Rear Admiral Albert Kautz of the cruiser USS Philadelphia arrived first on March 13 and held a meeting with the many different officials there.

When no solution was agreed upon, a shore party was landed and the Mataafa's followers were ordered to leave Apia and go back to their villages.

The Americans held the Tivoli Hotel in Apia, which was used as their command post, sentries were also placed at the consulates which were fairly isolated according to reports and mostly surrounded by dense jungle.

Though the British and Americans held their fire, the Samoans retreated after realizing that Apia's garrison was on high alert and prepared for battle.

[3][4] Just before 1:00 pm, rebel boats were spotted off Vaiusu and were thought to be making an attack on the Samoan refugees in the village of Mulinuu.

At this time, Kautz was informed of the assault on the consulates so he gave the order to open fire on the boats and on the Mataafa's front line.

All three of the British and American warships began bombarding the boats and the outskirts of Apia until 5:00 pm, when HMS Porpoise was detached alone to shell the Vaiusu and Vaimoso villages.

During this assault, the Samoan rebels advanced hastily and temporarily captured a 7-pounder artillery piece before being repulsed by fire from both the garrison and the warships.

Three miles south of Apia, the Allies under the command of Lieutenant Gault attacked and routed a large rebel force.