THE WAR IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9241, 19 December 1888, Page 5

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

GREAT BATTLE.

A SANGUINARY STRUGGLE.

HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. By the arrival of H.M.s. Lizard from Apia, we learn that the decisive engagement between tho Malietoa-Mataafa and Tamasoso factions, which was anticipated in our last advices from Samoa, has taken place, and proved to be a desperate encounter. Tamasese's troops were entrenched in strong positions at Lutuanuu and Vailele Bay, and on the morning of November 29th Mataafa led his adherents on to take the fortified camps by storm. A stubborn resistance was offered, and after an engagement of some hours, tho defenders were driven from all bub one corner of the extensive " pah," if we may use a Maori term. ■ . € Tho assailants, particularly tho TuaMasanga tribe, behaved with great gallantry under a strong fire from the breastworks, and succeeded in carrying ono of the outlying positions after heavy loss. Placing a number of Savaii men in this as a garrison they pressed On to other points, but Tamasese's men rallying retook the position, and cut oil 44 heads belonging to the enemy. Mataafa's men again stormed this place, and so fiercely did the fight rage at this particular point that it was taken and retaken four times boforo Mataafa's party finally secured possession. Tamasese's troops then slowly _ retired, and are at present holding one corner of the extensive camp. In the engagement, from the particulars that could be obtained, it appears that Mataafa's party lost about 60 killed and 50 wounded, while the loss on the other side is estimated to be slightly less. The wounded are being looked after by tho white residents and tho surgeons of the warships. At the close of the action tho ammunition of both parties was beginning to get very scarce, a fact which will probably interfere with Mataafa following up bis victory to its full extent. A rumour was current in Samoa to tho effect that the Order-in-Council forbidding the sale of arms and ammunition to tho natives by Europeans had been rescinded ; but as the Lizard called at Suva, Fiji (where tho High Commissioner is stationed), on her way to Auckland, and heard nothing confirmatory of this report it is most probably without any solid foundation.