WAR IN SAMOA. Samoa, Sept. 17.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 305, 6 October 1888, Page 3

WAR IN SAMOA. Samoa, Sept. 17.

• When I last* wrote affairs .hero vyere "in an' unsettled sfcatej ( brought, about by 'the" i ' \ cupid ity and tfcyran ny^ of the' : Tam^aese .government. , The ' -Maliefcoa party, werp gradually gaining strength,' all the 1 more important chiefs and districts joining their rank. ' 41 . j^,iew days atter my last, by far the most? important' chief on the islands, Mataafa leit Tamasese and joined the Malietoa, party r He was imtnediatly chosen as their leader, ,and at once displayed his capacity. 1 ' f or the position by erecting strong forts at Faleula, and by disposing of the forces under-hinvin such a manner that a surprise would not be possible. In the meantime, J;he , ; Tamasese party had not by any means' been idle. The people of Man,ono. who had joined ' the Malietoa party, 'received the following letter from Brand'eis i — ■ *' (THANHLATIOtf. ) (xovernment of Samoa, Mullinuu, September 5th,^ 1888.

To i'iie dinars- AN'i> Rulers of Ttjajjasaga, ManOxNO'and Faasaleleaga^ntheBush, GiUefs, — By authority of His Majesty Tamasese, '•the,, King of, Samoa, 1 make known unto you. all that the German man of Avar is ',^p /go, together with a Sdiuoati IleefcT for the. pjirppstf of burning! Manono on account oF their se'dret , actions. ■After this island Manono^i'a' all burrit'it'is good if th'B peoplef l returh'''t9 Manono and J live quiet. If-<'th.$# obdy^hen no other punishment will i come, upon them or be added to the aoove. v . » To the people, of Le Jpaasaleleaga I say return to'yduv homes and stop^there. The same $hobe belonging to Tuamasaga. If you obey these instructions then you will all be' torgiveu, if jb^u' ,do not obey them your villages'wiu 'be burnt down the same as Mariono. These instructions fnvere made and set forth in truth and the sight of God in the Heavens. Chiefs, (Signed) Bkani>eis, The Chief Leader of the Government.

BOMBARDMENT OF VILLAGES. The following morning the German guiiboab Adler gob up steam, and taking in tow boats containing some ,,300 of the Tamasese party, proceeded along the coast in the, direction where the Malietoa party had taken up their position. -Many were the surmises of the English and American residents (who had now openly avowed their sympathy for the legitimate rulers of Samoa) as to what the expedition was going todo, buttheirwildestsunnisefellfarshorb of what actually took place. Steaming past Faleula, where the Malietoa forts were erected, and which, forts they were well aware contained thewliole of the warriors from Manono,,they proceeded to this latter place and at once begtin to discharge shells amongst the women, and * children remaining on the island. .-Imagine the gallant soldiers of the Imperial -Germany being engaged in such work ! Great was the indignation of the "English, French, and American residents, who were strongly inclined to take up arms against the -Germane. t Some of the natives stated that if any of their women or children, were injured they would not leave a German alive on thie islands. However, they found that nob much harm had. been done beyond destroying a few hqusejs and; frightening the poor women and children. , ' The gunboat, \Vhile at Manono, cast off j the Tamasese boats* and ordered them to land, but ,with one exception they refused and proceeded. *tQ ipav^ii.,., ,The one- whjLb'h. remained proceeded' to' burn./ a' large 'war ■ canoe, which for a fbiig time has been one of the objects of, interest to visitors here. . Th6 Malietoa party afterwards executed the leader of this party. . ,, , , !

■ PREPARATIONS EOR, BATTLE. Ib was now, felt that nothing could pre- | vent war, and ' both parties began to pre- j pare. The Taniasese party, in addition to holding Mullinuu, 'took up apposition 'on the opposite side * of the harb'our,, and erected some strong forts. In the meantime, a force of 'tnarines from the Adler v had been landed on Mullinuu (Tamasese's seat of Government) 'ostensibly for the protection ot German life and property, but really to try • and intimidate the Malietoa I party. As soon as they were landed, nearly the whole of the' Tamasese supporters proceeded to Matautu and joined those who were already in the' garrison. They chose a distinguishing badge, vizi, a red turban around their head.

THE CROWNING r OF MATAAFA. ' j The other party now' hoisted i,he flag of Malietoa in his former capital, crowned Mataafa king, of Samoa, and proceeded to moist Apia. They then sent a letter ' to each of the three consuls!, informing them oi their action, and asking them if,, as was' .formerly the ea^e, Apia was tp be con-. t sider.ed, neutral territory. ■ The consuls held k a 'mee'ting.. The British and American, consuls were strongly in, favour of such neutral territory. ' So was the German Consul, -with the di(/ht provision • that the , neutraL territory should be guarded by Tamasese's soldiers (who, were then marching about, the town wich loaded rifles). Needless to • say the other consuls indignantly scouted such a proposal.- The King (who,, by the way, was crowned under the title of. Malietoa - II. Mataafa, Kjing Qf all , Samoa) was informed that there waa no.t any neutral territory, but waa asked to take steps to prevent any injury to European or (American residents. 'Ihis he promise^ to d.o, and at. pneo^issued-aj. proclamation 'that any of. his men* ;who "injured, any ''of the white population would, be at once severely punjshed. - t , 4 *. ' , The 1 captaiii' df *ihe Amei'J'ckh waHship 1 Adams, gave both parties to understand thatjalbhougb'h&rdidjfio.tjjwjybend tjo interfei'e in any native quarrel he would, in the event of the persons -or property ! ,o| Ameri.cans being molested, make reprisals.

