THE SAMOAN WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2030, 7 January 1889, Page 2

THE SAMOAN WAR

A GERMAN AOOOrjNT, (SBR yjJESS ABSOOIATJON.) Auckland, January 6. An aooounh from a German aonros of the fight at Vallelo, Samoa, on the 18ih Inst., statea that It waa intended to req<Jß&t the natiyeo of both parties to give ap th|er arras. For thla purpose the Adier, with Iho Qotnmodore aud German Oonßul Ou fcoard, left ApU harbor at 6 30 a.m., snci ar, tho an roe time the JSoer left Ralufata. The Adler arrived oft Lanlu at the position of tho Chief Mauafa about eight o'cloak, and had n whlta fl*g at tbe foretop an a signal tbnt they wished lo open oommonloatlon with Mataufa. A party from the Olga went m boa's on the morning of the 18th to the German plantation, and also t^ protect tho latter, the landing party approached tbe beach In two dlvldonr, An American oUiijun, who hap for aom.e weeki been reoldlng with Mataafa, had a large party of Samoana, who had been bronpht together through npeclal mesßeogers, aiaetnbled around him. Tha Americans and Natives held a oonnctl of war, and tbe former com* mtnded the Manona natives to go to their c*noes and atiaok the Germans at onoe. At that time tome boats of the German man-of-war approaghed tha shore at FagalH. The natl^ee took np covered positions, and' when the boats were Undjng the party, one shot was fired at, them by Mataafa'a troops. T h 'a WRB the signal fop a general f|re. Under a ahowor of bullets the Germans forosd a landing on German property, aod took the!* way to a German plantation at F»galii, the whole of the place, being German lacd. Meanwhile, tho pamo ocourrenca had taken plaoa at Villele, the only difference being that tbe landing was effected a little latpr, the landing party of Beventy rrjen being opposed by ten tlmpa thois 1 cumber of uatly ; !8. T|isro w>»b do other conrae for them to pursue except by fighting their way from Fagalli to V^Hele. Unde^ o mmiind of L!ear.eDa,ot Spengler and gnidancD of gnryeyor Heardlon, the small body of troops started nn their dangerous

way, with bayonets fixed and charged forward- They bad to {ravel one jgngliah mile, wh(oh they aucoaeded m forolng by three rashes and three hurrahs. Volluya were hailed on thorn from b\\ dlreotlooß, but at last they j >lned their oomradea at Vallele, whowere ia the nam,9 position, the whole party'no.w numbering •bont J.4Qmen. The lines beqimd thinned qntll t|io "Bher landed • pqrty 1o enpport their oomrades qd ihore, Ab soon as the relrjforoement appeared thlnga took a tarn and with 1 " hurrah," the wholo of the German sailors advanced In line, and drove the Samonna from their coy^r. Meanwhile the Adlor ajio anpoftved and landed • farthor reioforoernont, after whloh the VY a *' e ' 9 plantation won ontlrely claurod of Samoans. In disorderly retreat tn'oy retired to Ap!» Nothing elao h.ad to be done bat to fleateoy the Samoan ydlftgos of Vallelt) "and T<Btogo to the ground. In the fight fifteen Germans were killed, besides officer!, and thirty-?-89ven wonnded. Admiral Fairfax reoelved yosterday offialal Intimation andparticalcrn of the Qerman aggression m Samoa from Oaptain Hand, of the Royaliat, He forwarded the news by oablo to the Admiralty In London.