THE WAR IN SAMOA. GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED. Apia, October 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 316, 14 November 1888, Page 3

THE WAR IN SAMOA. GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED. Apia, October 27.

Sikci: the evacuation ot Mulinuu by Tamasesc, an armed company of marines parade tho streets to the German Consulate' where a guard is now kept night and day, and another guard is placed near the G ermanstores and another at Mulinuu. All kinds 01 reports are abroad ac to Mataafa's immediate intentions, but it is questionable whether ho has determined on any movement until some of his supporters come from Savaii. Mataafa, by continuing the war without giving the Savaii people a chance to lake part in it, vould probably ollend them ; Sa'noans ate particular on wai etiquette, and the course Malaata is evidently following is in accordance with roeogni&ed custom. The Savaii contingent is expected any hour; then a tenible battle is almost a certainty. Tamasese and Mr Bumdeio. his adviser and head oihi&Govornment, in withdrawing fiom Mulinuu Point, went to the only available place left them that would be suitable for concentrating their toices, the distiict ot Atua. It is one of the best positions on the i&land to resi&t a siege. Tamasese's Government are well supplied with war material. They aie also supplied with money, having only recently teceived a large amount ot taxes, and it is currently repoi ted in Apia that they have obtained a supply of dynamite from somewheie. Since they arrived at Atua they have erected ttiong fortifications, so with all these advantages they may very likely make a formidable stand even against superior numbers, and the besiegers must be ptepared for a stubborn resistance. Mataafa, on the other side, to maintain his position must attack Tamasese's soldiers. He has a large army at his back, and more coming. Four-fifths of the Islands have acklowledged him, so that his ultimate success, even if he is repulsed at Atua, will only be delayed and blood spilt for no purpose. It is well known here that if the three Consuls of England, America and (Jermany were unanimous in desiring the war to cease it would be concluded at once by a scratch of their pens. A serioub mistake has alleaiy been made by meddling with tiie chosen King oi the people, and this war is unquestionably the result of that thought'e=o action. It Germany still persists in supporting Tumasese againbt the laig-e majority ot the Samoan people it will not only~"rosult in great slaughter now , but give a lease for disturbance, disaffection and loss of life for years. There, is no knowing where it may end. Mataafa's followers may be driven to frenzy, and then would we be bale our*>clvc->? } A meeting; of European resident? was held heic on the 2Ath instant — Mr Cam obeli in the chair — to piote.so against an out»age reported to have been committed by German sailors and which might have resulted in serious trouble. Mr Cairuthers stated that about eight o'clock on tho evening of 23rd Octobei, a native boat which was pulling close to the shoio and in iront of his dwelling house, was tired upon from the boats of tfi.G.M.S. Adier. The volley was fired inl.tnd ; the bullets pierced his office and seveial dwelling houses close by, three shots being hreel into Ah Ling's store a few yaids fiom his premises. All Mas property is fronting the main street and included in tne lately proclaimed neutral territory ; not one shot being returned by the nat?\es. He had no hesitation in saying it was one of the most unjustifiable attacks he had ever heard of. The natives w ere fired upon first from the shore near the German Consulate while they wete quietly pulling homewards, singing their native songs. They were followed up by boats and again fired into opposite his premises. It is time such conduct should be ended. The German boat's ciew never considered the lives of the foreign residents when that volley was tired, al- j though they must have known' that the bullets must Strike their houses. All sorts j of excuses have been given for firing at the boat ; one of them being that the natives had landed at Mulinuu and there committed depredations. This the speaker asserted was positively incorrect He challenged anyone to prove that charge against the natives. He knew positively that they did not commit depredations at Mulinuu. The natives were out all the evening trying to pick up a gull at sea in several fathoms of water, and after some hours fishing for it they found it and were quietly bringing it home. The principalrc&olutions arrived at by the meeting were as follows: — (1) "That this meeting protests against the highhanded outrage .committed last night by an armed boat from the German man-of-war by fii'ing upon defenceless Samoans, and into tho houses of foreign residents within the neutral territory." (2) "That a committee be appointed to wait upon the British and American Consuls, with a copy of the ioreg6ing resolution, urging the necessity ot immediate action being taken to prevent the recurrence of similar outrages. The Committee to consist of Messrs Maben, Carruthers, Moors, Paul. Fletcher, and Krause." (3) c * Thatthismeetingthanks Mahetoa for his forbearance from taking retaliatory measures, out of respect for the lives and property of the foreign re&idonts in Apia, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to King Mataafa." At a subsequent meeting it was reported that the United States Vice-Consul' had received a communication from the German Consul detailing particulars of the outrage. Tho German Consul's letter stated that no shots were fired into the town from the German boat?. If any shots were fired it must have been by the natives. This meeting resolved to place satisfactory proof of the correctness of their assertions before the German Consul. The following notice has been issued by the British Consul :—" All British subjects are hereby notified that a force of marines from Hor Britannic Majesty's ship Lizard has been landed, and will garrison Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate until , further orders. All British subjects desiring better protection than can be afforded in their own residences, can avail thomsolvos of this opportunity at any hour of the day or night. — H. be Coktlogan, A.B.M.'s Consul, Apia, 24th October, 1888."