The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-09

PORT NATAL. Southeast Africa, March
S-The collision between Portuguese and
British on the Zimbesi river, an account
of which was cabled to the Associated
Press exclusively yesterday, IS due to All
| attempt of the Mozam biqus company to
obtain pecuniary benefits from the Afri-
can Transcontinental Telegraph company,
| which is engaged in extending its tele-
graphic system from Fort Salisbury, in
Mashonaland, in order to connect with
the system of telegraph 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
Kilimane.
The officials of the British telegraph
company resisted all such attempts and
were sustained by the colonial govern
ment, Premier Cecil Rhodes being per-
sonally interested i'll the telegraph COM
panles. The relations between the Portu-
guese and British have been growing con-
stantly more strained, aud the former
finally went so far as TO boycott the sup
plies of fuel and provisions intended for
the British gun boat Herald, a steel stern
wheel vessel of 81 tons, intended for use
upon the rivers OF South Africa. 1t now
dpDedrS Uldb Tue CDiIlSlOu was COnl-
meDced by the firing of two shots from
the Portuguese fort as a warning to the
British to stop work and leave the banks
of the Zambesi rivec. Shortly afterwards
a numbers of boats loaded with Portuguese
native soldiers and police put out from the
shore, crossed the Zambesi and uprooted
the telegraph poles erected by the British.
The construction party resisted, but no
loss of life is reported.
n M ,u1 offi finta in
charge of the work appealed to Com
mander Carr of the British gun boat Mos
quito, which was lying close to the shore
where the British party WAS at work, ask
ing for protection. Thereupon Com
mander Carr notified the Portuguese Of
hcers in command that he would open fire
upon the Portuguese if the work of con-
structing the telegraph line was iuterfered
with any further, and the commander of
the Mosquito also Immediately sent for
reinforcements, as he was far outnumber-
ed aud IN very dangerous position. The
Portuguese are reported to have replied
that they would insist that no further
work should be done upon the telegraph
lines, aud also sent for reinforcements,
which were promptly sent forward.
Unofficial information received since
Commander Carr's report reached this
city is to the effect that there has been fir
ing between the Mosquito and the Portu-
guese forts and that there has also been n
further conflict between the Portuguese
and the construction party which has re-
suited in loss of life. Several of the Brit
ish gun boats on the Zambesi river are at
points where it is impossible to communi-
cate with them as promptly as is desired;
but so soon as the necessary arrangements
can be made Commander Carr will receive
reinforcements of gun boats and troops
and the rights of the African transconti-
Mental company will be upheld.
This is not the first time England has
had trouble with Portugal in regard to
the African possessions OF the latter
country, and it is believed that the Tete
incident will be taken advantage of By the
British authorities to settle once for all
the question in dispute regarding bounG-
ary limitations and other matters which
have long been u source OF considerable
annoyance to the colonial officials of both
countries.