THE WAR IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5273, 16 February 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

The Samoa Times o£ December 8 gives the following further account of the war in Tutuila, Samoa, of which some particulars reached us a short time ago by way of Auckland, and were published in our columns : —“ On the 4th inst. tho Government schooner Elizabeth anchored at Tutuila, and shortly after landed a Taimua, some Eaipule, two judges, some Government troops, and other fighting men, about 160. Tho news of this arrival was immediately sent on to the seat of war, with a request that the first deputation from the Government and the Governor of Tutuila would come at ouce to Leoue, to consult with those now arrived concerning the war. Tho next day, about noon, Auf;ti, a Taimua, and the Governor, Tuitele, came. After a short consultation with the* deputation by the Elizabeth, it was decided to go tho next morning with the whole force now brought from Upolu, to the Government encampment, as it was likely that skirmishing, or real fighting, was even then actually taking place. “ The next day as decided on the fighting party from Upolu, with its leaders, and also a great many Tutuilians, who for various reasons had straggled away from the fighting neighborhood, loft Leone for Pagopago. They slept at Nuuuli, and occupied the greater part of the next day in trying the cases of supposed accessories to the murders committed there the previous Saturday, and in killing, cooking, and eating pigs. The two following days we heard nothing from the seat of war, but the next day, November 10, very early in the morning, the news was brought that Manga and his party had escaped from Ana, the fortress in which they had been so long intrenched, to Aunuu, tho small islaud off the east end of Tutuila. This escape occurred on Thursday night, November 8. It was a bold and brave "action, and was performed in a wonderfully secret and masterly manner. Although the wind was a little more moderate on this night than it had been for weeks previously, it was .very far from being light, and there must have been a very heavy sea running outside the harbor. 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 wore almost surrounded by their enemies, and the furthest from them were not a mile off. A little before daylight on Friday, November 9, Manga, with part of his people, got to Alautau, a small village about three-fourths the distance between Aua and Aunuu, and about the same time the Government party were aroused from their slumbers by the news that their enemy had deserted their fortress. Pursuit was at once commenced, and shortly after daylight the foremost of the pursuers were within half a mile of where Manga still was. By the thnely warning of one of the Protestant mission teachers, he was again enabled to escape the vengeance of his adversaries. This unfortunate, ill-advised, and misguided chefta-’n, with another old chief of Ms party, were sitting at a fire warming themselves when their deliverer gave the warning that their certain destroyers were close upon them. They narrowly escaped. Much of the property they brought from Aua was left behind and became tho spoils of the enemy. Going further east the pursuers came closely upon another division of Manga’s party', these also were off their guard. They had kindled a fire to cook pigs. °The warning, timely given by another Protestant mission teacher, saved these also. 'This teacher nearly answered with his life for his humanity. One of the principal chiefs here levelled his gun at him, but some of the others happily prevented its being fired. The pursued party had just cleared the reef of Auasi, opposite Aunuu, whoa thoir pursuers fired at them. It is said the shots reached the boat, and slightly wounded two of the people in it. At 9 a.m. Manga and his party landed safely at Aunuu. This was seen by their pursuers on the opposite shore. The distance between tho two nearest points of Aunuu and the mainland is about a mile. The main body of the Government party gave chase to Manga 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 of everything of any value left there, and fire soon burnt the whole village to ashes, and some made direct for Pagopago, Manga’s chief village. Plundering was carried on here in a very"searching mannei, and on a pretty' large 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. Tho same also was the fate of Eagatogu and Eagasa. 'There is scarcely a house left standing, either at Eagasa (a neat village at the north side of the islaud, which had many wellbuilt and costly native houses) or at any village around the whole harbor of Pagopago. The destruction has been a.s complete as the strength, tho envy, aud the hatred of an exasperated unrelentiug foe could make it. Manga and his party, as has been stated, left their stronghold n't Aua for Aunuu ou Thursday night, the Bth of November. At about noon on Saturday, November 10, all the Government forces were collected along the shore directly opposite Aunuu, aud here they were kept by the intervening channel, aud having no boats, 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 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 the besieged party' intend to defend themselves to the last extremity, rather than surrender under the condition proposed to them by the Government. It will appear strange that the Government party', so numerous, should have been bo remiss

in their watch as to allow Manga and his party to escape so easily, and as it were through their hands. The Government party ever since they had occupied the harbor had been auspicious that Manga would attempt an escape of this kind. Two days before the escape they seriously contemplated sending 150 men to occupy Aunuu, and prevent the party at Aua from landing there should they succeed in getting out of tha harbor. This night their suspicious were certainly lulled, for no watch whatever was kept.