The New York herald., 1879-07-02
AN INDIAN INVASION.

BRITISH sAvAGEs AND HALF BREEDS ACROSS
THE BORDER IN PURSUIT OF GAME-EN-
COUNTERS WITH AMERICAN REDsKINs-sERI-
GUS DIFFICULTIES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MILES TO THE RESCUE
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WASHINGTON. July !. 1879.
General Miles was instructed by the War Depart
ment to-day to proceed at with sufficient force
to repel the invasion of British Indians who have
crossed our border in pursuit of buffalo, and are
now menacng the Gros ventres. Assiniboines and
other tribes located in the northern part of Montana
Information of this invasion was received at the In
terror Department yesterday afternoon and the War
Department was promptly notified of the necessity
of acting at once to prevent further trouble the
news received being to the effect that the British
Indians were we'll armed and had already made
attacks upon the American Indians driving the lat
ter southwark.
REPORT OF THE INDIAN AGENT.
The report received from the Indian Agent at the
Gros Ventres Agency. Montana. under date of June
l6 was that invaders had already killed number of
buffalo, and that the American Indians. in their
effort to protect their own game. had had several
skirmishes. with loss of life both sides. The
difficulty is, in the opinion of officials at the Interior
Department. serious one.
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY scHURz.
Secretary Schurz says that for some time there
have been apprehensons of such an invasion. the
encroachment Of white settlements upon the
domain Of the Indians in the British pos
sessions has been gradually contracting the
territory available to the British Indians
for supplying themselves with subsistence
by hunting. For some time these Indians have
croached upon territory, pursuing game which
CCuld he wi the m OfR fish tar
ritory. Canadian officials. it is understood. have
anticipated these troubles but the mounted police
employed in keeping the peace have confined their
labors to patrolling the line between the white
settlements and the Indian reservations. Their
number is said not to exceed three hundred. and no
attention has been given to the repeated encroach
ments upon American territory.
CANADIAN INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.
The difficulties which have been experienced
in the management of Indians now beset the
Canadians. who have already sought advice and re-
ports through agents sent to Washington to ascer-
tain tie methods employed by Indian Bureau
The present invasion is regarded unfortunate by
officials. and the Secretary of State will
communicate to the British Minister the facts and
approximations of our government. urging the i'm
portance of protecting our peaceably disposed
Indians from such asgravating causes for re-
volt and insubordination. The appropriation
made by Congress for feeding the Northern tribes
small as to compel them to seek support by hunt
ing. and if the already fast disappearing herds OF
buffalo to be depended upon for subsistence the
importance of protecting the hunting grounds of
Indians will be readily understood. BY those who
thoroughly informed of the situation it is said
that the Canadians just beginning to experience
the troubles the United States has had subjugatng
the wild and rowing tribes.
OUR INDIAN AFFAIRS.
At present Indian affairs in excellent order.
There is but very little complaint from any quarter
and the only source Of trouble now anticipated is
from this invasion of British Indians The force Of
invaders is said to be fifty lodges of British Indians
and 100 lodges of half breeds. all well armed and
wholly reckless to the manner in which they pur-
their game provoke resistance from the peace
able Indians territory.