Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-27
MATABELES ARE VERY BOLD
Forcing the English Lines In with True
Military Skill,
ACTIVE WORK NECESSARY TO RESIST
Attack on the Advancing Lines
Found to lie Imperative Under
the Circumstances, Though
of Little Effect.
TIVE WORK NECESSARY TO RESIST

urday's events in Buluwayo show that the
Matabele are displaying great bodness and
energy in the pursuit of their purpose to sur
round the town completely and cut off all
communication with the outside world. On
Saturday morning it was found that the hce-
tile forces of natives had surrounded the
town on the north, east and west, their ranks
being 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 threatened to close in
on the south and cut off communication with
Mangwe and Mafeking, along which the ex-
pected reinforcemens and supplies of provi-
sions are coming.
The pickets of the enemy were said to be in
no case four miles distant from the Buluwayo
lines and they were giving lively evidence
of their improved knowledge of military
strategy over that displayed in the war Of
Lobengula, by the way in which they were
throwing up rude fortfcatons and earth
work projections, beyond which the native
warriors could resist the charge Of the
whites.
They threatened thus to work an approach
to the town which was speedily putting the
place in jeopardy. Immediate steps were
perceived to be necessary to dislodge the
lines of the enemy and drive them back A
column for attack was hastily formed con-
ssting of 100 whites, 100 cape boys" and
100 natives. They were supplied with one
Maxim and one Hotchkss rapid-fire guns and
were placed in command of Captain Mac
Farlane. They were speedily ready for an
offensive movement and thus commanded and
equipped, they sailed forth from the Bulu-
wayo defensas at o'clock on Saturday morn
ing. They took direction northeastery
from the town, in the direction of the Umguzza
river. They had proceeded only about five
miles on this course, advancing cautiously
with scouts in advance and outriders on each
side, when the enemy opened the attack
The Matablele force numbered not less than
3000 and their attack was eager and we'll
directed. The column from Buluwayo was
just crossing a small stream, a tributary of
the Umguzza, when the enemy opened fire. The
overwhelming odds, ten to one, 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 movement was
however, effected in good order, and fighting
as they went, thus drawing the enemy across
the river.
IN TRUE BATTLE ARRAY.
The Matabees advanced upon the little
band in formidable array, their line ex-
tending in a crescent formation, the horns
Of the crescent advancing to the front,
creeping and writhing like trcacherous
round 1t in its deadly coils. The long strag-
Cling line extended over distance Of three
miles, with wide intervals between the
men in the line except in the parts where
they closed in expectation of a hand-to-
hand conflict Many came on, brandishing
their assaegais and shields, and giving forth
fierce yella in true savage fashion.
AS the howling savages closed in on the
column, they afforded an excellent target
for the sweeping discharge of the rapid
fire guns. The engagement which ensued
vas a hot and desperate one, and dark leap
they were moved down. The BuluwayG
force kept the river in its immediate
front. The firearms did heavy execution
among the hostile natives as they rushed
up to the opposite bank This only partly
checked their fierce onslaught, and many
These were charged by the troopers and
cut down or driven back into the stream.
When the Matabeles in front were finally
driven back they were seen to have sus-
taned heavy loss. The little river was
dyed a dark crimson with the blood of the
victims of the Maxim gun. One observer
counted forty dead lying a small circuit
close to the column.
BLACKS ALL AROUND THE ENGLISH.
The whites had been hotly engaged in
front, and when they succeeded in repulsing
the attack there they found more work still
waiting for them. The advanced uds OF
the cnemys lines then got under their TANKS
and they found squares of bowling black
men in their rear when they turned their
attention in that direction. This came near
proving a greater peril than the onslaught
from the front, but it was luckily deferred
until the attack had been repulsed, and
the forces of the Matabeles weakened there.
But for the open nature of the ground
toward Buluwayo, the encircling tactics of
the enemy would certainly have succeeded
against the small force opposed to them.
AS it was, it was possible to perceive their
movements and move accordingly, and the
open ground gave free play for the Maxim,
which was employed also in that direction
with deadly effect. The losses sustained by
the whites were:
II. G. WHITEHOUSE.
C. GORDON.
The exact number Of wounded was not
stated. The rapid fire gun is thought to have
saved the day for the whites beyond ques-
ten. The loss they sustained, in view OF
the force OF the attacking party and the fact
that they were actually outhanked, is con-
sidered small, and the whites ale considered
lucky to have come off so well. They retired
upon the conclusion of the fight, but they
we're in possession Of the field when they
did so.
Although the attacking party came off
without any very heavy losses they did not
drive the Matabeles, but simply repulsed
their attack The hostile lines are practi-
cally as near to Buluwayo as ever, and it is
cer tain that only a part of the Matabeles
who are beleaguering Buluwayo were en-
gagged in yeste' days fight. 1t is not clear
that the sorte has been efectual in pre-
venting the advance OF the Matabeles to tho
south of Buluwayo, which is the outcome
most feared,
The uneasiness here regarding the situation
in the hard pressed settlement is undated,
and about the only agreeable feature is that
telegraphic communication with Buluwayo is
stil open The administrator thee an
nounces that the town still has provisions for
twenty days. The supplies on their way
fr m Mafek ng ale eXpe ted tef.re ttat pc od
expires. But their arrival at all depends
upon many contingencies 1t is very much
feared that the relief column may be at
tackled. If the supplies we're not captured
In such a case they would certainly be de-
layed. The same thing would happen If the
line OF communication were cut and some
point on 1t strongly held The best speed
the relief column can make without hostile
obstruction will not bring 1t to Buuwayo
until II is urgently needed. The admins
tire ;or at Buluwayo is doing all in his power
ia increase his stock and to provide against