The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-20
FROM SOUTH african war
British Force Encounters Band Of
MatabeleS.
BULUWAYO IS IN DANGER
The Chief Peril Of the British Lies ID
Their Small Numbers-Hor Of
Matabelcs Assembled for
an Attack.

Buluwayo, April IA mounted Brit
ish force numbering forty, while recon-
noitering in the outskirts yesterday.
encountered a large advance party of
Matabeles whom il Immediately en-
gagged. After two hours of severe
lighting the natives Were driven back
ON the main body with the loss Of fifty
killed. The British had only one man
wounded.
Considerable alarm was Occasioned
I'm the evening by the sudden appear
of u number of natives in the vicinity
of town. They avowed friendliness,
but nevertheless were brought into
town and detained. The anxiety of the
inhabitants of Buluwayo increases
hourly. The relief column from Sails
bury is now reported within forty
miles Of BuluwayO and advancing
steadily.
Cecil Rhodes. premier Of the Cape
Colony, who intended accompanying
health not having improved sufficient
ly to permit his leaving thet place.
MATABELEs GATHERING.
Cape Town, April 19.--No official
statement Is worth considering that
does not admit that RuluwayO is in
danger. In fact. It may be already in
the hands of the Matabeles, after a ter
rible massacre. The latest advices re-
ceived here from that place have great
ly increased the anxiety for its safety.
Military men, scouts, Dutchmen. En-
glishmen, and even government Of
ficials here, concus in the statement
that the governor of Cape Colony, Sir
Hercules Robinson, has not told the
truth If he has notified the home gov
| ernment that Buluwayo Is in no dam
ger.
The chief peril Of the British at Bulu-
wayO lies in their own small numbers
and the immensity Of the hordes of
Large numbers Of Matabeles presumed
| to be friendly, have, under one excuse
or another, succeeded in entering the
town, and are believed to have planned
to rise and strike at the British as soon
as the warriors are heard outside the
line of defenses. Most of the Mata-
beles got inside the lines by pretending
to be seeking the protection of the
| whites, and are armed. 1t has been
stated that BuluwayO Is held by 1000
men; this Is not correct. The number
| of fighting men Is under 900, and of
this number 300 are reported to have
been sent to hold Mangwe Pass.
WHITES LEAVE BULUWAYO.
Other dispatches announce that
strong force of the remaining whites
intended to leave Buluwayo yesterday,
| to attack the famous Imbezu Impi or
| regiment, from which the native police,
| who have been shown to have started
| the rebellion, were recruited. These
| warriors have been secretly profiting
| for some time by the drill and tactics
of police deserters, and as the latter
| took with them their own and all other
arms and ammunition they could lay
| hands on. they may prove more than
q match for the small British force.
The armament Of Buluwayo, accord
| ing to advices received yesterday, Is
| FIVE seven-pounders. one twelve and
| one-half FOUNDER, three Maxim guns,
one Gardner and one Nordenfelt rapid
| fire guns. the two latter having been
sent to the front by the British flag
| ship, st. George. There are also sew
| eral old field guns Of little use, and
| about $50 Lee-Metford rifles, besides
the rifles of the scouts, volunteers, ETC.,
of all makes. There were about 1,00o,
900 rounds of cartridges in the town. A
supply Of rifles and ammunition left
Mafeking on March 2S, under strong
escort, and ought to reach Buluwayc
soon. The food supply is slowl:- giving
out, but eighteen wagons loaded with
provisions are reported to have reached
a spot about sixty miles from Bulu.
| wayo.