Second Battle of Vailele in the Samoan civil conflict

Background. Following the death of Malietoa Laupepa, Mata'afa Iosefo returned from exile and was elected to power by a council of Samoan chiefs. Naval forces landed at Apia in support of Prince Tanu, the legitimate heir to the Samoan throne, which had been taken over by the German-backed Mataafa. After the conflict, Mataafaite forces retreated to the stronghold of Vailele, and several American and British expeditions were subsequently sent into the dense jungle to find the chief's men.

Expedition to Vailele. At the end of March 1899, a joint expedition of British, American, and Samoan forces marched along the coast from Apia towards Vailele. On April 1, a specific force consisting of 26 marines, 88 sailors, and 136 Samoans left the coast to attack the landward side of Vailele. This maneuver left them without the protection of naval gunfire support.

Battle Outcome. The Second Battle of Vailele resulted in a defeat for the expeditionary forces. British, American, and Samoan troops loyal to Prince Tanu were defeated by a superior force of Samoan rebels loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo. The fighting occurred at the former German plantation of Vailele, near the site of earlier conflicts during the First Samoan Civil War.