Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-23
SERIOUS BATTLE PROBABLE
The British at BuIuWayo in
Great Danger.
THREATENED BY THE MATABELES
Twenty Thousand of the Latter
Near.
Probably Two Thousand "Friendiies" Fed
From the Common Stores Possibility of
the Inhabitants Being Reduced to Starya-
tion and tho Place Captured.
Associated Press Dispatch BY Special wires.

Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
Cape Town, April %. Unless all the
news which reaches this place from
b uluwayo is misleading an important
engagement between the British force
defending that town and the Matabeles
hosieging it will shortly take place or
it may already have occurred.
1t is now known that the force OF
hostile natives which assembled about
Buluwavo after the breakout was much
greater than was at first supposed.
The highest estimate placed the number
OF the besieging force at 10, 600 but,
although large body Of natives said
TO number about 5000 warriors is
known to have struck camp and started
southwark in the direction which the
reliof forces from Mafeking must fol-
low, it is estimated that fully Is, 600
hostiles are still in the vicinity of the
beleagured town. The natives, when
they first took up positions about Bull
uwayo, formed 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 dark night
especially, of the 3, 600 white people in
the town, OF whom only about 600 can
be cassed as fighting men. The south
ern portion of the half circle is noun
famous country and the main pass is
held by about 300 whites II is through
this pass that the relief force and sun
ply trains must come. The men holding
this pass have been divided into four
bodies Tho first or advance guard is
occupying a position at the entrance
or knee of the first of the most difficult
turnings. The main body occupies the
strongest position in the pass itself,
where a Maxim gun has been planted
behind we'll constructed stone breast
work or fort commanding the critical
turn in the road. This force is also
looked upon as being in a position to
slew the gun around and defend the
pass from an attack from the north.
Both Buluwayo and Gwelo, which is
also besieged, have been practically
rendered impregnable from an out
ward, open attack, but in both cases,
especially in the case of Buiuwayo. a
large number OF su-called friendly ma
tives have fiocked into the place under
the plan OF seeking the protection OF
the whites from the hostilitiea. These
persons could not we'll be turned adrift
or refused the shelter they requested.
Consequently they were admitted with
in the lines ard permitted to mix with
the natives who regularly inhabit the
town. The number OF these friend
lies" has increased alarmingly and il
is believed that fully 1000 natl yes are
now being fed from the common stores
OF Buluwayo Thus, while it may be
true that Buluwayo, thanks. to its
| dynamite mines, barbed wire defences,
strong laager around the market place
and half dozen or go of rapid fire guns,
is safe from an attempt to carry the
place by storm, it is not safe from
being reduced by starvation and il
might even he captured If the friond-
lies'' were suddenly to rise some might
and create diversion within the
lines, which would enable the native
impia TO make dash for the laager.
SITUATION EXTREMELY SERIOUS.
London, April %. The officials oi
the British Chartered South Africa
Go. received to-day the following dis
patch from Buluwayo, dated April 2lst.
''The situation is most serious. There
are II, 600 Matabeles within three miles
and /, l50 friendly natives have arrived
| in town.