WAR IN SAMOA. GERMANS ENGAGED IN THE FIGHT. Twenty Germans Killed and Thirty Wounded. MATAAFAS CAMP SHELLED BY H.I.G.M.S. ADLER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 332, 9 January 1889, Page 3

W A R IN SAMOA. GERMANS ENGAGED IN THE FIGHT. Twenty Germans Killed and Thirty Wounded. M AT A A F AS CAMP SHELLED BY H.I.G.M.S. ADLER.

I O.n Monday, 1 7M» December, the captain of H.f.G.M.N. Olga intimated to the captains of tlie ISnglUh -md American warships in anchor at. Apia his intention to go to Snluaiata foi the purpose of putting an end in a peaceful manner to the war between Mataafa and Tamaseso. As tar as. the English commander \va> concerned this couisc seemed to be approved ot, and e\eu the captain of the U.S.S. i\"ipsic evidently seemed satisfied, for he allowed the Olga to go down to Saluafata without making any objection, and made no movement) then to follow to see v> hat courts the Olga would pursue to efleet the desirable object; of peace. So the Olga steamed out of the harbour to join the Eber which was already near the scene of battle and endeavoured to carry out the programme, which, if successful, would certainly settle matters to the satisfaction of at least the (German side of the question, They conveyed by boats and other means about '2oo of Tamase.se's sold ieis round by water to a position close to Mataafa, bbutt t unfortunately for the success of the scheme laid down by the captain of the Olga, they had not token into consideration the immense numbei ot Mataafa's men they -would have to light against. On .Monday afternoon tlie Olga returned from Apia, and for the fiiNt time the Geiman Consul paid his otheial vwt to H.M.S. Royah«f, although Unib\e:>sel had heen in poit IS (ta\s>. What transpired between the Consul and Captain Hani, of course we know nothing about, but it i*> only reasonable to believe that Captain Hand was made aware of what took place durum the Olga';- Uip, and, Judging by his Miboequent conduct, Ik mu«t then ha\e either agreed 01 •submitted to the progiaiumc- made ouu bv H.I.G.M.b. Olga, foi up to the time of writing, with tlie o:\cepuon ot keeping full .stram on, lie never moved iioin h'n> anuhoiaye, oi, as far as we aie awaie, inteiieied in the stai thug c\ eht,^ of the last tw o days. At two o'clock on the .morning ot Taes day eighty sailor-* tvovn the Olsja wei c quietly landed at Matautu, and toity mote were 3 ent in boat-, along the coast, the eighty men marching inland to meet Mataafa. When the Q hoie party ai rived in the vicinity of Vailili, the German firm's plantation, (hey weie rcinfoiccd by al) <he nnpoited labour (New Biitain men), huaded by Mr JHufuagel, so that Maxaafa was then between the -00 men who came down the day before and the German -ailors and foieign labour men. Matuafa's party, on -eeing the German -ailoi h and Tama^cae' 1 - men armed and i coining in their direct/ion, and well knowing the danger ot inteifering with German soldier?, quietly retired a few hundred jards inland. The sailors tollowed up and tired into Mataafa's ijeople, killing a young man, the son ot a chiel. The chief got teriibly excited, and was in the act of firing into the Germans when his people prevented him, and whilst struggling with them he himself way shot and dropped dead beside his son. This was more than Mataafa's people could bear. They appeared a 1 - if influenced by one thought, and without any instructions, iiied a \olley into the Germans, killing six and wounding others. Several of Tamasete's men fled, ana all the labour boys refused to tight, lea\ing tho balance of the German sailors to fight it out. Of course any attempt at further resistance would be certain death, so they had to make a hasty retreat to their boats. Mataafa's men followed up some distance, but we have not learned what loss was sustained by them. However, some of tho sailors escaped and Mataafa's wounded and dead, amounting to nearly 10 killed and 30 wounded were carried into Apia, excepting a few who were buried close to where they fell. The German Consul and the officers of the ship must have known this would be a severe struggle, but trusting too much to the intimidating influence that has been hitherto felt by Mataafa's people on the appearance of armed German sailors it was never contemplated that Mataafa's men would dare attempt to return fire, and probably the Captain of the Olga who, we believe, is a stranger here, did not tinderstand or might not have been sufficiently enlightened as to Mataafa's power or the bitter feeling existing between Mataafa's. people and the Germans of Samoa. We feel confident that if Captain Yon Erhardt knew all this he would not send his men where they weie so greatly outnumbered, and with little or no prospect of success. Many of those poor young fellows who met their death on Tuesday last had dreams perhaps of fighting and dying for the honour and glory of theii nation, but not in the bush of a country which the poor fellows very likely never heard of before the last few weeks, and no honour attached to it. However, they died at their post, lighting as thej believed for their country, and no greatei honour can be wished for. The consequence of the transaction does not rest on theii shoulders, they were only doing thoir duty. If their superiors made a mistake, the deeper should be their regret. Shorl/y afterwards some shells were thrown froniithe Olga into where Mataala't peoplo were supposed to be, only one oi which had any effect. The shell fell ir

