The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-20
ALARMING SITUATION.
Elaborate Precautions for Defense
Against Attack of Matabeles.

BULuwAyo, April 2o.--As a measure OF
defense against the expected attack upon
the town by the Matabelcs. dynamite
mines have been laid In the outskirts oil
the town ana In the ground over which
an attacking party would necessarily APP
proach Tnese mines have been wired
and connected with instruments in the
central laager, which will lie the point "
retreat In case OF attack.
From the central laager, the ground In
which the ndnes have been laid Is In full
view aud the mines can be exploded by
electricity atthe moment desired. An ex
plosion at the moment an advancing
horde OF natives was over the mines would
do tremendous execution among them.
So far as the situation is improved here
over that OF Saturday, IL Is due 10 the de-
parture Of the enemy, which has been
massed TO the north OF the town for several
days and from which an attack has beep
almost hourly expected.
This movements however, brings little
comfort TO those In Buluwayo. The ex.
cited manner In which the natives quilted
their positions indicated "a confident pur
pose OF mischief There is no evidence
that they were alarmed at the demonstra-
ton Of the patrol of men from Buluwayo
against their vanguard. Although this
vanguard was driven back upon the main
body. the patrol did not dare 10 place itself
within reach of the overwhelming mum.
bers OF the main body.
The direction taken by this great body
OF hostile natives after quitting the posi-
tion TO tho north has not been learned.
But IL Is feared that the purpose Of the
movement is 10 try and effect q junction
with the rebels In the Matoppo hills and
thus sever communications TO the south
ward. The road runs through tho Mat
toppo hills to the south Of Buluwayo and
IL q difficult and dangerous one for 5C
miles from here, at which distance the
road reaches the Mangwe pass.
This angular and precipitous defile, IL
Is felt, must be held. Ii is OF such n char
acter that it can we'll be made impregna
bic against the attacks Of native warriors.
But for the same reason, IL allowed to get
into the hands OF the natives, 1t would be
extremely difficult. and perhaps impossi
BILE TO disiodge them with any force at
present available To leave this pass to
the enemy would effectually cut of the
intercourse OF Buluwayo with the outside
world 10 hold the pass and to patrol the
road between 1t and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
which are felt TO be imperatively neces
sary for the safety of this place-requires
large proportion of the available force
(less than 1000 mem in Buluwayo.
Authorities Perpiexed.
The threatened movement of the enemy
upon the line of communications per-
plexes the authorities, with the problem OF
how far they can further denude Bulu-
wayo of It's fighting forces to guard the
road. The lack of certainty as to the
whereabouts, and the immediate destina.
tion of the great mass or natives moving
SO near the town, causes much dread and
anxiety.
The supply of provisions Is diminishing
in Buluwayo in q constantly increasing
ratio, owing TO the large number Of refu.
gees, and what is more serious, doubtful
natives that are coming In. The dread Is
abroad among all the white Inhabitants
that these natives are hostile Matabeles,
coming in under the disguise of friends,
bat meditating treacherous outbreak in
cooperation with an attack from without.
The diminishing supplies make the
keeping open OF communication ITO the
south douby important, as 1t Is from
there that supplies for Buuwayo must be
looked for. Fears are entertained for the
safety of those now on the way. and even
should these get through TO Buluwayo,
they are only sufficient to temporarily re.
lieve the necessity of keeping these roads
open to the passage OF friends Of the peo.
pie I'm Bul uwayo.
The enemy are maneuvoring and con-
structing laagers to provide for retreat
and organ lied attack less than six miles
out. A council of war has been held, and
it has been decided that the local forces
are too weak to make further attack upon
the Matabeles.
The greatest anxiety is felt for the quick
arrival of re-enforcements from the south,
which will bc the only link with the out
side world ms the natives now hold all the
country, except Buluwayo, Gwelo and
Belingwe. The returns OF casualties to
the white population thus far show that
six have been murdered and that 100 are
missing.
To Fight Matabelcs.