THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 3

THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.

AUCKLAND, January 5. News by the mail steamer shows thac great excitement prevails at Samoa, consequent upon an engagement between the Germans and Mataafa's army. The captain of the German warship Olga having intimated that he would take peaceful steps to put an end to the Native war, the British and American warships did not interfere with his movements. On Tuesday, the ISth December, the Olga having previously carried 200 of Tamasese's soldiers into position near Mataaf a, landed 120 German sailors, who were joined by plantation laborers from New Britain. Mataafa's force, now between the Germans on the one side and Tamasese's army on the other, retired before the Germans, who then fired, killing the Samoan chief and his son. The Samoaus returned the fire, and twenty Germans were killed and thirty wounded. The New Britain boys bolted, and the Germans with their numbers sadly reduced had no alternative but to retreat to their boats. The Olga afterwards shelled Mataafa's position, but only three were killed and two wounded. One of the Germans killed was a lieutenant and another an officer. The Samoan loss is not fully known. The Germans assert that they were first fired upon, and are determined to crush Mataaf a. The Hritish and American warships are fetting in fighting trim. A gun from the ■eipsic has been placed in front of the Consulate, with a party of blue jackets on guard. On the 21st the German Consul issued a proclamation calling on Mataafa's people to bring their arms aboard one of the German warshiDs. If this was not obeyed the proclamation said a warship would shell the town where Mataafa is supposed to be. A conference between the three Consuls was held on tbe previous day. The German Consul proposed this, but the others disagreed. Mataafa received a summons from the German Consul to surrender on board the German warship. His life is promised to be spared, but liberty was not guaranteed. He, therefore, refused. The Olga thereupon bombarded the town, throwing about thirty shells, after which a party of sailors landed and burned the town. There was no resistance. The British Consul issued a circular to British residents advising them to send their wives and children on board H.MS. Royalist or to the British Consulate. Many availed themselves of the offer, and went to the Royalist, the men remaining behind to look after their property. Apia is in a terrible state of excitement; nearly all business places are closed, including McArthur and Co.'s, the Germans employed by the big firm taking refuge in the German war ships. (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. After four days' consideration the rebels determined to join their main body at Laulii, 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 each *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 in doing so. A portion of the Savaii were sent up to relieve the Tuamasaga, as the latter had been bearing the brunt of the fighting all through. The Savaii people, however, did not like the undertaking. The Tamasese party rallied, aud, making a bold rush, drove the rebels out of the fort. This was the cause of serious loss of life, as the natives were fighting hand to hand. The women also toot part in it, two of them losing their lives. After a brief respite the TuamasHga again made a rush for the fort, and succeeded in once more getting inside. 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 place. During the morning they made three attacks, being repulsed on each occasion by the Government soldiers, who have a very strong fortification at this part of the coast. Very little damage to either party was sustained from the attack made from the sea on account of tbe heavy swell that is so prevalent along the coast. The third attack having proved fruitless, the rebels retired with their war canoes aand btos to a sheltered bay near Vailili. Between 10 and 11 a.m. it was known in Apia that the fight would be the most desperate tbe natives had yet engaged in. The strongest portion of the rebel contingent, 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 as well 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, accounts greatly for the number of killed and wounded. When the runners began to arrive in town with news from the scene of battle, as usual, exaggerated statements became prolific. As the afternoon wore on, however, the severity of the fighting going on was demonstrated by the number of wounded brought to the impromptu hospital inside the grounds of the British consulate. The fighting taking place about four miles away, the sufferings of the 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- there were thirty-two cases brought in, and this was for the rebel side only. No information could be gleaned 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 Laulii, which lies 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 headless body carried by two men on a long pole 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 bodies were followed by women and children exhibiting great distress. Not till the following Monday could any reliable news be heard of the number killed and wounded, Father Remy,

the head of the French mission here, has always token every precaution to obtain the name and district of any man who has been killed With this end in view there has constantly been a teacher of the French mission on each side, as they have a large number of their people, who, although they worship together, take opposite sides on the Tamasese-Malie-toa question. The news received by them points to the fact that forty-three headless bodies had been found belonging to the rebel party, and forty-six with their heads on, making a total of eighty-nine killed. The number of wounded cannot be accurately discovered, as many of them go to their homes 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 have been treated elsewhere. The number killed on the Government side has been found to be eighteen, and twenty-three wounded. Some of Tamasese's men also lost their heads, as one of the rebels was noticed carrying two heads through the street in a basket made from the leave of the cocoanu t-tree. Since the war began, about three months ago, there have been 131 killed and about 100 wounded Had the old Samoan custom of fighting been followed out it would have taken years to bring about such fatal results. On account of the troubled state of affairs here, the British Consul has issued a proclamation notifying all her Britannic Majesty's subjects that in future they will be undev his sole control. Only a few weeks ago he published a letter in the local paper, in which he stated his instructions were to act neutral and that he was to recognise the de facto Samoan Government. Special constables have also been sworn in by him.