I among a party of «h've who were cooking, \ killing three and wounding two. Mataala's people being again in possession ot a j clear roadway to Apia, eamo down in numbers, some to report progress, t'oinc to inquire into their position now that they had leturned tire on the Gentians, and many, to provide themselves with ammunition and iood, but with veiy few exceptions, all went away, fully determined to die on the battlefield rather than again become sljincs of Brondioa and Tama.sc.so. Thoie expressions wcio used in the hearing of our reporter by sonic of the principal chiofss ot tlie Tuamasaga. Some o£ Mataafa's people were under the belief that one of the Gorman warships would convey Tamascso's people into Apia during the night, and Avcie anxiously enquiring what coutde (hoy should pvusue if Tamascsc or hit people woic brought into Apia (neutral territory). Wo Itauied this morning that Mataafa's men wero out in great numbers all night watching if any of Tamasese's people should aruvo. On Tuesday, the U. >S. S. Mpsic steamed to Saluafata, her captain having j learned that it was the intention of one or j both the (iorman wai ships to shell Mataafa's stronghold. He had several communications with' the commanded of those ves&olh, ontering, we believe, his protest against such a proceeding. His protest had" the eilect of delaying proceedings tor twenty hours. On Wednesday morning the A'dler shelled and burned Mataafa'h late residence. We bolie\e Mataafa was made aware of what was coming, and had rethed to safer quarters All tho men-of-wai returned to Apia without any material advantage being gained, excepting a display of (lei man authority, which may not; alter all be ot a pci manent charactei. Mataafa and TannioCso are now auywhcie back in the bush, and as tar a-> the salety of the live? and property of the foicign residents aie concerned, we aic m a worse position than before these high-handed pioccediugs were taken. We believe that the total loss of the German sailors was '20 killed or died of their wound;?, and about ;W wounded, one of the killed being a lieutenant and one of the wounded being also an oflicer. We believe the ofheers and men engaged in tho tight belonged piincipally to the Olga. Just as we weie going to press we were informed that the German Consul had stated to some of his particular friends that the (iairaan sailois weie tiist iircd upon b}' Mataafa's people. His heareis made it theirduty to spicad this report abroad until it becamo public piopcrty. We ha\e made inquiries irom all sources a\ailable, and from what we can learn theie is no truth in the statement. We feel satisfied that Dr Knappe has been misinformed, and that the firing occurred exactly as we described it. No doubt a seiious and grave mistake has been made by somebody in sending on shove so few men (about 140) to meet such an immense army as Mataafa had on the Held. It was unfair to the poor fellows who had to face him. Since Thursday, after the return of the men-of-war from the seat 01 wai, the town has been in a state of ferment. It was currently leported that the German -warships had detei mined to follow up Mataafa and shell him and hi^ people out of any position he may have tiken up. 'Lhe townspeople wcreinf'ormed that Malaata had taken up his quarters at the rear of the town, so it the Olga 01 A'dler attempted to sheil Mataafa the Miell-. would have to be thioun o\er the city. We cannot believe that theie can be anvttuth in thoicpoit. However, the devuiiinb hoi 3 make no seciefcot their intention to ciu^h Mataafa if they can. What shape their conduct will take is at present a profound secret. The English and American men-of war in haiboui :ue evidently satisfied, for they appear prep.ued toi «ome rxtiaoidinary move ot H.I.G M. J \\ai-4np-. li.M.b. Ko>«Uisl, so tat a~* we cm learn hum seafaimg men is li\ed <nit in wai shape, ib al'O i> the I? S.S Nipsie. A tiighthil looking cum, which we are told i> a Gatlir.g gun, ha* been biought a^hoie irom the JsipMe and j)laecd in in ing position on the \eiaudtih of the U.S. Consulate, and <t more than 'u.-nial number of guaid aie in charge. I'iom reliable source? \re aie informed that if the German ship" sent men ashore in Apia, both the English and American bhipfc will do the same ioi the piotection of their subject!!. On Fiiday morning we noticed a proclamation posted in the town from tl.o German Consul, calling on Mataafa - people to bring theii arms on boaid one if tho Geiman warships that morning. It Matnala would not tibcy this ordei the pioclatnation j stated that H.I.G M. Miip- would shell some town in which Malaata'-. people arc supposed to be located. It is not at all likely that this older will be obeyed ; at least no notice appears to bo taken oi the proclamation. We understand that the meeting of the three Consuls, which was held ouThmsday at the suggestion of the German Consul came suddenly to Mn end. The first piopotal ot the German Consul being ihe disarming of Mataafa'-- people and hi-* immediate presence on boaul one of their war ship?, the proposition did not seem ot a character to suit cither the English or Amci ican Consuls, and immediately put an end to further discussion. The German Consul .stated that it Mataafa would obey his order to attend on board one of his ships hi« lite would bo spared, but when asked about his liberty, the Consul would give no guarantee for his liberation. Mataata also received this message direct from the consulate, but heunhc°i-' tatmgly refused to trust himself on a Geiman \var3hip. lie stated that if cither the English or American Commanders lcquired his presence he would attend them, piovided they would "protect him from thoj Germans. About nine o'clock, H.I.G. M.S. Olga, which left her anchorago at 7 o'clock and went round to MatatagateSe, commenced the bombardment. About 30 sheila were thrown inland from the Olga, after which tho men were landed, and they burned the town. Shortly after the commencement of the bombardment Colonei de Cootlogon, Her Majesty's Consul, issued a circular to the British residents in Apia, advising them to send their wives and children on board the Royalist, or to the British Consulate. Many of the "British wives and children availed themselves of the oftei, and were taken on board by the ,B,oyalist's boats. Only a few men went," and they stayed on shore as long as possible to mind their property. The town now, at two, o'clock is in a terrible state of excitement. Nearly all the business places on the west (Matafele] are closed, as also is Messrs. McArthur and Co.'s stores in Apia. All the Germans connected with the big firm are about te avail themselves o£ their warships by taking refuge in them. — " Samoa Timos."