The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-23
MANY AGAINST FEW
SITUATION IN MATABELELAND MORE
SERIOUS FOR THE BRITIsH.
Thousands of Black Warriors Now
Near BuIuwayo, and Only n sman
Force to Defend the Places.

LONDON, April 22.-The officials OF the
British South Africa Chartered Company
received to-day the following dispatch from
~Buluwayo. dated April q: The situation
is most serious. There are 1900 Matabeles
within three miles and 1,l50 friendly natives
have arrived in town"
A dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette from
Buluwayo says: Both Buluwayo and
Gwelo are absolutely safe. The Matabeles
are not disposed TO attack, but are content
with cutting of small bands of whites. 1t
Is believed that 800 whites. prospectors or
farmers. have been murdered. In seven
fights nine whites and 1000 Matabeles have
been killed. The rebels are running short
of ammunition"
An Associated Press copyright dispatch
from Cape Town says: Unless all the news
which reaches this place from Buluwayo Is
misleading an important engagement be-
tween the British force defending that town
and the Matabeles besieging it will shortly
take place, or 1t may already have occurred.
IL Is now known that the force of hostile
natives which assembled about Buluwayo
after the outbreak of the rebellion was much
greater than was at first supposed. The
highest estimate placed the number Of be-
sieging force at L, 1000. but although a large
"a atift cdfu " idtiibtl dDOul
5000 warriors. is known to nave struck
camp and started southwark in the direc-
ton which the relief forces from Mafeking
hostiles are still in the vicinity of the be-
leaguered town. The natives, when they
nrst TOOK positions about B~uluwayo. formed
q half circle northward, but gradually this
formation has been contracted and the
Matabele army is now only about three
miles, or within easy striking distance, on
a Qark night QGnQ0ialv TnQrQ n nnlv
5000 white people in the towns of whom
ABOUT only 600 can be classed as fighting
men: The southern portion of the half cir
Gle Is mountainous country, and the main
pass Is held by about 800 whites. 1t is
through this pass that the relief force and
Ing this pass have been divided into four
bodies. The first, or ADVANCE guard, Is occu-
pylng a position at the entrance of the most
dimcuit turnings. The main body occupies
the strongest position In the pass itself.
where a Maxim gun mas been planted behind
a well-constructed stone breastwork or fort,
commanding the critical turn in the road.
Inc thlrd body, or rear guard. is holding
the nothern end of the pass, which leads
10 inc open ground and road to Buluwayo.
The men holding the pass have provisions
Tor about a month, but their supply of am
munition is limited, some of it already hav-
ing peen called In to replenish the diminish
ing store of the town.
Both Buluwayo and Gwelo, which is also
DesieSed, have been practically rendered
impregnable for an outward. open attack.
But, in both cases, especially In the case of
a large number of so-calle6
friendly natives focked into the place under
the plan of seeking the protection of the
whites from the hostiles. These persons
could not well be turned adrift or refused
the shelter they requested. Consequently
they were admitted within the lines and al
lowed to mix with the natives. who regu-
larry inhabit the town. The number of these
'friendles' has ipcrea sed 1alarmingly and Ut
Is believed that fully two thousand natives
are now being fed from the common stores
of Buluwayo. Thus, while 1t may be true
that Buiuwayo, rhanks to its dynamite
mines, barbed wire d~efenses, strong lager
SO rapid fire guns. is safe from any attempt
TO carry the place by storm, IL Is not safe
from being reduced b. starvation and 1t
might even be captured IL the "friendies''
were suddenly TO rise some night and create
a diversion within the lines which would en-
able the native Impis to make a dash for
the lager. This Is the greatest danger
now tire atening the town of Buluwayo. The
one bright spot In the situation is the fact
that in the engagements which have hith-
ert0 taken place between the whites and
the natives, the latter have almost invar-
iably been beaten and with severe loss. In
fact. Ii is said thai fully 1.200 Matabeles have
some two hundred whites have been killed.
The rinderpest. which is delaying the
advance of the relief corps and provision
and ammunition trains, Is also playing havoc
with the cattle OF the natives. The trail of
a large body of natives, driving with them
some five thousand cattle, was marked at
about every hundred yards by the carcass
more effect than the rifles OF the whites in
enabling the latter to hold the South African
Lucknow, as Buinwayo is now termed, I'M
I'll relief reaches the little garrison"