THE WAR IN SAMOA.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7242, 31 December 1888, Page 6

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

GREAT BATTLE AND SERIOUS LOSS

OF LIFE.

THE REBELS SUFFER SEVERELY.

(From the Special Correspondent to the Sydney Telegraph.) APIA,? December 8. When I last wrote to you, about 800 of the rebels were encamped at Saluafata. They consisted principally of Monono and Savaii people. By this movement the followers of Tamasese stood between two fires, as they were holding the coast line from Luatuanuu to a portion of Saluafata. To disperse the rebels from this point, where they had burned the houses and done other damage, Tamasese sent a large body of Atua people through the bush to surround the followers of Mataafa. Afte r four days' consideration the rebels de* termined to join their main body at Laolii, leaving Saluafata in boats, and keeping along the coast, arriving at their headquarters safely. Having concentrated their forces, the rebels decided on attacking the stronghold of Tama&ese, the strength of whose forts have been wondered at by people of all shades of opinion. About four o clock on the morning of November 29th another battle took place, which lasted all day and a portion of the following day, when a cessation of hostilities took place to allow Sch *ide to bury the dead. The Tuamasaga made a bold attempt on behalf of the rebels to get inside one of the forts, and after fighting desperately succeeded ii doing, so. A portion of the Savaii w«e ient up to relieve the Tuamasaga, as the latter had been tearing the brunt of the fighting all through. The Savau people, however, did not like the undertaking. The Tamasese narty rallied, and, making a bold rush, orove the rebels out of the fort. Tnis was the cause of serious loss of life, as the natives were fighting band to hand. The women also took part in it, two of them losing their lives. After a brief respite the Toamas&ga again made a rush for the fort, and succeeded, in once more getting inelcLe. As darkness was setting in, only stray shots were fired till morning. Whilst the fighting was going on so severely on land the rebels mustered strongly on the water, and with their three war canoes, in which they have several cannons, some heavy firing took nUce. During the morning they made Sree attacks, being repulsed on each occasion by the Government soldiers, who havea very strong fortification at this part of the coast. Very little damage to either from the sea on account of the heavy swell that ia so prevalent along the coast. TnTthirdattacfc having proved fruitless, the rebels retired with tW war canoes and boats to a sheltered bay near VaiMi. Between 10 and U nn. it was known m AoU that the fight would be the most desperate the natives had yet engaged m. ThVsteongest portion of the rebel .contmgent. the Tuamasaga, had been given to understand that no quarter would be shown to them by the followers, of Tamasese, and that they might just liTweU die in fighting for Mataafa, This roused the natives to such an extent that their usually cautious way of fighting was discarded. This, no doubt, aceounte greatly for the number of killed andwounSed. When the runners began to arrive in town with neps frpm the scenV of battle, as usuali exaggerated Statements became prolific. As the af ternWD wore on, however, the severity of the fighting going on was demonstrated by t&e number of wounded brought to the impromptu hospital inside tbe grounds of toe British consulate. The nghClng faking place about four miles away, the sufferings Sfthe unfortunate men must have been terrible, as they had to be carried over a rough road nearly all the way. Some were brought down in boats, which, no doubt, was much easier for the sufferers. By 9 p.m. therei were thirty-two cases brought in, and this was for the rebel side only. No information could be Seaned as to the doings of the Government soldiers, who have no access to Apia on account of the followers of Mataafa holding a strong position at Lauln, which lice between Luatuanuu and Apia. A few dead men were also brought down, but they were immediately taken to their homes. Next morning boats came down bringing bad news and dead people with them. On account of the barbarous custom of the natives in hacking off the heads of their foes, the bodies only of the victims could be found, the heads having been secured by their opponents. To see a hea<lles» body carried by two men on a long pola through the street in the same manner as the natives carry, their pigs or any other heavy object is a sickening spectacle. In many instances the bodieswere followed by women and children exhibiting great distress. Not till the following Monday could any reliable news be heard of the number kified and wounded. Father Remy, the head of the French mission here, has always taken every precaution to obtain the name wd district of any manwho has been killed. With this end in view there has constantly been a teacher of the French mission on each Sfde, as they have a large number of their people, who, although they worship together, tike opposite sides on the Tamasese-Mahe* to* question. The news received by them potnui to the fact that forty-three headless bodies had been found belonging to the rebel party, and forty-six with their heads olJlnaMng a total of eighty-nine killed. The number of wounded cannot be accurately discovered, as many of them go to their home* without troubling the man-of-war doctors at the hospital, preferring to be attended to in a Samoan way. Over fifty cases, however, have been treated at the hospital, and it is estimated that about forty Ijaye been treated elsewhere. The number kjHed on the Govemn.*nt side bas been found to be eighteen, end twenty-three wounded. eomeoTTamasese'e men also lost their heads. a» one of the rebe's was noticed carryLae two heads through the street in a basket made from the leaves of the cocoanut-tree. 6tace the war began, about three months ago, there have been 131 I killed and about 100 wounded. Had the old Satnoan custom of fighting been foltavad out it would have taken years to bring about such fatal results. On ieewnt of the troubled state of aflQuw herV.W British Consul has issued be undW his sole eoni&i. • Only a few weeks ago he published a ictus t~ the JocaTaefflsr. in which he stated «ls*n, stracUoa* tare to act neutral and that he was to recognise ts,o d* facto Samoan t»o- - also been «woi3* in by him,