The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-05-08
BRITISH b EF 4 TED
DESPERATE FIGHT WITH MATA-
BELES NEAR BULUWAYO.
English soldires Make an Attack
Upon the Natives, Taking Then,
by Surprise ana Killing Many Of
Them, hut Arc Finally COmpelled
to Rctreat-Their Defeat Thought
to Have Been q BAD one.

Cape Town, April 26.-Telegraphis
communication with Bt,luwayo was re.
opened for q time to-day, and then
there was another break, believed,
however, to be only q temporary inter-
ruption. During the time the wire
was working dispatches were received
flOm several sources Ia the hesieged
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 Mat&-
beles, inflicted great loss upon them,
suffered In return, were ut one time
In danger Of humiliation. and finally
retreated.
The story. Of the fight must be d.
vided into two chapters, the official
and unofficial account. The official
version of the sortie says that the
British force shortly after midnight
was quietly called to arms, and with
out apparently alarming the native
part Of the town, a force OF about 400
men. under Captains Napier and
Duncan, with one rapid-fire Maxim
gun, and a Hotchkiss quick firing gun,
belonging to the flagship st. George,
mustered outside the barbed wire de-
fences, We're served with a ration Of
run and saddled up for a dash Mt the
enemy's lines. Swords and all clutter
Ing accoutrements were deadened with
cloth, and the feet of the horses, COM
posing the advance guard, were
dragged" (hoofs covered over with
strong sacking.) Owing to the preca,l-
tons 1t was necessary to take, there
was considerable delay in getting off,
and the first streaks of gray on the
horizon could be seen when the col
umn arrived within striking distance
of the enemy.
A Great Fight.
The latter were quietly camped be-
hind their stone-topped earthworks,
about four miles out of Buluwayo.
But contrary to expectations, the
Matabeles had thrown out pickets,
which, although surprised by the adj
vance guard, raised the alarm. This
was no sooner done than the troopers
In advance charged and shot down
many of the fleeing natives. This was
the signal for the advance of the main
body of the troopers, and they galloped
forward In fine style to the support of
their comrades.
Unluckliy for the plans of Captains
Napier and Duncan, by this time it
was getting quite light, and the Mata-
beles had sprung to arms all along the
line. AS the British advanced they
were received by scattering rifle fire
from behind the earthWOrllS, but the
advance guard charged right up to the
mounds and spurred their horses over
them in several places. Then followed
a setback for the troops. The Mata-
beles charged in force and drove the
advance guard back, and, being met
by the main body OF the Buluwayo
force, fire was opened ut about 400
yards on the Matabele position. This
was kept UP until board daylight, when
the advance was ordered back. 1t is
now said that both the Hotchkiss aud
the Maxim rapid-fire guns worked I,hG-
~, and that they were only use6 ,or
comparatively short time, Us ihc
mechanism jammed repeatedly. No
correct estimate Of the killed and
wounded has yet been received, the
only statement being that of the Brit
ish OFFICIAL report, which says that the
Brltish loss was very slight and the
Matabeles lost heavily. ta@
The opinion is gaining that the Brit
isl suffered a bad defeat, and that the
Matabele loss was not SO great as at
first rumored.
Cape Town, April 2S.-The news of
saturdays events in Buluwayo show
that the Matabeles are displaying
great holiness and energy in the pur-
suit of their purpose to surround the
town completely and cut off all COM
munication with the outside world.
On Saturday morning it was found
that the hostile forces of natives had
surrounded the town on tile north,
cast and west. their ranks being much
too close to the town to allow OF any
freedom of action by those within.
Their lines were being energetically
extended in both directions and threat
ened to close in on the south and cut
or communication with Mangwe and
Mafeking, along which the expected
reinforcements and supplies of proyis-
ions are coming.
A column for attack was yesterday
hastily formed consisting Of 100
whites, 100 Cape boys and 100
natives. They were supplied with one
Maxim and one Hotch!siss rapid-tire
guns, and were praced in command of
Capt. MacFarlane. They had pro-
ceeded only about five miles when the
SAASAAy OpCACu Iilc ultUCk. Lie Nl1t0.
belle force numbered not less than
5000, and their attack was eager and
well directed. The column from Rulu-
wayo was just crossing small stream,
tributary of the Umugaz, when the
attack opened. The overwhelming
odds, 10 to !. hurled upon the little
column drove it back by mere weight
of numbers, and the advance parties
were glad TO retreat in haste across
the stream. This retrograde move.
ment was. however, effected in good
order: and. fighting as they went, thus
drawing the enemy across the river
The Maiabeles advanced upon the lit
tie band of warriors
In Formidable Array.
Many came on brandishing their
assergais and shields and giving forth
fierce yells in true savage fashion. AS
the bowling savages closed in on the
column they afforded an excellent tar.
get for the sweeping discharge Of the
rapid-fira guns. The engagement which
ensucd was a hot and desperate one,
and dark, leaping bodies seemed r.