The Bemidji pioneer., 1896-04-30

z
to Retrent--Thcir Defeat Thought
TO Have Becn u Bad One.
Cane Town, April %. Capt. Napier,
with force of about 200 men, left
BuluWayo yesterday morning, accord
ing to a dispatch received here from
that place, on accommodating eXpe-
dition. The Matabeles, 1t was then
believed, had removed southwark
away from the positions they had oc-
cupied, intending to intercept the re-
lief corps advancing from Mafeking.
But the scouting party were surprised
to find the Matabeles in great force
about five miles northeast Of Bull
wayo- Napier's command was hred
upop. returned the enemy's fire, and
then retreated in good order, it being
useless for such a small body OF troop
ers to engage several thousand Ma1a-
belle warriors, apparently well sup
piled with fire arms.
The return OF Napier's party, under
the circumstances, cast quite gloom
over Buluwayo, as 1t was believed
that the extensive works of defense,
Iaagers, forts, dynamite mines. ETC.,
around Ruluwayo had convinced the
Matabeles that the place was lmpreg-
nable, and that In consequence they
had shifted camp southwark. 1t now
appears that while 1t is true that sew
eral thousand Matabeles have struck
camp. there are enough of them re-
naming in the vicinity of Buluwayo
to cause the utmost uneasiness. Ii IS
true that the eighteen wagons. loaded
with provisions, have succeeded in
entering the town. but there are many
mouths to feed there. and the relief
corps is still long way off, and NOV
ing slowly ON account Of the scarcity
of water and the 0
Ravnges of the Rinderpest
among the cattle. It may be two
months before the Mafeking relief
corps can reach Buluwayo. and a
great deal may happen in that time.
The officials of the British Chartered
company are doing everything posi-
BILE under the circumstances; they are
paying large bonuses to transport
riders and volunteers, and are hurry
ing forward supplies as fast as pos
sible, but here again the deadly rinder-
pest is interfering with the work OF
relief
day in spite of the very effective
means taken to defend Bnluwayo.
Fully 200 persons have been killed by
the Matabeles since the uprising be-
gan. and men of experience in South
African warfare claim to see in the
tactics of the natives the guiding hand
Of the leaders of the Transyaal burgh-
err They insist that the Beers are
armiDg for n struggle with the British
for the mastery in South Africa. and
that they are actively encouraged and
assisted by Germany. The Boers
have mustered about Zoo ges and
several guns, according TO report. at
convenient distance from Mafeking,
and 1t is believed that they are more
than willing to make common cause
with the Matabeles and strike blow
MT the British supremacy. Indeed, ey-,
erthing ii in a volcanic state in South
Africa at present. and no person here
can correctly foretell what the result
will be. A good deal depends on Ber-
lin.
Cape Town, April 24.-Unless all the
news which reaches this place from
Bnluwayo is misleading, an important
engagement between the British
force defending that town and the
AIatabeles besieging 1t will shortly
take place, or it may have already oc-
Cured.
1t is now known that the force of
hostile natives, which assembled
about RuluWayo after the outbreak of
the rebellion. was much greater than
was nj first supposed. The highest
estimate placed the number OF the
besieging force at $4,000. but although
large number Of natives, said to
number about 5000 warriors. is
known to have struck camp and start
ed southwark in the direction which.
tho relief forces from Mafeliing must
follow. 1t is estimated that fully d.
QUO hostiles are still In the vicinity OF
The beleaguered town. The natives.
when they first took up positions
about Brlluwayo. formed half-circle
northward. but gradually this circle
has been contracted, and the Matabele
army is now only about three miles
or easy striking distance, on dark
night especially of the 1000 White
people In the town, of whom about
only COO can be classed as fighting
men.
The southern portion of the half
circle Is mountainous country, and the
main pass is held by about 30o whites.
1t is through this pass that the relief
force and the supply trains must
come. The men holding this pass
have heen divided into four bodies.
Cape Town April 26. feiegraphis
communication with Bt.luwayo was re-
opened for time to-day, and then
there was another break. believed,
however to he only Il temporary inter-
ruption. During the time the wire
was working dispatches We're received
flom several sources in the hesie.ed
town. The news flashed south Is
somewhat conflicting, but the main
fact seems well established that the
British have made a sortie in force.
encountered large numbers of Mata-
beles. inflicted great loss upon them,
suffered in return. We're al one time
I'm danger of anniiiilation, and finally