THE REBEL FORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11059, 10 May 1899, Page 5

THE REBEL FORTS.

WHERE MATAAFA HAS BEEN THROUGH THE WAR, AN ENGLISHMAN SIX WEEKS IN: THE REBEL CAMP. On Friday, April 28, I rode with Mr. Macdonald to examine the line of rebel forts between Yea Hill and the Fuluason River. Wo reached the first part of the line where it crosses the Lotopa Road, about one and thrte-quarter miles south of Apia. It was hero that the last fight of the war was fought on Sunday, the 23rd, and on examining the walls behind which the rebels were posted, one cannot help admiring the pluck which sent our men against such a strong place, nor help being surprised that many more of them were not killed. Our friendlies, under Gaunt, Lewis, Sclmtor, Hickman, and Heathcotc, must have advanced through the scrub, and como suddenly upon a high stone wall, behind which v/ere numbers of the rebels, who could fire with impunity through loop-holes and embrasures. This wall was nearly 6ft high in places, and thick enough to withstand light artillery. Behind the wall were lines of thatched houses, the living places of the rebels, and in the benches, which ran with the fortwall, were stacks of pointed stakes, the use of which was not at first easy to SiiO Until one thought of them being used as spears to repel attacks. I rode and walked along at least one mile ail da-half of fort walls and trenches. The remains of food thrown out showed that there had been large numbers of men; in fact, I should say that nearly 3000 rebels must have manned those forts. The decaying remnants of food had brought a veritable plague of flies, which attacked one with the ferocity of tigers, and made tiavelliiig in that hot junglo a prolonged torture. We rode westward until we came to the Fuluason River, which forms the western boundary of the Apia municipality, and at a place only about iwo miles in a straight line from town, wo canto on a large deserted village, and Macdonald at once said, That has been Mutaafa's camp." We crossed the river, and close to this deserted village found Mr. Richardson in his home a tiny log hut. Mr. Richardson leases some land in that locality, and has planted it with cocoa. Ho told us that he had been six weeks in the robel camp, and had seen Mataafa many times passing his liouso to go to a bathing pool, higher up the river. Mr. Richardson was daily surrounded by rebels, who, on occasions, mocked at him for an Englishman, and threatened his life. He says that he was real glad when the shelling commenced, and would have gladly had his own place smashed up if only some of the rebels had gone with it. Oil ono occasion a young rebel tormented him so that lie up and smote tho follow on the mouth: then a big Wi rrior rushed up, and flourishing a death-knife, threatened to cut off his head. Mr. Richardson had a very had timo with die rebels. They would not let him qo into Apia, and tlioy filled him with stories of their victories over the English and Americans. Ho had many talks with the Mataafiv chiefs, and declares that some of them told him that they did not want to fight against while peoplethat they would be glad if England or America, annexed the c-unlry, but that they would not stand being governed by a mere boy king. " Boys have no influence among Samoans," t boy said. "but. we reverence our old men. We ic-\erfnco Mataafa. We fight not against tho white people, hut against the boy king." Richaidson declares that the rebels were well acquainted with every movement of our forces. They knew where the ships were going, and wliero our forces were marching. When I think of the frequent signalling from the Falke night and day, and the hoisting of (lags at the German Consulate, which always seemed to agree with the movements of our forces, it seems as if the common suspicions among the Britishers wero well founded. Mataafa's village and all the line of forts from Fuluason River to Yea Hill could have been blown to pieces with less than the number of shells that wero fired at guesswork from tho warships, and if only our officers had known where these places were it is certain they would not have lasted many hours.

Richardson informed me that Mataafa was in Fulusson camp nearly all the time of the war, and that lie only left, it a few hours before the time specified in tho armistice. Ho said that the rebels marched away, declaring that they were victorious over the English and Americans, and over the Malietoa party, and that they had only consented to wait in peace until the Commissioners came, because they believed tho Commissioners would make Mataafa king. AT VAILIMA. On Sunday, April 30, I tramped up to Vailima. The road is cut up in places and strewn with big trees and heaps of stones, making it impassable for horses or vehicles, and difficult even for pedestrians. The grounds surrounding R. L. Stevenson's house aro a network of forts, and tho house has evidently long been used as a refuge for rebels. The shells from the warships have not done tlio house so much damage as ono would think, though had any of the enemy being insido they would have sutfered. The walls are perforated in many places with shrapnel one shrapnel shell being beautifully placed on tho lawn, just in front of the house. Two shells have gono clean through tho house, but as the walls are of ordinary weatherboard, the holes avo clean cut, and can be easily filled up. On returning from Vailima I examined Mr. Skeen's house. The rebels have simply torn everything to pieces, smashed the piano, ripped up the beds, hacked the furniture, and carried off everything portable. Pictures and books are strewn on the lawn. The rebels must have worked hard to completely wreck the place, for they have torn doors oil' their hinges, smashed windows and blinds, hacked walls and staircase, and somo of their wags have written mocking sentences in Samoan on the wainscotting. ACTION OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

