Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-16
CBx Telegraph to vIrgln,an-pnotN

(lSN JelcHrdIn TO ' lESl1lHp- lUDt.J
Washington. May Secretary Long
to-day made public so much of n re-
cent report from Admiral kautz upon
Samoan affairs as touches the killing
of a number OF American sailors by the
Mataafa adherents near Apia on the
first of April.
The report is an elaboration Of the
description of the affair which was ca
bled ut the time by The Associated Press
from Auckland. No mention is made
at any point of the reported partici-
patton in the ARRAY of the German,
uuffnasle the manager Of the planta-
ton where the fight occurred 1t is
shown that the failure of the Colt gun
to work properly was in n large mea-
sure the cause OF the American and
British defeat.
PROJECTED by \ BRITON.
Admiral Kautz says the expedition
was projected by Captain Sturdee. of
the Porpoise. For several nights pre-
ccding. the sentries had been fired upon
by the natives ana il became neceS-
sary 10 drive tho aggressors away. Ad-
miral Iauiz says that II was the opin-
ion of all the officers vino had the mat
ter in charge that the force was ample
to do the work without risk. cspecidl-
~ as IL WAS 10 move out sipVH Alit
beach and return the same way. under
the protection OF the guns Of II. VI. :.
Royalist. II is safe To say. says the
Admiral. that after Lieutenants Free
man and Lansdale had conferred to-
rether. they did what they deemed
best under the circumstances and the
disaster that followed could not be
fOrcSeen.
SURGEON LONG COM tENDED.
Admiral Kautz annends the reports
of the surviving officers of the cXpedi-
ton, which We're transmitted by Cap
tain White. of the Philadelphia. In
this letter of transmitial the Captain
commends IN the strongest terms the
work OF Passed Assistant Surgeon c.
"A. Long. He says: ::
AT times when the fire from the con-
ccaled natives was thiCkest. and at all
times. by his example, he encouraged
the young and inexperienced men 10
the proper performance of duty. ON
the com3letiOn Of the work of his pro-
fession he assumed command of our
blue jackets and marched them to the
United States Consulate"
HAPPENING ON ALL FOOLS DAY.
Captain White describes at some
length the happenings of April l. as
gathered from Il close examination Of
the petty officers and men engaged in
the fight. He says that several eXcur-
sions had been made into the beach
back of Apia during the last ten days
of march. Very few natives had been
observed. and when seen they always
fled when fired upon by the Colt auto
matte gun Lieutenant Lansdale set
great store by the gun ana frequently
operated it himself. Says Captain
White:
LIEUTENANT LANSDALE.
He appears - HI "a depended greatly
upon the gun when the party was am
pushed on April l. Twice it did not
function and time was lost in over
hauling it. and great delay was con-
sumed in trying 10 get it through the
wire fence. Lieutenant Lansdale was
loath to abandon it. but the fire was
so Calling that before he was wounded
he was compelled To scatter the inn
portant parts and leave it behind
Prudence led him to denloy his men in
oren order The thickct was so dense
that after the order for retreat was
sounded 1t was not possible for the
groups to render each other mutual
support.
ONE BRAVE DEFENDER
"L!eutcnant Lansdalc was wounded
below the knee soon after the Colt was
abandoned, and rendered Incapable Of
marching. He was assisted nv hls
men, one Of them. \. T.. Edsau ordi-
nary seaman, was mOrtally wounded
while doing So 1t is not clear when
Mr.. Lanstlalc received the wound In his
chest. II is in evidence most clear that
when Ensign Monaghan discovered
that Lieutenant I.ansdale WAS wound-
ed he used his best cndeavors to con-
Ney him TO the rear. and Selling a rifle
from disabled man. made a brave de-
tense. but undoubtedly he fell very
shortly after joining him, and the hos
tles. flushed with success bore down
on our men in this vicinity. The men