New-York tribune., 1899-04-13
into Apia 1t is estimated that about eight
hundred warriors attacked the Anglo-American
party from ambush.

into Apia. 1t is estimated that about eight
hundred warriors attacked the Anglo-American
party from ambush.
The manager of the German plantation has
been arrested and detained on board the
Tauranga, on affdavits declaring that he was
seen urging the rebels to fight.
In a previous engagement twenty-seven ct
Mataafa's warriors were killed and there were
no casualties among the European force.
STORY OF THE AMBUscADE.
Details Of the fight Of April ] show that
force Of 214 British and Americans and $50
friendlies was surprised in ambush at the Ger
man plantation Of yaslele. The rebel force
opened fire on the rear. left flank and front OF
the Anglo-American force. The friendes bolted.
but the marines and bluejackets stood their
ground splendidly Americans and British firing
shoulder to shoulder. The Colt automatic gun
with the landing party became tammed. and the
Americans and British were practically at the
mercy of the rebels. but Retreat" was sounded
three times before the marines and bluejackets
retired.
Lieutenant Angel II. Freeman. first lieutenant
of the Tauranga. who was in command Of the
allied force. was shot through the heart.
Lieutenant Philip V. Lansdale, Of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia, had his leg shat
tered while endeavorng to fix the jammed gun
Seaman Hunt, of the British cruiser Porpoise
had an extraordinary escape. He remained with
Lieutenant Lansdale until clubbed over the head
and knocked senseless The bluejacket revived
as the natives werecutting of his right ear and
were turning him over In order to cut of his
left ear. At this tuncture shell from the
British cruiser Royalist burst on the battlefield
soaring the rebels and Hunt succeeded in escape
ing to the beach. although severely stabbed IN
one foot.
The same night the friendlies found the 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.
Ideutenants Freeman and Lansdale were ca
pable and popular officers. The former was
single and the latter was married in June.
The officers who returned are Lieutenant
George z. Cave, Of the Porpoise. and Lieutenant
G NJ. Perkins. Of the Philadelphia All behaved
splendidiy Lieutenant Cave took command OF
the retreat.
Captain Sturdee Of the Porpoise was away on
an expedition with his cruiser, and Gaunts bn.
gade was also absent on duty.
FIFTY REBELS KILLED.
The loss of the enemy Is not known, but prob
ably nfty Of the rebels were killed and many
vsrs wounded. The bodies OF three rebels were
found near the spot whore Lieutenant Lansdais
. nd Ensign Monaghan, OF the Philadelphia. were
suIed. The priests buried thirty-eight other
rebels. 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 the cocoanut trees the
bullets from the American and British rnes
going right through the thick trees and killing
men hiding behind them. Some Of the rebels
fred from the tops OF cocoanut palms.
The rebels opened nre near the town yesterday
evening.
It Is now proposed to summon another var-