WAR IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1899, Page 6

WAR IN SAMOA.

ULTIMATUM TO MATAAFA.

A DEFIANT EEPLY.

BOMBARDMENT BY ENGLISH AND

AMERICAN WARSHIPS.

ARMED FORCES LANDED.

NIGHT ATTACK ON APIA,

THREE BRITISH AND ONE AMERI-

CAN KILLED,

DEFECTIVE SHELLS STRIKE

AMERICAN AND GERMAN. CONSULATES.

EUROPEANS SHELTERING ABOARD

WARSHIPS,

REQUESTED TO LEAVE APIA.

INTENSE ANTI-GERMAN FEELING.

(Prom our Special Correspondent.)

APIA, March 22.

The expected outbreak of hostilities ibetween the British and American cnaval forces and the Samoans under Mataafa has at last taken place, and 'blood has been shed on both sides. i The" events leading up to this lamentable state of affairs are well known. /Since the arrival of Admiral Kautz on the American warship Philadelphia lie has made a careful investigation into the position of affairs with the result that he entirely concurs with the action taken by the British and 'American .Consuls and Chief Justice Chambers. But whether their action was wise or not the position which .liad been created called for some de'.ifinite and drastic measures to preserve ■•order and assert the authority of the ' Treaty Powers. Mataafa and his people forming- theProvisionalGovernment, acting under German advice, lield a position which could nofc be tolerated. The Malietoa supporters, "who had upheld the authority of the tehief who was declared King by the €hief Justice under the provisions of the Berlin Treaty, were still in exile. The authority of the Treaty Powers was set at defiance, and the large section of natives who had looked to Great Britain and America for protection were deprived of their civillights a.nd being constantly treated with contumely. The Admiral, therefore, convened a meeting of Consuls smd Senior naval officers aboard the ilagship to consider the situation, and this conference, the German representatives dissenting, agreed that the Provisional Government should no longer be recognised, and that the deported prisoners should be restored to their homes. In accordance with this resolution the Admiral issued the following proclamation: —

PROCLAMATION BY THE ' ADMIRAL.

1. Whereas, at a meeting held this flay on board the U.S. flagship Philadelphia, at anchor in the harbour of l^pia, at which were present the Conisular representatives of the three Signatory Powers of the Berlin 'JTreaty of 18?9, and the three senior jxaval officers of the same Powers, it !*vas agreed that the so-called Pro>dsional Government under High Chief Mataafa and thirteen other chiefs can tavß no legal, sta'lus under the Berlin JEreaty, and can therefore not be recognised by the Consular and naval representatives, it is hereby ordered ithat the High Chief and the thirteen other chiefs aforesaid go quietly to their respective homes and obey the 3aws of Samoa and respect the Berlin tCreaty. ■2 It is further ordered that all the 'fchiefs and. their people mvTo.o liave been ejected from their homes and Sivho have been sent to different points in the Samoan Islands return quietly to their aforesaid homes without moleatation. 3. The guarantee of protection, as Jar as lies within the power of the tnaval force now in this harbour, is given to all who quietly obey this order. On the other hand, it will be •used against all who disregard it or fthe rights of quiet and peaceably disi>osed people. 4. The Treaty of Berlin recognizes ■the Chief Justice of Samoa as the highest officer trader the existing Government, and as long as he holds Ixis office his authority must be rejspected, and the decree of the Court anust be carried out. 5. Trusting that all residents of Samoa will have the good sense to observe the requirements of this Proclamation, which is issued in the interests of peace, with an earnest regard for the rights of all, both foreign and native, and that there may be no occasion, to use military power to eii.Xerceit,

I am, respectfully, ALBERT EAUTZ, Bear Admiral, U.S. Navy. Commander-in-Chief U.S. Naval Force on Pacific Station. 11th, 1899.

