LATER.

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

LATER.

A DISASTROUS EN-

GAGEMENT.

ANGLO-AMERICAN FORCE

AMBUSHED

ATTACKED BY MATAAFA'S

WARRIORS.

THREE OFFICERS AND

FOUR MEN KILLED.

SEVEN MEN WOUNDED

THE OFFICERS DECAPITATED.

SAILORS' EARS CUT OFF.

NUMBERS OF NATIVES

KILLED.

LIEUT. FREEMAN OF

THE TAURANGA

SHOT DEAD

2 AMERICAN OFFICERS

AMONGST THE DEAD

OPERATIONS OF THE WAR-

SHIPS

News of th.c most disastrous event of the present unhappy war in Samoa arrived here on Wednesday by the R.M.S. Alameda, from San Francisco, via Honolulu and Apia. The Alarneda, which arrived at the Queen street Wharf about five o'clock this morning, brings news from Samoa up to the 6th inst., and amongst her passengers she brought two wounded American sail-

ors for treatment at the Auckland Hospital.

Our correspondent at Samoa supplies the following interesting account of the recent exciting events there. ,

(From . O\ir Special Correspondent.)

APIA, April 5.

The' last budget of news from Samoa was despatched from here to Auckland on 22nd of March. Since then some most stirring things have occurred, the most notable being a disastrous land engagement about three miles from Apia.

On Monday, March 20, H.M.S. Porpoise left Apia Harbour and sailed along the coast, shelled and destroyed several native villages, captured two boats, and destroyed 10. She returned at 0 p.m. the same day. Owing to the strictness of the guards many of the Apia people have been put to inconvenience, but the authorities deem this necessary owing to the fact that they have reason to suspect that correspondence is carried on with the rebels from the town.

On Tuesday the Porpoise went out again and shelled several of the villages and destroyed boats, some of which she brought into port,

On Wednesday morning, March 22, whilst a party of American bluejackets were out scouting, they came across a party of natives, and at once

shots were exchanged. The recall was sounded soon afterwards,- and the men withdrew, but three'of the Mataafu natives were killed. At 2 o'clock H.M.S. Royalist threw shells in the direction of Motootua, where it was stated the natives had been seen and still remained. During the afternoon the English and American sailors were mustered and marched inland, but none' of the Mataafa natives were met with. H.M.S. Porpoise went out again the same morning, and it is said she destroyed several villages and captured a number of native, boats belonging to the Mataafa party. I have been informed that up till now she has captured and destroyed 37 of the Rebels' boats. •

On Thursday morning, March 23, at about fi o'clock, the Royalist commenced to shell in the direction of Yaiusu, where it was rumoured that <i number of natives were building a fort on an old site which had been used for that purpose before.