The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-16
NATIVE SAMOANS
BROUGHT ON ATTACK.
Admiral Kautz flakes Report to the
Navy Department---the Auto
matte Gun Failed to Work.

He died in heroic performance OF duty.
Private Henry l.. Hulburt. u. S. Nj.
c., informs me that he saw both Lieu
tenant Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan
after they were killed; that he had beer
near them few minutes before. and
that he had assisted In covering their
retreat.
James Builder was instantly killed
while standing and firing against the
enemy.
Il have 20 commend the steadness OF
e. ID. Fisher. IN charge of the Colt auto
matte gun, for coolness and steadiness
in twice dismounting and overhaullng
the gun under FIRE. j. :. Ranet as
sisted Ensign Monaghan in binding up
Lieutenant Lansdale's leg with hand
kerchlcf and assisted In carrying him
when he was frs. wounded.
The number OF cartridges fred by
each of the bluejackets was so. From
what appears 30 be reliable authority 40
OF the assai.ants were killed and so
wounded. Whenever our men could
get cover they turned and fred"
The British story is told briefly by
Lieutenant Cave In M enclosed report
made to Captain Stuart OF II. NJ. S. Tou
ranga and contains no information be-
yond that set out i'm the report Of the
American officers. Tie does say that
the friendlies boltlng through the Brit
ish and American line rather broke Il
up; that Lieutenant Freeman ordered
the retreat after the engagement had
been In progress some little time, be-
cause the men were running short OF
ammunition and darkness was ap-
preaching He declares: "All ranks
behaved splendidy."
The last report Of the series is made
by Passed Assistant Surgeon Lung, who
was with the expedition, and details
closely every movement. lie says that
the greatest caution was used 10 prevent
q surprise while passing through the
ravine and along the cross road, where
the affair occurred. Both sides OF the
road were lined with heavy barbed wir
fence, whicn could not be broken down.
The situation was a NEST unfavorable
one for the expedition. as the hostiles
were posted on the crest of the bluff so
well entrenched that they could not be
seen, and their presence WIS only rnarp
known by their iirlHy. The Americans
and British at the first fire advanced
along the road a little. then dropped
in the ditch at the roadside and returned
several volleys. The Colt failed again.
and this fact. says Surgeon Lung, prob
ably helped to bring on the disaster that
followed.
The hostiles were closing around the
eastern end OF the line, but they could
not be charged because of the barb wire
fence, so a retreat was ordered, which
encouraged the enemy TO increase their
tire. The retreat WAS orderly at first.
and was agreed TO by Lieutenants Cave
and Perkins. but. says Surgeon Lung, in
few minutes everybody remaining on
the high ground came through the sec
ond wire In confused retreat founder
ing. staggering and falling in the deep
mud along the trees. The enemy fol
lowed persistenty and poured terrific
fire.
In this hollow Lansdale, Monaghan
and Edsall received their death wounds.
Monaghan losing his life In an heroic
effort to save his shipmate. Lansdale.
Reaching the beach. Lieutenant Perkins
gathered his few marines with the Brit
ish marines, while the surgeon assumed
command of the buejackets. who had
been led by Lansdale and Monaghan. and
aiSo S'iiit iV VI ~ anu
sailors who we're without an officer.
Surgeon Lung expresses the conviction
that the entire command would have
been killed had they not retreated when
they did. Considering the odds they
had TO contend against, the enemy being
about 300 strong. the men behaved re-
markably we'll. The enemy beheaded
the officers killed, and i'm the case OF
enlisted me- cut Off the right ears of the
British and both ears OF the Americans
Lieutenant Freeman also had his ears
cut off.