St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-03
CAN THEY HOLD OUT7
That is the Question that Agitates the
Friends of the People in the Bat
tlefOrd Barracks.
Four Weeks Provisions in Store and
Four Weeks Required to Reach
Them With ReinfOrcements.
The Indians South and West of the Town
Holding Pow Vows and Still
Menacing Them.
Strength of the Army in the Field and in
Motion Towards the Front-Line
Of Action.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WINNIPEG, April 2.-There is no late news
from Battleford. A dispatch to the Hudson
Bay company from there says there are now
mo Indians in town, but large numbers are
congregated six miles south and also west.
Troops are wanted badly at once" There is
no Disgusting the fact that the situation Of
the people in the Battleford barracks is
very critical, and unless troops are quickly
sent to their relief by the shortest route they
will fall victims to either Indians or starva-
tion. There are over five hundred people in
the barracks, a considerable number of
whom are women and children. Col.
Herchmer did not attempt to proceed
to Battleford via Swift Current as
as was intended, because his command was
too small to be of any use. He is now at
Medicine Hat, waiting for the South Sas-
katchewan to break up, so that he may pro-
ceed to Battleford with provisions. That
would take at least four weeks, and Battle
ford cannot hold out that long. One theory
regarding the Indians at Battleford is that
they intend to proceed to Fort Pitt, some
distance above. This post is garrisoned by
only twenty-five police, who are under the
command of Inspector Dickens, relative of
the famous novelist. There is large amount
of supplies there, on which Big Bears band
have cast longing eyes. No word has been
received from Pitt for some days. The two
batteries coming from the East are expected
to reach Nipegon Tomorrow night and can
not be here before Sunday. The Toronto
battalions were reported last night at Dog
Lake, $50 miles east of Nipegon, with nearly
all the gap to cross. The work of forming
volunteer corps has been prosecuted actively
here. Two battalions of infantry have been
formed within the past few days, commanded
by Col. Scott, NJ. P, and Col. Osborne Smith
respectively. They are all ready but arms
and equipment, part of which arrived to-day.
Capt. Stewart arrived from Ottawa this morn
ing and will at ouce proceed west to organize
his corps of mounted volunteers near Cal
gary and Fort Macleod Part of this body
is intended for service on the United States
frontier in case of invasion by Indians from
that side of the line, an event to be guarded
against but not believed to be imminent.
THE MILITIA SITUATION.
Lieut.. Col Osborne Smith, who is in full
command here, stated to the GLOBE CORES
pondent in substance as follows, and he is
hourly in communication with Middleton:
'As l understand the situation, SO far as
mi affairs 10 Mai
Gen. Middleton is In full command. A large
body of artillery and infantry, well trained
and equipped, are now en- route via the Ca
madam Pacific railway, coming all the way
through British territory. close at hand
These will join Gen. Middleton without de-
lay, and will augment his present force
to between two and three thousand men.
Beyond this, Lieut.. Col. Osborne Smith, c..
NJ. G., trained officer, who until the last
two years has commanded in the Northwest
for some twelve years and is intimately ac-
quainted with the country and its condition,
has raised fine body OF men which is being
equipped and will in few days be ready for
the field. Other officers are also organizing
troops. The total force of the half-breeds in
arms cannot possibly exceed six to seven
hundred. Their supplies must soon be ex-
Sdudud WlLuOuJ SlTdlu Gun
&c, 900 more well drilled and equipped men
in the field, so that the reports from outside
sources of troops having to be called on from
England are absurd. A very few weeks will
see the matter absolutely settled and forever
Canada is full OF time-experienced men,
well trained, and also of experienced retired
officers of the regular British army and
militia, aud can hold her own with many
larger states"
WHAT PREMIER NoRoUAY SAYS
Your correspondent to-day interviewed
Hon. John Norquay, and he, with only two
others, is in position to know the true facts
from the west, as all news is suppressed
except to the Ottawa officials. Mr.. Norquay
being interviewed as to matters in the North
west said that there is a possibility of manv
of the Indian tribes being led into the i'm
broglio, as the French half breeds, who have
been traders among them for the last forty
years, have such influence with them. The
DID traders, such as Pabriel,
Dumond, Xavier, Batriche, Min
uel, Champagne, Tancowest and
others, have more influence among the In
lians than Riel who has played upon the
ignorance of such men as those named, who
III LUe1E UANt Tie lDUlanS by
their conduct. In my opinion there was
nothing to justify such an uprising, and
other motives than redress of grievances
have instlgated the lawless proceedings that
nave taken place. The burning desire of
Riel for notoriety has had Its effect, and the
ympathy of many whowere deceived by the
ltterapces of Riel, who in the commence
nent counseled moderation and the
use Of constitutional means for the
Fighting of grievances will be entirely with
drawn from this movement l have no
1oubt that there has been gross exaggeration
n reference to these matters. The insur-
gents, being without supplies, viii soon have
70 yield, although. in the meantime, some
raluabIe lives have been lost and more will
be sacrificed before security for life and
property is established. Riel cannot have
more than 500 men under arms, whose SUBJ
,isteDce can only be made by raiding on the
which will ALLEVIATE the SYM
oathy of the settl ers and cause them to enrol
among the law-abiding as soon as II
IS safe for them to do 50. The presence Of
he troops, so soon as they arrive, will have
salutsry effect and the Indians themselves,
being without resources, will have to throw
hem mselves on the clemency Of the govern
nent, as the cattle of the settlers will no.
iast long and while they do last the Indians
will not exert themselves TO procure liveli-
rood. So long as the Indians appetite Is
appeased there is no fight in him. He fights
only for food or through q fendish spirit Of
when suffering from griev-
,nce real or imaginary.
News Via Ottawa,
OTTAWA, April 2.-In the commons to-day
Sir John Macdonald said there was nothing