CLAIMS FOR INDEMNITY.' A despatch from San Francisco, dated April 5, says:— Salisbury has accepted Germany's plan of settling the Samoan differences by tho appointment of a tripartite Commission. The United States had previously agreed to the same plan. Details are not yet agreed upon. Dr. Solf, newly-ap-pointed President of the Municipal Council of Samoa, is having a busy time at Washington, where he has been in conference with British and American representatives, as well as with German authorities. The State Department at Washington will file a claim at Berlin for indemnity for the death of the American marine killed while guarding the American Consulate at Samoa. Great Britain is expected to pursue the same course. Germany's reply to the demand for indemnity will precipitate the decision as to the merits of the controversy regarding Samoan affairs. Disavowal of Consul Rose's acts will also be demanded. It is believed Germany will do all in her power to smooth away difficulties, though it is felt there is sufficient evidence of her duplicity. It is reported from Washington that Great Britain and the United States have informed Germany she must join with them in notifying the native factions there must be no further revolt. Also that Rose must be withdrawn, or instructed to issue a proclamation disavowing the one issued by h.m, recognising as constitutional the Government of Mataafa, and denouncing the correctness of the statements made by Admiral Kautz. It must be made plain to the natives ' that Germany will not countenance any insurrection oi disregard of authority or the mandates of the signatory Powers. Three several propositions made by Germany for adjustment of matters have been rejected by Great Britain and the United States, THE SAMOAN COMMISSION. Washington, April 14.—Aftei hearing this morning from the British and German Embassies, the State Department was able to announce positively and finally that the thiee parties to the Berlin Treaty had agreed upon the instructions to be given their Samoan Commissioners, and that it was certain that the Commission would leave San Francisco on the 25th inst. for Samoa on the Badger. The instructions to the Commissioners are identical, the three Governments having accepted a form which compromises the differences whiob have existed up to this time. , , . The Commission will be empowered to ' deal with the ■ situation \ as it finds it in the Samoan islands upon its arrival; , Ihis applies to Acts necessary to.place the affairs of the islands in 'a peaceful and satisfactory

condition for the time being, bub whatever the Commission does in this direction, is understood ,o be of '» temporary character, and subject to tie epproval of the three Powers. As tc tie merits of the bitter controversy between the representatives of the Powers on the island, which led up to the unfortunate outbreak of April 1, the Commissioners are expected to make a. thorough, impuitial invettigation, and report the results to tbeii respective Governments. The latter will, by ordinary diplomatic exchange, epply any corrections that seem to be necessary. i'ho Commissioners mil have no power to alter the Treaty of Berlin. They, may make recommendations' to that end, and where they are unanimous it is probable tlmt their recommendations will be accepted for cknges in the Treaty. All the decisions of the Commissioners must be unanimous This condition was insisted upon by Germany, All the English pr.pers were opposed to unanimity, declaring that the Commission could never, under such circumstances, come to an agreement. The Speaker says: " The rule of unanimity on any point is hardly reasonable, but the rule of absolute unanimity is unworkable." The Spectator oppresses the belief that "the rule of unanimity appears to be intended to reduce the Commission to a mere gioup of reporters,'' GERMANY AND HER CONSUL. _ Ekhlt.V, April 4.Dr. Von Hamelen, Under-Secretary of the German Foreign Of' fice, was asked to-day for a statement regarding the charge made by Admiral Kautz, U.S.N., against Heir Rose, the German Consul at Apia. He said: " That is Admiral I\autz's view. The other view is that the whole trouble came by others interfering in the royal election. Wo have no official news about Hen- Rose having issued a production. Wo cannot tell what its contints are. Impartial as wo have been in Dr. Radii's case, I win say that if HenRose issued a provocative proclamation we shall disavow it. That Heir Rose protested at the Consul's meeting wo know, but that is a different thing from a proclaim lion.'