If a sufficient quantity
of arms could be obtained, about 1000
frendlies could be used against the
Mataafans, but they are not brave and
have not shown fighting qualities, ex-
cepting those with Gaunt's brigade, and
that force may not accomplish much
Admiral Kautz. Captain e. White of
the Philadelphia and the American Off
GERS generally have earned golden opin
ions, as have Captains Stuart and Stur-
dee of the British navy. They are do
ing everything possible and every one
recognizes that better men could not
be handling the situation. The Sa
means say Mataafa on three occasions
had resolved to surrender. but the Ger
man consul here. Herr Rose. advised
him not to do so, and he now says he
will never give in. but will fight to the
death