BATTLE OF VAIVASE,

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 22

BATTLE OF VAIVASE,

in the Vailele plantation, and almost on the spot where the British and Americans were killed on April 1. Tamasese had extended his lines in this direction, and was attacked during the morning by the Mataafa men. There was brisk firing, and Gaunt, who was on board the PorpoLse, hurried up with his brigade, and joined in the fight. One Malietoa man was killed, and at least six Mataafa men. Amongst the latter was a high chief named Paolci and an important "' talking man " named Leifi, both of AHapata. The .chief, a (all man. 6ft high, was shot through the groin, and his comrades had apparently been dragging his body along a^ they were retreating. Apparently several others, dead and wounded, were dragged away. The combatants were at cloae quarters, and the Mataafa warriors cut off the head of the young Malieloa soldier and got it away, though his own men secured his rifle. He was the only wan that Gaunt had lost bo far. His headless body was carried down to Mulinuu.

While they were in the firing line the men had asked their young white leader if they ouglit to bury their comrade like a Papalongi boldier, with volleys over the grave. " Yes, they might have their funeral all the Kuno as the while soldier." Might they bury him near the graves of the white soldiers at JNlulinuu? "Yes, they might do that." Tli en came the question of a coffin, the same as the Papalnngi. A rudo box was made from unplaned boards, and, beside the British and American offiper.3 and men. near brave Mouaghan and Lansdale and Freeman', all of whom had also lost their heads in battle, the young Samoan warrior was laid, with all his troubles^ ended and his warfare o'ev. The brigade, as we now call them, turned out in red turbans and" black lavalavas, and very fine they looked. A firing party of men, similarly dressed, fired three \oHeyd over the grave with splendid precision. Tl is another stage in military evolution, and henceforth we shall bpea'< more respectfully of the " neverglorious army" and call them " Gaunt' s Brigade."

COALING THE WARSHIPS

On the 16th the Pukaki arrived from New Zealand with coal for the warships. There was a alight roll in the harbour, and the captain .would not undertake the ri.sk attached to coaling- here,- go the Philadelphia

and the other ships have to go to the stiller j waters of Pango Pango. This will take some time. The Philadelphia left on Thursday, and had not returned on'"Monday. YON BULOW. ! The same morning we got news that Yon : Bulow, the- German army officer, who led the rebels on the Ist January, had come | over to Upolu from Savaii with between 400 and 500 rebels in 13 boats. He was , armed with a sword, and at one stage had , also a gun and a belt of cartridges with , him. He was seen by many natives and several white people Here again was startling and unexpected evidence of Ger- ' man complicity and duplicity, and Captain Stuart, of the Tauranga, who, in the ab- , sence of Admiral Kautz at Pango Pango, J was acting senior naval officer, at once wrote to the German Consul-general, inform- | ing him of the move and asking him that this particular officer of the German army should be restrained in his actions. Before the letter was delivered, the German warship Falke put, out to sea one morning in a great hurry. Her destination was a secret, but it soon became whispered about that the German consul was on board. It was apparent that he also had got word of Yon. Bulow' s movements, and lie desired to intercept such a public demonstration involving Germany to such an extent. Anyhow Yon Bulow was discovered at Mulifauua, one of the German plantations, taken on board the Falke, and conveyed to Apia. A HOT FIGHT AT" MANGIA. 4 On Saturday, the Ist of April, the hottest enpogement in which the natives have as yet taken part took place at Mangia, 15 miles on the eastward of Apia. The Porpoise, having nothing particular to do on that day, left at 3 o'clock in the morning, after taking o-i board Lieutenant Gaunt and 'a hundred of his men. The ship steamed up to Lulomoenga, and a shell was sent in from one of the gune. A trader put off in- a canoe, and some of the rebels beckoned to him to return. As he refused, six of the white caps came down the beach and shot at him, resting their rifles against cccoanut trees and teking deliberate aim. The trader, however, got off to his boat, set sail, and escaped to *lho ship. He taid that three-fourths of Ma- . tuafa's army were close inshore. Lieutenant Gaunt had 100 of his men in three boats, and he was supported by' an armed cutter from the ship, in charge of Lieutenant Parker. Lieutenant Gaunt and his friendlie3 landed and occupied tho stone wall at the London Mission station, ifrom which we had been at lacked about two weeks ago. The native missionaries implored Lieutenant Gaunt to go away, as the Malaafa men were thick in the scrub. Gaunt asked his men if they would go on. They replied : • " Whatever your orders are,' we will obey them; wherever you go, we will go. But we will liave a lot killed."^ One or two boats was burned, and the , friendlies • then withdrew, th ; ship covering them witYi shell fire. The expedition then moved on to Fasitotai, pulling slowly in shallow water along the shore. Lieutenant Gaunt and his men again landed and burned three more boats, one of which was a very large one. Then they burned -the village of Mangia, and while they were doing this the rebels came down on them from the hush, pouring past Cornwall's hou§e in hundreds. They opened a hot fire on tbe red caps, and the boat replied with the Nojdenfeldt, while Allen, the pilot, 'and some of" the men who weie not rowing," fired into the crowd as the rebels passed in front of a copra shed near the house. This msde the rebels less daring, and they sought cover, and crawled along all the lime towards Gaunl's men. The latter were retired to tiie . shelving beach, and replied to the enemy's fire, which, owing to the beach forming a natural trench, either did not reach them or wen* over their healds. The Malaafa men fired from behind thp burning village. Their line was now about 600 yardsMohg. and they s-oevned to be a force of 2000, with plenty <>f ammunition. The bullets began to fly thick and fast, and Gannt's ammunition began to run Ipw, so he and his men swam off to the boats tinder a heavy fire.