The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-25
IT'S A FLAT FAILURE
The Eri'iSh Repulsed in Their Attack
on the MatabeleS.
A SORTlE AT EARLY MORN
While the Troops Killed Nearly a
housand Natives, hey Are De-
teated With a Heavy Loss
Worse for Buluwayo.

Cape Town, April photographic COM
muncation with Buluwayo was restored
Tor time to-day. News from the besieged
town Is conflicting. 1t appears that the
British forces. In a sortie. encountered
the Matabeles and a large number of the
latter were killed. The official version of
the sortie says that the British force,
shortly after midnight. was called to
arms, and. without apparently alarming
the native part OF the town, a force of
about 800 men under Captains Napier and
! duncan. with one Maxim gun and a
Hotchkiss quick-firing gun, mustered out
side the barbed wire defenses were serv-
ed with ration of rum and saddled up
for dash at the enemy's lines Swords
| ana all clattering accoutrements were
deadened with cloth and the feet of the
horses composing the advance guard were
! oagged" (hoofs covered with strong
sacking)
Owing to the precautions II was neces-
sary TO take there was considerable de-
lay In getting Off, and the first streaks of
gray on the horizon could be seen when
the column arrived within striking dis
lance OF the enemy. The latter were
| quietly camped behind their stone-topped
| earthworks about four miles from Bulu-
wayo. hut, contrary to expectations the
MatabeIes had their own outpckets.
which, although surprised by the advance
AaiScu InlS was no
sooner done than the troops in advance
charged and shot down many OF the flee
ing natives. This was the signal for the
advance of the main body of the troops
and they galloped forward in fine style
TO the support OF their comrades. Unluck-
lily for the plans of Captains Napier and
Duncan, by this time IL was getting quite
/ light and the Matabeles had sprung to
arms all along the line. As the British
advanced they were received by scat
tering rifle fire from behind the earth
works, but the advance guard charged
right up the mounds and spurred their
horses over them in several places. Then
Ioilowed setback for the troopers. The
Matabeles charged in force and drove
the advance guard back. and being met
by the main body OF the Buluwayo force
nre was opened at about 400 yards on the
Matabele position. This was kept up until
broad daylight, when the advance was
ordered in view of the fact that too
much ammunition was being wasted. Up
10 this time the loss on either side had
not been heavy, although the Matabeles
had by far the worst of IL, especially
when the Maxim and Hotchkiss guns
were brought into play to cover the re-
treat OF the advance guard.
just previous to the advance on the
Matabele position the two rapid-flre guns
were again set to work and for about a
sweep the Matabele position in front OF
the British force. When the right moment
seemed TO arrive the charge was ordered
ana there was prolonged period of
sharp hghting at close quarters Pistols
rifles. shotguns. war clubs. spears and
knives clashed prettily. the music OF the
rapid-fire guns, sent to the rear for fear
OF their being captured. having ceased.
Gradually the Matabeles, pressed on /
ward by sheer force OF numbers, almost |
surrounded the British, who to avoid be- /
ing encircled, retreated. fighting foot by |
FOOT, but being driven steadily backward |
one squad for time was quite cut Off |
ana only extricated itself by a brilliant
charge through the Matabele Gordon.
Eventually the British were very hard
pushed and gave ground fast then rail-
hed by Napier and Duncan, they again
assumed the offensive and drove back the
swarms OF natives under a well-directed
fre. Then II was the turn of the Mata-
Deies TO give ground. and squad of
troopers. charging with a ringing cheer
threw them into confusion and the Brit
Ish were apparently getting the upper
nand and forcing the enemy backward
"hen suddenly the retreat was ordered
ana the British retreated toward Bulu-
"ayo' which place they reached consld-
eraoly the worse for wear and tear.
Much heroism was displayed by in
A1aiAioh lTOODtTS and XOlun-
teers in rescuing their wounded com
rades. One trooper is said TO have
charged alone close up to the Mata-
belle works, to pick UP a wounded
friend, dragged him upon his saddle
ana retreated after emptying the mag
azine of his rifle at the enemy. Another
trooper stood over a fallen comrade.
ana with the stock of his rifle beat off
me natives until both he and his friend
we're rescued by charge of their COM
'ades. The loss Of the enemy is said
% have been very great. No correct
estimate could be made, but the re-
ports place the number of Matabeles
killed at between 400 and 1000. The
oss OF the British is not stated, but IL
; Deheved to be more severe than the
commanders at Buluwayo are willing to
admit.
The unofficial account Of the sortie
places matters In a somewhat different
light. 1t says there was a good deal of
delay In getting the troop-
RS away from Buluwayo and that IL /
vas almost daylight when they start
d. consequently when they encounter I
d the Matabeles they found the latter
ully prepared to receive them. There
vas determined fighting on both sides
i close range. and the British. when
Utmost surrounded. retreated fighting
tubbornly with the loss Of many
titled and wounded.
In brief. the sortie was a failure. a
Iefeat for the British. and what is
worse under the circumstances. there
vas an expenditure Of much OF the !
mall stock OF ammunition remaining
4 Buluwayo. The Matabeles are be-
ieved TO be flushed with victory. They
ave driven back into Buluwayo a
trong force. about half the garrison 8
4 that place. and although they suf- !
cred severely, the loss in prestige and Z
to the British is much \
nore severe. :
F. c. Selous, the explorer. with a 4
quad Of so troopers. was last reported I
n his way TO Mangwe to complete the q
epairs OF the telegraph line at Fig
rec and protect the line as far as
ossible from marauding bands OF
iatabeles. a
Further particulars received from 1
'uluwayo. IN regard 10 the sortie, show n