THE EVE OF* THE BATTLE. Both sides were now prepared for the great struggle.: On the evening of the 11th it was an open secret that the King intended to lead an attack on the following day. On Wednesday, the 12th, 'scarcely a native was to be seen in the businesS'part of the town, although it was known ■ that within half-a-mile of Apia theie were between 4,000 and 5,000, o,f Malietoa's men. The main body ,,\vas ordered to remain in the back and not to fire a'shot unless by order of the King. This being so much against what had formerly been the Samoan custom,' seemed very hard, and all 'the district • begged hard to be allowed to .participate in the attack. Mataafa, however, sternly refused, and choosing about 600 or. 800 of his J troops, detached a smali,body to attack the breastwork in the centre 'white the others were to attempt flank 'movements and endeavour to effect an entrance. , - "»" , ,*, _

1 THE BEGINNING -OF THE FIGHT. ,!" Exactly at live^rainutfs' to 1 o'clock tH© crack of a riflS announced, tlie* begin : 4ning^of>the/fight, " \ylien t ' immediately, a Iterrific'^ 5 roll-^of^ musketry, was heard. -^In^exactilyiThaff-^n'-b^ur'/from * the 'com-

menceiifent' * of .VtheV .firing, v'sotn^t oV; the attacking ' party * returned "'^with *~ -'their wounded, 'and "\the- "firsbyforfc ,of p the Tamasese J party- was ' deeti to : be u in' 'flames.' A' large. Body of ,the/Tarnasese party were now jyeen ' rush into Hhe? sea: arid endeavour to take refuge- on, the, reef £ which in Jr a, little, while was ; lined with,, about 200 , of , them. JBrandeis, who could be 6een at his residence in'Mullinuu'gesticulat" ing Wildly, now sent all his available men as reinforcements, who in boats approached as.near Matautu as possible under cover of the Adler. As soon' a? they left Mie Adler and tried'*to reach their comrades on the reef the shore party rushed out and quickly drove them back to Mullinuu. 1

THE FORT CAPTURED BY " ASSAULT. . .„ The fighting lasted until 3 o'clock on the following ■morning', when the Mata'fangatele fort, held by about 400 men, was- stormed and taken.- During the encounter, not more than otie-third of Malietoa's men were engaged, whilst on > the other side every available man assisted in- trying to defend the forts. Mataafa's reason for not using the whole 'of his men, and thus ending the ' fight quickly, was because of . the probability of the whole or most of their ammunition being expended. The Samoans,'like all untrained troops, waste a -great deal of ammunition by purposeless firing, while the Tamnsese party -was liberally supplied with ammunition and weapons. .Some idea of the scarcity of cartridges on the Malietoa side may be gathered' from the fact that the only American trader who now holds" any is selling them ; at 10 cents (5d) each. • ' The" casualities during the engagement were— on the Malietoa side 2 killed and 13 (four of whom have since died) wounded. The killed, as far as is known, .on' the Tamasese side is about 35, and about 60 wounded. ' «

THE TAMASESE PARTY AT MULLINTJU. The Tamasese' party have now taken up their quarters entirely at Mellinuu, . which, with the assistance of the German marines, they continue to hold. The Malietoa party, they well know, will not attack them whilst they remain on German ground, and under the protection of German troops. Unfortunately, during the fight an Englishman, CaptBissett, was shot dead. There are many contradictory scoi'ies as to how' and by whom he was shot, but the probabilities are that it was accidental. Since the fight the i Malietoa part}*, who are now in possession of the town, have behaved very well indeed. Malietoa Mataafa immediately issued a proclamation to his men, warning them not to cojnmit any depredations or in any way annoy the residents, else they • -would be severely punished.

THE CHANGE OF GERMAN" ATTITUDE. The German Consul held an interview with King Malietoa Mataafa on Saturday, when he proposed that the town should be regarded as neutral 'territory, thab all Tamasese's people should leave" Mullinuu. He fold Mataafa that Jie could not recognise' him as King: before communicating with the German Government, but that he could see he was the chosen of the Samoan people. He also promised if Mataafa would cease- hostilities' to pull down 'Tamasese's "flag, but at the same time he would ' raise the German flag ' on Mellinuu, which was, he said, German' property. Mataafa informed nim , he, > would take time to consider' his pro- *, posals, and that after consulting' witfh' the other consuls he would reply. Mataafa is, a very , capable man, and has already shown .hitnsglf t,o be a man -of action. \ ' ' (< _ t ,^ _ , , , , ..:. * Tamiaeese lias several, thnes^expressed a : wish to surrender to Mataa'fa., .In fact, once he has attempted to escape for ,thab pur-< pose, .but was observed and , escorted, by Gei'man spldierSitp^his palace (? vl prigon;.