A NIGHT ATTACK.

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

A NIGHT ATTACK.

THREE BRITISH SAILORS KILLED.

During- Wednesday night the rebels kept up a sharp fusilade all round the town. One party made a determined attack in the direction of the Tivoli road, and although they were driven back by the British sailors of the Royalist posted there, Seaman O'Halloran fell with a bullet in his brain, and Seaman Montague Rogers was shot through the heart. Seaman Thornbury, shot in the chest, died on the following day, and Sergeant Sparrow, of the Royalist mamies, was wounded in both legs, but is progressing favourably. It is reported that the bullet which struck the Sergeant was fired by one of the British defenders. The night was intensely dark, and it was difficult to distinguish friend and foe. During the whole of the night constant shooting was going on all around the town, and those residents who had remained ashore were pleased when the day broke on Thursday morning, as it had been a trying time to those having responsibilities of children, but it is pleasing to know that up till now no accident has happened to any white residents. Thursday and Friday were comparatively quiet, but several important captures were made by the naval forces who kept scouting around the town. A seizure of arms was also made. During the day instructions were given that the hotels were to be closed, which was strictly observed; in fact, all places of business are closed, and a strict guard is kept all over the beach so that no one can go through the lines without a pass. One of the American Guards at the Consulate was shot dead during Thursday night. The rebels under cover of darkness also opened a bush fire on the warship in harbour, but without doing any damage. Friday night passed off without any great amount of firing, but report has it that great damage was done by 'some, shots fired by the Porpoise towards morning, and rumour has it that a great many of the rebels have been killed. As the natives carry away their dead and wounded it is very difficult to get information, so that the result of the shelling.which is considered to have been effective, is not known. SHORE VILLAGE SHELLED.— BOATS CAPTURED. The Porpoise has made excursions eastward and westward of Apia, and has shelled and burned several .Mataafa villages. A; considerable number.of boats were .captured or destroyed, and two old cannon, which wei'B sold to the natives in bygone years by Bully Hayes. The Porpoise is continuing her cruise with the object of preventing any support for Mataafa reaching Upolu from adjacent islands, and also to strike terror into the Mataafa villages around the coast. THE PRESENT POSITION. The bombardment continues intermittently, and . the town is as well guarded as possible with the small landing force available. It is still In the power of the natives, who swarm around in thousands, to do considerable injury to the deserted buildings, and damage may be done to the town by the bombardment if the rebels make further encroachments. The British and American forces are fighting side by side in perfect amity and good comradeship. The Royalist is crowded with British refugees, and the American residents have taken refuge in the Philadelphia. Some residents have left for I Tonga and Eiji, and others intend to i go to New Zealand imtil the trouble is over. It is impossible to accommodate all the European population on the Royalist, .and the captain gives those aboard the alternative of being landed at Tutnila or taking up their quarters with the Malietoa natives in the entrenched camp at Mulinuu, unless they prefer to leave Samoa for a while. The Malietoa natives at Mnlinnu are | in great spirits., and some of them hayj ing been supplied with weapons for I defensive purposes they made a sue- ! cessful sortie against the enemy, killing" several. Reinforcements are needed to carry on vigorous operations on land, and it is understood that a message has been sent to Fiji to the captain of H.M.s. Tauranga, who will probably join the two other British ships here.

There is an intensely angry feeling between the British and Americans towards the German residents, and no one is allowed to go through the lines of defence without a special pass. The Falke is lying inactive in harbour, but is crowded with German refugees. All fcߣise§§r&as keen brought to an end.