Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-20
SfATAPELE DEFEATED.
Warriors Defeated In
Two Fights.

CAPE TOWN, Oct. 20.-The semi-nili-
tary column sent out from Fort Victoria
to operate against King Lobenguela's Mata-
belle warriors met the enemy on October
ls near Indiamas mountain and an en-
Gagsment was fought which resulted in q
defeat Of the natives.
The Fort Salisbury column fought with
and defeated a separate body Of the Iata-
beles near the scene of the first engage
ment mentioned. The two columns then
united and advanced toward Bulawayo,
King Lobenguela's kraal. where 1t is ex-
pected that TuH column will effect a
junction with the other two columns. The
combined forces will make a simultaneous
attack on Lobenguela's kraaL
The force of 1.500 natives supporting the
British are still at Tati, where they are
protecting the miners employed on the
Monarch and other gold reefs. 1t is the In
tention of the British South Africa Com
pany to make a vigorous effort to crush I.o-
benguela's power before the rainy season
sets in Should the rains come on before
any decisive advantage Is gained by the
company's forces they could do nothing for
four or five months, as Ii would be impos-
sfble for them to keep the field in the rainy
season The rain still holds off. much to
the satisfaction of the British.
DR.. Jameson. administrator of the British
South Africa Company, Is personally taking
an active part in the engagements with the
natives. He rode between the columns
and insured their cooperation. Capt. Camp
Dell was shot In the leg. and 1t was neces-
sary to amputate the limb. This was the
only casualty reported as having happened
to the entire force.
II II estimated that the Fort Victoria col
umn killed twenty Matabeles.
The Fort Charter column Is said to have
fought successful engagement with the
natives. but the defective telegraph line
ka fol he e{D& - a
Ing the number of natives who fell in the
fight. The officials of the company at Fort
Victoria report that il the columns are
given ordinary good fortune they will be
capable Of coping with any number of the
enemy.
Rider Hagxard's View of the Situation
Rider Haggard. the novelist and South
African traveller said yesterday in London
I'm speaking of the war with the Matabele:
THE fighting qualities of the Matabele
have never been tested by contact with
fighting race. Their warfare consisted
mainly OF raids on inferior races. They are
accustomed to the most brutal massacres.
They kill men, women and infants without
distinction. They are so thoroughly savage
that IL Is impossible for them to exist be-
side civilized people"
Mr.. Haggard thought that the Fort Sails
bury and Fort Victoria columns ought to
be supported by reserves. who could be
called to the front in case of reverses.
The recent South African wars, he said.
British was to underrate the enemy. This
mistake had been made. he said, in the
Zulu war and the Boer campaign, and each
time with disastrous consequences.
The British Expedition.
The South Africa Company has. under
the orders Of DR.. Jameson. divided its COM
plement Of some 800 armed men into three
divisions under the following officers. each
of when il well known to be capable Of
commanding a field force against native
impis: Mai. Sir John willoughby. Maj
Forbes of the Inniskillen dragons, Capt
Lendy. royal artillery. and Capt Hayman
Of the Cape Mounted Rifles. The first two
divisions of the company's force left Fort
Victoria and Fort Charter and entered
Matabeleland with the idea of attacking
Lobengula's men from two distinct points.
Each expedition contains 400 men. all Of
whom are mounted, many with thoroughly
seasoned horses and Winchester rifles, be-
sides machine guns, some OF which are
Maxims- The third force. stationed at
Fort Tuni. is comprised of 200 men. This
force has joined the Bechuanaland border
police. about 200 men.
According to the latest information Lo-
bengula's force is estimated at 1900 war
riors, but whether all have taken the field
Is not known. 1t is Surrnised that they are
broken up into three detachments. or at
least two, for one has been heard OF on the
Shasi river, south of Matabeleland. and the
other near Fort Victoria, north of Lobengu-
las country. 1t Is the opinion of an expert
in African warfare that if one of these i'm
pi is thoroughly crushed at the outset the
other irnpis will speedily vanish. II. how
ever. I.obengula really means to fight with
all his native power. it is considered that
the British force is inadequate to cope with
him. and should be at once augmented.
The Matabeles are armed with the stab
bling assegai. the battle ak and the knob
kerry. Each man carries a shield. They
WELD the assegai with great skill and come
onto the enemy with a tremendous rush.
The Matabeles are Zulus who crossed the
Drakensbery under Umsiiikati. LobeugIlas
father. They are now of very mixed blood,
owing to the internarrying with the Mash
onas and other tribes. About 5000 remain
OF pure Zulu blood. All the Matabale
soldiers are under excellent military dis
cipiine, and are bold and energetic. They
swagger tremendously. and have very ex-
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