The herald., 1896-04-19
THE MATABELE UPRISING
Aided and Abetted BY Beers Of the
Desperate-Short Supplies Of Arms and
Provisions on Hand

CAPE TOWN, April 1S.-Military
men, scouts, Dutchmen and English
men, civilians, all classes. veteran
troopers and government officials con-
cur in the statement that the governor
of Cape Colony, Sir Hercules Robinson,
has not told the truth, if he notified the
home government that Buluwayo is in
no danger. Later dispatches announce
a strong force of the remaining 600
whites intended to leave Buluwayo yes
terday to attack the Matabele Impi,
composed of Lobengula's crack Imbezu
regiment. This Impi is looked upon as
the most formidable in or about
Matabeleland, in numbers and eff
cheney.
In addition to the Imbesu Impi, it is
known that two other formidable Mata-
belle regiments are in close proximity to
Buluwayo, and it would seem that a
new, carefully prepared plan of attack
has been drawn up and is being carried
out with skill, day by day, which gives
additional color to the report that the
Beers are behind the whole uprising
The battery of Buluwayo, according to
advices received yesterday, is five
seven Founders, twelve half-pounders,
three Maxim guns, one Gardner and one
Nordenfeldt rapid fire gun, the two lat
ter having been sent to the front by
the British flagship st. George. In ad
dition to these are several old field guns
of little Use except to consume large
quantities of powder. and there are
about thirty Lee-Milford rifles avail
able, besides the rifles of the scouts,
volunteers, ETC., which are of all makes,
though the majority are Winchesters
and Martini-Henrys. For the latter the
supply of ammunition is fair, but there
are only 100000 rounds of cartridges at
Buluwayo, and those who have seen the
Maxims and other rapid firing guns
vomiting fire at the rate Of hundreds of
shots to minute. know that 1000, 600
Buluwayo to be held for any length of
time against the repeated attacks of a
fierce, persistent enemy Then, to make
matters worse, 1t is whispered that the
100000 rounds of cartridges have al
ready been drawn upon and 1t Is limited
that supplies must reach Buluwayo
shortly or the worst may be appre-
hended if there is much further eXpen-
diture of ammunition. 1t is known,
however, that 5000 pounds of rifles and
ammunition left Mafeking on March 2S
under strong escort, and this ought to
reach Buluwayo shortly.
Then another difficulty arises. 1t is
known that the food supply of Bulu
wayo is slowly giving out, mainly owing
to the number of natives the town has
to feed in addition to its white inhabi-
tants, the refugees, the garrison and
the forces occupying the outlying posts.
1t is true eighteen wagons loaded with
provisions are reported to have reached
a spot about sixty miles from Bulu-
wayo, where they are laagered, await
ing Il favorable opportunity to get into
the town. The garrison was commune
Gated with and the escort of the provis-
ion train is to be strengthened; then
the wagons will be pushed on to Bulu-
wayo. Thus, it will be seen, that steps
have been taken to relieve Buluwayo
with provisions, and 500 volunteers arc
being hastily equipped and sent to the
front. Delay in spite of everything
must occur and it is prabable that the
Matabeles may capture the provisions
and ammunition trains, in which case
the situation in Buluwayo would be des-
perate indeed.
1t is stated, on the other hand. that
the chiefs of the native tribes of Beck-
uanaland, which the relief forces must
traverse, have been peaceable in their
demeanor up to the present time and
are helping the government. In conse-
quence, it is expected that numbers or
wavering chiefs, who resemble Ulundi.
will join the British when they hear that
troops are going to the front.
There is no change in the situation so
far as the Eoers are concerned. They
are continuing their preparations, ap-
rarently for a great struggle, and it is
feared here that the fact that the sec
retary of state for the colonies. Mr.
Chamberlain, thought it necessary to
notify President Kruger that the dis
patch of reinforcements to the cape did
not imply a change in the friendly pol
icy OF Great Britain towards the Trans
,aai, will encourage the Beers in their
ite that Great Britain is afraid of them
idea that Great Britain is afraid of them
effort on the part of the TransVaal, Or
ange free state and Cape Town to drive
the British out of this part Of the world.
The Roers boast of being able to muster
about 10000 fighting men, and they claim,
this force can defy the whole British
army.
JAMESON is WANTED.
LONDON, April 1S.--In regard to Mat
aoeleland. such influential papers as the
Globe and Daily News are urging that
Dir. Jameson be allowed "to fill up mis-
time on bail in running over to Africa
to confer with the imperial officers as to
the necessary steps The Globe says:
1T is sheer faulty for the government
to stand on punctilio In adopting the
hlost. effectual means, DIR. Jameson is
worth regiment"