THE WAR AT THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1226, 7 February 1878, Page 3

THE WAR AT THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

The “ Samoa Times ” gives the following information respecting tho war at Tutuila: — On November 10th, very early in the morning, the news was brought into the Government camp that Manga and his party, the enemy who are fighting to set up an independent government, had escaped from Aua, the fortress in which they had been so long entrenched, to Aunuu, the small island off the east end of Tutuila. This escape occurred on Thursday night, November Bth. It was a bold and brave action, and was performed in a wonderfully secret and masterly manner. There must have been a very heavy sea running outside the harbour. There were several very heavy boats, and an unfinished Alia. Besides men, they had a great many women, old and young, and many children. They had their cannon, small arms, and ammunition to take, besides clothing and native property. Of what they had in the fort, very little was left behind. That they were able to get away, and take so much with them, so completely without discovery, is truly astonishing. They w r ere almost surrounded by their enemies, and the further from them were not a mile off. A little before daylight on Friday, November 9bh, Mauga, with part of his people, got to Alaufau, a small village about three-fourths tho distance between Aua and Aunuu, and about the same time the Government party w r ore aroused from their slumbers by the news that their enemy had deserted their fortress. The pursued party had just cleared the reef of Auasi, opposite Aunuu, when their pursuers fired at them. Tho distance between the two nearest points of Aunuu and the main land is about a mile. The main body of the Government party gave chase to Mauga and his party when it was known that they had left Aua. Many, however, remained behind, and made their way, some to the deserted fortress at Aua, which was quickly plundered, and fire soon burnt tho whole village to ashes, and some made direct to Pagopago, Munga’s chief village. Plundering was carried on here in a very searching manner, and on a pretty largo scale. Every house in the village, except that of the missionaries, and the chapel, was set on fire. In ten minutes the destruction was complete. The same also was the fate of Fagatogo and Fagasa. There is scarcely a house left standing either at Fagasa (a neat village at the north side of the island, which had many well built and costly native houses) or at any village around tho whole harbor of Pagopago. Tho destruction has been as complete as the strength, the envy, and the hatred of an exasperated unrelenting foe could make it. Mauga and his party, as has been stated, left their stronghold at Aua for Aunuu on Thursday, night’ the Bth of November. At about noon on Saturday, November 10th, all the Government forces were collected along the shore directly opposite Aunuu, and hero they were kept by tho intervening channel, and having no bouts, from further pursuing their escaped enemy. Manga and his party, after landing at Aunuu, made no delay in raising a wall of defence. It is now finished, and is said to be broad, high, and strong. It is nearly in the form of a semicircle, and the curve, it is thought, will measure a mile and a half. It is said that tho besieged party intend to defend themselves to the lust extremity rather than surrender under the conditions proposed to them by tho Government