The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-04-07
A NEW WAR B0N HAND
The Samoan Troubles Reach the
Bombardment Stage.
MATAAFANS IN OPEN REVOLT.
BheiIed by American aud British War
Shlps-GermanS Upheld Mataafa--
Admiral Kautz Abolished Pro-
visiOnal Government-Ma-
taafans Resisted and
Were Fired Upon.

APIA, Samoan Islands, March 90,
via Auckland, N. H., March 3l.-The
trouble growing out of the election
of king of Samoa have taken more
serious turn, and res suited in the bonn
bardment of native villages along the
shore by the United States cruiser
Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz com
mandng, and the British cruisers
Porpoise and Royalist. The lombard
ment was continued internationally
for eight days. Several villages have
been burned, and there have been a
number of casualties among the Amer
lean and British sailors and marines.
AS yet it is impossible to estimate the
number of natives killed or injured
AS Mataafa aad his chiefs, consti-
tuting the provisional government,
continued to defy the treaty after the
arrival of the Philadelphia, Admiral
Kautz summoned the various consuls
and the senior naval officers to a con-
ference on board the Philadelphia,
when tho whole situation was care
fully canvassed. The upshot was
resolution to dismiss the provisional
government and Admiral Kautz issued
proclamation calling upon Mataata
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 proclamation supple
menting the one he had issued several
weeks before, unfolding the provis-
ional government. Asa result of this,
the Mataafans assembled in large
force and hemmed in the town. The
British cruiser Royalist brought the
Malietoa prisoners from the islands to
which they had been transferred by
the provisional government.
The Americans then fortified Null
inuu, where $4,000 Malietoans took
refuge The rebels-the adherents of
Mataafa-barricade the roads within
the municipality and seized the Brit
ish houses
An ultimatum was then sent to
them, ordering them to evacuate, and
threatening them, in the event OF re-
fusal, with a bombardment to COM
mence at l o'clock on the afternoon of
March 15 This was ignored and the
rebels commenced an attack in the di-
rection of the United States and Brit
ish consulates, about half an hour he
fore the time fixed for the lombard
ment The Philadelphia, Porpoise and
Royalist opened fire upon the distant
villages. 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 mar
rowly escaped. A fragment struck
the leg of Private Rudge, SCATTERING
it so badly as to necessitate amputa-
ton. Another fragment traversed to
the German consulate, smashing the
crockery. The Germans then went on
board the German 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 sentry of his own
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 leaving Samoa, the
captain of the Royalist urging them
to go, so as not to interfere with the
military operations.
The Porpoisc has shelled the viii
lagos east and west of Apia and cap
tured many boats.
The Americans and British are
fighting splendidly together, but there
is a bitter feeling against the Ger
mans.
Two men, British and a German
subject, have been arrested as spies.
The bombardmcnt of the jungle was
for a time very hot.