■-This Proclamation, dated on Saturday, the 11th, became current talk ton Sunday. It was printed on board ihe U.S. Flagship Philadelphia, .and posted around the town on Monday, SMarch 13th. The Proclamation caused a good deal of excitement among ihe inhabitants of Apia, and all kinds •of rumours were circulated about 'the intentions of the natives, one being that they intended to kill all the svhites in the event of them in any ;way interfering, for they felt aggrieved at their action in bringing back tthe native prisoners which had been Reported by, the Provisional Government.

The effect of the Proclamation on •Mataafa and his party -was to cause' •the immediate evacuation of Mulinuu 3Point, where they were assembled in large numbers. The Point is too exjposed to attack from the warships to make it a pleasant place to occupy in the event of trouble arising. The Mataafa party went'inland to various "villages in the dense bush surrounding Apia, A,party of British bluejackets was landed on Sunday, and commenced to patrol the main street IDf Apia. • i, BEJNGINa BACK THE EXILES. JH.M.S. Royalist left Apia fop Apolima on Sunday morning and returned, the same <lay with a number of the prisoners. She left again for I JEntuila on. MeftS&a iBSEBJBg fojG tfea1 L-. . ; ~"^~

"remainder, who had been deported to that island, and returned again Wednesday morning at daylight.

On Monday there was a party of blue jackets and marines landed from the American and British warships. They took in charge a number of natives who had been billeted at Matautu, they having gone there to place themselves under the protection of the British Consul. But as the Mataafa party had left Mulinti'u during the night, it wa"s decided to transfer the late prisoners to that Point. Whilst the party were on their way, several natives came rush-. ing down from behind the town with | a report that the Mataafa party had taken possession of several residents' houses, and that they had the intention of forcing their way into the town. Captain Sturdee of H.M.S. Porpoise at once gave orders that his men march up that road with the view of ascertaining whether the report was true, but when the detachment reached the place reported to be occupied by the natives not one was to be seen. Captain Sturdee then withdrew his men and joined the main body, which was composed ; of American marines and blue jackets, and marched on with the natives, who were headed by Tamasese, to Mulinu'u, Avhere they were quartered. PROCLAMATION BY THE GERMAN CONSUL. Up to this time it was uncertain how Mataafa and his supporters would act. Many of them were most anxious to avoid conflict with the naval authorities, and Mataafa himself on the occasion of Dr. RaffelPs summary attempt to close the Supreme Court and at other times had shown his anxiety to prevent his people from becoming embroiled with the foreign authorities. There is little doubt in the opinion of residents well acquainted with the Samoans, that the issues of peace and war again virtually remained at the disposition of the German Consul. If he had joined with the other Consuls and counselled the Provisional Government to remain quiescent under joint naval protection until the decision of the powers was finally known, I firmly believe that the subsequent trouble would not have, arisen. What he did was calculated to have the opposite effect. On Monday afternoon he circulated the following proclamation in the Samoan language:

NOTICE TO ALL SAMOANS. »

By the Proclamation of the Admiral of the United States dated 11th March was made known that the three Consuls of the Signatory Powers of the Berlin Treaty, as well as the three Commanders of men-of-war, had been unanimous to no more recognise the Provisional Government composed of Mataafa- and the thirteen chiefs.

I there fore make known to you that this Proclamation was not at all correct. I, the German Consul-General continue to recognise the Provisional Government of Samoa until I have received contrary instructions from my Goveftunent.

