A landing-party was to leave the _Olga_ in Apia bay at two in the morning; the landing was to be at four on two parts of the foreshore of Vailele.
At eight they were to be joined by a second landing-party from the _Eber_.

By nine the Olgas were to be on the crest of Letongo Mountain, and the Ebers to be moving round the promontory by the seaward paths, "with measures of precaution," disarming all whom they encountered.

There was to be no firing unless fired upon.

At the appointed hour (or perhaps later) on the morning of the 19th, this unpromising business was put in hand, and there moved off from the _Olga_ two boats with some fifty blue- jackets between them, and a _praam_ or punt containing ninety,--the boats and the whole expedition under the command of Captain-Lieutenant Jaeckel, the praam under Lieutenant Spengler.

The men had each forty rounds, one day's provisions, and their flasks filled.
In the meanwhile, Mataafa sympathisers about Apia were on the alert.
Knappe had informed the consuls that the ships were to put to sea next day for the protection of German property; but the Tamaseses had been less discreet.