Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-10
it is safe stopping here,

Mr.. Armstrong;" Ronald asked. They
had been talking OF the various cattle-steal-
ing raids that had taken place at various
points of the frontier.
81 still think SO for the present. By New
Years Day 1 shall have got my crops in,
and then will 60 into town, as I told you
I would; but in the meantime five or six of
our nearest neighbors have agreed to move
in here. I have the largest farm hereabout,
and we could stand a stout siege"
ST am glad to hear that, Mr.. Armstrong;
the same thing has been done in good
many places. and inthatway you should be
quite safe. quite think the Kaffirs capa-
bic of coming down in small parties and at
tacking isolated houses, and numbering
their occupants; but after their late pro-
testations of fidelity, cannot think that
the chiefs would permit anything like large
parties to sally out to make war"
"That is my idea. But they are treacher-
Gus hounds, and there is never any trusting
them"
IF you can manage to send one of your
Fingoes off with news to us, you NAV be
sure we shall be with you in the shortest
possible time, and we will soon make mince-
meat of them"
"Do not be too sure of that. don't say
in the open they would stand against force
of cavalry anything approaching their own
numbers, but can tell you that in the bush
1 consider that man to man they are fully a
match for our troops. What chance has a
soldier with his clothes and 80 or so pounds
weight on his back, who goes crashing along
through the bushes and swapping the twigs
with his heavy boots, against a native who
can crawl along stark naked without max
ing the slightest noise, and who gives the first
intimation of his presence by a shot from
behind a tree, or a stab with his spear.
When came out here had naturally the
same ideas as you have, and scoffed at the
notion of naked sayages standing up against
a regular soldier, but I can tell YOU that
have changed my opinion, and if the tribes
under Sandilli are really in earnest, can
tell you that you will want five times as
many troops as we have got in the colony to
tackle them"
Two days later a message arrived with
orders to Lieutenant Daniels to rejoin with
his detachment at once. On the 10th of De-
cember the whole of the troops in Albany
and British Kaffraria were assembled and
moved under the Commander in Chief to-
ward the Auatolas, the object being to over
awe the Gaikas without resorting to force,
which was to be carefully avoided. The
troops consisted of the Sixth, Seventy-third
and Ninety-third Regiments and the Cape
Mounted Rifles, altogether about 800
strong, with two divisions of the Kafir
police The force moved in three columns.
The Governor, VINO was with the central
column, was met by a great number of the
Gaikas chiefs, with about {, 900 of their men.
at Fort Cox. They again expressed their
desire for peace, but their bearing and at
titude was not satisfactory. Sandilli and
his half-brother, ANITA, were declared by the
Governor to be outlawed, and a reward is
sued for their apprehension.
A.. xyifh@
ment. On the evening of the 23d, Sergeant
Menzies said to Ronald, whom ne met Just as
he had come out from Captain Twentymen's
Il have two pieces of news for you, Blunt In
the first place, as you know, Corporal Hodge
has lost his stripes and has been sent back 10
the ranks for getting drunk. The day before
Captain Twentyman .oss ASKED si, me % who ! could
there was no one in the troop who would make
better non-commissioned officer than you
would. He said that you were the man he had
his eve upon. At ordinary times he should not
have liked to give you your corporal's stripes
after beng such a short time in the corps, but
thai in the present state Of things it was
essential to have the best man who could be
picked out irrespective of his length of service;
beside, as you have served before. it makes it
altogether a different thing"
Il am much obliged to you, Sergeant"
Ronald answered, 'if it hadn't been for this
trouble should have preferred remaining in
the ranks. like q troopers life and do not
Besides as a pon-commissioned officer one has
more responsibility and less freedom, How
ever, as it is shall be glad of the step. for
doubtless il there il fighting there will be a 10.
of scouting and escort work with very small
detachments and confess would rather be
in command of five or six men on such work as
that, TO being under the orders OF a man who
perhaps wouldn't know as well as / do what
ought to be done; and now what is your next
news?'
'.The next is thar our troop ana troop are
TO form part Of column 500 strong that are to
march tomorrow to q place where Sandilli ID
supposed to be concealed"
sWeil, we shall see ther," Ronald said,
whether these fellows mean business or not"
Il was talking to the Headquarter Mess
Sergeant. He tells me that the Governors
cock sure there win be NO fighting, but taat