WAR IN SAMOA. A SHARP ENGAGEMENT. SEVERAL KILLED AND WOUNDED FIVE THOUSAND NATIVES UNDER ARMS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 300, 19 September 1888, Page 3

WAR IN SAMOA. A SHARP ENGAGEMENT. SEVERAL KILLED AND WOUNDED FIVE THOUSAND NATIVES UNDER ARMS.

Ajua, September 4. It is now some time since 1 have written on Samoan affairs, but as they have taken such a serious turn, it becomes necc&sary to again place them before the public. It is now more thanbwolvo monthssincetheTumaseseUeruian Government was, inaugurated hero> and the outside world has been made to believe that everything was quiet and the natives perfectly satisfied. TliajL4ferT^^ not true will be ehojw^n^po*pat?L^l3^^r yy S ome ?ime rising 1 t!Tvo been rumours of a the fn?!^»^ )arfcof adh ? ients of Malictoa > althoa<'^- > ' deposed iin ° of Samoa, and de«ni«<jif ie t» enuans l iere liave affected to thofJJF' these rumours, it was well known Jr boonei' or later these unfortunate jdnple would bo goaded by the tyranny of the German Premier, to some act Qf * rebellion. The people have been kepi in a state of poveity, almost starvation, by the lapacious demmds of those in power for money, which money has been spent in faying enormous salaries to Germans, for whom positions have been found as magistrates, pilots, inspectors of police, generals of the Samoan army, and so forth. The natives have continually protested against and asked to be relie\ ed ot -some of the quite unnecessary taxation, but ha\e always been met with the threat of interference from a German man-o'-uar should they refuse. They have scon their king deposed and taken away ; they have seen their chiefs taken away on small cutters chained to the mast in the tierce rjiys of a tropical sun, and other smaller matter* which could not have happened in any other country with a people who -were not full of patience and self-sacrifice.

THE LAST STRAW. It appears the culminating point wi" reached latt week, when the Uei mans endeavoured to get the Samoans to give their puppet the name of Maletoa. There is au old-established custom amongst ihe Samoans by which the people of each district at diHerent limes confer n name belonging to such district, on the person most entitled thereto. Biandeis had called the people who had been the most ardent feupporteis of JNlalietoa together and com manded them to confer the names belonging to their \aiious disbiict.s on Tamasese. A 3 the poor wretches could not as they thought help it, they pioceeded to do so, when in the midst of their discussions Brandeis proposed that they should gi\ c to Tamasese the name of the deposed King Malietoa. Thiswasthelaststraw. Oppressed aid threatened as the poor natives were, they at once took to the bush, which in Samoa means rebellion.

MEDITATED ATTACK ON iMULIN UU. On the night of August 29th everything had been arranged for a descent upon the seat of Governments jSlulinuu, but some traitor in the camp betrayed their plans with the result that Mulinuu was that night occupied by German sailors and marines so that the attempt; "was not made.Two days afterwards a party of 500 Samoans under the command of Brandeis, and accompanied by some of the Germans in 'Apia, \vent out with the avowed object of ciushing the so-called rebellion. it appeai"s they fell in with an outpost of the Malietoa party, consisting of about 30 men, who bravely resisted the attack, indeed so bravely rthab Biandeis and his party retreated to Apia, having lost seven men, and having a great number wounded. Now cotnes the most horrible part of the stoiy as told by the natuec-. The JVlalietoa party had three men killed, two taken prisoners, and several wounded. It is said by the Samoans of 'L'amasesels party that some of the natives brought in the heads of the killed co show the commander. One of the Malietoa paity-\\ho was killed, Sagafalapala, behaved with great bravery. Upon his death the natives wished to cut off his head, but this their com mander would not allow, saying they must be content with an ear, which they at once deprived the corpse of. That the heads and ear were cut off is without doubt, as several of the resident" heic took pains to \erify as far as possible the frequently exaggerated reports ot the Samoanr-.

THE ARMIES GATHERING. Of couv.se the die was now cast, and the respective parties flocked to the banneio of their leadeis. A& I write to-nijjht there arc about 2,500 people about 3 miles away under ]\JaHetoa's Hag, whilst the most that Brandeis could muster to day was 1,400, a great number of whom will desert as .soon as opportunity offers. The whole ot Tamase=e's native police, with one exception, deserted to the Malietoa party la.-t, after having fiiet opened the gaol and freed the political prisoners. The sympathies of the British and American people here are with the Malietoa party. They feel that the natives have acted with great patience throughout severe persecutions.

SAVAII NATIVES FLOCK TO THE MALIETOA'S STANDARD. Since writing the above, over 2,000 men from Savaii have joined the Tuamasaga or Malietoa party, and there U every likelihood of an engagement to-day. I do nol think the Europeans here are in absolute danger, although there is considerable uncertainty as to the ■situation. There can be no doubt that unless the German troops interfere the Tamase.se party under Brandeis will be defeated and Tamaeese deposed. It i* said that the Malietoa party intend to appoint a regent, and notify the foreign consuls to that effect. If this is done, it is almost certain that the American Government will recognise and support the Malietoa party.

Me ARTHUR'S TRADERS MAL TREATED. The British and American residents are indignant this morning at the treatment some English traders in the employ of McArthur and Co. received last night from the German troops employed to assist Tamase&e. Whilst coming to Apia with a load of copra, their boat was stopped and their copra bags thrown about, and altogether they were treated in a very insulting manner. Whatever may be the final result of the present struggle, it must now be clear that it is impossible to form a government under Tamasese with a rapacious Gemian as X'rcmier.

ARRIVAL OF THE NEW 'CONSUL. The Richmond arrived this morning. The new consul, Colonel de Coellogan, has arrived, and so far has created a favour-

able impilsion A dinner, attended by the prineml residents here to the numboi 1 of about m was given to the retiring Acting Consul W. H. Wilson. Esq., on his rotirement fain office. The loal Oovernraent have adopted a very ensyjnanner of dealing with prisoners. One of norn, who had been arrested for burglniypid attempted murder was shipped to iSydmy by the last crip of tho Lubeck. Rather rice this for the colonies.