The times., 1899-05-16


numbers and to fire so vigorously that
a retreat became imperative. Accord ngly.
a retreat was made through the bErbed
wire fence into the field on the NORTH side
Of the road. The retreat was orderly. md
our men began firing again at once. ihe
enemy never slackened their fire. but rath-
er increased it. showing that they had been
encouraged by our maneuvre.
= Brave stand.
I'm this field our men made good stand.
but Of no avail. They were concealed by
the natural ridges. while we were on a
le''..l spot, with no protection but the CO.
eoanut trees. These only served as pro-
tecticl from the enemy On the south, while
those on the east and west poured in de-
stTuctive fire that could not be avoided.
1t was here that two of our men and two
CT the British bluejackets were killed. At
this place Lieutenant Freeman was killed,
and here Landsdaie had his leg smashed.
Two friendlies were also shot here.
Lieutenant Cave, Il. n. came up to me,
and after a hurried talk he decided to
scGnd the retreat. Just then Lieutenant
Perkins Joined US ana he agreed TO the re-
treat also. With Caves approval | went
down into the swamp to see if there was 4
trail, and that We were not hemmed il.
| found the conditions not impossible. and
retreat that way. In few minutes every
body remaining On the high ground came
through the second wire fence in a con-
fused retreat, foGndering, staggering, and
falling in the deep mud tangled grass aad
trees. The enemy followed persistently,
and poured in terrific fire. In this hollow
Lansdaie. Monaghan, and Edsall received
their death wounds. From a description
given me since by the men who saw them
just before their death, it appears conclu-
siye that Ensign Monaghan lost his life in
heroic effort to save the life of his ship
mate Lansdale.
"The retreat continued for a quarter OF
mile until the beach was reached The
Royalist had remained at her position
nearly abreast of Fagalii and the place
where We came out on the beach. and after
we had retired a short distance and sig
naied she sent several shells into the
rayine We had just left. Only then did the
fire of the enemy cease.
AS to the number Of the enemy 1t is
impossible for me to say definitely how
many there were. In my first view of
them as they ran across the cross-road
there were twelve or fifteen seen at
time. During the engagement they were
SO well concealed that | did not see more
than two or three of them at any ore
time. Judging from the rapidity and con-
line of their fire. and the bo,dness they ex-
hibited, | think there were not less than
900 of them. Ny estimate is confirmed BIZ
the opinions of persons living in Apia who
are familiar with the natives and their
ways. Some even say there were not less
than SEQ.
Bodies NatiIated.
THE engagement began about p. m
and lasted about half an hour The en-
emy beheaded all the officers killed. and
in the case of the enlisted men they cut
OF the right ears of the British and both
ears OF the Americans. Lieutenant Free
man also had his ears cut off, / believe
that had the Colt gun worked properly
the result would have been entirely differ
cnt, and also believe that had we not re-
treated when We did we would have been
killed to a man. Considering the odds
they had to contend with and their mex
perience. our men behaved remarkabl
well. Especially is this true while in the
road and the last stand in the field"
Paragraph of Captain Whites report,
which Admiral Kautz explains in his com
munication, is as follows: "The move
ment was made for the purpose OF break
ing up camp of Mataafa natives in the
vicinity of Nailele. The general directions
were given by Capt. L. C. Stuart. r. NJ,
who was in command of the United States
forces on shore"
Captain White refers in the highest ters- 8
TO the conduct of some of the officers and
men of the American forces. He says:
From conversations with British officers
and our own men, l am gratifed to be able
10 commend in the strongest terms the
work of Passed Assistant Surgeon G.. A.
Lung. At time when the fire from the
concealed natives was thickest and at all
times. by his example. he encouraged the
young and inexperienced men to the proper
performance of duty. On the completion
Of the work of his profession he assumed
command of our bluejackets and marched
them to the United States Consulate and
reported to me, reaching there at dusk.
THE American force was sixty officers
and men, including twenty marines. The
British force was sixty-two officers, sea
men, and marines. Total. 121. The rative
force of friendiies was between 100 and $50
indifferently armed and without discipline.
1t Is in evidence most clear that whes
Ensign Monaghan discovered that Lieuten-
ant Lansdale was wounded he used his best
endeayors TO convey him to the rear and
seizing 4 rife from a disabled man. made
a brave defence, but undoubtedly he fell
shortly after Joining him, and the hostiles.
flushed with success. bore down on our men
in this vicinity. Ensign Monaghan stood
bISalTtSt Dy MS WOuHueu superior ana
friend; one rifle against many, one brave
man against a score OF sayages. He knew
he was doomed He could not yield. lie
died in heroic performance OF his duty
First Lieut.. C. NJ. Perkins Of the Ma
rine Corps, who was the senior surviving
American officer after Lieutenant La1s-
dale's death, gives some interesting de-
tails OF the engagement. He speaks In the
highest terms Of the marine guard under
his command, particularly Szrgts. Michael
McNally and Bruno A Forsterer. the lat
ter holding the stand of the fence till
surrounded and afterwards when We
reached the sea volunteered TO lead the
friendly natives into the bush to protect
our flank"
The British account is contained in a
report from Lieut.. G. Z. Cave. Royal
Navy, to Captain Stuart. of H. b. S Tau
ranga. 1t agrees with the reports of
the American officers.
paIdora so rms the rr,yti, let all ti,e