The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-04-25
THH BRITISH DTFEATED.
A Charge on the Matabeles Which
Was Bravely Resisted.
REITERATED BACK TO BULUWAYo.

Though the Britons Made Brave Fight,
They Were Overwhelmed by superior
Numbers of Determined savages After
Wasting Greatly Needed Ammunition.
CAPE Town, April Photographic
communication with Buluwayo was re-
opened for a time yesterday, and then
there was another break, believed to be
only temporary interruption. During
the time the wire was working dispatches
were received from several sources in the
besieged town The news flashed south
Is somewhat conflicting, but the main
fact seems well established that the Brit
ish have made a sortie in force encoun-
tered large numbers of Matabeles inflicted
great loss upon them, suffered in return,
were at one time in danger of annihila-
tion, and finally retreated.
The official version of the sortie says
that at midnight force of about 300 men,
under Captains Napier and Duncan, with
one maxim rapid fire gun and Hotoh-
kiss quick firing gun, saddled up for
dash at the enemys lines. Swords and all
clattering acooutrements were deadened
with cloth, and the feet of the horses com
posing the advance guard were "bagged."
| Contrary to expectation the Matabeles had
thrown out pickets, which, although sur
| prised by the advance 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 COM
rades.
Unluckily for the plans of Captains Ma
pier and Duncan, by this time it was get
ting quite light, and the Matabeles had
sprung to arms all along the line. AS the
British advanced they were received by a
scattering rifle fire from behind the earth
works, 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 troopers. The
Matabeles charged in force and drove the
advance guard back, and, being met by
the main body of the Buluwayo force
fire was opened at about 400 yards on the
Matabele position This was kept up un-
til broad daylight.
When the right moment seemed to ar
rive the charge was ordered and there was
a prolonged period of sharp fighting at
close quarters. Pistols rifles, shotguns,
assagais, war clubs, spears and knives
clashed, the music of the rapid fire guns,
sent to the rear for fear of their being cap
tured, having ceased.
Both sides fought bravely. 1t was a case
of handful Of well armed whites against
a small army of badly armed Matabeles.
Gradually the Matabeles pressed onward
by sheer force of numbers, almost sur
rounded them, and the British to avoid be-
ing encircled retreated fighting foot by
foot, but being driven steadily backward.
The loss of the enemy is said to have
been very great No correct estimate could
be made, but the reports place the number
of Matabeles killed at anywhere between
400 and 1,000. The loss of the British is
not stated, but it is believed to be more
severe than the commanders at Buluwayo
are willing to admit
The unofficial account of the sortie
places matters in somewhat different
light. 1t says there was a great deal of
unnecessary delay in getting the troopers
away from Buluwayo, and that it was al
most daylight when they started. Conse-
quently, when they encountered the Mat
abeles they found the latter fully prepared
to receive them, There was determined
fighting on both sides at close range, and
the British, when almost surrou nded, re-
treated, fighting stubbornly with the loss
of many killed and wounded. In brief,
; the sortie was a failure, a defeat for the
British, and, what is worse, under the
circumstances, there was an expenditure
of much of the small STOCK of ammunition
remaining at Buluwayo.
The Matabeles are believed to be flushed
with victory. They have driven back into
Buluwayo a strong foEce, about half the
garrison of that place, and though they
suffered severely the loss in prestige ant
ammunition to the British is much NOR
severe.
Warlike Action of Beers.
CAPE Town, April 25.-It is reportet
from Johannesburg that numerous Boe
III.