Apia, 13th March. 1899. ' !.. ROSE, German Consul-General

"With regard to this proclamation it may.be remarked that the Provisional Government had only been recognised de facto as a means of preserving order until other provision should be made, and that the Consuls were at liberty to cease to recognise" it at any time they chose. Moreover, the Admiral's proclamation did not state or imply that the German Consul had agreed to refuse further recognition of Mataafa's Government. The declaration of the German Consul that he would continue to recognise the Provisional Government could only have the effect of strengthening; them in their attitude of defiance towards the other two Powers having established rights under the.Berlin Treaty. MATAAFA SHOWS FIGHT. It became evident on Tuesday that Mataafa and his supporters were determined to offer armed resistance. They established an 'armed cordon round Apia and invaded the outskirts of the municipality, behaving in the most bellicose way. The Admiral sent a warning to them to retire, but this they paid no attention to, but occupied some British houses and threw up entrenchments within the municipal boundaries. . On Tuesday a party who had been landed from H.M.s. Poruoise for the purpose of protecting the town from the natives, who had congregated just behind the same, and who, it was said, were harassing the settlers and destroying their plantations, were met with' the startling intelligence that Mr .Maxse" (British Consul),.and the Flag-Lieutenant W. G. Miller, from the Philadelphia, had been captured by the Mataafa party along with Mr Gaunt, a brother of Lieutenant Gaunt, who had gone around the town with the intention of finding out for themselves how far the reports were true. It appears that whilst riding round, some natives who had taken possession of a house belonging to Mr Gurr were

surprised in seeing the party come upon them, and one pointed his gun at them. Lieut; Miller was unarmed, but the Consul' and Mr Gaunt promptly pulled out their six-shooters and the natives bolted. It was only by the coolness they displayed that a calamity was averted, for had but one shotbeen fired there is not the least doubt that a great deal of bloodshed would have been the result.

On hearing the rumour Captain Sturdee at once put his men in motion and marched them in the direction ■where the Consul and his companions were reported to have »been captured. They were met by the party on their way, who seemed to be only sorry that they had not been able to have retained the prisoners they overpowered —but as the rebels had made off they did not think it advisable to foW low them. Captain Sturdee at once gave the order for his men to return. They then took,, up. their position in front of the Courthouse and remained there all through the night.

In the evening a party of 150 Malietoa' natives forced their way through the hostile cordon and were heartily welcomed in Apia when their identity became ■ known, although they narrowly escaped receiving a warm welcome from the navals on guard. They were transferred to j Mulimra, which, has been strongly iMulinuu, which has been strongly intrenched by the Americans, and where more than 2000 men, women, and children are sheltering. THE BOMBAKDMENT BEGINS. The Admiral gave the natives till 2 o'clock on Wednesday to retire f roni the municipality. Instead they j opened fire half an hour before in fjia direction of the British and American Consulates. At one o'clock in accord- j

■ was fired from the Philadelphia, and the European inhabitants of Apia ! crowded to the boats and embarked j for the warships, where it was arranged they should take shelter durj ing the bombardment. I At 2 o'clock the flagship PhiladelI phia threw the first shell from a 6inch gun in the direction of the Mataafa villages in the bush. The Eoyalist and Porpoise immediately followed. The Porpoise took up a position off Mulinuu Point and firing was kept up in general till dark. The forces ashore were increased io 175 marines and bluejackets from the Philadelphia, 25 of whom guarded the American consulate and the others guarded the town between Mulinuu and Muliwai bridge. The British landing party to the number of 100 were divided into two sections, fifty guarding the Ififi road and the remainder being placed in the direction of the Tivoli. Captain Sturdee of the Porpoise had general command of the land forces, and was assisted by Flag-Lieutenant Miller of the Philadelphia.

There was great difficulty in locating the position of the enemy, and consequently the damage done by the firing cannot be estimated. The Porpoise cruised along the shore, and threw a considerable number of shells, which, so far as could be judged, were very well placed, the markmanship being admirable.

AMERICAN CONSULATE STRUCK

A very untoward accident occurred in the course of the afternoon. A shell from.the Philadelphia, timed for 2500 yards, proved defective, and, bursting prematurely, struck the kitchen of the American Consulate. Several of the marines on guard were thrown down, and- one poor fellow, Private Nudge, was so severely wounded in the leg that he had to be removed aboard, where the limb was amputated.

At a later stage in the bombardment another defective shell burst near the shore, one piece striking the Roman Catholic Cluirch and another penetrating the German Consiilate, but without doing serious damage.