THE WAR IN SAMOA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1838, 8 January 1889, Page 4

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

AUAKLAND, Jan, 5. News by the mail steamer shorn that great excitement prevails in Samoa consequent upon bu ensagement botween the Germans and Matanfa's army. The captain of the German warship Olga having intimated that ho would, take peaceful stops to put an end to the native war, the British and Amerioan warihipii did not interfere with his movements, On Tuesday the 17th December, the Olga having previously carried 200 of Tamaaese's soldiers into a position near Mataaf&'r, landed 120 German sailors, who were joined by plantation laborers from New Britain. Mataafa's force, which was now between the German* on one side and Tamoseaa's army on the other, retired before the Germans, who then fired, killing s Samoan chief and his son. The Samoans returned fire and 20 Germans were billed and 30 wounded. The New Britain boy* bolted, and the Germans, with their numbers sadly reduoed, had no alternative but to retreat to their boa!a. Th» Olga afterwards shelled Mataafa's posiiion bnfc only fcbrea were killo-i two wounded. Among the German killed was a lieutenant and another officer. The Samoan loss is not fnlly known. The Germans assert they were fired upon, and then thoy determined to oriish Mataafa. The British and Amerioan warships are getting in fighting trim. A gun from the Loipsio has been placed in front of the consulate with a party of bine jaokets on guard. ' On the 21st the German Consul issued a proclamation calling on Mataafa's people to brinfj their arms aboard one of the German warships. If this was not obeyed the proclamation said, the warship would Bhell the town where Matafa was supposed to be. A conference between the three consuls was held the previous day at whioh the German consul proposed this, but the others disagreed. Mataafs received a summons from the German Consul to surrender on board the German warship. RU life wan promised to bo spared, but his liberty was not guaranteed. He therefore refused, and the 01j?a thereupon steamed off to Matafa Gakcle and bombarded tho to*n, throwing about thirty shells, after whioh a party of sailors landed and burned tho town. They met with no resistance. The British oonsul itnued a circular to British residents advising tbem to send their wives a- d children on board 8T.M.8. Eojalist, or to tho British consulate. Many availed themselves of the advica by Roini? on board the Boyalist, tho men remaining behind (o look after their property.

Apia is in a terrible statu of excitement. | Nearly all the business plaoeo are closed, including McA.vtb.ur and Oo's. The Germans employed by the big firm ore taking refuge in the German warships. An account from Gorman sources of the fight at JSTaiele, Samoa, on the 18;h instant, states that it w»s intended to request the natives of both parties to give up their arms. The \ warship Adlerarrived off Lautelo, a white fl»g being shown as a signal that those on board wished to open communication with Mataafa, The landing p&rty from the Olga went to the German plantation at Nailele, whilfit another party got ashore at Fagal. The'first shot was fired by Mataafa's troops, and this was the signal for a general attack. Under a shower of bullets the Gemini foroed a landing on German property. Oae party bought its way from Pag»l to tfailele. With the aid of reinforcements from the wartthip Eber, the Germane drove the Samoans o caver. Consul Lsppell, who hag been in Washington for gome time, left for his post at Apia on November. 24t,h, with full instructions from the State Department Secretary, who stated that one or more United States war vessels would be kept at Samoa until the trouble was over, and that the Americans there would be afforded full protection. Thesubstanco of the United states Secretary of State's letter to Baron Yedwitz, afr Washington, was made public on the 29th. He expressed the opinion that the present unfortunate position was due not to any action of the representatives of the States, but to the fomentation, by interested foreigners of native dissensions and to a de3ire exhibited in a marked degree by those in charge of local Gorman interests to obtain a personal and commercial advantage and a political supremacy. In the opinion of the United States Government, the oourse taken by Germany in respect to -Samoa upon a temporary adjournment of the conference ir> Washington, cannot be regarded as havir.g been marked by that just consideration whioh the ancient friendship between the United States and Germany entitled the Government to expect. Admiral Fairfax received yesterday offloial intimation and particulars of the German aggression in Samoa from Captain Hand, of the Boyalist. He forwarded the news by cable to the Admiralty in London.