Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-04-29
INCREASED ANXIETY.
The Cape Town Correspondent Bound
to Have BuluwayO Captured.


The Cape Town Correspondent Bound
to Have BuluwayO Captured.
CAPE Town, April 29.-The dis
patches which faltered through from
Buluwayo increased the feeling of anx-
iety felt here regarding the fate of the
besieged town. According to latest
advices, the circle of fierce warriors
behind the mound Notifications had
again been drawn closer to Buluwayo,
and at the same time extended. The
Matabeles, when this news was sent
out from the endangered town, had
been further reinforced, and another
large body of men were leaving the
Matopo hills, expecting to effect a
junction with the other bodies Of hos
tile natives, and completely surround
the place from all sides, while keeping
south of the fortified pass, which is the
key to the situation in that direction.
In addition, another strong force of
hostiles has gone in the direction of the
route being followed by the relief corps
OF about 600 men and nine machine
guns, advancing from Mafeking. Con-
sequently it is believed that there is
severe work cut out for this force, the
advance guard of which, it was hoped,
would reach Mangwa about May Z.
The tactics of the Matabeles are
really admirable. When the uprising
commenced, only few hundred hos
tiles were reported to be in the field,
and it was announced that the native
police would soon reduce them to SUBJ
lection, but the police deserted with all
the ammunition they could lay hands
on. The impis gathered with wonder
full rapidity in the Matopo hills, which
are evidently their rallying point and
base of operations, and then the invest
ment of Buluwayo commenced.
Impi After Impi Moved Northward
and circled about Buluwayo, seemingly
directed by sklllful strategist, and
took up positions in half circle about
12 miles from the town. Steadily,
slowly, but surely, the number of ma
tive regiments has been augmented,
the half circle of hostiles has increased
until it is almost a complete circle, and
instead of being twelve miles from
Buluwayo, only about three miles sepa-
rate the natives from their prospective
prey. At each camping ground the
earthworks were abandoned, but a
fresh line of them was promptly erect
ed at the next position occupied
The band of few hundred insurgent
natives in the Matopo hills, reported
in arms only about month ago, has
increased until fully 10000 men are
operating against Buluwayo alone, and
some 10000 hostiles are under arms,
and their number is increasing daily.
Every day the circles draw closer
around Buluwayo, and every hour adds
to the confidence and number of the
Matabeles, who seem to have supreme
contempt for the British a feeling
that has not been lessened by the in
of the three sorties made
by the little garrison of Buluwayo. The
enemy is kept
Plentifully Supplied With Cattle
and it is believed with ammunition.
These supplies are sent out from the
Matopo hills, the Matabele headquar.
tiers, and it is said over so, 600 head of
cattle have been gathered in by the
hostiles from different directions. The
hills, themselves, it is added, are being
fortified by the natives holding them,
so that, should Buluwayo be relieved
and the British be able to resume the
offensive, the natives will have
stronghold to fall back upon and there
make long stand against the Chart
cred Company's forces. If this report |
is correct, and there seems to be no
reason to doubt it, the British will not !
see the end of the Matabele war for
many months to come, and much blood |
may be shed on both sides before order
is fully restored But the Matabeles
may be able to hold out or harass the
British until the great struggle, which
cannot be long delayed, commences in
South Africa, and nobody can predict
what the eventual outcome will be.
The Beers dream of a United States
of South Africa, and they are bold
enough to say that the realization of
this dream is among the possibilities
Of the near future. In any case the
arming in the Transvaal, and also to
some extent in the Orange Free State,
is going surely but steadily on, and the
slow but sure policy of President
Kruger, said to be dictated from Berlin,
is beng pushed relentlessly night and
lav