American Involvement in the Samoan Civil War

American and British Involvement in the Samoan Civil War

1898-1899

When King Malietoa Laupepa died on 22 August 1898, the Germans returned High Chief Mata'afa from exile on Jaluit on 17 September to contest the appointment as new king with Tamasese and the son of Laupepa ,Malietoa Tanumafili .Tamasese withdrew so the dispute, according to the Berlin Treaty of 1889, had to be settled by the Chief Justice. He gave his decision in favor of Malietoa Tanumafili . Resenting the ruling , Mata'afa amassed his forces , and a civil war broke out . The British warship HBM Porpoise , invited their nationals and Americans to take shelter abroad the vessel.

     On 6 March 1899, the US flagship Philadelphia arrived in Apia Harbor. There was also the British HMS Royalist.

     Admiral Albert Kantz of the Philadelphia called a meeting of the Consuls in Apia together with the senior naval officers from the British ships. An ultimatum was sent to the German -backed Mata'afa forces calling for a laying down arms . When the proclamation was ignored the three warships opened fire on the outlying coastal villages . US Marines with about 2,000 followers of Malietoa were in occupation of Mulinu'u and other detachments were in Apia. During the eight days of fighting and bombardments three British sailors and one American sentry were killed.

At Mulinu'u on 23 March , Malietoa Tanumafili was crowned King of Samoa. Two days later the naval forces were reinforced by the arrival of RNHMS Torch and RNHMS Tauranga , but still there was no peace. At an ambush near Vailele four Americans and three English were killed. In total six Americans from the USFS Philadelpia, one British from the RNHMS Tauranga and five British from the RNHMS Royalist died in action in April in Samoa. Their remains were buried at Mulin'u point where this monument stands

The inscriptions on the monument are:
"In Memorian
P.V.Lansdale Lieut. USN
J.R.Monaghan Ensign USN
N.E.Edsall OS USN
James Butler Cox USN
John E Medce Pvt. USMC
Thomas Holloway Pvt. USMC
of USFS Philadelphia

Ancel Hope Freeman Lieut. RNHMS Tauranga
John Long Leading Seaman
Albert M Prout Leading Seaman
A.H.J Thornberry AB
Montacue Rogers OS
Edmond Halloran OS
of RNHMS Royalist

Killed in Action
April 1899"