Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-30
(Copyrlght. Associatea Press

Copyright, Associated Press)
Apia, Samoan Islands, March %, via.
Auckland, n e., March a9.-The trou-
bles growing ous of the election Of
king of Samoa have taken more
serious turn and resulted in the bonn
bardment of native villages along the
shore by the United States cruiser Phil
adelphia, Admiral Kautz commanding.
and the British cruisers Porpoise and
Royalist. The bombardment has con-
tinued internationally for eight days.
Several villages have been burned, and
there have been a number of casual
ties among the American and British
sailors and marines.
AS Yet it is impossible to estimate
the number of natives killed or in
jured.
AS Mataafa and his chiefs, constitut-
ing the provisional government, con-
tinued to defy the treaty after the ar
rival Of the Philadelphia, Admiral
Kautz summoned the various consuls
and the senior officers to a conference
on board the Philadelphia, when the
whole situation was carefully canvass
ed. The upshot was a resolution to
dismiss the provisional government
and Admiral Kautz issued a proclama-
ton calling upon Mataafa and his
chiefs to return to their homes.
Mataafa evacuated A1ulinuu, the
town he had made his headquarters.
and went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at
Apia, issued proclamation supple
meHting the one he had issued several
weeks ago, unfolding the provisional
government. AS a result of this the
Mataafans assembled IN large force
and hemmed in the town.
The British cruiser Royalist brought
the Mahetoa prisoners from the islands
to which they had been transferred by
the provisional government.
The Americans then fortified Null
inuu, where 1900 Malietoans took ref
uge. The rebels-the adherents of
Mataafa-barricaded the roads within
the municipality and seized the British
houses.
An ultimatum was then sent to them
ordering them to evacuate and threat
ening them in the event of refusal
with bombardment to commence at 4
o'clock on the afternoon of March 10.
This was ignored and the rebels COM
meneed an attack in the direction of
the United States and British consul
lates about half an hour before the
time fixed for the bombardment. The
Philadelphia, Porpoise and Royalist
opened fire upon the distant village.
There was great difficulty in locating
the enemy owing to the dense forest,
but several shore villages were soon
in flames.
A defective shell from the Philadel-
phia exploded near the American con-
sulate and the marines outside narrow
ly escaped. A fragment struck the leg
of Private Ridge. shattering It so bad
ly as to necessitate amputation. An
other fragment traversed 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 by a sentry Of his
party, another was shot in the foot.
and an American sentry was killed at
his post.
The bombardment continuing, the
inhabitants OF the town took refuge
on board the Royalist, greatly crowd
ing the vessel Many people are leav-
ing Samoa. the captain Of the Royalist
urging them to go. so as not to inter-
fere with the military operations.
The Porpoise has shelled the villages
east and west of Apia and captured
many boats.
The Americans and British are
fighting splendidly together, but thera
is bitter feeling against the Ger
mans.
Two men, British and q German
subject. have been arrested az spies.
The bombardment OF the jungle was
for a time very hot.
The British cruiser Terangua, which
ii was understood Is intending TO an
rex the Tonga islands, "a section OF
the riendly islands in the Pacific), wat
intercepted at Suva, capital Of the Fill
islands by order Of the home govern