The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-23
BULVWAlO NEWS
Unless Ii Is All Misleading, a
Battle viii Very Soon Be
Fought.
Greatest Danger to the Town
From the "FrieLiiies"
Within 1t.
Maxim Gun Trained on the Ma
49,: tive. Quarter to Guard
Against Surprise.

CAPE TOWN, April 2".-UnlesS all the
news which reaches this place from
BuluwayO is misleading, an important
engagement between the British force,
defending that town and the MatabeleS
besieging it, will shortly take place. or
it may already have occurred.
1t Is now known that the force Of
hostile natives which assembled about
Buluwayo after the outbreak of the
rebellion was much greater than was
at first supposed. The highest estimate
placed the number of the besieglng
force at $4,000, but although q large
number of natives, said to mum Der
about 1000 warriors, is known to have
struck camp and started southwark in
the direction which the relief forces
from Mafeking must follow, it is estl-
mated that fully Is, 600 hostiles are still
in the vicinity of the beleagured town.
Contracted Their Formation.
The natives, when they first took up
positions about Buluwayo, formed a
half circle northward, but gradually
this formation has been contracted,
and the Matabele army is now only
about three miles, or within easy
striking distance of a dark night,
especially, of the 5000 white people in
the town, of whom about only 600 can
be classed as fighting men. The south.
ern portion of the half circle is noun.
famous country. and the main pass is
held by about 300 whites. 1t is through
%l,;, ,o,, thot 81, x,1iaf fcrDa onA crr.
ply trains must come. The men
holding this pass have been
divided into four bodies. The
first, or advance guard, is occupy.
ing a position at the entrance
Of the most difficult turnings. The
main body occupied the strongest posi-.
ton in the pass itself, where q Maxim
gun has been e~ntrenched behind q we'll
constructed stone breastwork, or fort,
commanding the critical turn in the
road. This force is also looked upon as
being in a position to slew the gun
around and defend the pass from an
attack from the north. The third body
or rear guard, is holding the northern
end of the pass. which leads to the
open ground and road to Buluwayo.
Greatest Danger From "FrisudVe&."
The greatest danger at present threat
ening Buluwayo is the ~''friendlies, F" of
whom there are estimated to be fully
1000.
If they were suddenly to rise some
night and create a diversion within the
lines it might enable the native impis
to make a dash for the lager. Signs
OF preparation for such an outbreak
upon the part of the friendlies have
long been noticed and guarded against.
One Maxim gun has been So placed as
to command the native portion Of the
town or colony, and sentries keep watch
over the Matabeles night and day.
Then again, the Matabeles seem to have
suddenly learned the art of approach.
ing a town with defenses, for, with
each move forward, with each tighten
ing of the half circle around Buluwayo,
they have thrown up earthworks. in.
deed, the skill they are manifesting in
these operations is pointed out
as another proof that they are
being directed by Boer strategists.
The One Brigh Spot.
The IL bright spot in this dark u
look is the fact that in the engage
ments which have hitherto taken place
between the, whites and the natives,
the latter have almost invariably been
beaten and with severe loss. In fact,
it is said that fully /, 200 Matabeles have
already peel killed, against which
showing some 200 whites have been
killed. The rinderpest, which is delay.
ing the advance OF the relief corps and
provision and ammunition train, is
also playing havoc with the cattle
Of the natives. The spoor, or trail. OF a
large body of natives, driving some 5000
cattle was marked at about every
hundred yards by the carcass of a
beast. This disease may, therefore,
have more effect than the rifles Of the
whites in enabling the latter to hold
the South African Lucknow. as Bulu-