THE WAR IN SAMOA. DEEEAT OF TAMASESE. A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 327, 22 December 1888, Page 3

THE WAR IN SAMOA. DEEEAT OF TAMASESE. A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.

■B. JVL s. " LiKAi?i>, which arrived' from' Samon .yia. Fiji last' evening 1 , brings news from Samoa iipto the sth inst. By hoi arrival we are placed" in possession of late particulars of the hostilities at present being carried on between tho two native factions, thoso of Mabaafa and, Tamasese. -. A. great, babble, which had been anticipated for some time, took place on tho 29fch' ulfv, resulting in heavy losses 'on both 'sides.' ' 'It -, appears that Tamasese's troops were entrenched in strong posts at Lubuanuu and Vailele Bay, being several hundred strong. ,On the morning of the 29th Mataafa, who had been making preparations' ' for the struggle for &ome time beforehand, led hw adherents,' who were slightly superior to Tamjtsese's' force in point of' numbers, to the attack ' by storm of the fortifications; A very severe struggle ensued, the defenders offering a stern' resistance. Eventually the" fortifications were carried, after a struggle pi ,some hours, and tho holders of the position driven from all bub one corner of 'the stronghold. The assaiiants, particularly the Tua-Mas-anga bribe, behaved with great gallantry under a strong- tire from' the breastworks, and succeeded in 'carrying one of t^e outlying positions alter heavy loss. Placing a number of Savaii men in" this as a garrispn bhey pressed on to other points, bub Tamasese's men rallying retook the position, and cut off 44 heads belonging to the enemy. Mataafa's men again stormed this place, and so fiercely did the the fight rage at this particular point that it was taken and retaken four times before Mataafa's party finally secuied possession. Tamases&e's troops then slowly retired, and were at last advices holding one corner of tho extensive camp. In the engagement, it appears that Mataafa'e party losb about 50 killed and an equal number wounded, while the loss on the otherside is estimated to be slightly less. At the close of the action the ammunition of both parties was getting very scarce, a fact which will probably prevent Mataafa following up his victory to its full extent. When the Lizard left Samoa a rumour wag current that the Order-in Council forbidding the sale of arms and ammunition had .been rescinded. The rumour is unconfirmed as yet. The wounded of Mataafa's party, are being attended to by the surgeons of the various men-o'-war in harbour, assisted by the priests' and sisters of the Roman Catholic Church in the Island. A sort of temporary hospital was rigged up by tho Lizard (during her stay in Apia Harbour), in, ( the British Consulate C4rounds, and here the wounded of Mataafa's side were brought and attended to. Hardly any of Tamasese's party's wounded were treated by Europeans, as they were not brought in to the town by their friends. An idea of the severity of the fighting now going on may be gathered from the fact that the surgeons and others attending to the wounded are ( kept busy day and night, and amputations and 'surgical operations of various natures are being constantly performed as the suHerers are brought in from the scene of war. Dr. Bagnal Oakley, surgeon of the Lizard, during his stay there had at one time 60 men under his charge in the " hospital," and fresh casualties were coming in constantly. A subscription for the purpose of purchasing medical stores, etc., was raised in Apia, and a large amount was contributed towards it by Rev. Mr Clark, head of the Pro tes bant mission on the Island. There is no doubt that a large number of lives have been saved by the prompt measures taken by the surgeons on boaid the men-of war in the harbour. Amongst the wounded brought in were three women, belonging to Mataafa's party. One of them had her foot amputated and is recovering. When the Lizard left Apia, active fighting had stopped, both parties having been apparently temporarily exhausted. This battle by no means, however, ends the war, for each side is as resolute as ever to become the 1 victors. A journalist, Mr Klein, special correspondent for the New York " World " and the Associated Press, is in Samoa at pre* sent, acting as " war correspondent." He remains with Mataafa's party, and follows their hazardous fortunes throughout, visiting Apia at intervals bo procure provisions. When the Lizard left Apia the following warships were at anchor there, watching the courso of events : — H.M.s. Royalift U.S.s. Adams and Nipsic, H.I.G.M.s. Adlerand \