FULLER PARTICULAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11396, 13 April 1899, Page 2

FULLER PARTICULAIRS.

MAT-VAFA REFUSES TO COME IN,

THE BATTLE OF VAILELE.

SERIOUS LOSS TO THE BRITISH AND

AMERICANS.

THREE OFFICERS AND FOUR MEN

KILLED,

SEVEN WOUNDED.

OFFICERS BEHEADED AND MEN'S

EARS CUT OFF.

THE REBELS LOSE HEAVLLY.

A LEADING GERMAN ARRESTED,

CHARGED WITH URGING ON THE

REBELS,

CONTINUATION OF THE WAR.

(By Oub Special Commissioner.)

APIA, April 6.

AVhen my last'despatch left we were in the midst of a bombardment that was being carried on by Iho British and American ships. The friendly natives who had been armed in the first instanco for self-defence, were at cloße quarters with the rebels just qutside the town. There were various statements about tho loss sustained by the robels in this

encounter, and after deducting about 100 per cent, for the inherent untruthfulness of the Slim-ail, I should say there were about eight men killed and from 10 to 15 wounded. Six of the wounded went down to the London Mission station, where their injuries were .liter ded to by the Roy. Mr Newell. Of tlirtc, five woro/seriously wounded. One man lias shot through both legs, and was not likely to live long. Several of the others were oadly hit. Tho .only casualty on tho Malietoa Bide was one man shot in the leg.

On Tuesday, 21st March, the Porpoise, which had been shelling up and down the coast, commenced a series of primitive cruiseß, mainly for the purpose of capturing rebel, boat, and burning tho Mataafa villages. Al Palauli and Satupaitea 13 shells were planted in and about the villages, mainly with the object"of -frightening away tbe rebels. An aimed force of friendlies was then landed, and 13 boats and Bevoral houses burned. One of tbo boats found was of enormous size—llsft long and 15ft beam,—and must have cqu between £300 and £400. She was far too heavy to be launched by the 40 or 50 men sent on shore, so two tins of kerosene were poured into hen ond sho was burned. Two other Isige biiats were captured and toWod into Apia. Two small old-fashioned cannon were also captured, and these were ofI.historic interest, as they had boefi sold for exorbitant prices to the natives several years ago by tho notorious Bully Hayes. One of these guns Captain Sturdee presented to the admiral as a souvenir of the war. The other was kept on board the Porpoise, as was also a Mataafa flag captured.