The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
BLACKS WERE SURROUNDING TOWN
While Many Of the Natives Were Slain
by the Rapid Fire Guns, They
Maintained Their Positions.
Situation Is Critical.

On Saturday morning it was found
that :he hostile forces Of natives had
surrounded the town Oh the north. east
and west. their ranks being much too
close 70 the town to allow Of any free
dom Of action by those within.
These lines were being theoretically
extended in both directions and threaten
cd 70 close in on the south and cut of
communications with Mangwe and MAZE
king, along which the expected rein
fOrcements and supplies Of provisions are
coming. The pickeIS Of the enemy were
found 10 be in no case beyond 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 L0-
hengula, by the way in which they were
throwing. up rude Notifications and
eaTthworE, 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 jeor-
ardy. Immediate steps were seen 10
- necessary 10 dislOdge the enemy and
drive them back. a column for attack
was hastily formed. consisting OF 100
whites, 100 Cape boys and 100 ua-
tlYes. They were supplied with one
Maxim and one HOtchkiss rapid fire guns
ana We're placed in command Of Cant.
hact arland. 4Aey Were speedily
ready for an offensive movement and
thus commanded and equipped. they sal
lied forth from the Buluwayo defeDses
on saturday morning. They took a
direction nOrtheasterly from the town in
the. direction Of the Umguza river. Tbey
mad 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
Inc Matabele force numbered not less
thah 1oO and their attack was eager
and well directed.
The column from Buluwayo was inst
crossing small stream, a tribute OF the
.nrMguza' when the attack was opened.
Inc overwhelming odds. ten 10 ono
hurled upon the little column drove
them back by mere weight of numbers
ana the advance parties were glad to
retreat IN haste across the stream. This
retrOgrade movement was. however. Of
fected in good order, firing as they went
thus drawing the enemy across the river
Inc Matabeles advanced upon the liz
Tie band of warriors in Formidable ar
ray, tnelr line extending in a crescent
formation. the horns of the crescent adj
,dHcgd 10 the 'front.', creeping and with
ing Ike treacherOus serpent seeking
TO enclose its prey and surround II in
us deadly coils. The long. struggling
Inc extended over a distance of three
miles with wide intervals between the
men IN the line, except in the nartS
where they closed in expectation az a
hand-to-hand conflict. MANY came an
Drandlshing their assegais and shields
ana giving forth fierce yells in true say
age fashion. As the bowling sayages
closed IN on the column they afforded
an excellent target for the sweeping dis.
cnarge OF the rapid fire guns. The en-
5dseient Whlch ensued was hot and
desperate one and dark leaping bodies
seemed TO spring up as soon as thev
we're moved down: The Buluwayo
force Kept the river in their imemdiate
'front.' The hre arms did heavy eyecu-
tloI among the hostile natives as rhev
rushed up to the opposite bank. This
only partly checked their onslaught and
many gained the side on which the
whites stood. These were charged hy
;ne troops ana cut down or driven back
mo the stream. When the Matabeles
III front We're finally driven back they
were seen TO have sustained a beavr
loss. The little river was Owed = dart
crimson with the blood of the victimS If
me Maxim gun. One observer counted
!orIy dead lying in a small circuit close
to the column. UT ''ose
me whites had been hotly engaged in
front. and when they succeeded in 70
pulSihg the attack there. they found
more work sill waiting for them The
advanced ends of the enemv's line bad
turned their tanks and they fonnd souadS
OF bowling black men in their roar wbon
'hey turned their attention in that al.
rectloh. This came near proving n great-
Sr peril than the onslaught from the
front: but II was luckily deferred until
the nrSt attack had been repulsed and
Ihe forces of the MatabelS weakened
there but Tor the open nature of the
SI"uhd toward Buluwayo the encirclinr
tactics of the enemy would certoinIv
nave succeeded against the small force
.hat opposed them. AS it was possible
TO perceive :heir movements and move
accordingly. and the open ground gove
nun play Tor the Maxim. which was ON
pioyed also in that direction. with deadly
effect va" '''"ui'
Ihe losses sustained 10y the whites
We're II. {. Whitehouse. {. Gordon and
u. farSons killed and several wounded,
the exact number not being stated. The
raIhl-hre gun Is thought to have saved
the day for the whites beyond question
The loss they sustained in view of the
force of the attacking party is considered
small. and the whites are considered
lucky to have come off SO well. They re-
tired upon the conclusion of the fight.
but they We're in possession of the field
when they did SO. Although the attack
ing party came off without any very
heavy losses. they did not drive off the
Matabels, but simply repulsed their at
tack. The hostile lines are practically
as near Buluwayo as ever and il is GER
tam that only part of the Matahels who
are heleaguering Buluwayo were en-
gagged in yesterdays fight. Ii is not clear
that the Sortie has been effectual in pre-
venting the advance of the Matabeles TO
the south of Buluwayo. which is the most
feared.
The uneaSiness here regarding the sit
uation in the pressed settlement is I'M
abated. and the only agreeable fact is
that telegraphic communication is still
open. The administrator there an
nounces the town still has provisions for
twenty days. The supplies on the way
from Mafeking are expected to arrive
before that period expires. But their ar
rival all depends on many contingencies.
II is very much feared that the relief
column may be attacked. If the supplies
are not captured in such case they
would certainly be delayed. The same
thing would happen if the line of COM
munication was cut and some point on
il strongly held. The best speed trial |