St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-09

PORT Natal, S. E. Africa. March s.
The collision between POI til gueSe and
British on the Zambesi river, an account
of which was cabled to the Associated
Press exclusively yesterday, Is due to
an attempt of the Mozambique company
to obtain pecuniary benefits from the
African. Trans-COntinental Telegraph
company. which is engaged in extend
ing its Geographic service from Fort
Salisbury, in MaShonaland, in order to
connect with the system of teleg raph
lines extending from Cairo down the
east coast of Africa. The line referred
to was to have crossed the ZambeSi
river in the vicinity of Tete, capital of
the Portuguese territory of Kiimane.
The officials of the British Telegraph
company resisted all such attempts,
and were sustained by the colonial
government. Premier Cecil Rhodes
being personally interested in the
telegraph enterprise. The relations
between Portuguese and British have
been growing constantly more strained.
and the former finally went so far as TO
boycott the supplies of fuel and pro-
visions intended for the British gunboat
Herald, steel stern wheel vessel of
eighty-two tons, intended for use upon
the rivers OF Africa. 1t now appears
firing of
TWO CANNON SHOTS
from the Portuguese fort as Warning
to the British party to stop work and
leave the banks of the Zambesi river.
Shortly afterwards number of boats,
loaded with Portuguese native soldiers
and police, put out from the shOrc,
crossed the Zambesi river and uprooted
the telegraph poles erected by the Brit
lsh. The construction party resisted,
but no loss of life is reported. %s1s
The telegraph company official in
charge OF the works appealed to COM
nander Carr, of the British guuboat
Mosq uito, which was lying close totiie
shore where the British party was at
work, asking for protection. There
upon, Commander Carr notified the
Portuguese officers in command that he
would open fire upon the Portuguese if
the work of constructing the telegraph
line was interfered with any further,
anu the commander of the Mosquito also
immediately sent for reinforceuients, as
he was far outnumbered and i'll very
dangerous position. The Portuguese
are reported tn have replied that they
would Insist that no further work should
be done upon the telegraph line, and
also sent for reinfOrcementS. which were
PROMPTLY SENT FORWARD.
Unofficial Information received since
Commander Carr's report reached this
place is to the effect that there has been
firing between the Mosquito and the
Portuguese forts, and that there has
also been a further conflict between
the Portuguese and the construction
party which has resulted ill loss of life.
Several of the British gunbOatS on the
ZamDeSI river are at points where it is
impossible 10 communicate with them
as promptly as desired; but, SO soon as
the necessary arrangements can be
made, Commander Carr will receive
reinforcements of gunboats and troops.
and the rights of the African Trans
Continental Telegraph company will
be upheld. This is not the first time
that England has had trouble with
Portugal in regard To tine African pos
sessions of the latter country, and it is
believed that the Tete Incident will be
taken advantage of by the British au-
thOrities to settle, once and for all, the
questions i'll dispute regarding bound
which have long been a source of cou-
siderable annoyance TO the colonial
officials of both countries.