The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-04-07
APIA SHELLED BY WARSHIPS
COMMANDER OF PHILADELPHIA
WARNED MATAAFANs.
GERMAN CRUISER MADE NO MOVE
Shells From Philadelphia and Two En-
glish ships, Set villages Anre and
Slaughter Many Natives.

Adyices from Apia, Samoan Islands,
via Auckland, n. H., under date OF
March 20, state that the troubles
growing ont Of the election Of a king
of Samoa have taken a more serious
turn and resulted in the bombardment
of native villages along the shore by
the United States cruiser Philadel-
phia, Admiral Kautz commanding, and
the British cruisers Porpoise and Roy
alist.
The bombardment has continued
intermittently for eight days.
Several villages have been burned
and there have been a number of cas-
ualties among the American and Brit
ish sailors and marines. AS yet it is
impossible to estimate the number OF
natives killed or injured.
AS Mataafa and 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 q con-
ference on board the Philadelphia,
when the whole situation was carefully
canvassed.
The upshot was q resolution to dis
miss the provisional government, and
Admiral Kautz issued proclamation
calling upon Mataafa and his chiefs to
return to their homes.
Upheld By Germans.
Mataafa evacuated Mulinuu, the
town he had made his headquarters,
and went into the interior.
Herr Rose, the German consul at
Apia, issued a proclamation supple.
menting the one he had issued several
weeks before, unfolding the provision
al government.
AS a result of this the Mataafant
assembled in large force and hemmeC
in the town. The British cruiser
Royalist brought the Malietoa prison
ers from the islands to which the.
had been transferred by the provis
ional government.
The Americans then fortified Null
uuu, where $4,000 Malietoans tool
refuge. The rebels--the adherents o
Mataafa-barricad the roads within
the municipality and seized the Brit
ish houses.
Mataafans Begin Attack.
An ultimatum was then sent to then
ordering them to evacuate and threat
, ening them in the event of re
fusal with bombardment at l o'cloc
on the afternoon of March 18th.
This was ignored and the rebeI
commenced an attack in the directio
of the United States and British col
| sulates about half an hour before tt
: time fixed for the bombardment.
The Philadelphia, Porpoise and Ro,
alist opened fire upon the distant vi
lagos. There was great difficulty
: locating the enemy owing to the den
: fol est, but several shore villages we
: soon in flames.
A defective shell from the PhiIade
phia exploded near the American co
Q sulate and the marines outside ma
a rowly escaped.
ia A fragment traversed to the Germs
consulate, smashing the crockery, II
Germans then went on board the Ge
man cruiser Fake.
Three British Sailors Killed.
= During the night the rebels made
y hot attack on the town, killing thr
~ british sailors. A British marine W
10 shot in the leg by sentry Of his ow
m another was shot in the foot and
American sentry was killed at his pc
Z The bombardment continuing, the
OK habitants of the town took refuge
ty board the Royalist, greatly crowd
e. the vessel.
IA Many people are leaving Samoa,
captain of the Royalist urging thu
u to go, so as not to interfere with
IS, military operations.
en- The Porpoise has shelled the \
M lagos east and west of Apia and c,
al tured many boats.
Two men, British and Germ
'p- subject, have been arrested as spi
mt
III TCE pnD OTTCs TpOOpS