New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
4 DESJT JSStCRE.

The massacre of Captain Wilson's force by
the Matabclcs closely resembles the slaughter
Of General Clusters commanr in the Yellow
stone Valley. The number of victims was much
smaller, but the circumstances under when the
troopers were oumanocuvrcd and entrapped py
aboriginal strategy were similar. captain WIZ
son with the advance guard pressed on IN not
pursuit Of King LObcngula when 1t would nave
been more prudent 10 halt for rcinforc'ments
from the main body. from which it mad hecn
scparatcd by 4 river swollen by IL sudden rain
fall. General Clusters own impctuosity and
contempt for savage foe were rcprod'lccN
with the same disastrous consequences. NlhG
Lobcngula. discovering the weakness OF the
pursuing detachment. cntccd Captain WILSON
into an ambuscadc, surrounded I'll" force win
overwhelming numbers and destroyed II III
what ultimately became Il hand toland CONNECT
The manucuvrc is Il familiar one in the annals
of savage warfare. and is instinctiycly adopted
when Il stand is To be- made with superior mum
hers against vastly inferior force of pursucrs
The Matabclcs threw Captain Wilson OH ms
guard by conducting disordcrly retreat, ana
thereby encouraging him To bcliev" mat 'h'y
would not fight. but would scatter In the Afrl-
can bush. Then when his thrtyfour troopers
were i'm pursuit of the main body and the capt
IRE Of tn" King seemed n matter OF Only lew
hours Of hsrd riding. forces Of savages con
ccalcd on the right and the left closed In upon
them and cut OF retreat When the troopers
were fairly cnirappcd the Kings warriors
faced about and made determined stand upon
hi.h ground Captain Wilson's followers, sur
rounded by swarinS Of savaScs persisted Ike
General Clusters cavalrymcn. They used their
carl,nrs rs long ~ they had cartridge 10
sparc and then fought hopclcssly but CALAMITY
with revolver and sabre" Closer bccam" IN"
onset. until every wounded and dying English
man was face 10 face with hundreds Of m"rci-
less savagcs When the last man was dead Ill"
bodies were stripped bare and horribly mu-
tilaicd.
Cap,ain Wilson's companions were in the
main adventurous Young EngliShmcn, without
experience Ia bush campaigning and npellcd
bv an inordinatc ambition 10 distinguish them
selves They were not advisers who would
exercise any restraint but would urge him To
nu,h ahead and 10y a bold dash 10 ovcrtakc
the King and 10 carry him back rs Il prisoner
to the main column. \ detachment Of IIotspurS
like Tie advance srlrl was readily cntrnppcd
los tie willy NataEccS: but II is doubtful If i
more seasoned body Of British regulars would
have Jared differently General Custer WIS on"
of the best Indan-fghtcrS who ever conducted
4 campaign in the West; and in"Npllcable rs
his ra>hncsS appeared after the massacre, Il"
employed tactics which We're justified by his
own experience. With rare exceptions aulaoity
is the safest policy when superior numbers or
savagcs are To be attacked by nh Inferior force.
IIarl riding impcuouS assaults and CELEBRITY
Of movement orlirnry tcrrorize II horde Of
warriors like the Matabclcs All the English
fighting done in India and Africa has been OF
that order. and it has seldom been unsuc-