Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-30
Mataafan Towns bombarded-- -Heavv
Loss--0ur Casualties Numerous.
Fight Has Lasted Eight Days---Bitter
Feeling Against Germans.

Copyright, 1899, The Associated Press)
Apia. March 23.-Via Auckland. n H..
Of the election of King of Samoa
have taken a more serious turn and
resulted in borbardment of native
villages along the shore by the United
States cruiser Philadelphia. Admiral
Kaptz commanding. and the British
cruisers Porpoise and Royallst.,
Tire bombardment has continued in
termttently for eight days. Several
villages have been burned and there
have been a number of casualties
among the American and British sail
ors and marines.
AS yet it is impossible to estimate
the number of natives killed or in
jured.
AS Mataafa and his chiefs. const
tuting the provisional government,
continued to defy the treaty after the
kautz summoned the various consuls
and the senior naval officers to a con-
ference on board the Philadelphia
when the whole situation was carefully
canvaSSed.
The upshot was a resolution to dis
miss the provisional government and
Admiral kautz issued a proclamation
calling upon Mataafa 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 ut
AHA. issued Il proclamation supple
mcntng the one he had issued, several
weeks before, upholding the provis-
ional government.
As a result of this the Mataafans as
sembled 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
nuu, where 2000 Malietoans took re-
fuge.
The rebels-the adherents of Mataafa
the roads within the mu-
bn Pt.it ich
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 l
O'Clock on the afternoon of March 15
This was ignored and the rebels COM
menced 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
Rbyalist opened fire upon the distant
villages.
There was great difficulty in locating
the enemy, owing to the dense forests
but several shore villages were seen in
flames.
A defective shell from the Philadel-
sulate and the marines outside narrow
Iy escaped.
4. tI,,, Lon TD,txr 10,
Ridge, SCATTERING it SO badly as to
necessitate amputation.
Another fragment traversed the Ger
man consulate, smashing the crOckery.
The Germans then went on board the
German cruiser Fake.
During the night the rebels made
hot attack on the town, killing three
British sailors.
A British marine was shot in the leg
by a sentry of his own party, while an
sentry was killed at his post.
The bombardment continuing. the in
habitants of the town took refuge on
board the Royalist, greatly crowding
the boat.
Many people are leaving Samoa, the
captain of the Royalist urging them to
go SO as not to interfere with the mill
tary operations.
The Porpoise has shelled the villages
east and west of Apia and captured
many boats.