The herald., 1896-03-29
THE. MATABELE UPRISING:
FEARS ENTERTAINED FOR THE SAFETY
OF A THOUSAND SETTLERS
It Is Now Admitted That tn. Native PoIlcs
Are Assisting the Reb.IIicn-Lobs 2u'a's
Son Returns From Banishment to Take
Command Of Insurgents
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CAPE Town. March 2S.-The gravity Of
the situation has not been exaggerated, al.
though it is still hoped that the protnpt-
operations against the Matabeles may re-
suit in checking the spread of the rebell.
ion.
Fears are entertained for the safety Of q
party of 1000 settlers, mainly women and
children, who are in the lager. in the vicin-
has been reported. The settlers have
only sufficient provisions to laat them q
short time. Captain Spreckels on Thurs
day, it is announced, met and repulsed .
strong body of Matabeles ard inflicted
great loss upon them. Spreckels' troopers
escaped with only few men wounded.
One of the gravest features of the upris.
ing is that it is now admitted that the
native police have been induced not only
to take part in the rebellion. but 10 induce
the various tribes they were supposed to
control to take up arms against the whites,
| 1t is estimated in~this manner 700 we'll
trained fighting men. armed with modern
rifles and we'll supplied with ammunition,
haee gone over to the enemy.
For obvious reasons the authorities are
withholding many facts connected with the
uprising, which no doubt is much more
serious than at first reported.
The military and civil authorities of the
town of Salisbury. which is capable of sus-
tanning long siege, are taking every
measure of caution. A Maxim battery has
been placed in q commanding position,
and ammunition has been served out 10 the
volunteers.
Mr.. Cecil Rhodes is expected to arrive at
Buluwayo today. He will assume the di-
rection of the repressive measures.
Business throughout Ma,abeleland is
completely paralyzed, and will continue SO
until the rebellion is crushed.
tnI hetvr druf tod iv,p pIvv-
uwayo and Salisbury, and additional max.
i'm guns are being forwarded to both those
points.
Later advces from Buluwayo announce
that the son of the late King Lobengula,
who was banished from Matabeleland last
year, has returned and placed himself at
The lead of the insurgent Matabeles.
The latter have, in some manner. OBJ
tained possession of many rifles and
stock of ammunition, which, although not
large, is sufficient to enable them to
make a very much more effective fight
than they did two years ago.
Dispatches have been received from
Buluwayo asking that rifles be hurried
forward.
Scouts who have returned to Salisbury
and Buluwayo report that the natives are
gathering in large bodies at different
points and are herding together all the
cattle available.
They are being excited by the medicine
men. and strong force will have 10 be
employed in order to restore order. There
has been much looting of cattle. and
native police inspector has been murdered
by his men, who afterwards deserted and
went over to the enemy with their arms
and ammunition.
Travelling is now dangerous in all parts
of Matabeleland and it is feared that conn
munication with Buluwayo will shortly be
interrupted.
Selous succeeded in recapturing large
herd of cattle stolen by the Matabeles, and
the animals have been driven toward Bu-
luwayo to be used for provisioning the
town. Selous has ordered a number of
scouts to keep in touch with the Matabeles
and as soon as sufficient body of men
can be sent out from Buluwayo an attack
in force will be made upon tue rebels.
The outskirts of Buluwayo are occupied
by police and volunteers. and a very ef-
fective lager has been formed around tive
market house, where the ammunition and
supplies have been stored. Maxim guns
protect each side of the lager, and it is be-
dered proof against any assault.
1t is not believed, however, that matters
will reach such stage as that, but the
authorities decided to take every precau-
tion possible as the fighting power and
strength of the Matabeles is too well known
for any precaution to be neglected.
The governor of Cape Colony, Sir Her
cules Robinson, confirms the report that
the explorer, Selous. has been engaged
with the Matabeles who have been staying
cattle. Sir Hercules Robinson also con-
firms the report that the native police have
deserted and he adds that one prospector
was murdered. The governor confirms
the report that Lobengula's son has placed
himself at the head of the Matabele rebels.