The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-27
MATAsElEs' MILITARY TACTICS.
Maxim and Hotchkiss Guns Failed
to Stop Their Advance.
They Sustained . Heavy Loss. While
the Whites Lost but Few Men
Tclegraphic Communication With
Buluwayo >siii open-Fcars for tho
Rekter Column.

NAA4@ > Efc4AS u bSi1A&t1 SLOW AE4l tEt
Maiaeeles are displaying great boidness
and energy in the pursuit. of their pur-
pose 70 surround the town completely and
cut on al conlmanic alton with the outside
world On Saturday morning il was found
thai the hostile forces OF natives had sur
rounded the town on the north. east aud
west, their ranks being much too close tc
the town 20 allow of any freedom OF action
BY those within Their lines were being
eEergesscaily extended in both directions
and threatened to close In on the south
and cut on communication with Mangwe
and Mafcksng. along which the expected
re.uforceneuts and supplies of provisions
are coming. The picke,s of the enemy
were found to be In no case beyond four
miles distant from the Buluwayo lines and
they were giving lively evidences OF their
improved knowledge of military strategy
over that displayed In the war OF Loben-
sifa. BY the way m which they were
throwing up rude fcrtiications AMI EARTH
work projections beyond which the native
warriors could resist the charge OF the
Whistles. They threatened thus 10 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 enc
my and drive them back. A column for at
tack was hastily formed. consisting OF lao
whites. 100 Cape "boys' and 100 natives.
They were supplied with one Maxim and
one Hotchkiss rapid fire gun and were
placed In command of Capt. McFaraane
They were speedily ready for an offensive
movement and thus commanded and
equipped they sailed forth from the Bulu-
wayo defenses at O'Clock on Friday
morning They took a direction nor,h-
eastefiy from the town in the direction of
Umsuza river. They had proceeded only
about five miles on their course, advanc-
ing cautiously with scouts in advance and
outriders on each side, when the enemy
opened the attack. The Mafabele force
numbered not less than 1000 and their at
tack was eager and well directed
Ihe column from Buiuwayo was Just
crossing small stream. a tributary of the
Umguza, when the attack opened. The
overwhelming odds. ten to one. hurled up-
on the little column drove II back by
mere weight Of numbers, and the advance
parties were glad to retrea. In haste across
The stream This retrograde movement
was, however, effected in good order. and
nghting as they went. thus drawing the
enemy across the river.
The Mafabeles advanced upon the little
oaad IN formidable array. their line ex-
tended IN a crescent formation the horns
OF the crescent advancing TO the front
creeping and writhing like freacheruus
serpent, seeking to inclose its prey and
surround 1t in its coils The long, sfrag-
sling line EXTENDED a distance of over
three miles wide. with Intervals between
the men in line except In the parts where
tney closed IN expectation OF hand 10
hand conflict. Many came on, brandish-
Ing their assegais and shields and giving
forth ferce yells in true savage fashion.
As the bowling sayages closed in on the
column they afforded an excellent target
fo- the sweeping discharge OF the rapid
fire guns The engagement which ensued
was a hard ard desperate one The Bulu-
wayo force kept the river in their imme-
date front. The firearms did heavy exc
cution among the hostile natives as they
rushed up the opposite bark This only
partly checked their fierce onslaught and
many gained the side on which the whites
stood. These were charged by the troop
ers and cut down or driven back into
the stream
When the Ma,abeles In front were finai-
ly driven back they were seen TO have
sustained a heavy loss. The little river
was dyed dark crimson with the blood
OF the victims OF the Maxim gun One
observer counted forty dead lying In a
small circuit close 10 the column. The
whites had been hotiy engaged in front
and when they succeeded In repulEing the
attack there. they found more work wait
ing for them. The advance OF the enerny's s
line then got under their TANKS and they
found squares Of bowling black men in
their rear when they turned their a1en-
tiou in that direction This came near
proving a greater peril than the on
siaught from the front. but n was luckily
deferred until the first attack had been
rspulsei. and the forces of the Matabeles
weakened there.
But for the open nature of the ground
toward Buluwayo the encirciing tactics
OF the enemy would certainly have Sue
ceeded against the small force opposed TO
them As ii was 4 was possible TO per-
ce!ve their movements and move accord
ingly. and the open ground gave free
play for the Maxim. which was employed
also la that direction with deadly effect
The losses sustained BY the whites were:
Kiled-H @. Whitehouse. c. Gordon. h.
Parsons The exact number of wounded
Is not stated
The rapid fire gun is thought TO have
saved the day for the whites beyond qslas-
ton. The loss sustained. IN view OF the
forces of the attacking party and thc fast
that they sxsre actually outfianked, Is con-
sidered small. and the whites are consid-
cred lucky 10 have come on 50 welL Tney
retired upon the conclusion OF the fsat.
but they were In possession Of the field
when they did so.
Although the attacking party came OF
without any very heavy losses. they dsi
not drive the Nataesies. but simply re-
pulsed their Attacks. The hostile lines are
practically a. near 20 Eniuwayo as ever.
ard Il + certain that only part os the
Matahstes who are SeieagasTiug Buiuxeyo Q
were engaged IN seSfer3ays fiEht- IL -
cot claa- that the sortie has been effctual
in r-esea-.ns ;he advance Of the Nsta-
teles 10 the s1sstA OF BBsGwayo. which IS
the outcome NEST feared
Tha uneasaness here regarding the si;ua-
ton n the har3 pressed settlement !s VII
ahased, and abc1, the suls agreeable factor
= tia, tAiezraghic communication With
RaiHway0 - stan open TIE administrator or
there announces that the towH ssfn has
Trarl<iens for sgeaty davx- The supplies
OF their way from NafskfnS are expected
70 arrive befcrs fhs, period expires Bat
their arrival 81 al aepsn5s upon many
contingencies.
Il - very much feared that The rsise'
column may b4 attacked. II the supplies
~ere not CAPTURED In such case. they
would certainly be delayed The same
thing waJid hAppe1 II the If-s of cons
rnuricaeian were cat and some poiat cf Y
strongly nTSs- The best sf4sd sac Ee3is;
ca,aFz- can make without hostile osasfrsc-
,Ion xau not bring II to Balrwayc anil II
= urgently needed
T'a@ administrator az RulREaye - aesnS
ell in ais power TO Increase his stock a2l
guard against the contingency OF delay 81
fas reliez train from Mafesssg- he las
orderszs thA; an passenger frzfhc -
s.0pp@-i Ia order 20 erssie the coaches 4
frsEa the ssafh 20 5z uzeSi Cor bringing =
tae available Supply of meal II - a1sa
sac an arrangement hAs oosa made ~atn
. 1Elsn1ly cales for further ss9eliss. AID